Toward a Clinical Social Psychology of Health and Disease

Abstract

The emergence of health psychology offers great opportunities for collaboration between social and clinical psychology. The nature of health and disease requires a multidisciplinary perspective that spans many specialties in psychology as well as other disciplines. This paper develops a general schema that makes clear that sociological, psychological, and life style concepts must be linked in understanding both healthy behavior and illness behavior. Within this general framework, a niche for a clinical social psychology is defined that includes implications for both research and professional practice. Primary prevention is suggested as one important role. Other examples include the doctor-patient relationship, training of physicians, and research in the larger health care system. Service delivery in such areas as obesity and addictions is noted. Social and clinical psychology must collaborate as equal partners in order for the two disciplines to have important roles in the development of health psychology.