The
Biopsychosocial Model
The term "biopsychosocial"
refers to three specific, equally significant factors of
influence as they relate to the expression of human
health and performance: biological factors, psychological
factors, and social factors. Whereas the "biomedical"
model (which views biology as the only significant factor
of influence) has dominated the Western understanding of
the human person for most of the 20th century. Since the
1970s, scientists and physicians have come to acknowledge
the equally vital role that psychology and social life
play in human health and performance. Thanks to the
efforts of pioneers such as Walter Cannon, Herbert
Benson, George Engel, Robert Ader, David Shaner and many
others, the field of bodymind studies is gaining
notoriety as an important contemporary effort to better
understand the factors that influence the expression of
human health and performance.
