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WESTERN UNIVERSITY
LONDON
CANADA
Department of Psychology
Psychology 2036B - 001 (#1021)
The Psychology of Physical Health and Illness
(Winter, 2015)
CALENDAR DESCRIPTION: This course will cover the role of psychological factors in the
prevention of illness and the maintenance of good health, as well as the treatment of already-existing
illness. Topics will include the stress/illness relation, psychological influences on physical symptom
perception and reporting, personality and health, behavioral factors in disease, coping, adherence, and
compliance.
Antirequisites: Psychology 3330F/G.
3 lecture hours, 0.5 course.
Antirequisites are courses that overlap sufficiently in content that only one can be taken for
credit. So if you take a course that is an antirequisite to a course previously taken, you will
lose credit for the earlier course, regardless of the grade achieved in the most recent course.
COURSE INFORMATION
Instructor:
Office:
Phone:
Email:
Office Hours:
Dr. Doug Hazlewood
Rm. 6330 SSC
(519) 661-2111, ext. 84663
hazlewoo@uwo.ca
Mondays and Tuesdays, 5:30 - 6:30 pm (or by appointment).
Teaching Assistant:
Email:
Office:
Office Hours:
Kevin Doyle
kdoyle47@uwo.ca
TBA (see exam review sign-up sheets for location)
By appointment to review your exams (sign-up times will be available in class and
posted on my office door).
Course Website:
https://owl.uwo.ca
Classes:
Mondays, 7 - 10 pm; SSC 2050
Textbook:
Taylor, S.E. & Sirois, F.M. (2014)
Health Psychology (3rd Canadian ed.)
New York: McGraw-Hill Ryerson.
I’ve put four copies of the textbook on 2-hour reserve in Weldon library. Rather than purchasing the
hard-copy textbook, you might want to consider the electronic version. Details are available from the
bookstore or the publisher’s website. You are NOT responsible for purchasing anything else from the
publisher’s website. Keep in mind that you are also expected to learn the lecture material.
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COURSE OBJECTIVES
The purpose of this course is to examine how scientific theories and empirical findings in the field of
health psychology have contributed to our understanding of physical health promotion and disease
prevention. Emphasis will be placed on understanding how biological, psychological, and social factors
interact to influence (1) the creation, maintenance, and alleviation of physical illness, and (2) the
promotion of well-being.
COURSE FORMAT
The primary course format will be lectures. Nevertheless, questions and discussions are desired and
encouraged. Indeed, the last portion of each lecture will be set aside as a forum for discussing your
thoughts about the material. All students are encouraged to participate in these discussions.
Alternatively, students can organize their own informal discussion groups.
STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES
(1) Lecture Attendance:
Material covered in lectures will not always be the same as material covered in the textbook; these two
sources of information should be viewed as complimentary, not redundant. As such, students who want
to do well in this course are strongly encouraged to attend lectures on a regular basis. Also, please note
that I will not be providing copies of lecture notes or slides. Therefore, if you miss a lecture, you should
try to obtain this material from another student. I recommend that you contact a fellow student early in
the term, and arrange to exchange notes in case either of you are forced to miss a lecture. You should
not provide notes to students who are “chronically” absent.
(2) Minimizing Distractions:
To avoid unnecessary distractions, please arrive to each class on time, ensure that your cell phone is off,
and avoid “private” conversations with the person sitting next to you!
In a class this large, some students will be unaware that their private conversations are distracting to
other students. If you feel that students are distracting your attention from the material, then you should
ask them to be quiet. If you feel uncomfortable doing this (or if the problem persists), then please see
me and I will arrange to meet privately with the students. At this meeting, the students will be given an
opportunity to explain their behavior. I will explain why their behavior is distracting or disruptive, and
outline the penalties that will be imposed if the behavior continues. To ensure early documentation of
the problem, and fair consideration of the appropriate penalty, a report of this meeting will be sent to the
Department of Psychology, the Dean of Social Science, and the Ombudsperson’s office.
(3) Policy on Cheating (and other Academic Offences):
Scholastic offences are taken very seriously at Western. Therefore, students must be familiar with the
appropriate policies, including the definition of what constitutes a Scholastic Offence. This can be
found at the following web site: Scholastic Offences at Western.
Cheating is a very serious academic offence and it will not be tolerated. As of September 1, 2009, the
Department of Psychology requires that all multiple-choice tests and exams be checked for similarities in
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the pattern of responses, using reliable software. In addition, records will be made of student seating
locations during all tests and exams. If a similar pattern of responses is detected, students will be
reported to the Dean’s office for further investigation and possible disciplinary action.
The penalties for cheating can include refusal of a passing grade on the test/exam; refusal of a passing
grade in the course; suspension from the University; and expulsion from the University.
To avoid any suspicion of cheating, please take the following steps:
(i) If you studied with another student, then do not sit near this person during the tests/exams.
Students who study together are more likely to have similar answers.
(ii) Keep your answers covered so students sitting near you do not have the opportunity to cheat from
your exam.
(iii) If you suspect that someone is cheating from your exam, then immediately notify the course
instructor or one of the proctors. That way, a record can be made of the incident, and
alternative seating arrangements can be provided.
(4) Make-up Exams:
Students will be allowed to write “make-up” exams only under special circumstances. These include
medical or compassionate reasons, and must be substantiated with proper documentation as soon as
possible (e.g., medical certification verifying that you are unable to write an exam; certificates stating
“for medical reasons” are not sufficient). Please note that the documentation must be submitted to
(and approved by) an academic counsellor in your Dean’s office. A student who misses an exam for
any other reason, or who is unable to substantiate a claim in a timely fashion, will be assigned a grade of
zero for that exam. In fairness to all, no exceptions to this policy will be allowed.
Please see the POLICY ON ACCOMMODATION FOR MEDICAL ILLNESS - UNDERGRADUATE
STUDENTS at http://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/appeals/accommodation_medical.pdf
for additional information on appropriate documentation.
(5) Policy Regarding Illness:
If you feel that you have a medical or personal problem that is interfering with your work, then you
should contact your Faculty Academic Counselling Office as soon as possible. Problems may then be
documented and possible arrangements to assist you can be discussed at the time of occurrence, rather
than retroactively. In general, retroactive requests for grade revisions on medical or compassionate
grounds will not be considered.
ACCESSIBILITY
Please contact the course instructor if you require material in an alternate format or if you require any
other arrangements to make this course more accessible to you. You may also wish to contact Services
for Students with Disabilities (SSD) at 519-661-2111 ext 82147 for any specific question regarding an
accommodation.
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OTHER INFORMATION
See below (p. 7 - 11) for answers to some “Frequently Asked Questions” (FAQs).
Please read carefully the Department of Psychology document entitled Student Responsibilities at
http://psychology.uwo.ca/undergradresponsibilities.htm for information regarding: Policy on cheating
and academic misconduct; Policy on makeup exams/extensions of deadlines (including appropriate
documentation); Procedures for appealing academic evaluations; and other issues.
Additional information is provided on our course web site (OWL), including
(1) Tips for using email;
(2) Tips for learning the material and performing well on exams; and
(3) a description of How I create “fair” exams.
Please read this material carefully and contact me if you have any questions.
Other Useful Web sites:
Office of the Registrar: http://registrar.uwo.ca
Student Development Services: http://www.sdc.uwo.ca
Having academic problems? See http://counselling.ssc.uwo.ca/procedures/havingproblems.asp
If you or someone you know is experiencing distress, there are several resources here at Western to assist
you. Please visit http://www.uwo.ca/uwocom/mentalhealth/ for more information about these resources.
EVALUATION
The Psychology Department follows the University of Western Ontario grading guidelines, which are
as follows:
A+
A
B
C
D
F
90 - 100
80 - 89
70 - 79
60 - 69
50 - 59
below 50
One could scarcely expect better from a student at this level.
Superior work that is clearly above average.
Good work, meeting all requirements, and eminently satisfactory.
Competent work, meeting requirements.
Fair work, minimally acceptable.
Fail.
Note that the Psychology Department expects 2000-level courses (such as this one) to have final grade
averages near 70%.
Grades in this course will be based on three multiple-choice exams. Students are responsible for
material assigned in the textbook, as well as material covered in lectures. The First Exam (January 26),
worth 25% of the final grade, will cover material from January 5 through January 19. The Second
Exam (March 2), worth 35% of the final grade, will cover material from February 2 through February
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23. The Final Exam (during the Final Exam period in April), worth 40% of the final grade, will cover
material from March 9 through April 6.
Grades will be sent to your uwo.ca email address as soon as possible after each exam. Please be sure
that your inbox is not full.
NOTE: Grades cannot be adjusted on the basis of “need”. In addition, students will not be given the
opportunity to improve their grades by completing “extra” assignments. As such, it is important that you
monitor your performance on exams and take steps to eliminate any problems as soon as possible, so the
problems do not interfere with your performance on subsequent exams.
To review your exam performance, please sign-up for a time (posted in class). Review sessions will be
organized by the TA for a two-week period after each exam. You must sign-up during these times. If
you cannot be available for a sign-up time, then please contact the TA to schedule an appointment.
Appointments should be made no later than three weeks after the exam.
When reviewing your exams, please keep in mind that the TA did not write the exam questions and is
not responsible for explaining why a particular answer is correct. After reviewing your exam, please feel
free to contact me (Dr. Doug) if you have any questions or concerns. Note: Please review the
“frequently asked questions” (below) if you have any questions about the posted grades (e.g., why your
grade is not posted, etc.).
SUMMARY OF EXAMINATION SCHEDULE:
Exam 1
January 26, 2015
Material: January 5 - January 19
25%
Exam 2
March 2, 2015
Material: February 2 - February 23
35%
Exam 3
Date, Time, and Location to be announced
Material: March 9 - April 6
40%
Note 1: Exams will cover material from the textbook and lectures.
Note 2: You must go to your assigned room! Room assignments will be announced in class, posted on
the course web site, and posted on my office door a few days prior to each exam. Please do not
contact the department secretaries for this information!!
Note 3: Electronic devices (e.g., cell phones, dictionaries, ipods/earbuds) are NOT permitted during
exams. Please leave these devices at home or in your book bag.
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LECTURE SCHEDULE:
Weekly Topics and Reading Schedule
Jan 5
Introduction to the Course
------
Jan 12
What is Health Psychology
The Systems of the Body
Ch 1
Ch 2 [omit LO3]
Jan 19
Health Behaviors
Ch 3
Jan 26
EXAM 1 (25%)
Jan 5 - 19
Feb 2
Health-Enhancing Behaviors
Health-Compromising Behaviors
Ch 4 [omit LO4]
Ch 5 [omit LO2, 3, 5]
Feb 9
Stress
Moderators of the Stress Experience
Ch 6
Ch 7
Feb 16
Reading Week (no class)
-----
Feb 23
Using Health Services
Patient-Provider Relations
Ch 8
Ch 9
Mar 2
EXAM 2 (35%)
Feb 2 - 23
Mar 9
Pain and its Management
Ch 10
Mar 16
Living with Chronic Illness
Psychological Issues in Advancing and Terminal Illness
Ch 11
Ch 12
Mar 23
Conditions of the Immune System I: Psychoneuroimmunology
Ch 14 [read LO1]
Mar 30
Conditions of the Immune System II: AIDS
Ch 14 [read LO2]
Omit LO3 & LO4
April 6
Summary and Review
Health Psychology: Challenges for the Future
TBA
FINAL EXAM (40%)
Date, Time, and Location to be announced
Note 1: Chapter 13 will not be covered in this course.
Note 2: Exams will cover textbook and lecture material.
Note 3: There will be no lecture after the exams.
Ch 15
Mar 9 - Apr 6
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Answers to “Frequently Asked Questions” (FAQ’s)
As we proceed through the course, students often have questions that could affect their progress. To
facilitate your progress, I’ve provided answers to some of these Frequently Asked Questions. Many of
these questions focus on exams, so I’ll begin with these. Please feel free to contact me if you have any
other questions.
FAQ’s PRIOR TO EXAMS
Q: I don’t have access to this course from OWL. What should I do?
A: If you don’t have access, then you are not officially registered in the course. It’s possible that you
registered late (in which case I can add your name to OWL if you send me your UWO email
“username” [the part before @uwo.ca]). This will give you access to the course web site, but it
does NOT ensure that you are officially registered in the course! Therefore, please check the
Registrar’s website to ensure that you are officially registered. We cannot submit final grades
if students are not officially registered in the course.
Q: I’m experiencing problems with OWL. Can you help?
A: It’s best to ask the experts at the ITS Support Centre (SSB 4100; 519-661-3800;
http://itshelp.uwo.ca).
Q: Do we have to know any lecture material that is not on the slides (e.g., examples you give)?
A: Yes! Material on the slides is designed to help you organize your notes by outlining the basic topics
(and subtopics). In addition, I will often use examples to expand upon this material. Sometimes
these examples are perceived as “ramblings” that are not important. Note, however, that some of
the exam questions will be derived from these examples! As such, even if it seems like I’m
rambling, or restating a point that was already made, you should not ignore the examples I
provide in class. A good rule of thumb: If I’m talking about something in class, then it’s likely
I’ll ask a question about it, even if the material is not on the slides.
Q: I missed a lecture. Can you provide me with the “lecture notes” and/or “slides”?
A: No. Try to get this information from another student. If anything is unclear, please see me during my
office hours (or schedule an appointment to meet with me).
Q: I know you do not provide lecture notes or slides, but could you make an exception for me?
A. No. See answer to previous question.
Q. I missed a video that was shown in class. Can you arrange a “second showing”?
A. No. See answers to previous questions.
Q: Are the exams cumulative?
A: No.
Q: What textbook chapters will be covered on the upcoming exam?
A: See “Summary of Examination Schedule”. Remember, lecture material will also be covered.
Q: How much detail do we have to remember from the textbook?
A: I try to avoid asking questions that focus on the smallest details. Nevertheless, some of the exam
questions will focus on specific details, so be sure to read the textbook carefully.
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Q: Do we have to know all the names and dates in the textbook?
A: No. Only names/dates that I emphasize in lectures.
Q: Do we have to know material in the textbook “Figures”?
A: Yes. The Figures are designed to supplement the textbook material (e.g., by providing a graphic
depiction of research findings, or a visual representation of basic concepts/ideas). As such, they
will help you understand the material.
Q: Do we have to know material in the “Recommended Reading” boxes and the “Web Links”?
A: Unless I discuss this material in lectures, it will not be tested on the exams. Nevertheless, you are
strongly encouraged to explore this material if you want to increase your knowledge and
competence in the area of how Psychology can be applied to everyday life.
Q: Are we responsible for watching the videos mentioned in the “Reel Research” boxes?
A: No (I think you have to pay extra to view these videos). Just be familiar with the video descriptions
provided in the textbook.
Q: Do we have to know the “Application” sections at the end of each chapter?
A: Yes. These will be treated like other textbook material when it comes to exam questions.
Q: Where do I go to write the exam?
A: You must write the exam in your assigned room. Room assignments will be announced in class one
week before the exam. They will also be posted on the course web site and my office door.
Therefore, please do not phone or email us (or the department secretaries!) for this
information.
Q: I can’t write the exam at the scheduled time, and want to write the makeup exam. When is it
scheduled? Will it be the same format?
A: As indicated on the course syllabus, makeup exams are granted under a limited set of circumstances,
and must be supported by proper documentation (see the Psychology Department’s website for
additional information regarding documentation). Documentation must be approved by your
Dean’s office. After the documentation is received and approved, a makeup exam will be
scheduled. At that time, we will also discuss the exam format. In the meantime, it is your
responsibility to ensure that the documentation is submitted as soon as possible.
Q: I’m swamped by three exams in a 24 hour period! Can I write the makeup for our 1st (or 2nd)
exam?
A: No. According to Senate regulations, the dates for these exams must be clearly indicated on the
course outline during the first class. This advanced warning should give all students enough time
to adjust their schedules so they are prepared for the exams. If this information was not
provided, then you should contact the professor (he/she might be in violation of a Senate
Regulation). The only exception involves Final Exams. If you have three Final Exams in a 24
hour period, then you should contact the academic counselors in your Dean’s office. They will
explain the procedures you should follow, and provide you with the appropriate forms.
Q: I have two exams at the same time. What should I do?
A: In the case of midterm exams, you should contact the professor in your other course to arrange a
makeup exam. Professors cannot force you to miss our class; if they have scheduled an exam
that conflicts with our class, then they must provide an alternative time for makeup exams. Upon
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request, I will provide the professor with appropriate documentation indicating that you have
another obligation in our course (if you are officially registered in our course). In the case of
Final Exams, you should contact the academic counselors in your Dean’s office to discuss the
various options.
FAQ’s DURING EXAMS
Q: Can I ask questions during the exams?
A: To be fair to all students, NO questions will be allowed during the exams. I cannot help you define
any “concepts” or “words” on the exams. I cannot discuss what you remember from the textbook
or the lectures (because some questions are designed to test your memory of this material). I
cannot tell you whether the “reasoning” behind your chosen answer is correct, because that’s the
same as telling you whether or not your answer is correct. Obviously that’s not something we
should discuss during the exam! I cannot help you decide what to do if you think two options are
correct (except to tell you to choose the best option). Note that we CAN discuss these issues
AFTER the exams, but we cannot discuss them during the exams.
Q: Can I use the washroom during the exams?
A: If it is a medical emergency, the answer is Yes! Otherwise, students should not leave the room during
exams. The exams are designed to take less than two hours to complete. Students should use the
washroom before the exams.
Q: A student sitting near me is “sniffling”. It’s very distracting. Can you ask the student to blow
his/her nose?
A: Yes. For now, I encourage all students to bring tissues so they can blow their noses if they have the
sniffles during exams.
Q: Can I stay in the exam room for the full amount of time?
A: Yes. But the time provided for exams is designed to ensure that all students can complete the exams
in less than the allotted time (so they don’t feel any “time pressure”). Please do not feel that you
have to stay in the exam room until the last minute!
Q: Does the time allowed for the exams include filling in the scantron, or do we get extra time for
this?
A: You DO NOT get extra time! When the exam ends, your scantron will be removed and blank
answers will be recorded as incorrect answers. See previous question.
FAQ’s AFTER EXAMS
Q: When will the exam grades be posted?
A: As soon as possible. Check your uwo.ca email inbox and please be patient.
Q: I missed the exam. Can we simply re-weight my final grade?
A: No. Students must demonstrate their mastery of all material in the course. If you receive permission
from your Dean’s office, then you will be given an opportunity to write a makeup exam.
Otherwise, you will receive a zero on the exam. See the next question.
Q: I missed the exam. When can I write the makeup?
A: As indicated on the course outline, you cannot write a makeup exam until you receive permission
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from your Dean’s office. Documentation is required. Please see the course outline for further
details, and submit the documentation as soon as possible. If you miss the makeup, it is possible
that you will not be given another opportunity to write it (and a grade of zero will be recorded).
Q: I missed the makeup exam. What should I do?
A: This is a very serious situation. You should contact your Dean’s office as soon as possible if there is
anything that is preventing you from writing exams and makeup exams at the scheduled times.
Please ask the Dean’s office to contact me.
Q: You posted an announcement on OWL that the grades were emailed, but I didn’t receive the
email. What should I do?
A: Check that your email inbox is not full (delete any old messages and empty the Trash folder). Then,
email me (hazlewoo@uwo.ca) as soon as possible. There might have been a problem recording
your grade if you entered your student number incorrectly on the scantron, so be sure to include
your correct student number in the email.
Q: How can I review my performance on the exams?
A: First, make an appointment with the TA during the sign-up times provided in class. You should look
closely at the questions you got wrong and ask yourself (1) “Why did I get these wrong” and (2)
“How can I prevent the same mistake in the future?”. Note: You should NOT ask the TA why
you got questions wrong. This is something you have to diagnose on your own (but feel free to
contact me! See next question).
Q: I’d like to discuss some of the exam questions. Who should I see?
A: After reviewing your exam with the TA, mark these questions on the answer sheet (provided by the
TA). The TA will forward the answer sheet to me. We can then discuss these questions during
my office hours (or you can see me after class to make an appointment). Please note that I
cannot make adjustments to your grade. See next question.
Q: I thought Question [xx] was ambiguous/unfair. Would you consider dropping this question?
A: Yes! Ambiguous/unfair questions are easy to spot, because most students get these questions wrong.
When this occurs, I automatically eliminate the question (see the web site document: How I
create fair exams for more information). The only exception occurs when the question is based
on lecture material. I realize that not all students will attend lectures and not all attending
students will think carefully about the material. If you are one of these students, then you should
anticipate that some lecture questions will seem ambiguous or unfair. On the other hand, if you
attend every lecture, and think carefully about the material (including the examples that I
provide), then you should not have any problem with these questions.
Q: I’m not doing as well as I would like on the exams and was wondering if you can provide any tips
for improving my performance.
A: First, see the web site document entitled “Tips for Learning the Material and Performing Well on
Exams”. Second, review your exams to identify exactly what you’re doing wrong (this should be
done as soon as possible after the first exam). Finally, see me to discuss possible solutions to the
problems you’re experiencing.
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HERE ARE SOME COMMON QUESTIONS ABOUT “ASKING QUESTIONS”:
Q: Can I ask you questions before class?
A: Yes. I have office hours Mondays and Tuesdays from 5:30 - 6:30 pm, so feel free to meet with me
then (note, please don’t stop by at 6:25 unless you have a very short question). Typically, I’ll be
in class 20 minutes before the lecture begins. However, during this time, I’ll be organizing the
room and setting up the equipment (e.g., computer, overhead projectors, etc). If I look like I’m
busy with this, then it is not a good time to ask questions. Once everything is set-up, I can
answer questions. Keep in mind that I want to begin class at 7 pm sharp (so use your own
judgment when asking questions a few minutes before the class begins).
Q: Can I ask you questions during the break or after the lecture?
A: Yes! These are especially good times to ask questions about the lecture material, because it will be
fresh in our minds. Although I won’t be able to answer many questions during the 10 minute
break (use your best judgment if it looks like we’re near the end of the break), we will have time
for questions after the lecture. Indeed, when the lecture ends, we’ll set aside the remaining class
time for questions and discussions.
Q: Can I ask you questions during the lecture?
A: Yes! This is particularly important if the lecture material is unclear. Although I will make every
effort to be as clear as possible, I realize that I might not always succeed. For this reason, I will
occasionally pause and ask whether you have any questions. If my presentation is not clear; if
there is a concept that has not been defined; if you don’t have the basic information that is
required to understand the lecture material, then please do not hesitate to ask for clarification.
Often, the lecture material will be clear, but students have other questions that go beyond the
lecture material. In this case, you should use your best judgment and consider the following: (1)
Will this question cause us to go on a tangent that takes us away from the focus of the lecture?
(2) Is this a question we could discuss at the end of the lecture? In a class of 400 students, I’m
reluctant to go on tangents introduced by a single student. Indeed, in the past, it seems that for
every student who benefitted from the discussion, I hear from 10 students who thought it was a
waste of time and interfered with the flow of lecture material. Therefore, if in doubt, put a
question mark in your notes and ask the question at the end of the lecture. For now, I look
forward to your questions and our discussions!