SOUTHERN MAINE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Spring 15 Abnormal Psychology Mon/Wed 1:30-2:45
Title: Abnormal Psychology
Credit Hours: 3
Instructor: Dr. Karlee S Hoecker
Office Hours: Wednesday 3:00-4:00 & by appointment
Office: 204 Harborview
Catalog Number: PSYC-200 01 MW 1:30-2:45
Contact Hours: 45
Room: Jewet 110
Email: khoecker@smccme.edu
Office Phone: 741-5664
Course Description
This course is an introduction to the psychological theory and research regarding abnormal and maladaptive
human behavior. It provides a comprehensive overview of the major categories of abnormal behavioral disorders with an
emphasis on theory and research (e.g., schizophrenia, affective disorders, substance abuse, eating disorders, etc.) Special
attention will be given to the study of major concepts, theoretical perspectives, empirical findings and historical trends as
they pertain to psychological problems: as well as exposure to issues in diagnostics and treatment techniques. This course
is writing intensive and will use a variety of types of writing (e.g. class writing, reaction papers), in addition to or in place
of more conventional formal papers.
Prerequisites: ENGL-100, PSYC 100
Course Objectives: After successfully completing this course, the student will be able to:
1. Understand the issues involved in defining normal and abnormal behavior.
2. Describe the definitions, symptoms, classifications, etiology, and treatment of abnormal behavior.
3. Formulate an understanding of psychopathology which includes an integration of biology, psychology, & social context.
4. Recognize how culture and social context affect our understanding of psychopathology.
5. Use critical thinking, skeptical inquiry and the scientific approach to evaluate how psychopathology relates to the field
of psychology and the everyday world.
6. Write thoughtfully about the material covered in the class.
Learning Outcome Competencies
Critical Thinking: Upon Completion of this course you will have:
1-C. Read and demonstrated an understanding of complex ideas by identifying key concepts in the field of psychology.
2-C. Applied theory to practice using problem solving techniques and data analysis.
3-C. Have analyzed and evaluated research data to produce a well-reasoned argument or position on an issue.
4-C. Synthesized data from multiple sources to create and support a solution.
Global Citizenship: Upon Completion of this course you will be able to:
1-G. Explain how social interactions are influenced by local, regional, national, and/or global cultures.
2-G. Recognize cultural and individual differences that underlie the complexities of human behavior and social interaction.
Course Overview
Welcome to Abnormal Psychology! Since I am a licensed clinical psychologist, teaching this class is a true passion
for me. I get to use my past training and experiences as a therapist, and I often find students who take this class are also
really interested in the material because of their past experiences and future professional goals. I hope that you will be one
of those interested students! In fact, I hope you are so invested in learning about abnormal behavior that you will come
prepared to class and help create a stimulating learning community. Learning does take effort and the national standard is
that for every hour of class time you spend 2 hours outside of class doing homework, which means that on average you
should be spending at least 6 hours a week outside of this class learning about abnormal psychology. Doing the readings and
written assignments, and participating in class will help you and your fellow students engage and really learn.
My contact information is listed above. Please let me know as soon as possible if you will not be able to make it to
class. If you are having concerns or problems with your performance in this class, please come and talk with me as soon as
possible. I will do what I can to be of assistance, as long as it does not give you an unfair advantage.
Required Text: Abnormal Psychology 6th edition Susan Nolen-Hoeksema; McGraw Hill
Blackboard: This course is web-enhanced. See the course Blackboard handout for instructions.
Course Requirements: Attendance and Participation, Reading Logs, Film Presentation and Paper, Group Led Discussion,
Final Exam
I. CLASS ATTENDANCE AND PARTICIPATION. (Learning Outcomes 1C-4C & 1G-2G) Because the format of the
class will be primarily seminar/discussion with some experiential learning exercises it is important that you attend class
regularly and do your best to participate in class discussions.
Attendance is required. If you miss the first two classes you will be reported as a NO SHOW to the administration and
dropped from the class. Missing three classes consecutively without notifying me will result in you being dropped from
the class and receiving an AF for the course grade. Missing a total of 2 weeks’ worth of classes will result in a lower
grade, and missing over 2 weeks’ worth of classes will result in class failure. In other words, to succeed in this class, you
must do your best to come to every class. Coming late and missing attendance, texting, surfing, using cell phone
during class, or leaving class and then coming back, will be counted as an absence, and you will be asked to leave
the class for the day. Please put cell phones on vibrate. No text messaging or lap tops are permitted in class. If you
are expecting an emergency text please let me know at the start of class. Failure to abide by these policies will result in
class dismissal, an unexcused absence, and a 10 point deduction from your course grade for the day.
Participation: Twenty-five points of your participation grade will be based on peer critiquing and grading. Over the course
of the semester you will be asked to participate in grading Reading Logs, and/or providing feedback on paper drafts.
Most of this grading will be done in class, but on occasion out-of-class and/or online grading may be required. Grading
rubrics will be supplied when applicable. In addition, all students are encouraged to participate actively in discussions.
II. READING LOGS. (Learning Outcomes 1C-3C & 1G-2G) In order to facilitate discussion and the completion of reading
assignments, one of the requirements of the class is that you complete 10 reading logs out of a possible 11 (students do not
do a log on their film presentation chapter). Logs should be typed & should be at least two single-spaced pages in length
(longer logs are fine). The format is as follows: Please put your NAME, DUE DATE, CHAPTER # AND LOG # at the
top of the page, number each answer, and then answer the following:
1. Question(s): What question(s) do you have? Is there something that was confusing in the reading, something you
want to know more about, or something you question? Use in-text citation to indicate (s) what prompted your question.
2. Important Points. What do you think are the important points and/or terms in this chapter; and then explain
why you think these points are important? Please use your own words and do not just copy terms from the text. Use intext citation to indicate what prompted your question.
3. Positive comments: Briefly discuss a passage or section from the reading that you really liked. Something you
agree with or something that made you feel good. Tell why either personally or intellectually you liked this passage. Use intext citation to indicate what prompted your question.
4. Negative comments: Same as number 2 only discuss something you disliked or disagreed with and tell why.
Use in-text citation to indicate what prompted your question.
5. Application: As you read the chapter, consider how you would use the information in the chapter in your own
professional or personal understanding of psychopathology. You can also include your thoughts on the integration of culture,
biology, and psychology. Use in-text citation to indicate what prompted your question.
Please remember to use APA in-text citations in your log, and include a reference of the textbook at the end of
your log. Also quotation marks and page number(s) are required if you use direct text wording, otherwise it is
plagiarism. Your log should include any or all of the following types of citations:
 According to Nolen-Hoeksema (2014) cultural norms should be considered when defining abnormality.
 “Cultures have strong norms for what is considered acceptable behavior for men versus women” (Nolen-Hoeksema,
2014, p. 5) which should be considered when diagnosing mental illness.
 Cultural norms also play a role in treatment of mental health problems (Nolen-Hoeksema, 2014).
Since the purpose of the reading logs is to facilitate discussion, I encourage you to share what you have written as we talk
about the chapter in class. To receive full credit for a log, you must be in class and hand it in during the class period for
which it is due. Due dates are outlined below in the class calendar. If you are unable to type it, then you must show it to me
at the start of class for initializing. Five points will be deducted on logs handed in early, handed in for you by a classmate, or
handed in late (see late pass information). Logs more than 2 weeks late will not be accepted. Please keep in mind that
most of these logs will be peer graded by one of your classmates. Please see Chapter Log Grading Rubric on the
Blackboard site for this class.
III. FILM PRESENTATION AND PAPER. (Learning Outcomes 1C-4C & 1G-2G) Based on student interest, you will be
assigned a particular disorder. Please see the Presentation and Paper Guidelines on the Blackboard site for more
detailed instructions.
Presentation: During the class we discuss the disorder; you will be responsible for showing a clip from a film which portrays
the disorder. The presentation should include information relevant to the disorder, and you should lead the class in
discussion.
Paper: You are also required to write a paper analyzing the film using class material and at least two outside scholarly
sources found through ProQuest Psychology Journals. A completed polished draft of your paper is due on the day you
present (5 points will be deducted on late drafts). The completed polished draft must be submitted to SMARTTHINKING
online tutoring service found on the Learning Commons website: http://smccme.libguides.com/online_tutoring before you
present. Ten points will be deducted if you do not submit to the online tutor and also turn in the tutor’s report with your draft.
Final revised papers will be due at a later date. Ten points will be deducted on late final revised papers. Please refer to the
Film Presentation and Paper Guidelines for more specific information.
IV. GROUP LED CLASS DISCUSSION. (Learning Outcomes 1C-4C & 1G-2G) Based on preferences you will be
assigned to a group and you and your group will be responsible for leading a discussion on the assigned chapter (Chapter 10,
13, 14, or 16). Please see Group Led Discussion Guidelines on Blackboard.
V. FINAL EXAM: (Learning Outcomes 1C-4C & 1G-2G) The Final Exam will consist of two parts the development of a
Study Guide and the Collaborative Exam. The first part requires each student to develop a study guide which includes 4
points from each of the 15 chapters we cover in class. The study guide is due during the final exam period and is worth 60
points. Ten points will be deducted for late study guides and you will not be able to participate in the Collaborative Exam if
you do not come to class with your study guide, and you will have to take the exam during the make-up period. The
Collaborative Exam will be during the final exam period. Students will use their study guides in small groups to answer exam
questions. See class calendar for exam date. Make up exam will result in a 5 point deduction. Please see Final Exam
Guidelines on the Blackboard site for more specific instructions.
Grading: All assignments must be completed in order to pass the course, meaning that you must do the film presentation and
paper, turn in a minimum number of logs (at least 6 out of the required 10), do the group led class discussion assignment, and
the final exam. No work will be accepted after class closing date (see class calendar). Grades will be assigned on the basis of
the number of points accumulated during the semester. There is no extra credit work available for this class.
Late Pass: Recognizing that sometimes life gets in the way of deadlines, you will be given three late passes, which can be
used on late logs. A late pass means late points will not be deducted as long as the assignment is turned in within 2 weeks of
the due date. (Logs more than 2 weeks late will not be accepted.) Late passes cannot be applied retroactively. To use a late
pass, write LATE PASS on the top of the assignment when you turn it in.
Points are assigned as follows:
Reading logs (each log is worth 10 points) total reading log points -------------100
Class attendance & participation (25 points of peer grading) ----------------------50
Film presentation -----------------------------------------------------------------------------50
Film Paper Polished Draft (with online tutor report-----------------------------------50
Film Paper Final Version (with online tutor report and polished draft) ---------100
Group Led Discussion ------------------------------------------------------------------------50
Final Exam (60 points for Study Guide and 40 for Collaborative Exam) --------100
The maximum number of points is 500. Grades will be assigned as follows:
465 - 500 points = A
435 - 449 points = B+
385 - 399 points = C+
335 - 349 points = D+
0 - 312 points = F
450 - 464 points = A415 - 434 points = B
365 – 384 points = C
313 – 334 points = D
400 – 414 points = B350 - 364 points = C-
MONDAY/WEDNESDAY CALENDAR
Chances are we may have to revise the calendar as the semester unfolds. In the event of a flu outbreak, online
requirements through Blackboard may be implemented. IF YOU DO GET THE FLU, PLEASE DO NOT COME
TO CLASS, contact me via email or phone.
WEEK
1
1/12
2
1/19
3
1/26
4
2/2
5
2/9
6
2/16
7
2/23
8
3/2
9
3/9
10
3/16
11
3/23
12
3/30
13
4/6
14
4/13
15
4/20
16
4/27
17
5/4
Monday
Introductions and Blackboard
Wednesday
Syllabus; assignment is to retrieve syllabus from
Blackboard, read it, and come to class with
questions; start Chapter 1
NO CLASS MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY
Chapter 1 Looking at Abnormality; Ch 1 Log Due;
Film Disorder Preferences Due
Chapter 2 Theories and Treatments of Ch 2 continued
Abnormality; Ch 2 Log Due
Chapter
3 Assessing and Diagnosing Ch 3 Continued
Abnormality; Ch 3 Log Due; Film Choice Due
Ch 15 Health Psychology, and Trauma Reading Ch 15 and Trauma Reading continued; Prep time
(on blackboard site); Ch 15 and Trauma Film Presentation (I will answer questions you have
about the assignment)
Reading combined Log Due
NO CLASS PRESIDENT’S DAY
Catch-up; Library Search; Start Chp 5; Ch 5 Log
Due
Chapter 5 Trauma, Anxiety, Obsessive- Ch 5 Film Presentations & Polished Draft of
Compulsive Disorders; Ch 5 Film Presentations Paper Due
& Polished Draft of Paper Due
Chapter 6 Somatic Symptom & Dissociative Ch 6 Presentations & Polished Draft of Paper
Disorder; Ch 6 Log Due
Due
NO CLASS SPRING BREAK
NO CLASS SPRING BREAK
Chapter 7 Mood Disorders and Suicide; Ch 7
Log Due
Chapter 8 Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other
Psychotic Disorders; Ch 8 Log Due
Chapter 12 Eating Disorders; Ch 12 Log Due
Chapter 7 Presentations & Polished Draft of
Paper Due
Chapter 8 Presentations & Polished Draft of
Paper Due
Chapter 12 Presentations & Polished Draft of
Paper Due
Chapter 10 Neurodevelopment & Neurocognitive Ch 10 continued; Group Led Discussion Prep Time
Disorders; Ch 10 Log Due
Chapter 9 Personality Disorders; Ch 9 Log Due
Ch 9 continued; Film Papers Due
NO CLASS PATRIOT’S DAY
Catch Up; Group Led Discussion Prep Time
Group Led Discussions; Chapters _______
Group Led Discussions; Chapters________
Attendance required
Attendance required
Final Exam Study Guide Due; Collaborative Make-up Final Exam (late point deductions apply)
Exam in Class
Class closing date is 5/7 at 3:00pm. No assignments will be accepted after this time.
SEE STUDENT HANDBOOK FOR OTHER ACADEMIC POLICIES.
End-of-Course Evaluation
In order to gain access to final course grades, students must complete evaluations for each course attended at SMCC.
Evaluations are submitted online and can be accessed through the student portal site. Students can access the course
evaluation report beginning two weeks before the end of classes. The deadline for submission of evaluations occurs 24
hours after the last day of classes each semester. Instructors will announce when the online course evaluation is available.
ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act): Southern Maine Community College is an equal opportunity/affirmative
action institution and employer. For more information, please call 207-741-5798. If you have a disabling condition and
wish to request accommodations in order to have reasonable access to the programs and services offered by
SMCC, you must register with the Disability Services Coordinator, Sandra Lynham, who can be reached at 7415923. Further information about services for students with disabilities and the accommodation process is available upon
request at this number. Course policies about online testing are modified to suit each individual’s accommodations.
SMCC Pay-for-Print Policy
In an effort to control the escalating cost of supplies and to encourage students to conserve resources, SMCC charges for
printing. Students receive a $20 credit every semester. This credit resets for each semester and extra credit is not rolled
over to the next semester. Per page costs are as follows:

8.5"x11" black and white: $0.10 per page

8.5"x11" color: $0.50 per page

8.5"x14" and 11"x17" black and white: $0.20 per page

8.5"x14" and 11"x17" color: $1.00 per page
Duplex (two-sided) pages are discounted 50% from the listed page costs.
Students can monitor their remaining credit and number of pages printed by visiting the IT Help tab on MySMCC or by
checking the Printing Information icon in the lower right corner of the screen while logged in to an SMCC computer.
More information about the Pay-for-Print Policy is available on the IT Help tab on MySMCC.
Add-Drop Policy
Students who drop a course during the one-week “add/drop” period in the fall and spring semesters and the first three
days of summer sessions receive a 100% refund of the tuition and associated fees for that course. Please note any course
that meets for less than the traditional semester length, i.e., 15 weeks, has a pro-rated add/drop period. There is no refund
for non-attendance.
Withdrawal Policy
A student may withdraw from a course only during the semester in which s/he is registered for that course. The
withdrawal period is the second through twelfth week of the fall and spring semesters and the second through ninth week
of twelve-week summer courses. This period is pro-rated for shorter-length courses. To withdraw from a course, a student
must complete and submit the appropriate course withdrawal form, available at the Enrollment Service Center (no phone
calls, please). The designation “W” will appear on the transcript after a student has officially withdrawn. A course
withdrawal is an uncompleted course and may adversely affect financial aid eligibility. Failure to attend or ceasing to
attend class does not constitute withdrawal from the course. There is no refund associated with a withdrawal.
Plagiarism Statement
Adherence to ethical academic standards is obligatory. Cheating is a serious offense, whether it consists of taking credit
for work done by another person or doing work for which another person will receive credit. Taking and using the ideas
or writings of another person without clearly and fully crediting the source is plagiarism and violates the academic code
as well as the Student Code of Conduct. If it is suspected that a student in any course in which s/he is enrolled has
knowingly committed such a violation, the faculty member should refer the matter to the College’s Disciplinary Officer
and appropriate action will be taken under the Student Code of Conduct. Sanctions may include suspension from the
course and a failing grade in the course. Students have the right to appeal these actions to the Disciplinary Committee
under the terms outlined in the Student Code of Conduct.
Abnormal Psychology
Please Rank Order All 5 chapters 1 = first choice 5 = last choice
Please indicate which specific disorders you would prefer
_____Chapter 5 Anxiety Disorders
_____PTSD
_____Panic Disorder and Agoraphobia
_____Phobias
_____Social Anxiety Disorder
_____GAD
_____OCD
_____Body Dysmorphic disorders
_____Chapter 6 Somatoform and Dissociative Disorders
_____Conversion DIsorder
_____Somatic Symptom Disorder
_____Illness Anxiety Disorder
_____Factitious Disorder
_____DID
_____Dissociative Fugue
_____Dissociative Amnesia
_____Depersonalization Disorder
_____Chapter 7 Mood Disorders and Suicide
_____Unipolar Depression
_____Bipolar Depression
_____Suicide
_____Chapter 8 Schizophrenia and Related Psychotic Disorders
_____Schizophrenia
_____ Other
_____Chapter 12 Eating Disorders
_____ Anorexia Nervosa
_____ Bulimia Nervosa
_____ Binge Eating Disorder