671 Structural& Sociocultural Bases of Health& Dysfunction

Prerequisites: 350, 641. Traditionally, psychologists work within in circumscribed clinical contexts in which mental health issues are deemed functions of individual pathology. In fact, many mental health issues are symptomatic of structural phenomenon that characterize in the context in which individuals exist and over which they have limited influence, e.g., public policy, institutional behaviors, culturally-embedded biases. The objective of this course is to shed light on these structural variables and how they undermine human well-being. In particular, the course will be designed to (1) provide students with some of the basic analytic and critical thinking skills needed to identify and understand the role of structure in shaping human welfare; (2) help students think about how to integrate structural analysis and understandings into their clinical work; and (3) help students think about how to fulfill their responsibility to their clients as well as society as a whole by encouraging public debate around this issue, and by actively advocating for welfare-enhancing structural change. (3 credits)