SACE Psychology Stage 2: Psychological Wellbeing — Flashcards & Quiz

Q1: What is the mental health continuum model?

The mental health continuum model proposes that mental health exists on a spectrum from flourishing (high wellbeing) through moderate mental health to languishing (low wellbeing) and mental illness. Individuals move along the continuum throughout their lives depending on biological, psychological and social factors. This model challenges the binary view that people are either "mentally ill" or "mentally healthy."

Q2: What is psychological resilience and what factors promote it?

Resilience is the capacity to adapt positively in the face of adversity, trauma or significant stress. Protective factors include: strong social support networks, secure attachment in childhood, effective coping strategies, self-efficacy, cognitive flexibility and access to community resources. Resilience is not a fixed trait but a dynamic process influenced by both individual and environmental factors.

Q3: Explain Seligman’s PERMA model of wellbeing.

Seligman’s (2011) PERMA model identifies five measurable elements of psychological wellbeing: Positive Emotions (joy, gratitude, hope), Engagement (flow states, absorption in activities), Relationships (social connections, love, belonging), Meaning (purpose, serving something larger than oneself) and Accomplishment (achievement, mastery, competence). Each element is independently measurable and contributes to flourishing.

Q4: Describe the biopsychosocial model of mental health.

The biopsychosocial model (Engel, 1977) proposes that mental health and illness result from the interaction of three categories of factors: biological (genetics, neurochemistry, brain structure), psychological (thoughts, emotions, coping skills, personality) and social (relationships, socioeconomic status, culture, community). No single factor is sufficient to explain mental health — it is always an interaction.

Q5: Distinguish between risk factors and protective factors for mental health.

Risk factors increase the likelihood of developing mental health problems (e.g. childhood trauma, poverty, genetic predisposition, substance abuse, social isolation). Protective factors reduce this likelihood (e.g. secure attachment, social support, physical activity, self-efficacy, access to mental health services). Both operate across biological, psychological and social domains.

Q6: How does stigma affect mental health outcomes and help-seeking behaviour?

Mental health stigma involves negative stereotypes, prejudice and discrimination toward individuals with mental illness. Public stigma (society’s attitudes) and self-stigma (internalised shame) both reduce help-seeking behaviour, delay treatment and worsen outcomes. Stigma can lead to social isolation, reduced self-esteem and reluctance to disclose mental health difficulties.

Q7: What is the DSM-5 and how is it used in mental health?

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) is published by the American Psychiatric Association and is the primary classification system for mental disorders. It provides standardised diagnostic criteria based on symptom clusters, duration and functional impairment. While it improves reliability of diagnosis, critics argue it medicalises normal variation and is influenced by cultural biases.

Q8: What is positive psychology and how does it differ from traditional clinical psychology?

Positive psychology, founded by Martin Seligman (1998), focuses on what makes life worth living rather than treating pathology. It studies strengths, virtues, positive emotions, engagement, meaning and optimal human functioning. Traditional clinical psychology primarily focuses on diagnosing and treating mental disorders. Positive psychology complements rather than replaces clinical approaches.

Q1: The mental health continuum model proposes that people are either mentally ill or mentally healthy with no intermediate states.

Answer: FALSE

The mental health continuum model proposes that mental health exists on a spectrum from flourishing to languishing, with many intermediate states. It explicitly challenges the binary illness/wellness dichotomy.

Q2: Resilience is a fixed personality trait that some people are born with and others lack entirely.

Answer: FALSE

Resilience is a dynamic process, not a fixed trait. It is influenced by protective factors (social support, coping skills, self-efficacy) and can be developed and strengthened throughout life through interventions and environmental changes.

Q3: Seligman’s PERMA model identifies five elements of wellbeing: Positive Emotions, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning and Accomplishment.

Answer: TRUE

PERMA stands for Positive Emotions, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning and Accomplishment. Seligman (2011) proposed that each element independently contributes to psychological flourishing.

Q4: The biopsychosocial model proposes that mental health is determined solely by neurochemical imbalances in the brain.

Answer: FALSE

The biopsychosocial model (Engel, 1977) proposes that mental health results from the interaction of biological, psychological AND social factors. Reducing mental health to neurochemistry alone reflects a purely biomedical model, which the biopsychosocial model was designed to replace.

Q5: Physical activity is a well-established protective factor that can reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety.

Answer: TRUE

Multiple research studies and meta-analyses confirm that regular physical activity significantly reduces symptoms of depression and anxiety, with the Black Dog Institute reporting 20–30% symptom reduction across Australian population studies.

The Mental Health Continuum

Understanding mental health as a spectrum from flourishing to languishing challenges simplistic illness/wellness thinking. SACE assessments require you to explain how individuals move along the continuum and identify the factors that promote flourishing or contribute to languishing.

Resilience and Protective Factors

Resilience is a dynamic process influenced by biological, psychological and social protective factors. Being able to identify, categorise and explain these factors — using research evidence such as Werner and Smith’s Kauai study — is a core assessment skill.

The Biopsychosocial Model

Engel’s biopsychosocial model is the dominant framework for understanding mental health in SACE Psychology. Every extended response on mental health should address biological, psychological and social factors to demonstrate comprehensive analysis.

Positive Psychology and Evidence-Based Interventions

Seligman’s PERMA model and evidence-based interventions (CBT, MBSR, exercise) represent current best practice in promoting wellbeing. SACE assessments may ask you to evaluate these approaches, requiring knowledge of both their effectiveness and their limitations.

What does SACE Psychology Stage 2 cover on psychological wellbeing?

This topic covers the mental health continuum, resilience and protective factors, Seligman’s PERMA model of positive psychology, the biopsychosocial model, mental illness classification (DSM-5), stigma and its impact on help-seeking, and evidence-based interventions for mental health.

Are these flashcards aligned to the SACE Board curriculum?

Yes — every flashcard and quiz question is mapped to the South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE) Board Psychology Stage 2 curriculum for the Psychological Wellbeing topic.

How does psychological wellbeing connect to other SACE Psychology topics?

Psychological wellbeing connects directly to the Emotions topic (stress and coping), Cognition (cognitive distortions in mental illness) and Individual Development (developmental risk factors). Understanding these connections strengthens responses across multiple assessment tasks.