BME1130

Health and human behaviour ( 6 points, SCA Band 2, 0.125 EFTSL)

Leader: Associate Professor Ken Jones (Psychological Medicine)

Offered:
Clayton First semester 2006 (Day)
Clayton Second semester 2006 (Day)

Synopsis: The complex relationships between health and illness and behaviour of the individual, beginning with an introduction to concepts of health and psychological well-being, illness, disease and disability. Normal and abnormal reactions to illness are covered and students will study an individual with a chronic medical condition. Physical, cognitive, emotional and behavioural reactions are considered, and the biological factors and psychological processes - such as perception, learning, memory, cognition and emotion - that underlie these. The impact of behaviour - particularly habits - on health and well-being is covered, as well as illness prevention and health promotion.

Objectives: At the conclusion of the unit, students should be able to: 1. describe the major features of human growth and development; psychological processes, health and illness, society and culture, and professional ethics; 2. recognise the variety of social, cultural and ethical perspectives that may legitimately be taken with regard to health and issues related to the biomedical sciences; 3. obtain and record information from and about an individual by use of appropriate behaviour observation and basic interviewing skills; 4. obtain appropriate material from library and other archival resources; 5. think critically about psychological, socio-cultural and ethical issues; 6. integrate information obtained by observation with basic science knowledge and theory; and 7. present oral and written reports.

Assessment: Written examination: 50% + Essay (2500 words): 35% + Tutorial assignments: 15%

Contact Hours: 2 hours lecture/demonstration, one 1-hour workshop and up to three hours of project work per week