Department of Psychology, Unit Catalogue 2007/08 |
PS30016 Health psychology |
| Credits: 6 |
| Level: Honours |
| Semester: 1 |
| Assessment: EX 100% |
| Requisites: |
| Before taking this unit you must take PS10086 or take PS20106 or take PS20107 or take PS20108 or take PS20109 |
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Aims: To introduce students to concepts, theory, methods and applications of health psychology, using the concepts of social psychology and psychobiology.
Learning Outcomes: * Understand how concepts in health can be assessed. * Understand the concepts around what it means to be healthy, well and have good quality of life. * Know about the range of methods appropriate to measuring and evaluating outcomes in health psychology. * Appreciate some of the key interventions designed by health psychologists for use in clinical and non-clinical settings, in chronic disease. * Be able to set the psychology of health within a broad multidisciplinary context in the health and social sciences. * Be able to appraise the dynamics of organising psychological care within the health care system. Skills: * Recognises the inherent variability and diversity of psychological functioning and its significance. (T/F A) * Can demonstrate systematic knowledge and critical understanding of a range of influences on psychological functioning and how they interrelate. In addition it is expected that students will gain knowledge of conceptual and historical perspectives in psychology. (T/F A) * Has detailed knowledge of several specialised areas and/or applications, some of which are at the cutting edge of research in the discipline. (T/F A) * Can reason scientifically, understand the role of evidence and make critical judgements about arguments in psychology. (T/F A) * Can adopt multiple perspectives and systematically analyse the relationships between them. (T/F A) * Can detect meaningful patterns in behaviour and experience and evaluate their significance. (T/F A) * To effectively and efficiently apply principles of psychological analysis within a variety of environments. (T/F A) * To develop sensitivity to the values and interests of others. (T/F) * Can communicate ideas and research findings both effectively and fluently by written, oral and visual means. (T/F A) * Can solve problems by clarifying questions, considering alternative solutions and evaluating outcomes. (T/F A) * Is sensitive to and can react appropriately to contextual and interpersonal factors in groups and teams. (T/F) * Can undertake self-directed study and project management in order to meet desired objectives. (T/F) * Is able to take charge of their own learning, and can reflect and evaluate personal strengths and weaknesses for the purposes of future learning. (T/F) Content: Health psychology interventions for major chronic diseases e.g. cardiovascular, pain. An appraisal of the process of health reporting and health care from the detection of symptoms, decision to consult, through the consultation to adherence to treatment. An appreciation of key concepts; stress, uncertainty, social support. The impact of care. Health promotion and education practices covering smoking, sex, disability, exercise, diet, etc. |