Psychology of health

Abstract

The antecedents that, during the last twenty years, have made possible the emergence of a new disciplinary and professional area called Health Psychology or behavioral medicine are described. Among these antecedents, the work of the Chicago Psychoanalytic Institute stands out. the works of Cannon, Slyey Brady in experimental philosophy, the Soviet school author of the so-called cortico-visceral approach, the contributions of sociology to medicine and the development of Experimental Analysis of Behavior.

Subsequently, the facts that have given a good reception to the described developments are discussed, a definition is proposed and the areas of investigation and application are considered.