Health Psychology

This course will provide an introduction to health psychology, which examines the “application of psychological principles and research to the enhancement of health, and the prevention and treatment of illness.” The course will examine the role of behavioral, biological, psychological, social, and cultural factors that influence the maintenance of health, the onset of illness, and the treatment of disease. Readings will focus on health behaviors related to diet, physical activity, sleep, and positive mood/self-regulation. With each topic, we will examine departures from health as exemplified by obesity and eating disorders, physical inactivity (and its cardiovascular consequences), sleep disorders, addiction, and stress. Methods of coping with and treating these common conditions will be reviewed. Several classes will be devoted to examining the consequences and management of several major chronic illnesses including pain, heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and HIV/AIDS. The patient’s experience of having an illness and seeking treatment, on either an outpatient (doctor’s office) or inpatient (hospital) basis, will be discussed, as will the role of complementary and alternative medicine