Body as a Social and Psychological Construct

This program offers a thorough examination of the human experience of embodiment that spans the biopsychosocial spectrum. A person's experience of their body is influenced by their sociocultural environment, including current cultural trends in appearance and narratives about attractiveness and gender, but also messages from a person's family can be influential. These social influences can lead to the development of psychological difficulties such as eating disorders, body dysmorphia and anxieties about health. Additionally, research in the realm of psychoneuroimmunology has shed light on how our social environment and our psychological states can have notable impacts on our health. In these ways, social and psychological factors can shape our bodies and physical wellbeing.

Course Objectives: 

This program involves three segments: social perspectives, psychological experiences and biomedical impacts. The following content will shape the learning objectives:

1. Epistemologies, including social constructionism
2. Sociocultural perspectives on appearance and body image, including cultural practices and appearance-related ideals
3. Feminist perspectives on social influences, including Objectification Theory
4. Other social impacts on the body, including discrimination and trauma
5. Psychological experiences of the body, including social learning related to body and gender
6. Psychological disorders closely connected to body, including eating disorders, body dysmorphia, and health related disorders
7. Exploration into Psychoneuroimmunology, including health conditions that have clear connection to stress and trauma
8. Adopt a scientific approach to understanding the etiology and treatment of body-oriented disorders; critical analysis of research will be encouraged
9.  Reflect on personal attitudes regarding appearance, identity as it relates to body, gender and appearance, influences of nature and nurture on body image development

Anticipated Credit Equivalencies: 

4 - Developmental Psychology

4 - Social and Cultural Psychology