This books describes how and why "distant" social influences, such as socialization practices, interpersonal relationships, and social organization, are often just as important as medical considerations in determining an individual's tendency toward health or illness. The essays describe some of the pathways through which these social influences are exerted and also offer suggestions as to how these influences can be swayed in the direction of good health. The editors' broader aim is to stress the importance of social psychological orientation as a useful conceptual tool for the analysis of health and illness.

Social Psychological Foundations of Health and Illness is a summary of current research in social-health psychology. The chapters, written by distinguished leaders in the field, provide brief surveys of classic developments in each area of study followed by extended discussion of the authors’ research programs. Includes state-of-the-art descriptions of new findings and theories concerning social aspects of physical health and illness. Discusses virtually all of the major topics studied in the contemporary field of social-health psychology. Contains chapters written by leading figures in the field that discuss their own research within the context of classic efforts.

`This book is a "must read" for all students of health psychology, and will be of considerable interest and value to others interested in the field. The discipline has not involved itself with the central issues of this book so far, but Radley has now brought this material together in an accessible way, offering important new perspectives, and directions for the discipline. This book goes a long way towards making sense for, and of, health psychology′ - Journal of Health Psychology What are people′s beliefs about health? What do they do when they feel ill? Why do they go to the doctor? How do they live with chronic disease? This introduction to the social psychology of health and illness addresses these and other questions about how people make sense of illness in everyday life, either alone or with the help of others. Alan Radley reviews findings from medical sociology, health psychology and medical anthropology to demonstrate the relevance of social and psychological explanations to questions about disease and its treatment. Topics covered include: illness, the patient and society; ideas about health and staying healthy; recognizing symptoms and falling ill; and the healing relationship: patients, nurses and doctors. The author also presents a critical account of related issues - stress, health promotion and gender differences.

Which behavior patterns are detrimental to one's health? Which mechanisms mediate the impact of stressful events on health? Stroebe and Stroebe explore such questions and offer an integrative approach that combines psychological, economic, and environmental interventions to reduce behavioral risk factors. This unique approach moves away from purely biomedical models of illness and addresses two major factors detrimental to health and well-being: (1) health-impairing behaviors and (2) stressful life events.

An introduction to how social psychological theories, methods and interventions can be applied to manage real-world social problems.

Weaving together the various foundations of psychology and health into a compelling narrative, this book culturally and historically situates the practice, strengths, and shortcomings of the field. Historian of psychology Wade Pickren traces the development of the relationship of health and psychology through a critical history that incorporates context, culture, and place from the early modern period to the present day. Covering a range of topics and time periods including psychology and health in the nineteenth century; stress in post-World War II USA; and the relationship between body, mind, and emotion in the modern world, Psychology & Health: Culture, Place, and History outlines the journey of an understanding of health rooted in nature, to a commodity governed by the neoliberal values of the marketplace, including an exploration of the roles of self-help, emotions, and resilience. The book closes with an outline of contemporary alternatives in health psychology and points toward a future when, once again, psychology and health are grounded in nature. Throughout, the rich connections across cultures illustrate the importance of cultural variations in understanding health, disease, and treatment. This book is essential reading for scholars and students of health psychology at all levels. It will also be of interest to professionals and practitioners in related fields, as well as those interested in the enduring connection between health and psychology.

How do individuals conceive illness and symptoms? Do their conceptions conflict with the physician's views of their illness, and what happens if they do? This book thoroughly explores the field of disease representation, describes and discusses lay illness models in a variety of social, histo- rical and cultural contexts.

The 26 readings in this volume offer an integrative approach to understanding health psychology using social psychological principles.

This open access book is a systematic update of the philosophical and scientific foundations of the biopsychosocial model of health, disease and healthcare. First proposed by George Engel 40 years ago, the Biopsychosocial Model is much cited in healthcare settings worldwide, but has been increasingly criticised for being vague, lacking in content, and in need of reworking in the light of recent developments. The book confronts the rapid changes to psychological science, neuroscience, healthcare, and philosophy that have occurred since the model was first proposed and addresses key issues such as the model’s scientific basis, clinical utility, and philosophical coherence. The authors conceptualise biology and the psychosocial as in the same ontological space, interlinked by systems of communication-based regulatory control which constitute a new kind of causation. These are distinguished from physical and chemical laws, most clearly because they can break down, thus providing the basis for difference between health and disease. This work offers an urgent update to the model’s scientific and philosophical foundations, providing a new and coherent account of causal interactions between the biological, the psychological and social.

Interpersonal Processes presents a wide range of new and existing research on this important field of applied social psychology. Gaining an understanding of the interaction between people in their homes, workplaces and leisure pursuits is not only of importance to social psychologists. The contributors, all well-known researchers, explain the reasons for their specialist topics as well as illustrate the application of these ideas. The main themes and issues in the study of interpersonal processes are outlined by the editors. They discuss both the theories and their possible applications.