Health Psychologist

Scientists who research the area Health promotion – intervene at the social (e.g., government policy, community) or individual level to promote health and prevent illness and disease. Clinical health psychologist – intervene at the individual level to treat illness, slow or prevent disease progression, and reduce disability.

Important Contributions of Psychology to Health

Has provided techniques useful in changing behaviors that affect health and illness. Is committed to keeping people healthy rather than waiting to only treat them when they become ill. Long history of developing reliable and valid measures for assessing health-related factors. Has contributed a solid foundation of scientific methods for studying such behaviors.