Health Psychology and Sociology

At the end of the course, students should be able to: 1. explain the concept of health psychology, health sociology and anthropology; 2. discuss the biological basis for human behaviour; 3. describe human development, learning and practices; 4. assess the role of culture, communication and human relationship in relation to public participation; 5. demonstrate the importance of indigenous or local knowledge, beliefs and health practices; 6. contrast social, psychological and biological aspects of environmental health planning and built environment; 7. classify the factors responsible for substance use and abuse; 8. elaborate inequalities in health; 9. outline the sources of psychological disorders such as stress and many others; 10. evaluate illness and sickness behaviour; 11. justify the role of human behaviours in illness and disease causation; 12. carryout counselling on common psychological disorders in the community; 13. plan needs assessment and social epidemiology; and 14. analyse the social determinants of Health, and Health service utilisation behaviour.

Introduction to sociology, psychology and anthropology. Biological basis for human behaviour– sensation, perception. Motivation and emotion. Describe human development, learning and practices. Role of culture, communication and human relationship and public participation. Importance of indigenous knowledge, belief and health practices. Social, psychological and biological aspect of environmental planning and built-up environment, substance use and abuse. Inequalities in health, psychological disorders, stresses, illness behaviours in relation to social medicine and medical psychology. Role of human behaviours in illness and disease causation. Social determinants of health, social epidemiology and health service utilisation behaviours. Application of social science theories towards understanding behavioural aspects of health and medical care. Considerations of human behavioural dimensions in illness and disease, prophylactic behaviour, the role of culture, role of social institutions, stress and health, compliance behaviours, social epidemiology and many others. Also covers topics in social health including smoking, alcoholism, drug addiction, obesity and nutritional behaviour/disorders, health services utilisation behaviour, emotional health and personality disorders, religion and health.