About the lecture

In this lecture, we think about the biopsychosocial model, focusing in particular on: (i) the problems which can arise when too much emphasis is placed on understanding what is going on inside someone, rather than the context within which they are experiencing these events; (ii) the content of George Engel’s biopsychosocial model, divided into biological, psychological and social considerations; (iii) social contexts, including cultural surroundings, country of residence, immediate social circles, and group identities (iv) the prevalence of diagnoses of particular conditions, such as schizophrenia, across different groups; (v) the recent research into adverse childhood experiences and their influence on health and wellbeing.

About the lecturer

Dr Marc Williams is a senior academic tutor and honorary senior lecturer in the School of Psychology at Cardiff University. His university work centres around the doctoral programme in clinical psychology, including supervising doctoral theses and supporting trainees. Dr Williams’ research interests include eating disorders and people’s relationship with their environment. Some of Dr Williams' recent publications include 'Attentional bias in eating disorders: a meta review' (2021) and 'The relationship between climate change and mental health information-seeking: a preliminary investigation' (2020).