← Psychology syllabus

SAPsychology

Topic 2: Psychological Health and Wellbeing

3 dot points across 3 inquiry questions. Click any dot point for a focused answer with worked past exam questions where available.

How do we define and explain mental health and disorder?

Compare models used to define and explain mental health and mental disorder, including the biopsychosocial model and approaches to classifying normality
Mental health and disorder can be understood through biological, psychological and social lenses. The biopsychosocial model integrates all three, while defining normality itself is contested.
7 min answer →

What is stress and how do people cope with it?

Explain the physiological and psychological responses to stress and evaluate strategies for coping
Stress is the response to demands that tax our resources. Selye's GAS describes the physiological response, Lazarus and Folkman explain appraisal, and coping can be problem- or emotion-focused.
8 min answer →

How are psychological disorders treated, and what makes an intervention effective?

Describe and evaluate biological, psychological and social treatments and interventions for mental health problems.
An overview of biological, psychological and social treatments for mental health, including medication, CBT and psychotherapy, and how their effectiveness is evaluated.
8 min answer →