Health Psychology

DESCRIPTION: 
This module offers a critical understanding of the role of behaviour in health and illness utilizing both quantitative and qualitative research findings. Current issues in health promotion and illness prevention, with emphasis on an integrated holistic approach. Stress and physical illness, hospitalisation, doctor-patient relationship, biopsychosocial aspects of pain, chronic illness, death and dying,

RATIONALE: 
The discipline of health psychology has grown rapidly in recent years, allowing a resurgence of interest in developing approaches to the study of health and illness alternative to the traditional biomedical views. A module for senior psychology majors which utilizes the biopsychosocial model to describe how psychology and health are ultimately interconnected by presenting current research and controversies in the field, including the claims of contemporary qualitative research.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: 
As a result of taking this course, the student should be able to:
1. Critically evaluate the application of the field based on systematic knowledge of the body's physical systems and the psychological factors influencing their function.
2. Demonstrate an understanding of effect of stress on various organic illnesses 
3. Critically evaluate health-related behaviours: how they develop, and how they are maintained.
4. Discuss and evaluate the doctor-patient relationship and the reactions to hospitalisation, the impact of chronic disease on patients as well as the methods of coping with pain and stressful medical procedures.
5. Apply the principles of the biopsychosocial model in the aetiology and treatment of major illnesses such as cancer, cardiovascular disease and AIDS, synthesizing evidence from current research.
6. Synthesize and summarize evidence from current quantitative as well as qualitative research in the field of health psychology

METHOD OF TEACHING AND LEARNING: 
- Class lectures and discussions
- In-class experiential exercises
- Office hours
- Use of Blackboard Site