lesson 2 psych Summary & Study Notes

🖤 Acknowledgement of Country

I respectfully acknowledge the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation as the traditional custodians of this land. I pay respect to elders and communities, past and present.

🌐 Overview of the Biopsychosocial Model

The Biopsychosocial model (BPS) is a framework for understanding the human experience as the interacting influence of biological, psychological, and social factors. It explains how these interacting domains shape overall health, wellbeing, and development in both positive and negative ways.

🧬 Biological Factors

Biological factors are internal, genetically or physiologically based influences. Key examples include genetic predisposition, hormones, sleep, illness, immune system strength, and the effects of medications/substances. These factors can directly change brain/body functioning and indirectly shape thoughts, emotions, and behaviour.

🧠 Psychological Factors

Psychological factors refer to internal mental processes and experiences. Important items are attitudes/beliefs, emotions (affect), personality, coping skills, sense of self, self-esteem, thoughts (cognition), memories, and learning. These influence how a person interprets and responds to biological states and social contexts.

👥 Social Factors

Social factors are external influences from relationships and environment. Examples include interpersonal relationships, attachment style, cultural norms, socioeconomic status, education, family environment, physical environment, and level of social support. Social contexts shape opportunities, stressors, meanings, and available resources.

🧭 Mental Wellbeing

Mental wellbeing describes an individual's current psychological state—their ability to think, process information, and regulate emotions. High levels of wellbeing mean functioning appropriately and coping effectively; low levels mean struggling to function, think clearly, or regulate mood.

🔁 The Mental Wellbeing Continuum

Psychologists now view mental wellbeing on a continuum rather than as a binary (well vs ill). A person’s position can shift gradually or suddenly based on interacting biological, psychological, and social factors. Interventions are more effective when they address a combination of these domains rather than focusing on only one.

📌 Points on the Continuum

• Peak wellbeing includes enjoyment of life, ability to cope with stress, fulfilment of goals and potential, and a sense of connection to others.
• A mental health problem is like the ‘common cold’ of mental health: usually temporary and resolvable so the person can return to a better state of wellbeing.
• A mental disorder is more severe—like a broken leg—causing serious, long-lasting impact and typically requiring professional intervention.

🧩 BPS Approach to Psychological Development

Psychological development (social, emotional, cognitive) emerges from the ongoing interaction of biological, psychological, and social influences. The BPS model helps explain how people develop identities, skills, coping styles, and patterns of relating across the lifespan.

❓ Key Questions to Consider

Reflect on how each domain influences the others: How might biological factors (e.g., hormones or illness) affect psychological processes and social interactions? How do psychological factors (e.g., beliefs or coping skills) feed back to biological states? How do social contexts (e.g., family or socioeconomic status) shape thoughts, emotions, and health?

📚 Study Design & Resources

The BPS approach is used as a model for considering psychological development and mental wellbeing. See Cambridge textbook, Chapter 3B: The biopsychosocial approach, for further reading and examples.

📝 Key Terms

Biopsychosocial model, Mental wellbeing, Psychological development, Genetic predisposition, Coping skills, Social support, Continuum — understand these terms and how they interrelate.

▶️ Next Lesson: Three Identical Strangers

The next lesson explores nature vs. nurture through the documentary Three Identical Strangers (twins & triplets). If you cannot attend class, watch the film or read about the case to prepare.