PSYCH 3010 - [Health Psychology]

(SBA-AS)

Spring. 3 credits.

Prerequisite: at least two psychology courses. Next offered 2014-2015.

Staff.

Overview of health psychology: the scientific study of behaviors and cognitive processes related to health states. Students will learn about the biological, psychological, and social aspects of experience as related to health. The biological mechanisms by which social experiences and stress get “under the skin” and influence health outcomes across the life span will be examined. Understanding the interactions between social and physical experience on individuals’ health states is a key element in developing effective health communication and intervention programs. Students will learn about critical topics in health psychology such as the interaction between mental and physical health, health promotion, health-compromising and -enhancing behaviors, stress management, coping strategies, patient-provider relations, utilization of health services, pain management, coping with disease, addictions, careers in health psychology, and a discussion about the complexity and challenges that await health psychology in the future. This course is taught from a diversity-focused perspective; understanding the intersection between health and underrepresented minority status is a key element of this course. Students approach all course topics from both theory-driven and applied perspectives.