University of Sussex

This course explores the application of psychological theory and research to criminological and forensic contexts. Students learn about how psychology can be used to understand and enhance aspects of criminological and security investigations, such as eyewitness testimony and the identification of suspects. In addition, students evaluate connections between crime and mental illness. Students gain knowledge of contemporary psychological theories and research related to forensic analysis and investigation and understand the conceptual and methodological issues involved in applying psychological research to real-life investigative situations. Students also evaluate the adequacy of empirical research on the topics covered, particularly in terms of its internal and external validity.

This course explores sleep and its impact on wellbeing. It covers topics such as the biological underpinnings of sleep, sleep across the lifespan, sleep and cognition, and sleep disorders among others. The potential implications of lifestyle and sleep habits on sleep and health are also discussed. Various types of animal and human research studies are reviewed in order to enhance understanding of the current research in the area of sleep.

The course focuses on the role health psychology can play in health. Explore how broader social factors can affect health and discuss health care in global contexts. Draw on your own experiences to evaluate the role of health cognitions, behaviors, systems and health-promoting campaigns in different cultures, and demographic populations. The course considers a range of psychological theories and methodologies used within the discipline. It covers the history and scope of health psychology, from origin to virtual clinics. You will have the opportunity to contribute to and design interactive activities, recognizing the complex roles that psychology plays in human health.

If the ‘everyday' refers to the mundane, the unremarkable – to the forms of life routinely taken for granted – it is also through the practices of everyday life that we experience who we are, how our lives are invested with meanings, and how we engage with change. In the modern world (especially in the developed north), it's difficult to think about cultures of everyday life without also considering the media and its contribution to the structuring of daily life, its varied use in daily life, and its discursive construction and engagement with aspects of everyday life. In this course, students explore critical approaches to everyday life, including those engaging with media.