Abnormal Psychology (PSYC 3140)
Section 030, CRN 85651
Fall 2014
CLASS MEETINGS:
Mon & Wed, 3:00-4:15
Classroom South, Room 104
INSTRUCTOR:
OFFICE:
OFFICE HOURS:
EMAIL:
MAILBOX:
Sara Schmidt, M.A.
Urban Life Bldg, Room 774
Mondays 12 – 2pm, and by appointment
sschmidt4@student.gsu.edu
(Please put “Abnormal Psychology” in the subject line)
See receptionist, 11th Floor of Urban Life Building
PREREQUISITE:
PSYC 1101 with grade of C or higher, or equivalent
NOTE: The GoSOLAR registration system will not allow students to register without having
completed the prerequisites. Waivers for prerequisites will not be considered for regular students.
Only post-baccalaureate and transient (visiting) students may request a prerequisite waiver
through Tenagne Mulugeta in the main office of the Department of Psychology. No other
requests for waiver of prerequisites will be considered.
REQUIRED TEXT: Comer, Ronald J. (2013) Fundamentals of Abnormal Psychology, 7th Edition.
New York: Worth Publishers.
It is not required that you purchase the DSM-5 (American Psychiatric Association, 2013) or
DSM-IV-TR (American Psychiatric Association, 2000). However, it is a useful reference, and it
would be beneficial to obtain a copy if you are planning to continue on in the field of
psychology.
Readings from the text (chapters listed below) may be supplemented by current journal and/or
media articles on specific issues pertaining to mental illness. It is expected that you will complete
all assigned readings before each class; this will help you master material presented in lecture
more easily. Supplemental readings will be announced one week prior to the class in which we
discuss it. Links to readings will be posted on Desire2Learn (D2L).
COURSE PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES: Abnormal Psychology is an examination of the defining
characteristics, causes, and treatments of abnormal or maladaptive behaviors and
psychopathology. In this course, you will be introduced to a wide range of psychological
disorders. However, you will learn more than simply knowing the answer to a question like,
“What is social anxiety disorder?” Rather, you will also learn the theories behind the
development and etiology (i.e., the cause) of these disorders and, as a result, how we approach
treatment for these disorders.
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Broadly speaking, the purpose of this course is to provide you current knowledge about
abnormal behavior as defined within the sociocultural context. We will address the following
questions and goals in this course:
“What is psychopathology (abnormal psychology)?”
 Understand issues related to the classification and assessment of mental disorders
(i.e., psychological disorders) and so-called abnormal behavior.
 Recognize clinical presentations of psychological disorders, as defined by the
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition (DSM-V).
“How is psychopathology developed and maintained?”
 Consider various theoretical models of the development/maintenance of these
disorders (biological, cognitive, behavioral, humanistic, and psychodynamic models
of psychopathology).
“How is it treated?”
 Learn treatment methods used by mental health professionals to address these
disorders.
More specifically, the learning objectives for this course are:
1. Understand and critically evaluate definitions of what constitutes “abnormal” and
maladaptive behavior within the sociocultural context.
2. Understand and critically evaluate our current classification system (i.e., DSM-5) for
abnormal behavior.
3. Become familiar with the criteria and presentation of the major psychiatric conditions
(e.g. panic disorder, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia). Several videotaped examples will
aid with this goal.
4. Understand current explanatory models proposed to account for abnormal behavior.
Biological, psychodynamic, behavioral, cognitive, humanistic-existential and
sociocultural perspectives on the etiology and maintenance of maladaptive behavior will
be considered.
5. Become familiar with the major treatment approaches for several psychological problems
(e.g., various forms of psychotherapy, medication) and the ethical issues associated with
each intervention.
CRITICAL THINKING: Some of the topics covered in this class may be controversial, and the
answers to some of the questions in this course are incomplete. The way we ask and answer these
questions has a profound impact on how we think about ourselves, relate to others, and
understand our world, and vise versa. So, in addition to developing a knowledge base, we will
critically evaluate why we ask the questions we do about abnormal behavior and the methods we
use in psychology to answer them. Critical thinking will be developed through in-class
discussions. For this reason, attendance is quite important.
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COURSE FORMAT: You will be responsible for material presented in lecture as well as all
required readings and videos shown. Class time will include both lecture and discussion.
Participation in this course includes formal exams, course-related activities (e.g., responses to
brief questions or short essays), and required reading.
This course syllabus provides a general plan for the course; deviations may be necessary. Any
changes will be announced in class and posted on Desire2Learn (D2L). Each student is
responsible for all information related to this course, including both administrative and subject
matter information. Much of the material presented in class will not be available in other
formats, and class material will be heavily represented on exams. If you miss a class or are late,
you are responsible for ensuring that you obtain any missed information. The best procedure is to
arrange to get the information from another student in the class.
ONLINE INFORMATION (DESIRE2LEARN): A Desire2Learn (D2L) account has been established
for this course. The syllabus has already been posted. Slides will be posted at least 2 hours before
each class, and exam scores will be posted within one week of administration. Class
participation grades will also be posted to D2L.
DESIRE2LEARN LOGIN INSTRUCTIONS: You can access Desire2Learn (D2L) at
https://gsu.view.usg.edu/ . Your login and password are the same that you use for GoSolar or
PAWS. At the top left of the D2L login page, enter your Username (i.e., your campus ID) and
Password information, then click “Login.” Click on the course title under the “My Courses” tab
to access course materials. If you have difficulty in the course, you can click “Help” on the upper
navigation bar.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS: This is a 3-credit course. It is expected that you will spend
approximately 9 hours per week outside of class time on this course, including required reading,
studying for exams, etc.
GRADING: Your final grade will be based on the total points earned out of a possible 500 points
according to the following scale:
Assignment
Exam 1
Exam 2
Exam 3
Final Exam
Participation/Engagement
Points Possible
100
100
100
100
100
An additional 10 bonus points will be awarded for completion of in-class activities. Percentage
of activities completed will determine number of bonus points awarded as follows:
Percentage of Activities Completed
90-100%
80-90%
Bonus Points Possible
10
9
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70-80%
60-70%
50-60%
40-50%
30-40%
20-30%
10-20%
5-10%
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
Therefore, the total number of points you can earn in the course is 500 (plus 10 bonus points).
Plus/Minus grading will be used in this course. Thus, the grading scale is as follows:
Points
485-500 (+)
465-484.5
450-464.5
435-449.5
415-434.5
400-414.5
385-399.5
365-384.5
350-364.5
300-349.5
0-299.5
Percentage
97-100%
93-96%
90-92%
87-89%
83-86%
80-82%
77-79%
73-76%
70-72%
60-69%
< 60%
Grade
A+
A
AB+
B
BC+
C
CD
F
This class will not be graded on a curve. Your final grade is determined solely by your total
number of points earned. No exceptions will be made to the point cut-offs listed above. The
course will use the plus/minus grading system, as shown above.
I am not able to entertain any requests for help from students who are not satisfied with the
grades they have earned. HOWEVER, I am willing to help you learn the material so you can do
your best in the course. Any student may come see me during office hours and/or by
appointment. I am happy to respond to any questions regarding course material.
EXAMS: Your grade is based largely on three exams worth 100 points each and the final exam
worth 100 points that will cover material from the lectures (including notes, videos, and case
examples) and the textbook. Exams will consist of 50 objective (multiple choice) questions. All
exams (including the final, which is not cumulative) count 100 points toward your final grade.
You must take all exams. You cannot “drop” your lowest grade.
You cannot take the exam if you arrive after anyone has finished taking the exam. If you are late
for an exam and no one has turned in his/her exam, you are permitted to take the exam, but it
must still be turned in by the end of the class period. No extra time will be allowed should
anyone arrive late. All exam responses will be written on scantron sheets so students should
always bring #2 pencils to exams.
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Exams will be graded and posted on Desire2Learn (D2L) within 7 days (and typically sooner
than that). You may not keep exams; however, you may review your exam during office hours, or
by appointment, throughout the semester. If there is an issue with a grade on a test, you must
dispute the grade within one week of when the grades are posted.
Students are required to turn off all laptops, cell phones, pagers, and like devices while in class,
INCLUDING DURING EXAMS. Students shall not allow their personal electronic
communications devices to ring or beep during or otherwise disrupt scheduled University
instructional activities. Making or receiving phone calls or pages or taking pictures while in
class is strictly prohibited. Also, please remove your hats (e.g., baseball caps) before exams. In
addition, please use the restroom before receiving and taking the exam. No one is permitted to
leave the classroom before turning in the exam after it has been administered.
PARTICIPATION/ENGAGEMENT: Participation and engagement in class discussions, courserelated activities, etc. represent 20% of your final grade (100 points). Class participation is
strongly encouraged in order to facilitate conversation and discussion during class. There will be
various class participation activities that will be done throughout the semester. In-class activities
may occur at the beginning of class and cannot be made up or turned in at the end of class;
therefore, you are encouraged to arrive on time and be ready for class at 3:00pm. Given that
participation/engagement points and bonus points (awarded for completing activities) are
contingent on in-class activities and interactions, your attendance is strongly encouraged.
Because a substantial portion of the material presented in class is not covered in the textbook, but
will be on the exams, regular class attendance will also improve your performance on exams.
Students are responsible for obtaining all information presented during missed lasses, including
notes and announcements, from classmates.
Veterans Attendance: The Department of Veterans Affairs requires that institutions of higher
learning immediately report them when a student discontinues attendance. Veterans who are
receiving benefits to fund their education will be reported to the DVA if they do not attend class
for a period of two weeks or more.
It is important to be cognizant of the information you choose to discuss in class. We will be
dealing with sensitive issues that many of you may have personal experience with. It is
important to be sensitive to the type of information you choose to share in class. It is also
important to be aware that you are in a group that consists of many different individuals that do
not necessarily all share the same values, experiences, and viewpoints. As such, while you may
not agree with what someone says in class, it is also important to be respectful of all individuals
in the class.
MAKE-UP EXAM POLICY: Attendance at exams is a specific course requirement, and unexcused
absences on exam days will mean a 0 on the exam. You cannot “drop” your lowest exam
grade. Make-up exams will only be offered in the case of an “excused” absence. Excused
absences reflect dire and unforeseen circumstances, such as hospitalization, death of an
immediate family member, or a car accident on the way to the exam. If you miss an exam and
wish to make it up, you must thoroughly document the reason for your absence within one week
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of the exam. This documentation includes a written explanation detailing the reason for your
absence and copies of any supporting official materials (e.g., physician signature). Official
documents must have the date, the name of the issuing party (e.g., your physician), and a
contact phone number. They must also clearly indicate that you were unable to take the exam
on the regularly scheduled date. If you know before the excused absence is to occur that you
will be absent, then present the documentation to me ahead of time and we will discuss a date for
you to take a make-up exam. An unexcused absence from an exam will result in a grade of 0 for
that particular exam. No exceptions.
As an example, a bill from a physician’s office showing that you were there around the time of
an exam is not enough to warrant the approval of your petition. You must have a signed note
from the physician saying that you were hospitalized or ordered to stay home from school on the
day of the exam because of your physical or mental condition. Thus, elective medical or dental
appointments are never excused. If your petition is approved, you will be informed, and then it
is the student’s responsibility to schedule a time with the instructor and the University
Testing Office on campus that administers make-up exams within this 1 week of being
informed that his/her petition was approved. Please be aware that make-up exams may be all
essay. The final exam cannot be made up if it is missed.
WITHDRAWAL DATE: A student may voluntarily withdraw from a class on or before the midpoint
of the semester, which is 10/14/14. Please note the following changes to the GSU Withdrawal
Policy, also found at http://registrar.gsu.edu/registration/withdrawals/ . Undergraduate students
are allowed to withdraw with a grade of W a maximum of six times. If you exceed your limit of
six, you will receive a grade of WF, which will count toward your GPA. Withdrawals before the
Fall Semester 2006 are not included in the W count. Hardship withdrawals, military withdrawals,
or withdrawals at other institutions do not count against your limit. Please note that students may
drop a course during the first week of class using GoSOLAR or PAWS, which is not a
withdrawal and does not affect your grade.
POLICY ON ACADEMIC HONESTY: The Department of Psychology follows the University system
policy on academic honesty, published in the Faculty Affairs Handbook and in On Campus: The
Undergraduate Co-Curricular Affairs Handbook and is available to all members of the
university community. The policy represents a core value of the university and all members of
the university community are responsible for abiding by its tenets. You are expected to know the
University’s standards of academic honesty and are responsible for abiding by these standards.
Lack of knowledge of this policy is not an acceptable defense to any charge of academic
dishonesty. All members of the academic community, including students, faculty, and staff, are
expected to report violations of these standards of academic conduct to the appropriate
authorities. Failure to report academic misconduct of which you are aware reflects complicity
with the misconduct. Such complicity may also result in an academic and/or disciplinary
penalty. According to the student handbook, the most common types of acts of dishonesty are:




Plagiarism
Cheating on examinations
Unauthorized collaboration
Falsification
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For a full explanation of academic dishonesty, see the GSU student code of conduct at:
http://codeofconduct.gsu.edu. The most common types of academic dishonesty are plagiarism,
cheating on assessments, and unauthorized collaboration.
GSU Department of Psychology Definition of Plagiarism: If a student uses or relies on others’
work in preparing any academic materials (e.g. written assignments, posters, presentations) the
student must cite the source correctly according to the directions provided by the instructor.
Failure to do so is plagiarism. Copying and pasting even part of a sentence or phrase is
plagiarism, even when the source is cited correctly. Paraphrasing a source in a way that copies
the phrase or sentence structure of a source is also plagiarism. To avoid plagiarism, students are
expected to properly paraphrase others’ ideas. Quotes in scientific writing should only be used
when the wording of the original source is critical to the student’s argument. Whether quoting is
appropriate in a given instance is at the discretion of the instructor, not the student.
CHEATING AND UNAUTHORIZED COLLABORATIONS: Cheating includes the use or sharing of any
unauthorized materials and/or assistance before, during, or after an assessment (e.g. exams, tests,
quizzes). Unless otherwise specified by your instructor, you may not discuss an assessment or
share materials or information with any other student at any time. Unauthorized collaboration
occurs under the same circumstances as cheating, but involves assignments outside of the
classroom (e.g. papers, projects, presentations) rather than assessments.”
During tests, all notes and class materials must be out of sight. It is essential not to give the
appearance of giving or receiving help during tests, as the appearance of dishonesty will be
considered under the Policy on Academic Dishonesty.
The penalty for academic misconduct in this course is a failing grade for the course. This
means that cheating on one assignment or exam or lying about an absence during an exam will
result in an F for the course. Disciplinary action may be taken in addition to the academic penalty
if the instructor, department, college, or university feels such action is warranted. Please see
http://www2.gsu.edu/~wwwfhb/sec409.html.
POLICY ON DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOR: Students who disrupt this class or its learning activities will
be considered under the Board of Regents Policy on Disruptive Behavior. Disruptive behaviors
include but are not limited to the following: sleeping, habitual tardiness or leaving early,
interrupting others, talking out of turn, inappropriate behavior during group work, romantic
behavior, and verbal behavior that is disrespectful of other students or the instructor. All cell
phones and pagers must be turned to silent during this class. Each of you deserves to learn in a
safe environment conducive to learning. Thus, please exhibit self-respect as well as respect for
others by not engaging in any disruptive behavior. The instructor will verbally warn disruptive
students the first time. The second time a student becomes disruptive, he/she will be asked to
remove himself/herself from the classroom. Continued violations will result in a written warning
and a meeting with the chair of the Department of Psychology, and will be subject to disciplinary
procedures.
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You are expected to know the University’s policy on disruptive behavior in the classroom.
Please see this link for more information: http://deanofstudents.gsu.edu/faculty-staffresources/disruptive-student-conduct/
DISABLING CONDITIONS: Georgia State University complies with Section 504 of the
Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act. Students with disabilities who seek
academic accommodations must first take appropriate documentation to the Office of Disability
Services located in Suite 230 of the New Student Center. Students who wish to request
accommodation for a disability may do so by registering with the Office of Disability Services.
Students may only be accommodated upon issuance by the Office of Disability Services of a
signed Accommodation Plan and are responsible for providing a copy of that plan to instructors
of all classes in which an accommodation is sought. Any student who has a documented
disabling condition must provide the appropriate documentation from the Office of Disabled
Student Services by the end of the first week of class. If your condition is identified during the
semester, please see me as soon as possible after you have received the relevant supporting
documentation so we can make arrangements to accommodate you for the remainder of the term.
EMAIL CONTACT: All students are required to activate their university e-mail account (i.e., one
ending in 'student.gsu.edu'). Please note that you can forward mail from your university account
to a third party email account (e.g., hotmail.com, aol.com) if you want to. However, I will not
send messages to third party accounts.
NOTE-TAKING AND STUDY TIPS: Lecture powerpoints are provided on D2L for your reference.
Read the assigned chapter and become familiar with new terms before class. Review the study
resources offered at the end of each chapter to help solidify your learning. Return to the text to
help you reinforce material that is covered in lecture. Many students benefit from opportunities
to discuss the material with classmates.
COURSE EVALUATION: Your constructive assessment of this course plays an indispensable role
in shaping education at Georgia State. Upon completing the course, please take time to fill out
the online course evaluation. Your feedback is very valuable to the future of this course.
*CLASSROOM RULES AND CRISIS PROCEDURES: Some of the topics discussed in class are of a
sensitive nature. Please be respectful and considerate of your classmates when asking
questions and making comments. While the course is called “Abnormal Psychology,” it is quite
common for students to have personal experience with disorders or know someone who
does/has. If you want to discuss personal examples relevant to the class discussion, start your
comment with, “A friend of mine…” rather than “I struggle with depression” or “My mom was
diagnosed with social phobia.” This will help to maintain your confidentiality and the
confidentiality of your family/friends.
In addition, some of the course content may be distressing or triggering for some students,
particularly if you have struggled with some of these disorders or know someone who has. If you
experience marked distress after reading the text or following a class discussion, please
contact the GSU Counseling Center or the Mental Health Crisis Line. If you are concerned
about your own or another person’s immediate safety, call the University Police at (404) 413-
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3333 on campus and 911 if you are off campus.
Counseling & Testing Center:
Center at 75 Piedmont Ave., NE, Suite 200 A
(404) 413-1640
http://www.gsu.edu/counseling/
Mental Health Crisis Line: (800) 715-4225
SCHEDULE OF TOPICS AND EXAMS: Lecture topics, chapters and test dates are given on the
schedule below. Each student is responsible for all information presented during class, including
administrative information, subject material, and any changes announced by the instructor. There
will be material on exams that is covered in class, but not in the text. There will also be material
on exams that is covered in the text, but not in class.
Again, this syllabus provides a general plan for the course. Deviations, particularly in the
following schedule, may be necessary.
DATE
8/25
TOPIC
Syllabus & Overview
READINGS
8/27
Abnormal Psychology: Past & Present
Ch. 1
9/1
Models of Abnormality
Ch. 2 (pgs. 34-52)
9/3
Models of Abnormality
Ch. 2 (pgs. 52-67)
9/8
Clinical Assessment, Diagnosis, & Treatment
Ch. 3 (pgs. 69-80)
9/10
Clinical Assessment, Diagnosis, & Treatment
Ch. 3 (pgs. 81-94)
9/15
EXAM 1
Ch. 1, 2, & 3
9/17
Mental Health Stigma
--
9/22
Mental Health Stigma
--
9/24
Mental Health Stigma
--
9/29
Anxiety, Obsessive-Compulsive, & Related Disorders
Ch. 4 (pgs. 97-120)
10/1
Anxiety, Obsessive-Compulsive, & Related Disorders
Ch. 4 (pgs. 121-136)
10/6
Disorders of Trauma and Stress
Ch. 5 (pgs. 139-168)
10/8
EXAM 2
Stigma, Ch. 4 & 5
10/13 Disorders of Mood
Ch. 6 (pgs. 171-186)
10/14 SEMESTER MIDPOINT—Last day to withdraw with a “W”
10/15 Disorders of Mood
Ch. 6 (pgs. 187-204)
10/20 Suicide
Ch. 7
10/22 Eating Disorders
Ch. 9 (pgs. 265-280)
10/27 Eating Disorders
Ch. 9 (pgs. 280-290)
10/29 EXAM 3
Ch. 6, 7, & 8
11/3
Substance Use and Addictive Disorders
Ch. 10 (pgs. 293-312)
11/5
Substance Use and Addictive Disorders
Ch. 10 (pgs. 313-326)
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11/12
Schizophrenia
Ch. 12
11/17
Personality Disorders
Ch. 13 (pgs. 399-421)
11/19
Personality Disorders
Ch. 13 (pgs. 421-436)
THANKSGIVING BREAK (November 24 – 29 )
th
th
12/1
Disorders of Childhood and Adolescence
Ch. 14 (pgs. 439-456)
12/3
Disorders of Childhood and Adolescence
Ch. 14 (pgs. 457-474)
12/8
FINAL EXAM (last day of classes)
Ch. 10, 12, 13, & 14
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