Socio-Psychology and Cultural diversity

This course is behavioral science. It encompasses the fields of socio-psychology and cultural diversity. Most of the salient issues of our society are linked in part to human attitudes, values, and behavior. This course aims to provide a review of sociological and psychological principles that enable the nurse to relate and handle clients with different cultural backgrounds with ease.

Course objectives
By the end of the course students will;

• Develop insight into their own and others’ behavior and mental processes and apply effective strategies for self-management and self-improvement.
• Be able to critically evaluate health socio-psychology research and health psychological issues.
• Define and apply basic concepts including culture, ethnicity, race, racism, stereotype, prejudice, core values, oppression and discrimination.
• Examine the components of culture including beliefs, morals, social customs, in addition to rites, ritual and ceremonies
• Examine how geography affects culture
• Explore intragroup differences within a culture and intergroup differences between two cultures
• Demonstrate an understanding of culturally related concepts such as cultural relativism, cultural universalism, macro/micro-cultures, and cultural congruence
• Use various psychological and health models to explain the behaviors of their patients.
• Identify and critically analyze factors that affect health and disease.

Learning Outcomes
Students should be able to;

• Apply psychological principles to the scientific study of health illness and health related behaviors
• Demonstrate knowledge of psychological concepts and their use in health psychology
• Explain the effects of individual differences and group influences on health
• Develop appropriate stress coping mechanisms.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the factors influencing responses to illness and subsequent coping styles.