SMP4127: Psychological and sociological approaches to health
The Psychological and sociological approaches to health module is led by Emma Hock. It runs in the Spring semester and is worth 15 credits.
Module description
There is increasing awareness amongst health professionals of the need to focus on social and psychosocial aspects of illness, as well as biomedical. This module provides an introduction to contemporary research in the field of health psychology covering both traditional mainstream approaches and newly emerging critical studies. It combines this with a sociological approach, studying how society is structured by looking at the patterns of relationships that have an existence over and above individuals and how this influences health and illness. In this respect it looks at how health is distributed as a consequence of how people are related to each other in a number of ways. This involves looking at how, for example, social class and gender relations result in varying patterns and experiences of health.
Topics covered include: approaches within health psychology, for example understanding and changing health behaviour, the role of psychology in health and illness, and the application and relevance of contemporary work in global and cultural context. The approach to sociology involves understanding how people share and shape understandings of what it means to be healthy or ill. We will explore how the meaning of health can shape encounters with various health professionals and how concepts of health and illness can shape and control the behaviour of different populations.
Objectives
- Identify the importance of sociological and psychological perspectives and develop a critical awareness of both these perspectives in understanding health and illness
- Compare, contrast and apply sociological and psychological approaches to understanding health and illness, and assess their relative strengths and weaknesses in relation to healthcare policy and practice
- Critically describe and evaluate debates concerning the relationship between psychological and sociological dimensions of health and the social and cultural context (including the public health policy context)
Teaching
This module can also be taken as part of the following courses:
This module is available Faculty-wide in any year as a DDP module
The module will be delivered via 12 sessions. Each session will introduce key concepts, theories, and substantive background material. Some sessions will also involve student-led discussions. These are intended to facilitate a deeper awareness of the material and provide an opportunity for an in-depth discussion of key concepts and theories as they relate to health promotion practice.
Students will be expected to read around each topic before each session. For those sessions involving student-led discussion, required research papers, reading and reflection on these articles will be expected to be undertaken before the relevant session.
Fees and funding
You can find out more about fees and funding for CPD modules in the School of Medicine and Population Health at the link below. We accept sponsored as well as self-funding students.
How to apply
Find out what you need to do to apply for a CPD module in the School of Medicine and Population Health.
Contact
For more information on this module, speak to the lead academics:
The content of our courses is reviewed annually to make sure it is up-to-date and relevant. Individual modules are occasionally updated or withdrawn. This is in response to discoveries through our world-leading research, funding changes, professional accreditation requirements, student or employer feedback, outcomes of reviews, and variations in staff or student numbers. In the event of any change we'll consult and inform students in good time and take reasonable steps to minimise disruption.
Information last updated:
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