Chabot College
Fall 2003
Replaced Fall 2010
Course Outline for Psychology 6
ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY
Catalog Description:
6 - Abnormal Psychology
3 units
Introduction to problems in emotional and cognitive human behavior ranging from mild
social and personal stress to profound personal disorganization. Includes history of
treatment and diagnostic models, neuroses, psychoses, sexual dysfunction, anti-social
personality and other psychological problems along with a comparative study of
contemporary treatment procedures applied to these problems. Strongly recommended:
English 1A or 52A. 3 hours.
[Typical contact hours: 52.5]
Prerequisite Skills:
None.
Expected Outcomes for Students:
Upon completion of the course, the student should be able to:
1.
2.
3.
identify the history of approaches to definitions, causes and treatments of human
problems currently labeled as "mental illness;"
demonstrate knowledge of past and present theories of mental illness, including the
development of diagnostic procedures;
demonstrate knowledge of various treatment models and research designed to test
the efficacy of these models.
Course Content:
1.
2.
3.
Introduction to Psychological Problems in Living
a.
Cultural and social definitions
b.
Personal distress
c.
Research in clinical science
Historical Perspectives
a.
Early spiritual and naturalistic models
b.
Development of early humanism
c.
The medical model and mental illness
d.
Evolution of the psychological perspective
Current Major Theoretical (Development and Treatment) Models: A Brief
Overview
a.
Psychoanalytic and psychodynamic perspectives
b.
Behaviorism, social learning, cognitive behavior modification (including
biofeedback)
Chabot College
Course Outline for Psychology 6
Fall 2003
Page 2
Course Content (cont'd):
c.
d.
4.
5.
Humanistic and existential theories and radical reform
Social systems theory: Applications to group, family and community
psychology
e.
Biomedical advances within the medical model
Current Diagnostic Categories (Each disorder will be examined with respect to
variations in the type and severity of the disorder, theories of development,
incidence and prevalence rates, and treatment models).
a.
Psychophysical disorders
b.
Neuroses and neurotic traits
c.
Anxiety, phobic and obsessive-compulsive disorders
d.
Sexual dysfunctions and variations in sexual disorders
e.
Depression (non-psychotic)
f.
Major affective disorders and suicide
g.
Schizophrenia and paranoia
h.
Antisocial personality disorder
i.
Impaired brain function
Legal and Ethical Issues
a.
Competency to stand trial
b
The "Insanity" plea
c.
Civil (involuntary) commitment
d.
The ex-mental patient: Rights of the individual, rights of the community
e.
The right to treatment and to refuse treatment
Methods of Presentation:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Lecture - discussion
Audio-visual aids
Guest speakers
Student projects
Distance Education video lessons
Assignments and Methods of Evaluating Student Progress:
1.
Typical Assignments
a.
Analyze examples of Psychological Disorders from the Diagnostic Manual
of the American Psychiatric Association (DSM IV)
b.
Write a five-page paper on a topic of interest covered in class
c.
Bring to class and explain an article from the Journal of Abnormal
Psychology
2.
Methods of Evaluating Student Progress
a.
Exams and quizzes
b.
Class participation
Chabot College
Course Outline for Psychology 6
Fall 2003
c.
d.
Page 3
Student reports
Final examination
Textbook(s) (Typical):
Abnormal Psychology, Sarason & Sarason, Prentice-Hall Publishing Co., 2001, or latest
edition.
Special Student Materials:
None.
tf Doc:/PSY.6
Revised: 10-1-02