PSYC 346 Health Psychology

General

• Acquire an understanding of the components of the field of health psychology.
• Be able to assess the credibility of health information dissemination within the media.
• Become more aware of cultural differences and similarities in health care attitudes, beliefs, and practices.
• Develop an understanding of the scientific methods employed by health psychologists and acquire some basic conceptual skills for interpreting and critically analyzing research.
• Gain an appreciation for the importance of cultural context in health and disease.
• Learn about evidence for the roles of central psychosocial constructs, such as stress, coping, personality, and social support, in health risks and outcomes.
• Learn about the mechanisms through which psychological and social factors (e.g. poverty, culture, racism, sexism, etc.) might influence physical health.
• Understand and critically analyze the roles of oppression, culture, and social identities in health behavior and health care access.