Course Instructors
Dr. Duane Hargreaves
Phone: (905) 828-3957
Email: dhargrea@utm.utoronto.ca
Consultation Time: 11am - 12 noon Monday, Room 3055
Anna Nagy (Guest lecturer)
Email: annan@psych.utoronto.ca
Jennifer Coelho (Teaching Assistant)
Email: Jennifer@psych.utoronto.ca
Contents - Course Handbook
Contact Details………………………………………………………
Course instructor………………………………………………...
Guest lecturer..…..………………………………………………
Course Handbook Contents……...………………………………….
Learning Outcomes………………………………………………….
Course Outline (readings)...………………………………………...
General Information…………………………………………………
What to expect?…………………………………………………
Class contact…………………………………………………….
Assessment………………………………………………………
Textbook (readings on p. 2)………………………………….….
Lecture Outlines……………………………………………………..
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Learning Outcomes
Students who successfully complete this course should be able to:
 Understand the implications of the biopsychosocial model for health and illness
 Analyze and summarize the strengths and weaknesses of research in health psychology
 Describe the contribution a health psychologist can make to issues regarding health
 Produce written work in accordance with good scholarly practice and APA standards
 Write succinct position papers on issues concerning health psychology
 Show an understanding of how psychosocial variables impact on health behaviors and the development and progress of a variety of illnesses
Course Outline
Week Date Topic Readings
1 Jan 3 Introduction to Health Psychology -
Jan 10 Theory and Research in Health Psychology
Jan 17 Stress and Stress Management
Jan 24 Health Behaviors (False Hope)
Jan 31 Pain
Feb 7 Term Test #1 and Receiving Health Care
Feb 14 Reading Week (no lecture)
Feb 21 Cardiovascular Disease and Cancer
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Feb 28 Chronic Illness and AIDS
Mar 7 Future Directions for Health Psychology
Mar 14 Body Image, Eating, and Obesity
Mar 21 Super Surprise
Mar 28 Social influences on eating
Apr 4 Term Test #2
Chapter 1
Chapters 3, 4, 5
Chapter 6, 7
Chapters 11, 12
Chapters 9, 10
Chapter 14 (pp.
428-450)
Chapter 13, 14
(pp. 450-453)
Chapter 15 tba
- tba
-
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General Information
What to Expect?
Health Psychology refers to the contribution of psychology to the enhancement of health, the prevention and treatment of illness, understanding and modifying reactions to illness, the identification of health risk factors, the improvement of the health care system, and the shaping of public opinion with regard to health. In short, it involves the application of psychological principles to all areas of health broadly defined. The topic PSY333F
Health Psychology (1/2 credit) will introduce students to the broad issues, methods and theories in health psychology, in addition to some specific conditions (e.g., cardiovascular disease, cancer).
Class Contact
The topic will run over a 14-week period in Room SE3131. There will be 2 sessions per week (3 hours total). Most sessions will involve both a lecture and tutorial component.
Before each lecture, students should get a copy of the lecture handout by going to http://www.utm.utoronto.ca/~w3psy333/winter2005.htm
Assessment
Students will be assessed by two term papers (brief written assignments) and two term tests (multiple choice and short answer). All four pieces of assessment are compulsory.
Description % of total Due Date
Term Paper #1 20% Jan 24
Term Test #1
Term Paper #2
Term Test #2
25%
30%
25%
Feb 7
Mar 14
April 4 and 6
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Term Papers (Tutorial Assignments)
Students are asked to complete two brief term papers, designed to consider some application of health psychology. The maximum length for each assignment is 1000 words. Assignments will not be penalized if they are shorter than 1000 words (though they must address the key points!). However a penalty of 5% will apply for every 100 words over the limit. The assignments are to be submitted on the relevant due dates to
Duane Hargreaves.
Work submitted after the due date, if no extension has been approved before the due date, will be penalized by a reduction of 5% for each day that the work is late.
The assignments are designed to require the application of specific knowledge from this course and of psychological knowledge in general to the health arena. As such, they require more thinking, rather than reading and collecting new information. The references are provided as a background to thinking about and writing the assignment
(No additional reading is required ). Accordingly, student papers should not present large amounts of material from the readings. Rather, be selective and include only information that is appropriate to substantiate or explain the points you are making. Good papers will be concise, relevant and argue their position.
Students are encouraged to discuss their tutorial assignments with each other. However, each student must write and submit a paper for assessment. Any students found copying will be penalized according to the policies of the university.
Further information about the tutorial assignments will be presented during class (Paper
#1, introduced on September 20, Paper #2 introduced on November 1). During these classes we will do a practice assignment to prepare you for the assessed paper.
Term Tests
The term tests will require students to complete a combination of multiple choice, shortanswer, and essay questions. The tests will cover lecture materials, tutorials, and the set lecture readings in the text. Term Test #1 will assess the content of Lectures 1 to 5 (and associated readings). Term Test #2 will focus on the content of Lectures 6 to 12 (and associated readings), although some questions will require students to incorporate material from the earlier, previously examined lectures/readings.
Textbook
The textbook for the course is:
Sarafino, E.P. (2002). Health psychology: Biopsychosocial interactions. John Wiley.
Copies of the text are available for purchase at the U of T @ Mississauga bookstore .
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Lecture 1 – Introduction to Health Psychology
Part 1: Topic Introduction
In this informal introduction I will provide an overview of the course structure, course outline, required reading, assessment, and other relevant details of the course.
Part 2: Introduction to Health Psychology
What is Health?
Models of Health
 Biomedical Model
 Biopsychosocial Model
What is Health Psychology?
History of Health Psychology
Part 3: Scientist-Practitioner Model
Introduces the Boulder Model of psychological training, research and practice.
Lecture 2 – Theories and Research in Health Psychology
Part 1: Theory and Research in Health Psychology a) Health Belief Model b) Theory of Reasoned Action/Planned Behavior c) Research Design
Part 2: The Placebo Effect a) The placebo effect b) How the placebo effect works c) The nocebo effect d) Implications for research and practice
Part 3: Practice Assignment for Tutorial Assignment #1
We will carry out an exercise that is similar in nature to the first assignment. As well as working through the practice exercise in class, you will have the opportunity to raise any other questions associated with the assignment.
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Lecture 3 - Stress
Part 1: Stress
What is stress?
What causes stress?
How do we measure stress?
Part 2: Coping
What are the effects of stress on mental/physical health?
Moderating variables
Stress management
Part 3: Anna Nagy
Stress researcher. Anna will detail current research in the area of stress.
Lecture 4 – Health Behaviors
Part 1: Health-Enhancing Behaviors
How strong is the link between health and behavior? a) diet b) exercise
Part 2: Health-Harming Behaviors a) smoking b) alcohol
Part 3: Successful Self-Change a) Goal-Setting b) False Hope Syndrome
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Lecture 5 - Pain
Part 1: Pain
What is pain?
Physiology of pain perception (Gate Control Theory)
Psychology of pain perception (pain behaviors)
How do we measure pain? (McGill Pain Questionnaire)
Part 2: Pain Management
Physical/medical treatment (chemical analgesia, surgery, acupuncture)
Psychological intervention (hypnosis, biofeedback, relaxation training, CBT)
Part 3: Exam Revision
What to expect? Plus an opportunity to ask questions and try some practice questions.
Lecture 6 – Term Test #1 and Receiving Health Care
Parts 1 and 2: Term Test #1 (2 hours)
Multiple choice and short-answer questions covering the first 5 lectures.
Part 3: Receiving Health Care a) Seeking medical care b) Patient-practitioner relationships c) Adherence d) Hospitalization and noxious procedures
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Lecture 7 – Cardiovascular Disease and Cancer
Part 1: Cardiovascular Disease (CVD)
The cardiovascular system – revision of basic anatomy and physiology
Types of cardiovascular disorder/disease
Measures of cardiovascular health
Risk factors for CVD (non-modifiable and modifiable)
Psychological interventions for CVD (prevention and management)
Part 2: Cancer
Types and sites of cancer
Causes and consequences of cancer (Immune Surveillance Theory)
Risk factors for cancer (lifestyle, psychological)
Psychological reactions to cancer
The role of psychology in the treatment of cancer
Part 3: Practice Assignment for Tutorial Assignment #2
We will carry out an exercise that is similar in nature to the second assignment. As well as working through the practice exercise in class, you will have the opportunity to raise any other questions associated with the assignment.
Lecture 8 – Chronic Illness and AIDS
Part 1: Chronic Illness
Acute vs. Chronic Illness
Chronic illness as a crisis (Crisis Theory)
Part 2: Aids
What is AIDS? (Epidemiology, causes, treatment)
The role of psychology (living with AIDS, prevention, palliative care and bereavement)
Part 3: Circumcision and AIDS risk?
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Lecture 9 – Future Directions for Health Psychology
Part 1: Age, Gender, and Socioeconomic Status
Health across the lifespan
Ethnic, socioeconomic, and cultural factors
Gender differences
Part 2: Happy meals?
History of the fast food industry
Marketing success – marketing to children
Acute and chronic health costs (e.g., meat contamination, global obesity epidemic)
Social costs (e.g., employment conditions, agricultural practices)
What should be done? (individual intervention is not enough!)
Part 3: Exam Preparation
What to expect? Plus an opportunity to ask questions and try some practice questions.
Lecture 10 – Body Image: A Biopsychosocial Perspective
Part 1: Introduction to Body Image a) Assessment b) Health Implications c) Causes of Body Dissatisfaction d) Body Image Disorders (e.g., body dysmorphic disorder, eating disorders)
Part 2: Men’s Body Image a) Overview / Cultural Influences on Men’s Body Image b) Steroid Use
Lecture 12 – Term Test #2
Multiple choice, short answer questions (Lectures 6 – 12) and a brief essay question covering all 12 lectures.
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