Psychology 350: Abnormal Psychology
San Diego State University (Spring2015)
Room SHW-012 Time: TTH 2:00-3:15
Instructor: Katherine Turner Office: LS-155
Email: katherine.turner@mail.sdsu.edu
Office Hours: (by appointment)
Psychology Department Phone: (619) 594-5129
Graduate Teaching Assistants:
Desiree Cheney dcheney@mail.sdsu.edu
Nathan Honeycutt nhoneycutt@mail.sdsu.edu
Please set an appointment with a GA to review quizzes, grades, and assignments.
Undergraduate Teaching Assistants:
Kaitlyn Burger KAITLYNBURGER@yahoo.com
Kristen Lacar lacarkj@gmail.com
Beatriz Morales beatriz.m@live.com
Please set an appointment for study tips and concept review with Undergraduate TA’s.
Welcome to Abnormal Psychology! Together, we will be exploring mental health.
Students will become familiar with the most prominent theoretical ideas
concerning mental health. Students will become familiar with the latest research
on assessment, changes to the DSM, treatment, and cultural differences in mental
health. The major domains of functioning covered include social interactions and
emotional functioning, cognitive adaptations well as physiological , and
biological abnormalities underlying disorders. A key feature of this course is
how processes in these different domains interact to influence an individual’s
overall adaptation. A key goal of this course is to place mental health processes
in context.
PSY 350 Course & Learning Objectives:
If you pick up the New York or LA Times, The Boston Globe, or any major Newspaper,
you are likely to come across headlines such as: “Depressed People Have a More
Accurate Perception of Time”; “Effective treatment helps Danes with Personality
Disorder”; “Junk food in pregnancy linked to childhood mental disorders” or
“'Biological signal' of suicide risk found in blood?” Our goal in this course is to
increase your understanding of the research behind the headlines, so that you can be a
better consumer of the growing body of knowledge surrounding Abnormal Psychology.
This course provides an overview of the psychological disorders of across the
lifespan, including their diagnosis, etiology, and treatment. Emphasis is on
empirical research methods and findings, although case examples and general
theoretical perspectives are covered as background.
By the end of the course you will have examined and discussed or applied what
you have learned to:
1. Discuss trends in the triggers, onset, symptoms, course, and populations
associated with each disorder.
2. Broadly classify abnormal behavior in both categorical (DSM IV) and
dimensional assessment (DSM V) systems
3. Describe the diathesis-stress model of psychopathology and apply this general
conceptual framework to the major psychological disorders
4. Define “evidence-based treatment” in mental health and evaluate whether
specific therapies meet these criteria for scientific support
COURSE TEXTS: Essentials of Abnormal Psychology, 6th Edition, Durand & Barlow
Case Studies in Abnormal Behavior, Meyer, Chapman, and Weaver
1) Man's search for meaning by Victor Frankl
2) The psychopath Inside by James Fallon
Office Hours: Office hours will be set by appointment. My office is located at
the address listed at the top of this syllabus in the Life Sciences Building. If you
want to see me, please email me to set up an appointment. Please feel free to ask
questions via email. I check my email regularly during the day and will try to
respond as quickly as possible to your questions. My email address and phone
number are listed on the top of this syllabus.
Attendance: Regular attendance is strongly recommended. Students should
note that quiz material will come primarily from lecture material, presented
media, and the textbook. If you cannot attend class, it is highly recommended
that you borrow notes from another student in the class. I DO NOT SEND OUT
COPIES OF MISSED MATERIAL.
Class Format: The class format will consist primarily of daily lecture, videos, and
CD-ROM lab demonstrations. Students are encouraged to ask questions during
lecture. Also, please let me know if I am going too fast. If any material from the
lecture or the reading is unclear, please do not hesitate to ask for clarification. It
is also recommended that students read the assigned readings prior to the
associated lecture. Doing so will create a foundation for lecture material and will
allow you to follow the lectures more easily. I also would strongly recommend
bringing your lecture outlines and Powerpoint slide printouts to class (see below
for details on downloading these items).
Blackboard: A Blackboard site has been created for this course at the following
address: https://blackboard.sdsu.edu. Student can log onto the site using their
Red ID and pin. Students can use Blackboard for downloading all lecture
outlines and select PowerPoint slides for each lecture. It is recommended that
students download the items for each lecture and bring them to class. The
outlines and handouts will make it easier for students to follow the lecture and
take notes. Grades also will be available on Blackboard. Please note that grades
from Assignments will be posted as soon as possible but due to the class size it
may be two weeks between assignment completion and the posted grade for a
given assignment.
Course Requirements: You will take 5 quizzes this Semester. Your Test grade
will be based on four non-cumulative quizzes. Each quiz is worth 50 pts. QUIZ
5 is mandatory and cannot be dropped! Quizzes will cover material from
lectures, movies, class discussion, and the assigned reading, thus attendance
and thoughtful consideration of class discussions will likely be of benefit when
taking quizzes. All students should take the quizzes at the date and time
specified in the syllabus.
THERE WILL BE NO MAKE-UP QUIZZES. However, your grade will be
determined by totaling the number of points you have earned from your four
highest exams. That is, I will throw out the score from your lowest exam when
calculating your final grade. Thus, if you need to miss an exam because of illness
or other personal emergency, I will throw out the zero you earned on that exam
when calculating your final grade. Please use this option carefully as there will
be no make-up exams.
Written Assignments
In addition to Quizzes, you will have 3 written assignments. All written
assignments are expected to be based on the reading from the textbook and
articles/chapters posted on Blackboard. Any additional information added by
the student to the Assignments must be cited from lectures or the
Durand/Barlow textbook. Occasionally written assignments ask for your
opinion. The assumption of this class is that your opinion is based, not on a
feeling but on the material you have learned during the semester.
In-class participation
Part of your grade is based on working in groups and completing in-class
practice quizzes. This part of your grade is designed to help you assess your
understanding of the material and your ability to work with others to increase
your understanding of the material. Missing these points will severely impact
your grade.
Course Web Site: Updates to the syllabus, announcements, office hours, and
lecture outlines will be posted on our Blackboard website which is accessible
through your web portal.
Students with disabilities:
Students with disabilities who believe that they may need accommodations in
this class are encouraged to contact the Academic Resource Center as soon as
possible to ensure that such accommodations can be implemented in a timely
fashion
Religious Observances: The University Policy File includes the following
statement on Absence for Religious Observances: By the end of the second week
of classes, students should notify the instructors of affected courses of planned
absences for religious observances. Therefore, if you foresee that the date of a
religious observance coincides with a quiz date, please see me before the end of
the second week of the semester. However, do not wait until the day of the quiz
or the day after the quiz to ask for a make-up quiz.
Withdrawals and Incompletes: The University policy on withdrawals and
incompletes is printed in the SDSU General Catalog.
Grades:
2 Written Assignments = 50 pts
Quizzes (3 highest scores + quiz 5) = 200 pts
In Class-Practice quizzes/assignments=21 pts
2 Book Quiz/Discussions w/template- 40pts
Course is out of 311 points
Academic Dishonesty: Academic dishonesty in any form will not be tolerated.
Faculty are required to report any incident involving academic dishonesty to the
University. See the Student Code section of your Student Handbook for
definitions and regulations concerning cheating and plagiarism.
Grade Evaluation: The following distribution will be used to determine your
final grade.
A
AB+ B
BC+ C
CD+ D
D- F
93.3 90.0 86.6 83.3 80.0 76.6 73.3 70.0 66.6 63.3 60 Below
59.9
THERE ARE NO MAKE-UP QUIZZES
Quiz 1
Chapters 1-3, 13, & ethics
Quiz 2
Chapters 4,6
Quiz 3
Chapter 7,5,8
Quiz 4
Chapter 11 & Fallon
Quiz 5
Chapter 10,12 &Frankl
February 5th
February 26th
March 19th
April 9th
April 30th
ASSIGNMENTS ARE DUE BY 11:00pm ON THE DATE INDICATED IN THE SYLLABUS
Lecture handouts are available on Blackboard by 9pm the night before class.
Lectures
1/22
Introduction
DUE DATE Reading Assignments
1/22
Syllabus
1/27
Clinical Assessments & Ethics
1/27
1/29
Developmental disorders
(Conduct disorder/oppositional
defiant/ADHD)
Developmental disorders
(Conduct disorder/oppositional
defiant/ADHD)
1/29
Chapter 3
Chapter 13
2/3
Chapter 13
2/3
2/5TH
Quiz 1
Anxiety
2/5T
H
2/10
Quiz 1-writing Assignment 1
is due
Chapter 4
2/10
2/12
Anxiety
2/12
Chapter 4
2/17
Anxiety/Mood
2/17
Chapter 6
2/19
Mood/suicide
2/19
Chapter 6
2/24
Mood/suicide
2/24
Chapter 6
2/26T
H
3/3
35
Quiz 2
Quiz 2 –Assignment 2 due
Physical Disorders
Somatoform and dissociative
2/26
TH
3/3
35
3/10
Somatoform and dissociative
3/10
Chapter 5
3/12
Sleep Disorder
3/12
Chapter 8
3/17
Sleep Disorders
3/17
Chapter 8
3/19
Quiz 3
3/19
No class
3/24
Personality Disorders
3/24
Chapter 11
3/26
Personality Disorders
3/26
Chapter 11
3/31
Cesar Chavez Day
3/31
Cesar Chavez Day
4/2
Spring Break
4/2
Spring Break
4/7
Book Discussion-20 points
4/7
4/9
Quiz 4 Personality and Book
4/9
In Class Assignments-20
points-James Fallon Book
No Class
4/14
Schizophrenia
4/14
Chapter 12
4/16
Schizophrenia
4/16
Chapter 12
4/21
Impulse Control Disorders
4/21
Chapter 10
4/23
Impulse Control Disorders
4/23
Chapter 10
4/28
Book Discussion-10
4/28
4/30
Book Discussion -10
4/30
In Class Assignment –Victor
Frankl Book
In Class Assignment –Victor
Frankl Book
5/5
TBD
5/5
5/7
Chapter 7
Chapter 5
Quiz 5 opens today and IS DUE
5/7
Quiz 5 opens today and IS
TODAY
DUE TODAY
Note: Some topics may be moved to a later date to accommodate course changes. However,
project due dates will not be changed. You will receive e-mail when a revised syllabus has
been posted. It is your responsibility to download updates.
Writing Assignments:
Assignments are based on articles posted on Blackboard, chapters from the Oltmann’s
Casebook and chapters in the Durand and Barlow text. All Assignments are due at 11pm
on the date indicated on the syllabus. Copies of the textbook are on reserve at the
Library.
You are expected to write a minimum of 1 paragraph per question. So, each assignment
should include approximately 5+ paragraphs. Some assignments may require more
paragraphs to thoroughly answer the question.
PSY350 – Assignment Guidelines and Grading
Directions: For each assignment, answer the following questions at ends of specified
chapters in Casebook in Child Behavior Disorders. To receive full credit for each
assignment, answer each question COMPLETELY. Your responses should also be
THOUGHTFUL (demonstrate effort while using what you have learned from the
chapter) to receive full credit. It goes without saying that you should proofread
assignments for grammar/spelling mistakes before submitting your work.
As specified on the assignment sheet, you are expected to write ~1 paragraph per
question. Some of your answers to questions may be a little longer and some may be a
little shorter depending on the question (Keep point values in mind). Use this document
as a guide to ensure that you have fulfilled criteria for answering each question
completely.
Sources for papers can be found in 3 locations:
1) Articles posted on Blackboard
2) Textbook
3) Chapter posted on Blackboard
Assignment #1 (20 points). Pregnancy and Eating Disorders.
Using the Oltman’s Chapters on Eating Disorders (on Blackboard), AND the article on
eating disorders in Pregnancy by Ward to answer the following questions:
a) Summarize Joan’s story (casebook) 4pts
b) Imagine that Joan is pregnant. Discuss Joan’s possible reactions to a pregnancy 3 pts
(this is based on what you have learned about her from the casebook and your knowledge
of individual’s with eating disorders from Durand/Barlow and the Ward article.
c) Discuss possible impacts of pregnancy on Joan’s and a fetus’ health (Ward article)4pts
d) Discuss the possible role of culture on a person's perspective of eating and/or weight
gain during pregnancy and whether Joan’s culture will help or hinder her eating disorder
(combination of casebook, article, textbook and opinion) 5 pts
e) If you were Joan’s sister or brother what would be your reaction to her pregnancy 4pts
(opinion)
Assignment #2 (30 points). Romantic love and Personality Disorders.
Use Chapter 11 from Durand/Barlow to examine the impact of 3 different personality
disorders in light of the article on men and women’s views of romantic love as explained
in the Dion and Dion article.
a) Outline the findings of Dion and Dion. (6pts)
b) Discuss possible impacts of personality disorder (choice 1). (4pts)
c) Discuss possible impacts of personality disorder (choice 2). (4pts)
d) Discuss possible impacts of personality disorder (choice 3). (4pts)
e) What are your conclusions based on findings in the book and article? (6pts)
f) Discuss the implications of these findings on friendships generally.
Book Discussions:
Includes a quiz (your score counts) for each Book followed by a discussion where
you turn in a package of questions based on your small group discussion. You must
attend all 3 book discussion days and take quizzes to gain all 40 points. Book
quizzes and discussion days cannot be made up at a later time.