MALKA215 Complex Human Behavior Course description

This course provides an overview of third generation clinical models and interventions. It draws specifically on acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) while presenting other clinical approaches among third wave cognitive-behavioral therapies (CBT). These therapies will be presented and discussed in light of a selection of diseases and disorders. This course aims at enhancing students’ ability to understand and select intervention strategies for approaching psychological distress.

For kull 2025: Coursework requirements from MALK4000-403, MALKA211, MALKA212, and MALKA214 or equivalent must be approved to participate and submit coursework requirements in MALKA215.

For tidligere kull: Coursework requirements from MALK4000-401, MALK4000-403, MALKA211, MALKA212, and MALKA214 or equivalent must be approved to participate and submit coursework requirements in MALKA215.

On successful completion of the course the student has the following learning outcomes classified as knowledge:

Knowledge

The student can

• describe and discuss important aspects of verbal behavior
• describe and discuss verbal governance and contingency shaping of behavior
• describe and discuss principles involved in joint control
• describe and discuss important aspects of stimulus equivalence
• describe and discuss the naming hypothesis
• describe and discuss Relational Frame Theory
• describe and discuss problem-solving, thinking, remembering, and higher-order classes of behavior

Skills

The student can

• analyze variables influencing complex human behavior
• present theories of complex human behavior and the scientific data underlying these theories in a manner striving for fairness, honesty, and excellence

On successful completion of the course, the student has the following learning outcomes classified as knowledge, skills, and competence:

Knowledge

The student can

• describe and discuss mindfulness concepts and techniques
• describe and discuss functional analyses in clinical behavior analysis
• describe and discuss value-based behavioral repertoirs
• describe and discuss roots of behavior influence

Skills

The student can

• describe and discuss acceptance and commitment therapy and a selection of other third-wave clinical behavior analysis approaches
• describe and discuss the application of cognitive-behavioral therapies with different clinical populations
• describe and discuss ethical considerations in the application of clinical behavior analysis

Competence

The student can

• present the conceptual underpinnings and describe practical cases of clinical behavior analysis
• present basic elements of exposure therapy

Campus-based lectures, exercises, oral presentations, discussions, and individual papers are the main teaching methods. Students read selected texts in advance for each day of class, and everyone is expected to participate in class through questions and through joining in discussion. Feedback is used on written assignments.

The following required coursework must be approved before the student can take the exam:

• 2 individual assignments to be presented in class, maximum 5 minutes per assignment.

Individual home examination, 3 hours. Exam questions are in English. Students may submit their exams in Norwegian, Swedish, Danish or English.

All

Pass/Fail