MIND-BODY INTERACTIONS AND HEALTH
Psychology 188B, Winter Quarter 2012
Kinsey Pavilion 1240B, Tuesday/Thursday 12:30 – 1:45pm
Instructor: Professor Julie Bower, Ph.D.
Office: 5532D Franz Hall
Phone: 310-825-3004
Email: jbower@ucla.edu
Office Hours: Tuesday 2-3 pm and by appointment
TA: Alexandra Dupont, M.A.
Office: 1340C Franz Hall (middle building)
Email: ahdupont@ucla.edu
Office Hours: Mondays 3-4 pm and by appointment
Required Books:
Robert M. Sapolsky, Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers, 3rd Edition, Owl Books, 2004.
*There will also be additional materials posted on the course webpage
General Information:
In this course we will consider several broad questions: 1) do stress and other psychological
factors influence health and disease?; 2) what are the mechanisms through these factors “get
under the skin” to influence health?; and 3) do interventions that address these factors improve
health and well-being? The lay literature makes a number of claims about the effects of stress
on the body, and there is increasing use of mind-body treatments to help manage stress and
treat disease. However, the empirical literature suggests that these relationships are more
complex and controversial. In this class, we will consider scientific approaches to the questions
presented above, focusing on specific medical conditions and mind-body interventions.
Regular attendance is important, as I will cover material in lecture that is not included in your
readings. We will also be doing a variety of in-class activities that require your presence. In
addition, I strongly recommend that you do the required readings BEFORE each lecture, as this
will facilitate your understanding of the lecture material.
Grading will be based on the following assignments:
1. Self-study of stress, mood, and health (10% of grade). During the first 8 weeks of the
quarter, you will complete weekly diaries on-line that assess your stress, mood, and physical
symptoms, as well as aspects of your personality and other factors. We will look at the class
data to see what associations emerge, and if they are consistent with the empirical literature.
2. Activities and response papers (20% of grade). You will do a number of activities
designed to give you first-hand experience with the methods we’ll be learning about, as well as
some of the challenges of doing research on these methods. After each exercise, you will write
a one-page (double-spaced) “response” paper that addresses specific questions (which we will
provide). Papers will be due at the beginning of the following class period. You will need to
complete 4 activities and response papers to receive full credit.
3. Two exams (70% of grade; Exam 1 = 30%, Exam 2 = 40%). There will be two exams based
on readings and lectures. Each exam will focus on material included in the previous section,
although the final exam will include some comprehensive questions that include material from
the first weeks of the course.
Make-up exams: If you MUST re-schedule an exam, please contact Dr. Bower well before the
exam time so you can arrange to take a make-up exam prior to the regularly scheduled exam
date. Decisions concerning these exams are made on an individual basis, and it is not
guaranteed that you will be allowed to take an exam at other than the scheduled time. If you
are ill on the day of the exam, call Dr. Bower BEFORE the exam time. You will need to bring a
physician’s excuse to your make-up exam. Please note that make-up exams are generally
more difficult than scheduled exams.
Week
Date
Topic
Reading
Activity
1
1/10
1/12
Introduction and overview of stress
and stress response
Chapters 1 and 2
Quiz
2
1/17
1/19
Stress, depression, and
cardiovascular disease
Chapter 3;
ENRICHD trial
3
1/24
1/26
Stress and immune-related
diseases
Chapter 8 (p. 144 – 171);
Cognitive behavioral
stress management trial
4
1/31
2/2
Stress and cancer
Chapter 8 (p. 171 – 185);
Supportive expressive
group therapy and
commentary
5
2/7
EXAM 1
5
2/9
Mind over body: appraisal, coping,
and health
Chapter 13
6
2/14
2/16
Emotion regulation and health
Personality and health
Emotional expression trial;
Chapter 15
Emotional
expression
7
2/21
Positive affect trial;
Chapter 17
Gratitude/
kindness
2/23
The positive side: optimism, benefit
finding, and positive affect
Social factors and health
8
2/28
3/1
Body over mind: how your body
influences your mind
Sickness behavior paper;
Exercise trial
Exercise
9
3/6
3/8
Mind-body interventions:
mindfulness, yoga, Tai Chi
TBD
Mindfulness
10
3/13
3/15
Relevance to undergraduate life and
health, review
Chapter 18
Relaxation