ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY – CLP3144
Instructor: Julia Roncoroni, M.S.
Office: Psychology Building, Rm. 236D
E-mail: juliaroncoroni@gmail.com
Office Hours: By appointment
Time: Tuesdays 10.40 a.m. – 11.30 a.m.
Thursdays 10.40 a.m. - 12.35 p.m.
Location: LAR 310
Section: 3123
Teaching Assistant: Rachel Wheatley
E-mail: rachwheat12@gmail.com
Office Hours: By appointment
Office: Psychology Building, Rm. 236D
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:
The course website can be found at http://lss.at.ufl.edu (e-Learning). You are expected to
regularly check this site for information related to the course. Here you will find relevant
information and announcements regarding grades, and upcoming assignments and exams.
Additionally, slides with minimal notes will be posted on e-Learning prior to class each day so
that you are able to follow along in lecture. Please note that these slides should not replace notetaking, and they serve only as an outline for material covered in class that day.
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.
Slides with minimal information will be posted on Sakai for your convenience in taking notes
and to help you follow along during class. These slides are not sufficient preparation for exams,
and students are expected to take notes during lecture to supplement these slides. Students are
responsible for meeting course requirements on the dates outlined in the course syllabus.
Evaluation Criteria:
Quizzes: (10 points each; 50 points total)
There will be a total of seven unannounced in-class quizzes throughout the semester that will
take place at some point during the class meeting time. Quizzes may be administered at either the
beginning or end of the class meeting time. These quizzes will test basic concepts covered in
both the textbook and in lecture, and may take a number of different forms (e.g., multiple choice,
short answer, in-class activity, etc.). Therefore, these quizzes are designed to help you stay on
top of the reading and to attend and actively participate in class. At the end of the semester, the
two lowest quiz scores will be dropped. If you miss a quiz, you will be able to make-up the quiz
only if you are able to provide documentation of your excused absence. You may only take the
quiz no later than 1 week after the missed quiz or your return to class. No make-up quizzes
will be given after one week has passed.
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 consist of a multiple choice portion as well as a short answer portion.
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.
Abnormal Psychology - CLP3144, Section 3123 Spring 2013
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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
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.
Critical Thinking Paper: (100 points total)
Each student will write one critical thinking paper worth 100 points. The paper will conform to
the following formatting standards: 3-4 pages, double-spaced, 1 inch margins, size 12 point
Times New Roman font. More detailed information about the paper topic will be provided in
class. A hard copy of the paper must be submitted in class on April 23, 2013. 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 both: (a) electronically,
through Sakai; and (b) in hard-copy, to the Julia’s box in the Psychology building (Rm 114).
There will be NO paper re-writes, nor will you be allowed to write an additional paper to replace
a grade with which you are not satisfied.
Extra Credit: (up to 20 points)
Throughout the semester, some extra credit opportunities (e.g. in class activities, research
participation, etc.) may be presented to the class. These opportunities will be presented to all
students in the class, at the discretion of the instructor.
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
In-Class Quizzes
50 pts
11%
Exams
300 pts
67%
Midterm 1
100 pts
22%
Midterm 2
Final Exam
100 pts
100 pts
22%
22%
Critical Thinking Paper 100 pts
22%
Extra Credit
4.4%
+20 pts
Total points in course: 450, with the ability to earn 20 points of extra credit.
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.
Attendance:
I respect the fact that you have a life outside of this class. Therefore, there will not be an official
attendance policy, though attendance is strongly encouraged. I am more concerned about you
learning class material. Therefore, if you choose not to attend class, you may miss graded in
class assignments, information regarding upcoming tests, and further explanation of difficult
concepts. You will not be able to make up in-class assignments without written documentation of
your absence (e.g., doctor’s note, etc.). If you are unable to attend class, feel free to contact a
classmate regarding missed material. You are responsible for the work that you missed.
ADA Policy:
If you are a student with a disability and would like to request disability-related
accommodations, you are encouraged to contact me and the Disability Resource Center as early
in the semester as possible. The Disability Resource Center is located in 001 Building 0020
(Reid Hall). Their phone number is 392-8565.
Abnormal Psychology - CLP3144, Section 3123 Spring 2013
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University of Florida Student Honor Code:
The University of Florida Student Honor Code outlines the University’s expectations for the
integrity of students’ academic work, the procedures for resolving alleged violations of those
expectations, and the rights and responsibilities of students and faculty members throughout the
process. Students are responsible for reading the Student Honor Code and for living up to their
pledge to “hold ourselves and our peers to the highest standards of honesty and integrity.”
(University of Florida Student Honor Code, found at
http://regulations.ufl.edu/chapter4/4017.pdf). I will pursue any violations of this policy to the
fullest extent possible.
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 with advance notice.
Abnormal Psychology - CLP3144, Section 3123 Spring 2013
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Week
1
DATE
Jan 8
COURSE ACTIVITIES
Course Introduction
Jan 10
Guest Speaker:
Looking at Abnormality
Chapter 1
Week
2
Jan 15
Jan 17
Chapter 2: Theories and Treatment
of Abnormality
Chapter 2
Week
3
Jan 22
Chapter 4: The Research Endeavor
Chapters 3 & 4
Jan 24
Chapter 3: Assessing and
Diagnosing Abnormality
-
Week
4
Jan 29
Jan 31
Chapter 5: Anxiety Disorders
Chapter 5
-
Week
5
Feb 5
Chapter 6: Somatoform and
Dissociative Disorders
MIDTERM (Chapters 1-5)
Chapter 6
Chapter 7: Mood Disorders and
Suicide
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Feb 21
Chapter 8: Schizophrenia and
Related Psychotic Disorders
Feb 26
Chapter 9: Personality Disorders
Chapter 9
Feb 7
Week
6
Week
7
Week
8
Feb 12
Feb 14
Feb 19
Feb 28
Week
9
READINGS/ASSIGNMENTS
-
Study, study, study! 
-
-
** SPRING BREAK **
Week
10
Mar 12
Chapter 10: Childhood Disorders
Chapter 10
Mar 14
MIDTERM (Chapters 6-10)
Study, study, study! 
Week
11
Mar 19
Chapter 11
Mar 21
Chapter 11: Cognitive Disorders
and Life-Span Issues
Week
12
Mar 26
Chapter 12: Eating Disorders
Chapter 12
Week
13
April 2
Week
14
April 9
Week
Mar 28
-
Chapter 13: Sexual Disorders
April 4
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
April11
Chapter 14: Substance-Related and
Impulse-Control Disorders
April 16
Guest Speaker: Health Psychology
Chapter 15
-
Abnormal Psychology - CLP3144, Section 3123 Spring 2013
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15
April 22
Chapter 15: Health Psychology
-
Week
16
April 23
Chapter 16: Mental Health and the
Law
Chapter 16
April 25
Reading Day
Week
17
April 30
Critical Thinking Paper Due
FINAL EXAM
**Schedule is subject to change with prior notice from the instructor**
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