PSY4513 - Behaviour change interventions for practitioners

Leader(s): Dr A Anderson

Offered

Clayton First semester 2009 (Off-campus)
Clayton First semester 2009 (Evening)

Synopsis

This unit will focus on the principles and procedures of behaviour modification in changing human behaviour. A range of behaviour change procedures to establish new behaviours, to increase desirable behaviours, and decrease undesirable behaviours will be studied. The characteristics of functional analysis as a bridge between effective assessment and intervention procedures will be considered. Psychological change interventions from behavioural and cognitive-behavioural therapies will be compared and investigated. This unit will also introduce the basic issues in developing behaviour modification programs to change one's own behaviour: a process called self-management.

Objectives

On completion of this unit students will have a clear understanding of the basic principles underlying behaviour modification, and the procedures to establish new behaviours; studied a range of behaviour change interventions derived from behavioural and cognitive-behavioural therapies; gained applied knowledge and skill development of observational systems and experimental design for the assessment and treatment of problem behaviours; considered key theoretical issues surrounding behavioural modification; and acquired a greater understanding of the social, legal and ethical context of behavioural treatment.

Assessment

Case Study: Behaviour Change Program (1,500 words): 40%
Essay (2,500 words): 60 %.

Contact hours

2 hours per week lectures for 13 weeks

Prerequisites

Enrolment in Postgraduate Diploma in Psychology