What is the Difference Between Psychosocial and Psychological?

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The main difference between psychosocial and psychological lies in the factors they encompass. Here are the key distinctions:

  • Psychological: This term refers to anything related to the mind, mental processes, and behavior. It focuses on individual thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, and how they affect mental health and well-being. Psychological factors include internal mental and emotional processes that an individual experiences.
  • Psychosocial: This term refers to the combination of psychological and social factors. It involves the way that an individual's thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are influenced by and influence the social contexts in which they occur. Psychosocial factors include external social and interpersonal influences that can affect an individual's psychological well-being.

In summary, psychological factors deal with internal mental and emotional processes, while psychosocial factors involve the interplay between an individual's psychological state and their social environment.

Comparative Table: Psychosocial vs Psychological

The main difference between psychosocial and psychological factors lies in their focus and the aspects of human behavior and experience they address. Here is a table summarizing the differences:

Aspect Psychosocial Factors Psychological Factors
Focus Interaction between individual and environment, including social and cultural factors Internal mental processes, thoughts, and emotions
Addresses Social, cultural, and environmental influences on behavior and mental health Cognitive processes, emotions, and human development
Examples Social support, cultural beliefs, family upbringing, and societal norms Mental health disorders, cognitive biases, and memory processes
Developmental Stages Psychosocial development is described in stages, such as Erikson's stages of psychosocial development Psychological development is not as easy to classify into stages

In summary, psychosocial factors emphasize the influence of social and environmental factors on human behavior and mental health, while psychological factors focus on internal mental processes and cognitive functions.