Understanding Health Psychology Through the Works of Stephen King

Not just your regular textbook, this unique book uses popular culture as a teaching tool by taking the work of Stephen King, America's top horror writer, to illustrate concepts that are essential to health psychology. This book uses his storytelling and character development to illustrate the science of how psychology "gets under the skin" to impact physical health. It examines the history of health psychology and the biopsychosocial perspective, the biology of stress and emotion, the science of behavior change, structural (social) influences on health, personality and sleep science, the role of psychology in disease, and the evidence of the mind-body connection. This book provides definitions of many health psychology concepts and uses the works of Stephen King to couch them in an easy-töunderstand context. The intrinsic enjoyment of relating to a popular fiction writer is used to present the most recent research in the field, including work in the neuroscience of health psychology and the science of intervention. From explorations of the placebo and nocebo effects in Holly and Thinner, to the social ecological impacts on health in The Running Man and the power of adverse childhood experiences in The Body, this book provides a wide-reaching overview of health psychology that can provide context for psychology students as well as student engagement opportunities. Accompanied by supplementary teaching materials, this engaging reading is designed to motivate undergraduate health psychology students and educators. It is also intended for King's Constant Readers - those who can't get enough of the world of Stephen King.

Crista Crittenden, PhD, MPH, LSW, is currently special faculty in psychology with a joint position at both Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar. She teaches a wide range of courses, from introductory cognitive psychology lectures to upper-level clinical and health psychology seminars. She is also a licensed social worker who provides supervised pro bono therapy, focusing on cognitive behavioral therapy and psychodynamic psychotherapy. She earned her bachelor's degree in brain and cognitive science from the University of Rochester, her master's degrees in public health and social work from the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry and from the University of Pittsburgh, respectively, and her PhD in psychology from Carnegie Mellon University.

Preface Acknowledgements List of Acronyms and Abbreviations Chapter 1: Getting Under Your Skin: A Shining Introduction Chapter 2: Beginnings: The History of Health Psychology and Stephen King Chapter 3: Measuring Your Fear: Research Methods in Health Psychology Chapter 4: Believing the Unbelievable: Placebos and Voodoo Curses Chapter 5: Character Development: The Health Psychology of Bill Hodges Chapter 6: Plot Development: The Bigger Picture of Health Influence Chapter 7: ACEs and The Body: Early Life Experiences and Health Chapter 8: Take a Ride with Captain Trips: Psychoneuroimmunology Chapter 9: The Nightmare of Insomnia: The Importance of Sleep Chapter 10: The Horror of Behavior Change Chapter 11: Done Is Done: Where We Are and Where We Go