module specification

N.B. from 2012-13 this module will be taught at Holloway road Building

This module focuses on the ways that psychological factors impact on the maintenance of health, addiction and the development of illness.

To examine and evaluate the main psychological and behavioural influences on health and addiction;
To examine the way these are mediated and integrated in theoretical models;
To evaluate the scope that psychosocial factors offer for interventions to promote health and deal with addictions.

Social cognition models (e.g. self-efficacy, locus of control, HBM, TPB); personality and health (e.g. type A behaviour and heart disease, optimistic biases); cognitive and behavioural influences on eating and addictive behaviours; stress, coping and social support

Twelve  3 hour, class-based sessions with lectures, presentations and seminar work. Students will also be required to carry out substantial independent learning.

On successful completion of this module students will be able to:
1. Discuss and evaluate cognitive and emotional processes that influence health and addiction with reference to providing a client formulation reports;
2. Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of how theoretical models explain cognitive and emotional processes in health and addiction;
3. Critically evaluate research in an area of cognitive and emotional influences on health;
4. Explain the application of cognitive and emotional processes to health and health promotion.

The module is assessed in three ways:
1. A critical review of a research article between 1,800 - 2,000 words on one of the key topics in the module.
2.  A client formulation report based on a case scenario between 1,800 - 2,000 words.
3. Students are expected to attend all scheduled sessions.  Although there may be occasions when circumstances prevent students from attending (e.g. illness), a minimum of 80% attendance is required overall.  For this module this means attending a minimum of 10 of the 12 sessions. Students who leave after signing the register but before the session completes will not be given credit for attendance.

Armitage, C. & Conner, P. (2000). Social Cognition Models and Health Behaviour: A Structured Review. Psychology and Health. Vol 15, pp173-189.
Bartlett, D (1998). Stress: Perspectives and Processes. Buckingham: OUP
Brown, G.W. & Harris, T.O. (1989) Life events and illness. London: Unwin Hyman.
Cohen, S. & Wills, T.A. (1985). Stress, social support and the buffering hypothesis. Psychological Bulletin, 98, 310-357.
Conner, M. & Norman, P. (2005). Predicting health behaviour. Buckingham: OUP.
Frances, R. J., Miller, S. I., & Mack, A. H. (Eds.). (2005). Clinical Textbook of Addictive Disorders Guilford Press.
Friedman, H.S. & Booth-Kewley, S. (1988). Validity of the Type A construct: a reprise. Psychological Bulletin, 104, 381-384.
Gossop, M. (2003). Drug Addiction and Its Treatment Oxford: OUP.
Ingham, R. & Aggleton, P. (2006).  Promoting young people's sexual health: international perspectives.  London: Routledge.
Jones, F. & Bright, J. (2001) Stress: Myth, Theory and Research. Harlow: Pearson Educaiton Limited.
Lazarus, R.S. & Folkman, S. (1984). Stress, appraisal and coping. New York: Springer.
Lowinson, J. H., Langrod, J. G., Millman, R. B., & Ruiz, P. (Eds.). (2004). Substance Abuse: A Comprehensive Textbook Lippincott Williams and Wilkins
Norman, P. , Abraham, C. & Conner, M (2000). Understanding and Changing Health Behaviour: From Health Beliefs to Self-regulation. The Netherlands: Harwood Academic Publishers.
Orford, J., (2001) Excessive Appetites: A Psychological View of Addictions.
West, R., (2006) Theory of Addiction. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing.