This classic exploration of health psychology explains the timeless wisdom uncovered by psychology and other social sciences about the meaning of health, illness, and optimal health care. Written in an engaging, accessible style, it provides a conceptual integration of the most important relevant research of the whole 20th century, as well as discussing the most important recent findings—but without becoming a complicated research compendium. Throughout, the biopsychosocial health psychology model is explicitly contrasted and compared to the traditional biomedical model.