BSc Psychology

Topics covered will include:  

• the concept of health
• the biomedical and biopsychosocial approaches to health  
• the influence of stress on health  
• the social cognition approach to predicting and changing health behaviour  

This unit will also provide students with an illustration of the ways in which a strong research basis is critical in this area, and ii. a critical evaluation of basic theoretical and methodological issues. 

This unit aims to:  

• offer a transformative educational experience in health psychology guided by world class experts
• provide an understanding of historical and contemporary theories in health psychology and challenge students to use their knowledge to tackle health-related real-world problems.
• foster ethically minded, socially responsible graduates and support them in gaining volunteering and work experience to contribute to health benefits.
• deliver education on foundations of health psychology using a variety of methods and technologies to encourage students to become independent, active and self-directed learners 

This unit is taught via lectures and seminars.  

Supplementary reading and resources via Canvas 

• Understand the principal approaches to understanding health from a psychological perspective.  
• Integrate findings from different fields of research to understand health.
• Understand and describe, from theoretical and methodological perspectives, key psychological models that have been used to understand health and health behaviour.  
• Apply multiple perspectives to health issues, recognising that psychology as applied to health involves a range of research methods, theories, and evidence.
• Summarise the evidence base for findings from the main approaches to health psychology.  

• Appreciate the historical and conceptual roots of health psychology, recognising the importance of the subjective nature of experience.  
• Appreciate the contributions psychology research has made to health.  
• Apply knowledge to real world cases in the field of health psychology.  
• Apply scientific reasoning and evidence-based analysis to evaluate health psychology theories, research, ethical issues, and arguments.  
• Understand the process of theory development, and construct operationalise and critically evaluate research questions and methodologies in health psychology.  
• Understand and articulate the limitations of social cognition models in understanding health behaviour.  
• Employ, interrelate and systematically analyse different perspectives, methods, and theories to solve a broad range of health issues.   

• Work in groups
• Communicate effectively, presenting concise and persuasive arguments  

Students will receive verbal feedback on their essay plans in a dedicated face-to-face seminar as well as a grade and written feedback on their final coursework essay. 

Abraham, C., Conner, M., Jones, F., O'Connor, D. (2016). Health Psychology. Taylor and Francis.