Psychology 375 Health Psychology Western Washington University Fall 2013 Mon, Wed, & Fri 1:00 2:20

0 pm ES 80 Barbara Lehman, Ph.D. Email: barbara.lehman@wwu.edu Office hours: Wednesdays: 2:30-3:30, Tuesdays 10:30-11:30, or by appt AIC East 178; phone: 650-2212 Texts and Websites There is no assigned textbook for this class! I decided to compile a set of readings that should give you the necessary background, together with my lectures! This will save you money, but also means that the lectures will be very important! https://wwu.instructure.com/courses/854726 I will be posting handouts and assignments on Canvas and will use it for announcements, etc. You are responsible for the content of all announcements, so please be sure to check them frequently. I will post supplemental articles and materials on Canvas as they are available.

Class Overview This class uses an interdisciplinary approach to examine the interplay of biological, social, developmental, and psychological factors in the study of health and disease. Health psychology is a relatively new and growing area of psychology. This class is designed to provide an overview of the field, and to provide you with opportunities to consider how research on health psychology relates to your interests and well being. Class Goals and Objectives Students successfully completing this course will: Apply theoretical frameworks to real-life phenomena, and analyze the fit of the theory or research with actual experiences and behaviors. Critically analyze and discuss readings in health psychology. Demonstrate an understanding of o models for examining the dynamic relationships of psychological, developmental, and social factors in health o pain, methods of pain management, and placebo effects o stress, and psychological and social responses to stress o coping and social support o psychoneuroimmunology o health habits, health behaviors, and models of health behavior change o important preventative and risky health behaviors o doctor-patient relationships Assignments and grades Papers. You will write two short papers as part of this class. These papers and the guidelilnes used to grade them are described in detail in the handouts available on Canvas. Please carefully review the instructions and grading. They will answer most of your questions. The first paper involves an analysis of a pain experience. You will need to interpret this experience and your response to it in the context of theory and research on the experience of

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Psychology 375 Fall 2013

pain and responses to pain. The second requires that you interview another person and analyze her/his health attitudes and behaviors in the context of the health belief model. Individual Project. Theres an app for that! This assignment will require you to post your summary review of a health or wellness related app to Canvas, and to provide a brief (no more than 5 minute) overview of the app in class. See more details in the project description available on Canvas. Class Discussion and Participation. This class will involve lectures, informal discussion, formal discussion, in-class writing and brainstorming, guest speakers, and seminar-style group discussions. Six full class sessions this quarter will be dedicated to seminar-style discussion of assigned readings. Many partial classes will also have this format, as time permits. For some classes we will do small group writing or brainstorming exercises as well as discussion. We will have interactive guest speakers for at least two classes, and a guest lecture for another. Your advanced preparation for ALL classes is important. Attendance and active participation in discussions is expected. I will track attendance and participation, with preparation and discussion on seminar and discussion days accounting for about half of your class participation grade. The other half will be determined by attendance and appropriate participation on other days and by participation in group exercises and on in-class writings (which will not be graded, but will be read to check on critical thinking, preparation, and understanding). Note that I value active and appropriate participation by each student in this class. Participation includes not only actively participating (with informed and relevant insights), but also listening and responding to other students ideas. This will be particularly important because of the size of this class. Mere attendance (without speaking) is not sufficient to earn a strong grade in class participation. Things like questions you pose to guest speakers, general questions and discussion are also part of class participation. Note that for each of the scheduled seminar days (see schedule) you will need to turn in an assignment (either a response paper or questionssee below). Bring a copy of your questions/paper with you so that they can help guide your thoughts during the discussion. Discussion Questions and Response Paper. On seminar days you will always turn in an assignment prior to the start of the class. For four of the seminar days (any four) you will turn in a set of 4 discussion questions or thought provoking points. These questions should promote integration and interaction with the course materials. Be thoughtful with your questions, and use them to help show your understanding of the assigned articles and other course materials. I would expect each question would actually take 2-3 sentences to clearly articulate. On two (the other two) of the seminar days you will write a response paper (about two double-spaced pages). For this you should prepare a short analysis of the materials assigned for that day. Both questions and the response paper will be submitted online. Your goal for both the response paper and the questions is to respond to the reading in some wayrelate it to other materials in this course or in other courses, etc. Dont just summarize, but do make it clear that you have read the articles. What is the authors background, and how does it inform their knowledge on the days topic? Do they have explicit or unexpressed assumptions? How might the article inform an intervention program? What are the relative roles of personality and individual differences, environment, emotion, and behavior for these authors? Do you agree with the author? You may critique or challenge an argument or methodology. Response papers are worth 10 points each, and questions are worth 2 points each. Response papers will be assigned a grade of check, check plus, or check minus on the questions and on the response paper. The check will be the most common grade, and corresponds to a 9/10, a check plus is 10/10, and a check minus is 7/10. A grade of 0 will be assigned if nothing is turned in by the deadline. Questions are given 2/2 for a check plus, 1.5/2 for a check, and 1/2 for a check minus. Exams. There are three in-class exams and one final. Exams are scheduled for October 14, October 30, November 22, and December 10. The final will be short because there is less material to cover (expect to use the full two hours, though). The tests will assess knowledge of course concepts, as well as the ability to apply course concepts to actual situations. Although

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Psychology 375 Fall 2013

some aspects of the course material will naturally carry over from one exam to the next, later exams will focus primarily on material not covered on previous exams. However, the final exam will include a cumulative component, addressing overarching themes. The tests typically involve a combination of multiple choice and short answers, but they may also include matching, true/false, or definition/identification sections. Any test absence must be approved before the examination, and are only permissible in the case of an emergency. Regardless of your reason, you must contact the instructor prior to a missed exam. If you do not show up you will receive a zero. Grading and grading distribution Assignment Exam 1 Exam 2 Exam 3 Final Exam Paper 1: Analysis of Pain Paper 2: Health Belief Model Interview Project: Theres an app for that! Response Paper and Questions (1+ 2) Discussion/participation Points 35 35 35 20 20 35 25 28 80 TOTAL 313 Course grades will be assigned fairly and curved only if necessary. If a curve is used, the instructor does not have to explain, defend, or even show you the curve. In general, l assign grades as follows: As: 90-100%, Bs: 80-89.9%, Cs: 70-79.9%, Ds 60-69.9%. The top 3.33% of each grade will generally be assigned a letter + grade (e.g., 89% is a B+), and the bottom 3.33% will generally be assigned a letter grade (e.g., 93.3% is an A-). I use Canvas to record grades, and will often release the grades before returning the assignments in class. Please routinely check to be sure that the grade recorded on Canvas is the same as the grade written on your returned assignment. Other Policies Submitting test questions: You may submit questions based on lectures and readings to the instructor. Doing so is a win/win situation. If your question is used, you have the advantage of knowing the answer. If your question isnt used, you have still experienced the positive learning effects of formulating questions based on what you learned in this course. Studies show that this is one of the best ways to learn new material. Late work. Papers are due at the start of class, but will be accepted up to a week after they are due. A letter grade penalty will apply for each part of 24 hours that a paper is late (i.e., it is late if you turn it in after class has started). Late response papers and questions are not accepted. Accommodation for disabilities Students with disabilities who require accommodation for this course must provide verification of their needs from the disAbility Resources for Students (DRS) office. Please make the request to me in person, as close as possible to the beginning of the quarter. The DRS office is located in Old Main 110, (360) 650-3083. Academic honesty At a minimum, evidence of cheating or plagiarism on exams or papers will result in a zero for that assignment and will be reported to the registrar. Evidence of major acts of academic dishonesty will result in course failure due to academic dishonesty. For more details, please refer to Appendix D of the WWU Bulletin. All work on tests, in-class writing assignments, and papers must be your own. Any item that is used (paraphrased, summarized, quoted, etc.) from any other source, including the Internet, must be cited. It is never permissible to use online paper writing services. The instructor has the right to actively monitor exams and % 11% 11% 11% 6% 6% 11% 8% 9% 25%

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to ask any student to switch seats for any reason. During exams cell phones must be away and turned off, and all belongings must be placed as far as possible under your seat. Fabricating excuses for missing exams or classes, and claiming to have submitted papers or materials that were never submitted are examples of academic dishonesty. Health and wellness. Western encourages students to seek assistance and support at the onset of an illness, difficulty, or crisis. In the case of a medical concern or question, please contact the Health Center: 650-3400 or wwu.edu/chw/student_health. In the case of an emotional or psychological concern or question, please contact the Counseling Center: 6503400 or wwu.edu/chw. In the case of a health and safety concern, please contact the University Police: 650-3555 or www.ps.wwu.edu/. In the case of a family or personal crisis or emergency, please contact the Dean of Students: 650-3775 or wwu.edu/dos/contact_us.shtml. Some etiquette reminders. Mutual respect for everyone is key to ensuring a safe environment that promotes learning for all students. I trust that students are aware of appropriate classroom behavior. Appropriate behavior includes arriving at the start of class, staying for the entire class session, and paying attention. Talking with classmates during typical class sessions or making side remarks is distracting, interferes with learning, and is not acceptable. Please keep your cell phones awaydo not text or surf the web during class. Talk with me in advance if you must use a computer for note taking; I must individually approve any computer use. Unapproved use of electronic devises will be reflected in your participation grade. CLASS SCHEDULE Please see Health Psychology Readings document for DAILY required readings! Class 1: Wed, Sept 25 Class 2: Fri, Sept 27 Class 3: Mon, Sept 30 Class 4: Wed, Oct 2 Class 5: Fri, Oct 4 Class 6: Mon, Oct 7 Class 7: Wed, Oct 9 Class 8: Fri, Oct 11 Class 9: Mon, Oct 14 Class 10: Wed, Oct 16 Class 11: Fri, Oct 18 EXAM 1 Lecture Topic: Coping with Stress Seminar Day: Adversity and Coping Response paper or questions due Lecture Topic: Pain Lecture Topic: Pain Lecture Topic: Discussion Day: Placebos Response paper or questions due Lecture Topic: Stress and Biological Bases of Health Lecture Topic: Stress and Biological Bases of Health Pain paper due Lecture Topic: Overview of Health Psychology Lecture Topic: Models for Understanding Health Seminar Day: Health Disparities Response paper or questions due

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Psychology 375 Fall 2013

Class 12: Mon, Oct 21 Class 13: Wed, Oct 23 Class 14: Fri, Oct 25 Class 15: Mon, Oct 28 Class 16: Wed, Oct 30 Class 17: Fri, Nov 1 Class 18: Mon, Nov 4 Class 19: Wed, Nov 6 Class 20: Fri, Nov 8 Mon, Nov 11 Class 21: Wed, Nov 13 Class 22: Fri, Nov 15 Class 23: Mon, Nov 18 Class 24: Wed, Nov 20 Class 25: Fri, Nov 22 Class 26: Mon, Nov 25

Lecture Topic: Positive Approaches to Coping (Guest Speaker) Lecture Topic: Social Support Lecture Topic: Immune Functioning Lecture Topic: Immune Functioning EXAM 2 Seminar Day: Genetics and Health Response paper or questions due Lecture Topic: Overview of Health Behavior (Class Visitor) Lecture Topic: Persuasion and Health Behavior Lecture Topic: Attitude Change Models Veterans DayNo CLASS! Lecture Topic: Other Approaches to Health Behavior Change Discussion Day: Health Among College Students (Guest speaker) Lecture Topic: Eating/Obesity Lecture Topic: Eating Disorders EXAM 3 Lecture Topic: Community Behavioral Health Interventions (Guest) Health Behavior Paper Due

Happy Thanksgiving! No class Wednesday 11/27 or Friday 11/29 Class 27: Mon, Dec 2 Class 28: Wed, Dec 4 Class 29: Fri, Dec 6 Final: Tuesday, Dec 10 3:30 - 5:30 PM Lecture Topic: Substance Use Seminar Day: Doctor-Patient Relationships Response paper or questions due Lecture Topic: Doctor-Patient Relationships FINAL EXAM

Disclaimer! This syllabus is subject to change and/or revision during the academic term. This will allow the instructor to make minor changes to the syllabus such as due dates, altering assignments, etc.