DEPARTMENT OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
COURSE CODE: BCP1105
COURSE NAME: BEHAVIOURAL SCIENCES
1
,TABLE OF CONTENT
COURSE OUTLINE .......................................................................................................... 3
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION........................................................................ 5
CHAPTER TWO: HUMAN DEVELOPMENT..........................................................11
CHAPTER THREE: HUMAN BEHAVIOUR ............................................................. 16
CHAPTER FOUR: BIOLOGICAL BASIS OF BEHAVIOUR …………………… 33
CHAPTER FIVE: CULTURAL BASIS OF BEHAVIOUR……………………… 37
CHAPTER SIX: HEALTH RELATED BEHAVIOUR……................................... 45
CHAPTER SEVEN: HEALTH BEHAVIOUR CHANGE ……………………….. 61
SAMPLE EXAM............................................................................................................ 66
2
,COURSE OUTLINE
BCP1105: BEHAVIOURAL SCIENCES
LECTURE HOURS: 42
Medicine and medical practice have undergone dramatic changes both in the way the patients relate
with the health care system and the way practitioners make their diagnosis and treatment. Advances
in technology, the upsurge of chronic illnesses, increasing litigations and the diminishing autonomy
of medicine have necessitated the need for doctors and other health care workers to understand the
behavior of the patients. An understanding of behavioral sciences for practitioners of medicine can
help the health care providers to be able to look at the patients not only in terms of disease and this
could lead to improvement in the delivery of medical care.
The course introduces students to the fundamental principles of human behavior and development,
with particular emphasis upon the role of behavior within the context of illness. It is designed to
acquaint students with the basic tools, concepts and methods for the study of health, illness and
community life by focusing on the disciplines of psychology, medical anthropology, sociology and
community oriented health care.
Expected Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course unit the student should be able to: -
i. Describe the basic principle of psychology, medical sociology and anthropology.
ii. Discuss the relationship between human lifestyles and diseases.
iii. Identify and classify psychological, sociological and anthropological factors that affect health
in the community
iv. Discuss culture, religion and health
3
, Week 1: Introduction
Week 2: Basic principles of psychology
• Behaviour
• Attitude
• Personality
Week 3: Biological basis of behavior
Week 4: CAT
Week 5: Theories of human development
Week 6: Cultural basis of behavior
Definition of culture
Health lifestyles and health
Week 7: Explanations of disease and health
Social determinants of health and disease
Week 8: CAT
Week 9: Health related behavior
Health care system
Health seeking behaviours
Week 10: Defense mechanisms
Week 11: Health education
Week 12: Empathy
4
COURSE CODE: BCP1105
COURSE NAME: BEHAVIOURAL SCIENCES
1
,TABLE OF CONTENT
COURSE OUTLINE .......................................................................................................... 3
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION........................................................................ 5
CHAPTER TWO: HUMAN DEVELOPMENT..........................................................11
CHAPTER THREE: HUMAN BEHAVIOUR ............................................................. 16
CHAPTER FOUR: BIOLOGICAL BASIS OF BEHAVIOUR …………………… 33
CHAPTER FIVE: CULTURAL BASIS OF BEHAVIOUR……………………… 37
CHAPTER SIX: HEALTH RELATED BEHAVIOUR……................................... 45
CHAPTER SEVEN: HEALTH BEHAVIOUR CHANGE ……………………….. 61
SAMPLE EXAM............................................................................................................ 66
2
,COURSE OUTLINE
BCP1105: BEHAVIOURAL SCIENCES
LECTURE HOURS: 42
Medicine and medical practice have undergone dramatic changes both in the way the patients relate
with the health care system and the way practitioners make their diagnosis and treatment. Advances
in technology, the upsurge of chronic illnesses, increasing litigations and the diminishing autonomy
of medicine have necessitated the need for doctors and other health care workers to understand the
behavior of the patients. An understanding of behavioral sciences for practitioners of medicine can
help the health care providers to be able to look at the patients not only in terms of disease and this
could lead to improvement in the delivery of medical care.
The course introduces students to the fundamental principles of human behavior and development,
with particular emphasis upon the role of behavior within the context of illness. It is designed to
acquaint students with the basic tools, concepts and methods for the study of health, illness and
community life by focusing on the disciplines of psychology, medical anthropology, sociology and
community oriented health care.
Expected Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course unit the student should be able to: -
i. Describe the basic principle of psychology, medical sociology and anthropology.
ii. Discuss the relationship between human lifestyles and diseases.
iii. Identify and classify psychological, sociological and anthropological factors that affect health
in the community
iv. Discuss culture, religion and health
3
, Week 1: Introduction
Week 2: Basic principles of psychology
• Behaviour
• Attitude
• Personality
Week 3: Biological basis of behavior
Week 4: CAT
Week 5: Theories of human development
Week 6: Cultural basis of behavior
Definition of culture
Health lifestyles and health
Week 7: Explanations of disease and health
Social determinants of health and disease
Week 8: CAT
Week 9: Health related behavior
Health care system
Health seeking behaviours
Week 10: Defense mechanisms
Week 11: Health education
Week 12: Empathy
4
