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PHS839

Psychological Foundation Of Healthy Behaviour And Change

This course introduces students to the psychological foundation of healthy behavior and change. It explores the psychological bases and determinants of behavior, healthy behavior, and change. The course focuses on how behavior influences health and aims to help individuals and communities change behaviors that contribute to health and well-being. It also examines psychological factors influencing healthy behavior choices and ways to motivate people to make better choices.

About this course

Difficulty
Intermediate
Study hours
45 hours
Maths
None
Content
Theoretical, case study
Practical work
No
How it is assessed
  • Assignments
  • Tutor marked assignments
  • Final examination

One paragraph, so you can see how it reads

PHS839 · UNIT 2 DETERMINATION OF HUMAN BEHAVIOUR

Each individual enters the world with certain heredity characteristics transmitted to him through his parents. He grows up in to a certain environment with its human, social and material surroundings. Everything he does as child or an adult result from the complex interaction between heredity and environment. The following points explains the interplay between heredity and environment.

What you should be able to do

  1. Understand the psychological foundations of healthy behavior and change.
  2. Evaluate the role of behavior in the aetiology of health and illness.
  3. Apply psychological principles to promote healthy behavior and prevent illness.
  4. Analyze the interaction between psychological variables and physiological changes.
  5. Develop strategies for changing beliefs and behavior to prevent illness onset.
  6. Explain the psychological factors influencing health behavior choices.

What it prepares you for

Careers
  • Health Psychologist
  • Public Health Educator
  • Behavioral Therapist
  • Wellness Coach
  • Mental Health Counselor
Where it is applied
  • Healthcare
  • Public Health
  • Wellness Programs
  • Community Health Organizations
  • Mental Health Services

Where it gets hard

The units students slow down on, and what makes each one heavy.

  • Module 2: Psychological foundation of health and illness Behaviour Change

    Unit 1: Overview and theories to understand Health and illness behavior

    Understanding the interplay of biological, psychological, and social factors requires critical thinking and integration of diverse concepts.

  • Module 2: Psychological foundation of health and illness Behaviour Change

    Unit 2: Behavioural change process and theories

    Applying behavior change theories to real-world scenarios and understanding their limitations requires analytical skills and practical application.

  • Module 3: Unhealthy Behaviours and Beliefs

    Unit 1: Sick Role and psychological intervention for illness behaviour

    Requires understanding of complex psychological interventions and their application to diverse patient populations.

A suggested way through it

Suggested

13 weeks, about 31 hours in total. Yours will differ.

  1. Week 1Module 1: Psychological Foundations
    • Unit 1: The foundation of Psychology and Behaviour · 2 hours

      Read the introduction to psychology and behavior.. Understand the goals and challenges of psychology.. Identify and classify psychology into major categories..

  2. Week 2Module 1: Psychological Foundations
    • Unit 2: Determination of Human Behaviour · 2 hours

      Explore the meaning of behavior and its complexity.. Understand heredity and environment in the determination of behavior.. Describe the interplay of biological and environmental factors..

  3. Week 3Module 1: Psychological Foundations
    • Unit 3: Models/Theories of psychology · 2 hours

      Appreciate the role of theories in psychology studies.. Show the strength of some theories in respect of health behavior.. Predict the future of theoretical formulations in the comparative analyses of the cause of behavior in different contexts..

  4. Week 4Module 2: Psychological foundation of health and illness Behaviour Change
    • Unit 1: Overview and theories to understand Health and illness behavior · 2 hours

      Understand the meaning of health and illness.. Know health behaviors and what those health behaviors are.. Understand health psychology and some basic models that explain health and illness behaviors..

  5. Week 5Module 2: Psychological foundation of health and illness Behaviour Change
    • Unit 2: Behavioural change process and theories · 2 hours

      Understand the concept and process of behavior change.. Understand behavioral operation and choice and some behavioral change theories.. Recognize and explain the different theories of behavioral change..

  6. Week 6Module 2: Psychological foundation of health and illness Behaviour Change
    • Unit 3: Role of behaviour in the aetiology of health and illness · 2 hours

      Understand the role of behavior in the aetiology of illness.. Evaluate the role of psychology in the treatment of illness.. Describe the physio psychological response of stress and anxiety in health behavior changes..

  7. Week 7Module 3: Unhealthy Behaviours and Beliefs
    • Unit 1: Sick Role and psychological intervention for illness behaviour · 2 hours

      Understand and describe the behavior of patient during sickness and approach to solution.. Understand the concept of the sick role and know the main aspects or attributes of the sick role..

  8. Week 8Module 3: Unhealthy Behaviours and Beliefs
    • Unit 2: The role of psychology in predicting unhealthy behaviours · 2 hours

      Explain how some behavior can predict unhealthy situation and how such behaviors are related to beliefs.. Understand health beliefs/practices and role of psychology in healthy behaviors.. Understand psychophysiological relationship (Mind-body relationship) in health and illness..

  9. Week 9Module 3: Unhealthy Behaviours and Beliefs
    • Unit 3: Changing beliefs and behaviour in preventing illness onset · 2 hours

      Understand the role of psychology in the experience of illness.. Explain behavioral interventions during illness.. Describe modifying the psychological consequences of illness in reducing illness..

  10. Week 10Module 1: Psychological Foundations
    • Module 1 Revision · 3 hours

      Review key concepts from Module 1.. Revise theories of psychology and their application to health.. Practice self-assessment questions..

  11. Week 11Module 2: Psychological foundation of health and illness Behaviour Change
    • Module 2 Revision · 3 hours

      Review key concepts from Module 2.. Revise theories of health and illness behavior.. Practice self-assessment questions..

  12. Week 12Module 3: Unhealthy Behaviours and Beliefs
    • Module 3 Revision · 3 hours

      Review key concepts from Module 3.. Revise strategies for changing unhealthy behaviors.. Practice self-assessment questions..

  13. Week 13Final Revision
    • Final Revision and Exam Preparation · 4 hours

      Complete any outstanding assignments.. Review all course materials and notes.. Focus on areas of weakness identified during self-assessment..

Preparing for the exam

What to do
  • Create concept maps linking key theories from Modules 1-3.
  • Practice applying behavior change models to specific health scenarios.
  • Review self-assessment questions at the end of each unit.
  • Focus on understanding the interplay between psychological and physiological factors.
  • Develop concise summaries of each unit's main points for quick review.
  • Allocate specific study time for each module based on its complexity.
  • Form a study group to discuss challenging concepts and share insights.

Questions students ask about this course

What is PHS839 about?

This course introduces students to the psychological foundation of healthy behavior and change. It explores the psychological bases and determinants of behavior, healthy behavior, and change. The course focuses on how behavior influences health and aims to help individuals and communities change behaviors that contribute to health and well-being. It also examines psychological factors influencing healthy behavior choices and ways to motivate people to make better choices.

How many units does PHS839 have?

PHS839, Psychological Foundation Of Healthy Behaviour And Change, has 8 units across 3 modules, over 137 pages of course material. You can read it one unit at a time.

How many credit units is PHS839?

PHS839 carries 3 credit units, at 800 level in Health Sciences.

Is PHS839 hard?

PHS839 is rated intermediate level, with no mathematical content. It is mostly theoretical and case study work.

How long does PHS839 take to study?

About 45 hours of study, spread across its 8 units.

How is PHS839 assessed?

PHS839 is assessed by assignments, tutor marked assignments and final examination.

What can I do with PHS839?

Health Psychologist, Public Health Educator, Behavioral Therapist, Wellness Coach and Mental Health Counselor.

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