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Topic 2: Psychological Health and Wellbeing

3 dot points, in syllabus order. Each dot point has a focused answer, with exam-style questions and worked answers 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 read →

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 read →

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 read →