Psychology 2316: Psychology of Personality
Spring 2012, Spring Branch Campus, 9:30-11 a.m. MW
CRN: 78847, Room 206
INSTRUCTOR: Jeanne Spaulding
HCC EMAIL AND PHONE NUMBER: jeanne.spaulding@hccs.edu, 713 718-5526.
OFFICE HOURS: 11-12:30 MW and 12-12:30 TR in office AD5, and by appointment.
Psychology Department Webpage: http://learning.hccs.edu. Go to Learning Web,
Subjects, Psyc 2316. For my website go to learning web, faculty, Spaulding.
PREREQUISITE: Psyc 2301 or permission of the instructor. Students should have completed
Eng. 1301 before taking this course. Case essays will be 25% of the grade.
COURSE DESCRIPTION AND GOALS: In this course you’ll learn about normal and abnormal
personality, with the focus on the abnormal. In order to better understand personality, the early
portion of this course will look at the major theoretical approaches to understanding personality.
This will be followed by a look at psychological assessment and the diagnostic criteria for the
different disorders. We will also discuss issues such as the insanity plea and psychological
disorders among the homeless.
Upon Completion of this course, you should:
1. Understand the major theories of personality and how they apply to both normal and
abnormal behavior.
2. Understand the methods of research and assessment that are unique to the study of mental
disorders.
3. Be able to describe the diagnostic criteria for most of the major mental disorders in both
adults and children.
4. Understand the issues relating to prevention and treatment of mental disorders, as well as
current social issues such as the insanity plea and homelessness.
TEXTBOOKS: Nolen-Hoeksema, Susan. (2011) (Ab)normal Psychology, Fifth Edition. Boston:
McGraw-Hill. There were 13 binder copies available on January 9, 2012.
Hardback Purchase Price$175+.
Rental Price
$ 85+
Loose leaf Purchase Price$122.65
We will discuss this in class. You could temporarily use the 4th Edition which is very cheap online
($3 and up). But the order of pages and chapters is different, and it is missing about 8% new
material. There will be a set of Learning Objectives online that you will need to print out, learn and
understand. Bring them to class when we review for a test. You download the objectives off of the
HCC Northwest Learning Web: faculty/Spaulding/ 2316.
The publisher website: www.mhhe.com/nolen5 is not available right now.
HCC Policy Statement – ADA Services to Students with Disabilities:
Any student with a documented disability (e.g. physical, learning, psychiatric, vision, hearing, etc.)
who needs to arrange reasonable accommodations must contact the Disability Services Office:
Northwest ADA Counselor – Mahnaz Kolaini – 713.718.5422. Her office is the first one on the
right as you come in the main entrance off the Beltway 8.
Southwest ADA Counselor – Dr. Becky Hauri – 713.718.7910
HCC Policy Statement: Academic Honesty
A student who is academically dishonest is, by definition, not showing that the coursework has
been learned, and that student is claiming an advantage not available to other students. The
instructor is responsible for measuring each student's individual achievements and also for
ensuring that all students compete on a level playing field. Thus, in our system, the instructor has
teaching, grading, and enforcement roles. You are expected to be familiar with the University's
Policy on Academic Honesty, found in the catalog. It is my policy to give an F/0 on the first
occasion and an F in the course if any of the below occurs a second time.
Cheating on a test includes: Copying from another students’ test paper. Using materials such as
extra notes that not authorized by the person giving the test;
Collaborating with another student during a test without authorization;
Knowingly using, buying, selling, stealing, transporting, or soliciting in whole or part the
contents of a test that has not been administered;
Plagiarism means the appropriation of another’s work and the unacknowledged incorporation of
that work in one’s own written work offered for credit. This includes paraphrasing a source without
citing the source and page number. It also means copying the work of another student!
Collusion mean the unauthorized collaboration with another person in preparing written work
offered for credit. Possible punishments for academic dishonesty may include a grade of 0 or F in
the particular assignment, failure in the course, and/or recommendation for probation or dismissal
from the College System. (See the Student Handbook)
HCC Policy Statements
Class Attendance - It is important that you come to class! Attending class regularly is the
best way to succeed in this class. Research has shown that the single most important factor in
student success is attendance. Class attendance is checked daily. Poor attendance records tend
to correlate with poor grades. If you miss any class, including the first week, you are responsible
for all material missed. It is a good idea to find a friend in class who would be willing to share
class notes or discussion or be able to hand in a paper if you unavoidably miss a class. If you
have a question, you may email me.
Tardiness and leaving early: This is disruptive to the class and thus will be noted on the official
attendance forms. If you feel you have a valid reason, please discuss it with me outside of class
time or by email. As with absences, it is the student’s responsibility to ask if there were handouts
or special announcements and get the notes from another student.
HCC Course Withdrawal Policy
When you begin to have trouble in the class, please contact me to discuss any academic or
person problem that is interfering with your success in the class. I may be able to provide you
with suggestions that would enable you to complete the course. Your success is very important
to me. You also need to realize that if you have more than SIX total course withdrawals
throughout their educational career in obtaining a certificate and/or degree, there will be financial
consequences.
If you feel that you cannot complete this course, you will need to withdraw yourself from the
course prior to the final date of withdrawal (April ). You may withdraw yourself online OR contact
a HCC counselor. I sometimes withdraw those who have stopped attending
Repeat Course FeeThe State of Texas encourages students to complete college without having
to repeat failed classes. To increase student success and protect the taxpayer, students who
repeat the same course more than twice, are required to pay extra tuition. HCC charges a higher
tuition rate to students registering the third or subsequent time for a course. I am willing to help
avoid withdrawing if you ask me to help as early as possible. I can help you improve your study
habits, improve your reading and writing skills and test taking skills.
International Students
Receiving a W in a course may affect the status of your student Visa. Once a W is given for the
course, it will not be changed to an F because of the visa consideration. Please contact the
International Student Office at 713-718-8520, if you have any questions about your visa status
and other transfer issues.
Classroom Behavior
As your instructor and as a student in this class, it is our shared responsibility to develop and
maintain a positive learning environment for everyone. I take this responsibility very seriously
and will inform members of the class if their behavior makes it difficult for me to carry out this
task. If a disruption of class continues, it is my policy to move the student to another part of the
room and, if necessary, withdraw the student from the class.
Use of cell phones, cameras and/or recording Devices. To show respect of your fellow
students and instructor, you will turn off your phone and other electronic devices, and will not use
these devices in the classroom unless you receive permission from the instructor.
You may use a laptop computer to take class notes and use an e-Text. But it is
inconsiderate of others and not helpful to learning to use them to surf the web or use Face
Book. If they are open while we are going over a test or quiz, you may get a 0 on that test
or quiz. Students with disabilities who need to use a recording device as a reasonable
accommodation should contact the Office for Students with Disabilities for information regarding
reasonable accommodations
GRADING SYSTEM:
3 Tests 50 M/C question, 50 points each (No Make-ups!)
Two case reports
In-class quizzes, activities and assignments
Final exam: 50 questions
150 points
80 points
20 points
50 points
300 points
A=270-300 points or 90%
B=240-269 points or 80%
C=210-239 points or 70%
D=180-209 points or 60%
There will be no make-up exams without a documented emergency. Then arrangements will
be made to take a harder exam two weeks before the end of class.
Extra credit (up to 15 points) can be earned by writing out the answers to the learning objectives
and handing them in just before each test. Relevant outside lectures or activities may be used for
extra credit with approval of the instructor, but the maximum is still 15 points.
Spring 2012 CLASS SCHEDULE FOR PSYC 2316, 9:30-11 MW
Jan.18 Introduction and Chapter 1: Looking at Abnormality. Read the whole chapter, but there
will be only a few details on pages 9-15 will be on the test.
Jan. 23 Please finish Chapter 1 and ½ of Chapter 2 so we can discuss the theories.
Jan. 25 *Chapter 2: Theories and Treatment of Abnormality. *see the handout for the
Assignment on your favorite theory in Chapter 2 and why (1-2 pages typed) with group
presentation and class discussion (10 points). Sign-up today.
Jan. 30 Theories and treatments continued. Print out the Learning Objectives for 1-4.
Feb. 1 *Give your group presentations and discussion of your favorite theories and hand in
assignment. Start Chapter 3: Assessing and Diagnosing Abnormality.
Feb. 6
Feb. 8
Demonstration of personality tests and we will finish Chapter 3.
Chapter 4: the Research Endeavor. Skip 101-104. Get your case reports.
Feb. 13 Review for Test 1.Bring your Learning Objectives. Discuss extra credit.
Feb. 15 *Test I: Chapters 1-4. Bring Scantron and pencil. Hand in extra credit on Learning
Objectives at the beginning of class, and pick it after you finish the exam.
Feb. 20 President’s day, no classes. Read Chapter 5 on Anxiety Disorders
Feb. 22. Chapter 5: Anxiety disorders. Read pages 467-470 on stress. How does this relate to
anxiety? Look though the cases on anxiety, mood and dissociative disorders.
Feb. 27 Finish Chapter , and watch patients with anxiety disorders. We will go over Test I.
Feb. 29 Finish Anxiety disorder videos. We will discuss the case report assignment.
Mar. 5 Sign up for the disorder you will write about in your 1st Case Report. Read Chapter 6:
Somatoform and Dissociative. Begin reading your case.
Mar. 7 Finish Chapter 6 and begin Chapter 7: Mood Disorders and Suicide. You will meet with
others who are doing the same case.
March 12-18 Spring Break. Start your case report after carefully reading the guidelines. Also,
read Chapter 7.
Mar. 19 Mood disorder and videos. Create your case notes or outline
Mar. 21 *Group discussions on Cases (5 points max). Review for Test II. Remember to bring
your Learning Objectives for the Test Review. Go over guidelines for case report. Make sure you
follow the case report format carefully.
Mar. 26 *Test II: Chapters 5-7. Remember to bring your extra credit and pick it up the test.
Mar. 28 * Go over test II. Hand in Typed Case Report. If it is handed in late on April 2nd, you will
lose 2 points (put in my mailbox by 4 p.m., 4 points on April 3rd, or 6 points on April 9th. It will not
be accepted after April 11th. Read Chapter 8: Schizophrenia. If you have less than 85 points, you
might consider withdrawing from the course.
Thursday, March 29th: ** Last day for you to withdraw from the class by 4:30 p.m.
Apr. 2 Sign up for 2nd case report. Chapter 8: Schizophrenia and Related Psychotic Disorders
with videos and discussion.
Apr. 4 Chapter 9: Personality Disorders with videos.
Apr. 9 Finish chapter 9. Begin Chapter 10: Childhood disorders.
Apr. 11 Finish Chapter 10. Review DSM-IV Criteria and test review. *
Apr. 16 * Group Discussions on Cases (5 points), Review for Test III.
Apr. 18 *Test III: Chapters 8-10.
Apr. 23 *Hand in one typed case report. If it is late, you will lose 2 points on Wednesday
Apr. 25, and 4 points on April 30th. It will not be accepted after Nov. 30th and you will lose 6
points. Go over multiple-choice . Start Chapter 11.
Apr. 25 Chapter 11: Cognitive Disorders and life span issues. Skip chapter 12. Brief coverage of
Chapter 13 Sexual Disorders and Gender Identity Disorders (certain parts only, note the page
numbers on the review). Chapter 17: Substance-Related Disorders (certain parts only).
Apr. 30 Brief coverage of Chapter 15: Health Psychology, Chapter 16: Mental Health and the Law
May 2 Finish Chapter 16 and review for the Final Exam on Chapters 13,14,16-18.
May 7 *9:30 a.m. (Monday) *Final Exam: Chapters 13,14,16-18 (50 Multiple-choice). Hand in
extra credit before the exam and pick it up after. Have a great summer!
*means that there will be an assignment, group discussion or Test on that day.