PYB321 Introduction to the Psychology of Trauma
To view more information for this unit, select Unit Outline from the list below. Please note the teaching period for which the Unit Outline is relevant.
| Unit code: | PYB321 |
|---|---|
| Prerequisite(s): | PYB202 and 120cp of completed studies |
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Timetable | Details in HiQ, if available |
| Availabilities |
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| CSP student contribution | The Commonwealth supported place student contribution amount for this unit depends upon the course of study. Find out more |
| Pre-2021 CSP student contribution | The pre-2021 commonwealth supported place (CSP) contribution amount only applies to students enrolled in a course prior to 2021. To learn more, visit our Understanding your fees page. |
| Domestic tuition unit fee | $3,024 |
| International unit fee | $4,224 |
Unit Outline: Summer 2024, Kelvin Grove, Internal
| Unit code: | PYB321 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Pre-requisite: | 120 credit points completed and PYB202 |
| Coordinators: | Jane Shakespeare-Finch | j.shakespeare-finch@qut.edu.au Emma Malone | emma.malone@qut.edu.au |
Overview
More than half the population experiences trauma across the lifetime. Trauma is acknowledged as playing a key role in the development of mental and physical health issues. There is an increased understanding and interest in society around the prevalence and impact of trauma including domestic violence, child abuse, sudden bereavement and war. Despite this, most professionals across disciplines including psychology, social work, education and law, receive no systematic training in trauma. This introductory unit provides you with foundational knowledge about the psychology of trauma and vicarious trauma as it applies to people who experience trauma firsthand or those in professions likely to assist people who have experienced trauma. This elective complements learning across disciplines including social work, psychology, law, education and nursing. The unit is linked to core psychology units PYB100 and PYB102 and is linked to PYB304 regarding neurobiological aspects of trauma.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Describe how trauma has been conceptualised and studied throughout history;
- Evaluate the socio-political issues surrounding trauma research, diagnosis, and treatment;
- Apply your understanding of the major theories around the psychology of trauma and approaches to intervention to a case study;
- Identify the short and long term symptoms and impacts of trauma including posttraumatic stress disorder;
- Describe resilience and posttraumatic growth;
Content
This unit provides an overview of the psychology of trauma, and also emphasises the role of the socio-political context in trauma, including in diverse populations and First Nations People. The unit will cover topics including the concept of trauma, the history of trauma research and identification, the socio-political contexts that impact on trauma research, theories on trauma, single and complex trauma, prevalence, symptoms of trauma, short and long terms impacts of trauma, diagnosis and misdiagnosis, trauma informed care and trauma specific treatment, resilience and post traumatic growth.
Learning Approaches
This unit adopts a blended approach to learning which involves lectures and workshops where students will engage in collaborative activities with the teaching team and peers. This unit is taught in an intensive mode over 5 full days. Attendance at all of the lectures/workshops is expected. Lectures and workshops are not recorded as we will be working with real case materials which may be highly sensitive in nature.
Feedback on Learning and Assessment
In this unit feedback processes are both formal through marking and grading and informal through class discussion and activities. Feedback is provided to students in the following ways:
- Comments on summative assessment work in addition to criteria sheets
- Criteria sheet grading
- A range of formative exercises will be discussed in class
Assessment
Overview
There are two assessment pieces in this unit. The first is an exam with a weighting of 50%. The exam will comprise multiple choice and short answer questions and will take place mid-semester.
The second is case study, also weighted at 50% and provides an opportunity to convey critical thinking, application of theory. The essay will be due toward the end of semester.
Unit Grading Scheme
7- point scale
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: Examination
The exam will comprise multiple choice and short answer questions that assess the level of knowledge gained about content covered in the unit. There will be recall and applied questions and a chance to synthesis and apply information in the short-answer questions.
Assessment: Case Study
The case study will provide an opportunity for students to demonstrate information retrieval skills, their capacity to critically think about a case study and apply theories and models introduced during the unit to a case study. This assessment will build on exercises run in class where case studies will be examined and discussed.
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
Academic Integrity
Students are expected to engage in learning and assessment at QUT with honesty, transparency and fairness. Maintaining academic integrity means upholding these principles and demonstrating valuable professional capabilities based on ethical foundations.
Failure to maintain academic integrity can take many forms. It includes cheating in examinations, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, and submitting an assessment item completed by another person (e.g. contract cheating). It can also include providing your assessment to another entity, such as to a person or website.
You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.
Further details of QUT’s approach to academic integrity are outlined in the Academic integrity policy and the Student Code of Conduct. Breaching QUT’s Academic integrity policy is regarded as student misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.
Resources
Readings and links to electronic resources (e. g., video) for this unit will be available in the Learning Resources tab on the QUT Canvas site, in the QUT Readings.
Risk Assessment Statement
In this unit we will be discussing topics that can be triggering and may evoke strong responses. It is important that we provide a safe space in which we allow people to express their views in a respectful way. Whilst strong responses to the content of the unit are understandable, the focus of this unit is on theories and empirical evidence on trauma. If you find you are having strong responses to the unit materials whilst enrolled in the unit, QUT has free counselling services available to students (phone 3138 3488).
Course Learning Outcomes
This unit is designed to support your development of the following course/study area learning outcomes.PY45 Bachelor of Behavioural Science (Psychology)
- Describe and evaluate the core scientific perspectives of psychology with reference to theories, methods and research, from diverse perspectives, including first-nations perspectives.
Relates to: Examination - Critically examine the scientific discipline of psychological research and theories using oral, written and digital communication to address psychological issues in a respectful, ethical and professional manner.
Relates to: Examination, Case Study - Implement a range of digital capabilities to access, examine and utilise evidence-based information in the context of effectively responding to, and communicating, real world problems.
Relates to: Case Study