| An early definition of health by the WHO states that “it is a state of complete physical, social and spiritual well being, not simply the absence of illness” (WHO, 1946). |
| Health has usually been perceived as a disease free state of optimal physical functioning however this definition highlights social and spiritual well being as well. |
| What is social well being? Wellness in the realm of social interaction – in family, community, institutions. Psychchological aspects are entwined here. |
| What is spiritual well being? Freedom to pursue one’s belief’s….. |
| What about economic, psychological and cultural aspects? |
| This course aims to explore these questions….. |
| The next question is what is Psychology? |
Broadly it covers the individual’s experience, state of mind and behavior.
Experiential factors such as learning and culture, state of the mind which involve emotion and cognition and behavior. |
| There are two dominant models in the health psychology discourse that explain illness and health |
- The Biomedical Model - proposes biological problems as causes of illness and emphasizes illness and its causes over health and its causes. Mind –body dualism is implied and they are considered separate systems that don’t influence each other. The allopathic system is aligned with the biomedical model.
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- The Biopsychosocial Model acknowledges the role of social and psychological factors and their interaction with biological factors in influencing health or illness. This model emphasizes health as well as illness and is more aligned with the health promotion approach. The interactive relationship of the mind and body is espoused by this model (Taylor, 1995).
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