1 Introduction to Health Psychology Instructor: Arnold Kozak, Ph.D. The University of Vermont Instructor’s Contact Information: Office: Dewey 106 Phone: 656-4532 Email: [email protected] Office Hours: Wednesdays 3:00 to 4:00 and by appointment Course Information: PSYC 255 Spring 2009 MWF 11:45 to 12:35 Dewey 212 Learning is not a spectator sport. Students do not learn much just by sitting in class listening to teachers, memorizing prepackaged assignments, and spitting out answers. They must talk about what they are learning, write about it, relate it to past experiences, apply it to their daily lives. They must make what they learn part of themselves. Course Description: This course will explore how psychology (that is, the mind) affects health and health-related behavior. We will look at the mind from different perspectives: philosophical, cross-cultural, psychological, and experiential. The term mind-body has gained much currency in our culture, and the practice of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is gaining increasing popularity. We will examine the mind-body relationship in depth by reviewing psychophysiological disorders, stress and immune system functioning, placebo responses, and a host of related issues and topics. You will be invited (and required!) to apply health psychology principles to your own experience. Monitoring of health status will be an ongoing requirement, and you have the opportunity to learn, practice, and apply different modalities of health-enhancing interventions (see Health Monitoring and Behavior Change Assignment below). Course Goals: By the end of this course, students will be able to: (1) Articulate the scope and functions of the health psychologist (2) Have a working familiarity with mind-body issues (3) Become familiar with mind-body approaches in medicine (4) Apply principles of health psychology to your own health (5) Have thorough understanding of stress and its health implications Prerequisites: Psyc 001 and 109 or adv stand Allied Health Sci Psyc mjrs/minors ELK6, FCSE, PE, ECP, ECSP majors . Required Texts: We will read STRAUB’s health psychology textbook, which provides an excellent overview of the field. In addition, we will read the very well written and entertaining book Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers, by Robert Sapolsky, a leading stress researcher. This book is written for a general audience and will steep us in the central topic of stress, which stands at the frontier of mind-body medicine.2 Straub, R. O. (2007). Health Psychology: A Biopsychosocial Approach, 2nd edition. New York: Worth. * Please note: we will not read every chapter of this text, nor will we read them in perfect sequence * Sapolsky, R. M. (2004). Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers, 3rd edition. New York: Owl Books. Young-Eisendrath, Polly (2008). The Self-Esteem Trap: Raising Confident and Compassionate Kids in an Age of Self-Importance (recommended reading for extra credit) Extra Credit: The Self-Esteem Trap is an important book for your generation. I encourage you to read it and see how it applies to your life. Write a 2-page (double-spaced) report on the relevance of the Self-Esteem trap for your life. In particular, try to relate it to the topics we’ve covered in class. Due by the last day of classes. Expectations: You are expected to participate fully in this course. This requires attendance, doing the readings on time, engaging with the material, and being willing to discuss it. Obviously too, you are expected to complete all assignments according to the instructions detailed in the syllabus. When we are in class you are expected to pay attention. Cell phones should be turned off; no text messaging. If you use a laptop it must only be used for taking notes. Breaches of etiquette will affect your participation grade. Policies: Grading Policy: Attendance is integral to this course and will be taken at every class. More than three unexcused absences will result in deductions in your grade. If you miss more than three classes 5 points will be deducted from your final grade point total. If you miss more than 6 classes 10 points will be deducted. 10 or more absences will result in a 20 point deduction. Excused absences include serious medical illness, family emergencies, and so forth. See the University policies below: Students are expected to attend all regularly scheduled classes. The instructor has the final authority to excuse absences. It is the responsibility of the instructor to inform students of his or her policy for handling absences and tardiness, and the penalties that may be imposed. Notification should be done both verbally and in writing at the beginning of each semester. It is the responsibility of the student to inform the instructor regarding the reason for absence or tardiness from class, and to discuss these with the instructor in advance whenever possible. The instructor has the right to require documentation in support of the student's request for an excuse from class. If an out-of-class exam is scheduled which conflicts with a regularly scheduled class, the regularly scheduled class has priority.3 Religious Holidays: Students have the right to practice the religion of their choice. Each semester students should submit in writing to their instructors by the end of the second full week of classes their documented religious holiday schedule for the semester. Faculty must permit students who miss work for the purpose of religious observance to make up this work Statement on students with disabilities Accommodations for Students with Disabilities: If you have a disability for which you are or may be requesting accommodations, please contact UVM’s ACCESS Office (Accommodation, Consultation, Collaboration & Educational Support Services) by phone (656-7753) or email ([email protected]). That office will guide you through the processes that are required for accommodations to be made. Grading Summary: Participation (based on involvement with classroom discussions) :: 20% PKC Wellness Coupler Report :: 10% Health Monitoring and Behavior Change paper :: 40% Quizzes :: 30% Extra Credit report on