Connecting SEHS Topics: How to Link Physiology, Psychology & Performance

RevisionDojo
4 min read

🔗 1. Why Connecting Topics Matters in SEHS

In IB SEHS, integrated questions—especially in Paper 2 and IAs—ask you to link physiological mechanisms with psychological strategies and performance outcomes. RevisionDojo emphasizes that mastering these links boosts both analysis depth and personalization in your answers.

🧠 2. Physiological Foundations

Topics such as energy systems, cardiovascular and respiratory responses, and muscle physiology form the physiological basis of performance. RevisionDojo includes focused content on how physiology supports endurance, recovery, and power output. Explore modules like Response to Exercise & Training and Hydration & Nutrition which detail these systems.
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🧘 3. Psychological Strategies

Psychological factors—including motivation, goal-setting, arousal control, and feedback—affect how well someone performs physiologically. RevisionDojo’s content on Motor Learning & Feedback provides examples of how psychological interventions like mental rehearsal or intrinsically-driven goals can alter performance strategies.
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⚡ 4. Performance Linkages: How to Integrate

RevisionDojo outlines frameworks for connecting physiology and psychology to performance outcomes. For example, you might explain:

  1. Physiology: How aerobic vs anaerobic systems determine performance type
  2. Psychology: How arousal level using the Inverted-U model impacts physiological efficiency
  3. Performance Outcome: Why in events like sprinting, high anaerobic capacity and optimal arousal enable peak output

You can back this with IA-style real-world examples.
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📚 5. Real Exam Example: Integrated Question Practice

Example prompt:

Explain how nutrition and mental focus affect muscle fatigue during prolonged exercise.

Integrated response structure:

  • Physiology: Role of glycogen depletion, lactate, neuromuscular fatigue
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  • Psychology: Use of motivational cues or arousal control to delay perceived fatigue
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  • Performance: Outcome in terms of pacing strategy, endurance drop-off, or mental resilience

RevisionDojo offers similar scenario-based questions in its updated practice sets.
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✅ 6. Study Strategy for Topic Integration

  1. Review topic notes in physiology and psychology modules.
  2. Use Jojo AI to create flashcards that combine cross-topic prompts, e.g. “Explain how motivation delays fatigue in endurance performance.”
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  3. Practice full-length integrated questions in the SEHS question bank.
  4. Use spaced repetition and review patterns across physiology and psychology together.

📊 Summary Table: Linkages Between Physiology, Psychology & Performance

Physiological Element Psychological Factor Performance Impact Energy System Efficiency (VO₂) Arousal & Mental Imagery Improved pacing and fatigue management Muscle Physiology & Oxygen Use Motivation, Goal-Setting Delayed fatigue and consistent effort Cardiovascular/respiratory response Feedback and Reinforcement Better recovery and adjustment during events

🧭 Final Thoughts

Linking physiology, psychology, and performance allows for richer answers and deeper understanding in both the IA and exam papers. With RevisionDojo’s topic-aligned notes and stylized practice questions, you can confidently structure and integrate ideas in a way that mirrors real IB grading expectations.

📣 Call to Action

Looking to master inter-topic connections in SEHS?

  • Access RevisionDojo’s combined practice sets with integrated prompts on physiology + psychology topics.
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  • Use Jojo AI flashcards to create cross-topic Q&A pairs and build integrative recall across all core SEHS modules.
  • Practice real-type IB scenario questions that require you to connect multiple domains.

Start bridging SEHS concepts effectively today—and build a deeper, exam-focused understanding!

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