Abnormal Psychology
Winter 2015/16
1
Course information
Class schedule
Instructor
Office hours
Textbook
2
Section 01: M/T/Th/F 7th period (1:35–2:25 pm)
Section 02: M/T/Th/F 8th period (2:30–3:20 pm)
Room M107
Alan Jern
Office: B103A
Email: jern@rose-hulman.edu
M/T/Th 9th period, and by appointment
Ronald J. Comer, Fundamentals of Abnormal Psychology (7th edition)
Overview and objectives
Abnormal psychology is the study of pathological or disordered human behavior. The primary goal
of this course is to teach you about the most common psychological disorders, their likely causes,
and the most effective treatments for them. In addition, we will discuss some of the philosophical
and ethical issues surrounding the definition of abnormal behavior and the treatment of people
suffering from mental illness. At the end of this course, you should be able to:
1. Describe the symptoms associated with a number of psychological disorders
2. Explain the difference between the most common theoretical models for understanding abnormal behavior
3. Understand the limitations of identifying and diagnosing psychological disorders
4. Form an opinion about some of the legal and ethical issues related to mental illness
5. Express a more compassionate attitude toward people suffering from psychological disorders
1
3
Assessment
Component
Exam 1
Exam 2
Exam 3
Assignments (5)
Reading responses (8)
Group presentation
Participation
Total
3.1
Weight
15%
15%
15%
30%
10%
10%
5%
100%
Exams (45%)
There will be three exams. There is no final exam. Each exam will cover only material since the
previous exam. All exams are closed-book and closed-notes.
3.2
Assignments (30%)
There will be five writing assignments. Each assignment will require you to write a short essay
responding to a question about a reading, a movie, or an activity.
3.3
Reading responses (10%)
Some days, we will discuss readings not in the textbook. To encourage you come to class prepared
for discussion, I will post a question or prompt about the reading on Moodle that you must respond
to before class that day. Reading responses should be 1–2 paragraphs.
3.4
Group presentation (10%)
Near the end of the quarter, small groups of students will each be designated as class “experts” for
one personality disorder. Each group will do additional research on the disorder (causes, statistics,
symptoms, treatments, prominent examples or case studies) outside of what is in the textbook.
During Week 9, each group will give a 15 minute presentation on their assigned disorder.
3.5
Participation (5%)
This course will involve many in-class discussions and I expect you to be an active participant. As
long as you show good attendance and make a reasonable effort to contribute to class discussions,
you will receive full participation credit. I will warn you in advance by email if I feel your behavior
is deficient in either of these respects. That means that if you don’t hear from me, you can assume
you are on track to receive full credit. If you continue to make an inadequate participation effort
after a warning, you will receive a 0 for the participation component of your grade.
3.6
Final grade
Grades will be assigned as follows.
2
Percentage
≥ 90%
87–89%
80–86%
77–79%
70–76%
67–69%
60–66%
< 60%
4
Grade
A
B+
B
C+
C
D+
D
F
Movies
Two assignments are based on movies (One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest and A Beautiful Mind )
that will not be shown during the usual class time. There will be one evening showing for each
movie (Wednesday of Week 2 and Tuesday of Week 6) at a location and time to be decided.
You are not required to attend these evening movie showings, but you are required to watch
the movies before the corresponding assignment is due (we will discuss the movie in class on that
day). Currently, both movies are available to rent for $4 on Amazon Video, iTunes, YouTube, and
Xbox Video.
5
5.1
Course policies
Late assignments
For the entire course, you will have two free late days that can be used for homework assignments ONLY. Assignments will be considered one day late if they are submitted any time after
the start of class on the due date up to 24 hours later. Assignments will be considered two days
late if they are submitted any time between 24 and 48 hours after the the start of class on the due
date. You don’t need to notify me in advance if you plan to use one of your late days—I will keep
track of your late days and notify you by email when you have no late days remaining.
Any assignments submitted after your late days are exhausted will not be accepted. The purpose
for this policy is to ensure that I can grade your papers and return them in a timely fashion.
5.2
Academic integrity
Academic misconduct will be addressed according to the policies described in the Rose-Hulman
student handbook. Academic misconduct includes: (1) submitting work that is not your own; (2)
copying ideas, words, or graphics from any source without appropriate citation; (3) misrepresenting
your work or yourself (i.e., deliberately submitting the wrong assignment or lying to explain a late
assignment); (4) collaborating with other students when this is not permitted; and (5) submitting
the same work for credit in two courses without prior consent of both instructors. If you are unsure
whether something qualifies as academic misconduct, please check with me before engaging in the
behavior.
3
6
Course schedule
The following schedule lists topics, readings, and due dates for the whole term. The page numbers
refer to the 7th edition of textbook. This schedule is subject to change. Schedule changes will be
announced in class and will be posted online. I will give you plenty of notice when such changes
are made.
Week
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Date
11/30
12/1
12/3
12/4
12/7
12/8
12/10
12/10
12/11
12/14
12/15
12/17
12/18
1/4
1/5
1/7
1/8
1/11
1/12
1/14
1/15
1/18
1/19
1/19
1/21
1/22
1/25
1/26
1/28
1/29
2/1
2/2
2/4
2/5
2/8
2/9
2/11
2/12
Topic
Reading
Due
Introduction
pp 1–6
Abnormality
pp 33–39, 45–52
Diagnosis
pp 69–71, 73–79
Diagnosis
pp 82–88
Diagnosis
Rosenhan; Spitzer
Assignment
Anxiety Disorders
pp 97–99, 102–117
Anxiety Disorders
Stossel
Response
Movie: One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (7 pm, GM Room)
OCD
pp 127–132
PTSD
pp 139–145, 148–151
History
Assignment
Review
Exam 1
Conference: No class
Conference: No class
DID
pp 159–161; Piper & Merskey Response
Depression
pp 171–183
Depression
pp 186–191
Assignment
Depression
Case study
Response
Bipolar disorder
pp 197–202
Suicide
pp 207–218
Suicide
Tingley
Response
Schizophrenia
pp 363–375
Movie: A Beautiful Mind (7 pm, GM Room)
Schizophrenia
Case study
Response
Schizophrenia
pp 378–380, 383–388
Review
Assignment
Exam 2
Psychopathy
Ronson
Response
Psychopathy
Kahn
Response
Guest lecture: Kevin Myers
Autism
pp 457–463
Autism
Autism
Autism
Sacks
Response
Personality Disorders
pp 403–408
Personality Disorders
pp 413–424
Personality Disorders
pp 424–432
4
1
2
3
4
Week
10
Date
2/15
2/16
2/18
2/19
Topic
Legal Issues
Review
Exam 3
Conclusion
Reading
pp 501–505; NYTimes debate
5
Due
Assignment 5