What is Health Psychology?
Health psychology, also called behavioral medicine or medical psychology, is a branch of study that examines the interrelationship between biology, social factors and behavior. While the physician treats a disease, a practicing health psychologist would want to know more about the person with the disease. They might want to understand their educational or socioeconomic background, the behaviors that might influence the disease like compliance with taking medication, and the biological reasons for the disease. By analyzing disease in the context of what are called biopsychosocial factors, health psychology aims at helping to improve overall heatlh. A health psychologist is first and foremost, a psychologist, usually with a Ph.D in psychology. There are now numerous schools that offer specialization in health psychology and even undergraduate programs may offer a class or two on the subject. What health psychology posits is that treating disease or preventing it must look at the big pict
