PSYC 354
Health Psychology Fall 2023
Division III

Class Details

In this course, students will contrast the traditional biomedical model of health with the biopsychosocial model of health with a goal of understanding how biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors influence health and well-being. We will explore psychological theory and research that targets health promotion, disease prevention, and management of chronic illness. Course readings will include empirical articles, excerpts from popular science books, and news/media articles on public health issues. Discussions will center on using the biopsychosocial model to better understand health processes (e.g., stress, substance use, physical inactivity) and outcomes (e.g., insomnia, diabetes, heart disease), with a special focus on health disparities among historically disadvantaged groups in the United States. Students also will learn about cognitive, behavioral, and mindfulness-based treatments (“behavioral medicine”) that promote healthy behavior and the management of chronic illness/disease (e.g., pain, HIV/AIDs, cancer). All students will design and conduct an empirical research project based on the course material.
The Class: Format: seminar/laboratory
Limit: 16
Expected: 16
Class#: 1335
Grading: no pass/fail option, no fifth course option
Requirements/Evaluation: class presentations, reading responses, participation in class discussions, completion of an empirical project, APA-style empirical paper (10-20 pages double-spaced) and poster/oral presentation of the empirical project.
Prerequisites: PSYC 201 and PSYC 252, or permission of instructor
Enrollment Preferences: Psychology majors
Distributions: Division III
Attributes: PHLH Bioethics + Interpretations of Health
PSYC Area 5 - Clinical Psychology
PSYC Empirical Lab Course

Class Grid

Updated 7:27 pm

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