Ei Videos & Talks · Companion quiz

The Biopsychosocial Model

Shorts in Psychology · 15 questions

Watch the video, then explore its subject through concept questions and everyday examples. This companion quiz includes applications and supporting reading; it is not a verbatim transcript test.

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Choose one answer for each question. Select Check my answers to see your score and an explanation for every answer. Your answers are not submitted or saved.

1. What are the three domains of the biopsychosocial model?A. Biological, psychological, and socialB. Physical, financial, and legalC. Past, present, and futureD. Thought, memory, and imagination

2. Which example is primarily biological?A. A disagreement with a friendB. A genetic vulnerabilityC. A belief about failureD. Workplace expectations

3. Which example is primarily psychological?A. Housing availabilityB. A medication's physical effectsC. A recurring interpretation of criticismD. A community's transport system

4. Which example is primarily social?A. Inherited traitsB. A physical infectionC. An automatic thoughtD. Support from friends

5. How are the three domains best understood?A. They can influence one anotherB. They always operate independentlyC. Only one matters at a timeD. They contribute equally in every case

6. What does a whole-person understanding add?A. A reason to disregard symptomsB. Context about the person's body, experience, and circumstancesC. A single explanation for every problemD. A guarantee of recovery

7. Someone has poor sleep, worries about work, and feels isolated. Which approach fits the model?A. Consider only the worryB. Consider only the sleepC. Explore all three influences and their interactionsD. Assume isolation explains everything

8. What should a diagnosis alone be expected to explain?A. Every aspect of a person's lifeB. The person's total worthC. Exactly which intervention will workD. Only part of the information needed to understand the person

9. How does this model relate to biology?A. It includes biological influences within a broader understandingB. It rejects all biological explanationsC. It says biology is never relevantD. It treats medical care as unnecessary

10. What is a reasonable implication for planning support?A. Everyone needs the same planB. Support should reflect the individual's circumstancesC. Social needs can always replace medical careD. One domain must be chosen and the others ignored

11. Which question explores social context?A. How much sleep did you get?B. What did you think would happen?C. Who can you turn to for support?D. What physical symptoms did you notice?

12. Which question explores psychological experience?A. What medication are you prescribed?B. Is transport available?C. Who lives with you?D. What meaning did you give the event?

13. Why might two people respond differently to a similar event?A. Their biological, psychological, and social circumstances may differB. The event must be identical in every detailC. One person must be more valuableD. The model says everyone responds alike

14. Which statement avoids blaming someone for their symptoms?A. Symptoms show a failure of characterB. Several interacting influences may contribute to what the person experiencesC. All symptoms are chosen deliberatelyD. People can always think their way out of illness

15. What is the purpose of this companion quiz?A. To establish a medical diagnosisB. To select a medicationC. To check understanding of whole-person concepts and examplesD. To rate a person's value

Answer key and explanations

A. The model considers body, psychological experience, and social context together.
B. Genetic influences belong to the biological domain.
C. Interpretations and beliefs are psychological influences.
D. Relationships are part of social context.
A. The domains interact rather than functioning as isolated compartments.
B. Whole-person understanding places symptoms within a broader context.
C. The example includes biological, psychological, and social influences.
D. A diagnosis does not replace understanding the person's circumstances.
A. Biology remains important alongside psychological and social influences.
B. The person's particular needs help shape the plan.
C. Available support is a social influence.
D. The meaning assigned to an event is part of psychological experience.
A. Similar events occur within different personal contexts.
B. Considering interacting influences avoids reducing symptoms to blame.
C. This quiz checks learning; it does not diagnose or prescribe.

Supporting reading

Engel, G. L. (1977). The need for a new medical model: A challenge for biomedicine. Science, 196(4286), 129–136. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.847460