ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY – CLP3144
Instructor: Whitney Wall, M.P.H., M.S.
Office: Psychology Building, Rm. 293
E-mail: whitneywall@gmail.com
Office Hours: By appointment
Time: Wednesdays
5:10 p.m. – 8:10 p.m.
Location: NEB 202
Section: 4446
Teaching Assistants:
Andrew Rakhshani
Office Hours: By appointment
Office: Graduate Student Lounge, Psychology Building
Adeana Graziano
Office Hours: By appointment
Office: Graduate Student Lounge, Psychology Building
Course Overview
Course Description:
This course is designed to help broaden your knowledge and conceptual understanding of
abnormal psychology. The primary focus of this course is to provide a description of various
psychological problems currently recognized within the psychiatric and psychological
communities. We will begin the course by discussing conceptualizations of abnormal and normal
behavior in this society, and general approaches to understanding the causes of mental disorders.
We will then explore several diagnostic categories of psychopathology, as defined by
contemporary psychological manuals. Throughout the course, we will also discuss practical
topics relevant to mental health professionals ranging from ethics to statistics. By the end of this
course, you should be familiar with the history of abnormal psychology and understand the
various theories of abnormal behavior. See specific course objectives listed below:
Course Objectives:
The objectives of this course are to:
(1) To provide students with an overview of the field of abnormal psychology and major
psychological problems and disorders.
(2) To familiarize students with a number of different theoretical perspectives concerning
psychological problems.
(3) To provide students with examples of psychological problems in research and clinical work.
Warning: “A little bit of knowledge is a dangerous thing…” This is particularly true in
abnormal psychology. This course is an overview of the field of abnormal psychology and does
not certify or license you in any way to diagnose psychopathologies in yourself, loved ones,
acquaintances, strangers, or enemies. Furthermore, please expect that some topics covered in the
course will invoke new or difficult thoughts and/or feelings. Remember to be respectful of
others’ thoughts, opinions, and experiences. That being said, it is expected that students do not
engage in the perpetuation of stereotypes, discrimination, prejudice, or other forms of bias and
intolerance. Please see your teaching assistant or me if you have further questions or concerns
regarding this expectation. Finally, due to the nature and content of this course you may
experience instances of discomfort as well as curiosity. If you encounter personal issues you
would like to explore in further depth, I would recommend you consider speaking with a
counselor at the UF Counseling & Wellness Center (http://www.counsel.ufl.edu, 352-392-1575),
or at the Alachua County Crisis Center (352-264-6789).
Required Books:
Nolen-Hoeksema, S. (2011). Abnormal Psychology (5th Ed.). New York: McGraw Hill.
**Additional readings may be assigned periodically throughout the semester. These readings will
be announced in class, and will also be posted to e-Learning**
E-Learning System Materials and Procedures:
All email correspondence MUST occur through the Sakai course site. Email your
ASSIGNED TA prior to emailing the instructor if you have general questions. If your last
name begins with the letter A-M, your assigned TA is Andrew Rakhshani. If your last
name begins with the letter N-Z, your assigned TA is Adeana Graziano. Lecture notes,
additional materials, and student grades can be accessed on the Sakai course website:
http://lss.at.ufl.edu/. Remember to visit the site regularly because all communication pertinent to
this course will occur via the course site.
Course Requirements
Attendance:
Regular class attendance and participation are required in this course. Students are expected to
know (and will be tested on) material that is covered in both the text and in lecture. That is,
students are responsible for all material discussed in class and covered in the assigned readings.
Students are responsible for meeting course requirements on the dates outlined in the course
syllabus.
Evaluation Criteria:
Exams: (100 points each; 300 points total)
There will be three (3) exams worth 100 points each given on the dates noted in the class
schedule. Exams will cover lecture (including videos and activities), textbook material, and any
additional assigned readings. All exams are non-cumulative. Exams will be taken in class and
will be closed book. It is strongly recommended that you come to class on time for exams. If
you come late and begin the exam, you must turn it in at the end of the test time. If you arrive
late and another student has already finished the exam and left the classroom, you will not be
allowed to take the exam.
Only under extreme circumstances (e.g., death of a close family member, serious illness, natural
disaster, etc.) or for university-approved absences will administering a make-up exam be
considered. Please contact me as soon as you know you will be missing an exam to discuss your
reasons for missing the exam and to discuss the possibility of a make-up exam. To make up an
Abnormal Psychology - CLP3144, Section 3123 Fall 2013
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exam, documentation of your excused absence must be turned in, and you must take the exam no
later than 1 week after the missed exam or your return to class.
Reflections Paper: (130 points total)
All Reflection Papers are due at the beginning of Wednesday’s lecture and should conform to the
following formatting standards: 1-2 pages, double-spaced, 1 inch margins, size 12 point Times
New Roman font. Your Reflection Paper should reflect the week’s readings, but can also
integrate previous readings, discussions, and material from lectures and guest speakers. DO NOT
summarize the material! The goal of the Reflection Paper is to hear feedback about YOUR
experiences, thoughts, feelings, and input about the materials. Good questions to ask yourself in
preparation for writing your reflection papers are: (1) What was my initial reaction to the
information?, (2) How did I make sense of all the information (in class, readings, etc.), (3) What
did I like/not like and why?, (4) Did my reaction change and why?, (5) Would I like to continue
becoming familiar with this topic and why?, and (6) Have I integrated the materials together to
make sense of the topics introduced? No late submissions will be accepted, unless extenuating
circumstances are documented (in which case both paper and documentation will be required).
Papers will be turned in electronically through Sakai.
Grading:
Points can be earned as follows, and grades will be assigned according to the scale listed below.
If you have additional questions about grades at the University of Florida, please see the
information at the following web address:
https://catalog.ufl.edu/ugrad/current/regulations/info/grades.aspx
Participation
20pts
Reflection Papers 130 pts
Exams
300 pts
Exam 1
Exam 2
Final Exam
4%
29%
67%
100 pts
100 pts
100 pts
22%
22%
22%
Total points in course: 450
Percentages for this course correspond to the following letter grades.
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
E
93-100
90-92
87-89
83-86
80-82
77-79
73-76
70-72
67-69
63-66
60-62
0-59
419450
405418
392404
374403
360373
347359
329358
315328
302314
284301
270283
0-269
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Essential Class Information Policy
The Learning Environment:
Please cooperate with me and your fellow students to create an environment that fosters learning
and communication. We all should be respectful in our behavior and comments, and should
eliminate disruptions that might be distractions. Disruptions to the learning environment include
(but are not limited to): talking while others are speaking, reading newspapers, magazines, or
unrelated course material in class, use of personal electronic devices during class (e.g., iPods,
text messaging, etc.), eating disruptively in class, or otherwise behaving rudely. I understand
that on rare occasions it might be necessary to either arrive to class late or to leave early. I do
prefer that you come to class on those occasions when you must be a little late or leave a little
early, rather than not attend at all. However, make every effort to avoid this if possible. On those
occasions when it is necessary, please do so with as little disruption to the class as possible (e.g.,
take a seat near the door and enter/depart quietly).
Cell Phone Policy
Use of cell phones or other electronic devices is particularly disruptive and will therefore not be
tolerated. It is NOT sufficient to set your phone on silent or to vibrate; devices MUST be
turned off and stored out of sight. If, for any reason, you must text or make a call during class,
please step out to the hallway to do it. Devices must absolutely be turned off and kept out-ofsight during exams
Computer Policy
Computer use is only allowed for class-related purposes. If either TA or I see a student using a
computer for non-class purposes, we will ask the student to discontinue the use of the computer
for the remainder of the class time. If this occurs again with the same student, the student will
directly be asked to leave the class. If either TA or I must ask the class to not use the computer
for class-unrelated purposes more than three times during the semester, computer use will not be
allowed for the remainder of the course. Non-class related computer use is distracting to me and
other students.
Repeated violations of either of these policies may result in a reduction of your final grade.
Statement of University’s Honesty Policy:
Students are expected to act in accordance with the University of Florida policy on academic
integrity (see Student Conduct Code, the undergraduate Student Handbook or this web site for
more details: www.dso.ufl.edu/judicial/procedures/academicguide.php). Cheating, lying,
misrepresentation, or plagiarism in any form is unacceptable and inexcusable behavior. The
student honor code states “We, the members of the University of Florida community, pledge to
hold ourselves and our peers to the highest standards of honesty and integrity.” This applies in
particular to cheating and improper use of copyrighted materials.
Policy Related to Make-up Papers or Other Work:
It is expected that all students will attend and be prepared to participate in all class sessions. The
course schedule contains reading assignments for each lecture/presentation. Students will be
expected to complete the assigned reading prior to coming to each class. Students will be
expected to submit completed papers and other assignments by the due date. Personal issues with
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respect to class attendance or fulfillment of course requirements will be handled on an individual
basis.
Accommodations for Students with Disabilities:
If you require classroom accommodation because of a disability, you must first register with the
Dean of Students Office (http://oss.ufl.edu/). The Dean of Students Office will provide
documentation to the student regarding allowable accommodations. The student must then
provide this documentation to one of the instructors when requesting accommodation. The
College is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to assist students in their
coursework.
A Note on Plagiarism:
Plagiarism will result in a reduction of your grade, including and up to a failed grade in this
course. I line with UF policy, I will report any known instances of plagiarism to the Dean of
Students office, and you will have a UF honor code file with them for the remainder of your time
at UF. Plagiarism includes but is not limited to “1) quoting oral or written materials including but
not limited to those found on the internet, whether published or unpublished, without proper
attribution, 2) submitting a document or assignment which in whole or in part is identical or
substantially identical to a document or assignment not authored by the student” (Regulations of
the University of Florida, 2012). If you have any questions regarding what plagiarism is, or looks
like, please contact the teaching assistant or me as soon as possible.
Extra Help and Additional Topic Information:
Contact me as soon as possible for extra assistance if you discover you are having trouble. I will
gladly reserve time to meet with you if necessary. For those interested in additional information
regarding any topic discussed in class, I am available at any time to recommend additional
resources to you if you wish to explore this material in greater depth.
Religious Observances:
Please check your calendars against the course syllabus. Any student having a conflict in the
exam schedule, or feel that they will be disadvantaged by missing a class due to religious
observance, should contact me as soon as possible so that we can make any necessary
arrangements.
Copyright Statement:
Some of the materials in this course are possibly copyrighted. They are intended for use only by
students registered and enrolled in this course and only for instructional activities associated with
and for the duration of the course. They may not be retained in another medium or
disseminated further. They are provided in compliance with the provisions of the Teach Act.
Syllabus Change Policy:
Except for changes that substantially affect implementation of the evaluation statement (i.e.,
grading), this syllabus is a guide for the course and is subject to change.
Abnormal Psychology - CLP3144, Section 3123 Fall 2013
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Week 1
DATE
August 21
COURSE ACTIVITIES
-Course Introduction
-Looking at Abnormality
READINGS/ASSIGNMENTS
Week 2
August 28
Chapter 2: Theories and Treatment of
Abnormality
Chapter 1 & 2
Reflection Paper Due
Week 3
September 4
Chapter 4: The Research Endeavor
Chapter 3: Assessing and Diagnosing
Abnormality
Chapters 3 & 4
Reflection Paper Due
Week 4
September 11
Chapter 5: Anxiety Disorders
Chapter 5
Reflection Paper Due
Week 5
September 18
Chapter 6: Somatoform and
Dissociative Disorders
EXAM 1 (Chapters 1-5)
Chapter 6
Reflection Paper Due
Week 6
September 25
Chapter 13: Sexual Disorders
Chapter 13
Reflection Paper Due
Week 7
October 2
Chapter 8: Schizophrenia and Related
Psychotic Disorders
Chapter 8
Reflection Paper Due
Week 8
October 9
Chapter 9: Personality Disorders
Chapter 9
Reflection Paper Due
Week 9
October 16
Chapter 10: Childhood Disorders
EXAM 2 (Chapters 6, 13, 8, 9, 10)
Chapter 10
Reflection Paper Due
Week
10
October 23
Chapter 11: Cognitive Disorders and
Life-Span Issues
Chapter 11
Reflection Paper Due
Week
11
October 30
Chapter 12: Eating Disorders
Chapter 12
Reflection Paper Due
Week
12
November 6
Chapter 7: Mood Disorders and
Suicide
Chapter 7
Reflection Paper Due
Week
13
November 13
Chapter 14: Substance-Related and
Impulse-Control Disorders
Chapter 14
Reflection Paper Due
Week
14
November 20
Chapter 15: Health Psychology
Chapter 15
Reflection Paper Due
Abnormal Psychology - CLP3144, Section 3123 Fall 2013
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FINAL EXAM (chapters 11, 12, 7,
14, 15, 16)
Week
15
December 4
TBD
**Schedule is subject to change with prior notice from the instructor**
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