Psychology 3550
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Abnormal Psychology – PY 3550
11:00-11:50 M, W, F
Spring 2004
Risa Stein, Ph.D.
Office: Room 425, Van Ackeren
Phone: 816-501-4691
Hours: To be determined.
E-mail: risa.stein@rockhurst.edu
Required Texts
Emery R.E., & Oltmanns, T.F. (2000). Essentials of Abnormal Psychology. New
Jersey: Prentice-Hall, Inc.
Sattler, D.N., Shabatay, V., & Kramer, G.P. (1998). Abnormal Psychology in
Context: Voices and Perspectives. New York: Houghton Mifflin Company.
Goals
This course is designed to introduce undergraduate students to fundamental
concepts of abnormal psychology. It is intended to familiarize you with the nosological
perspective of DSM-IV, as well provide you with an understanding of etiological factors,
presentation, and treatment of the most common forms of psychopathology. Moreover, I
hope that by the end of the semester you have more than a clinical understanding of these
diagnostic entities – I hope you can appreciate the personal experiences of those who
suffer from the disorders.
Course Grade
Your final grade will be based on the following: (1) grade on each of 5 tests, (2)
your responses to questions pertaining to the readings, and (3) two short papers.
Grade Criteria
1. Each test will be worth 100 points. Material covered in the class lectures and
contained in the texts will be subject to examination. Be sure to read the class
textbook carefully, including all footnotes, focus boxes, and summaries. Be sure to
familiarize yourself with the “Key Terms” listed at the end of each chapter. In
addition, you should have an appreciation of how each individual story presented in
the Context book fits with the information presented in the textbook. Each test will
consist of multiple choice and short-answer questions. The five tests will contribute
500 points toward your total.
2. At the beginning of each topic I will ask a question that pertains to our readings for
that section. Your response to this question will be worth 10 points. Since we have
10 topics, these questions constitute 100 points of your overall grade. You cannot
make up the question pertaining to the readings. This will be presented at the
beginning of class, so BE ON TIME!!
3. You will be required to turn in 2 short papers of 5-7 pages each. Your first paper will
involve a review of etiological factors related to a disorder and the second paper will
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involve the treatment of a disorder. You are to choose the disorder(s) you want to
study. You can do each paper on the same disorder or choose two different disorders
for study. Each paper should include a minimum of seven empirical, noninternet-site, resources. Each paper will be due at the start of class time on the due
date. Papers turned in more than 5 minutes into class time will be reduced by 10%.
Papers turned in later that day will receive a grade reduced by 20%. Absolutely no
papers will be accepted after the due date! I will offer you more direction later. Each
paper will be worth 100 points.
If you have a conflict with a test date, you can take the test prior to the class period.
Unfortunately, I have had to become very specific about valid reasons for taking make up
tests. There are five reasons for which I will consider giving a make-up exam after the
scheduled test date:
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A medical emergency or a serious acute illness. All medical emergencies and
illnesses must be verified by a note on letterhead by an M.D., D.O., or R.N. I will not
normally accept a note from other health professionals (e.g., Ph.D., MSW, D.C.,
Physical Therapist) because their professional functions rarely involve medical
emergencies or acute illnesses. I will provide a make-up exam for a student for a
verified medical emergency (but not acute illness) involving a child, spouse, parent,
sibling, or grandparent. I will also provide a make-up exam to a student for an acute
illness of a child of whom they have legal custody.
An Accident or Police Emergency. I will require an accident report or note on
letterhead from an appropriate law enforcement officer to schedule a make-up exam
due to accidents or police emergencies (e.g., assault on student, student taken hostage,
detained witness of a crime).
Unforeseen Jury or Witness Duty. I will require a note on letterhead from a judge
or attorney to schedule a make-up exam due to jury or witness duty. If you learn
about your jury or witness duty at least 1 week prior to the scheduled exam, you must
take the exam early.
Unforeseen Military Deployment or Activation. I will require a note on official
letterhead from your commanding officer. If you learn about the military deployment
or activation at least 1 week prior to the exam, you must take the exam early.
Funerals for Immediate Family Member (e.g., parents, siblings, grandparents,
aunts/uncles, first cousins). I will require a copy of the obituary or a note from a
minister or funeral director.
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NOTE: All make-up exams must be taken by the beginning of the next scheduled class
period. You will be required to provide written verification of the incidents listed above
for each class period on which you fail to take the exam.
Note on Class Attendance and Participation. CLASS ATTENDANCE IS REQUIRED
FOR THIS COURSE. Class participation does not carry a specific number of points but
will push your grade up or down if your final total is borderline (e.g., an 88 may be given
the grade of “A-” for an individual who consistently participated in class discussions).
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Class will be cancelled in the event of inclement weather when the Lee’s Summit School
district cancels school and/or Rockhurst University cancels classes. DURING CLASS I
WILL OFTEN MAKE CRITICAL ANNOUNCEMENTS ABOUT THE COURSE
SUCH AS TEST DATES, CHANGES IN THE SCHEDULE, CHANGES IN
PROCEDURES, ETC. IF YOU MISS A CLASS, YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR
OBTAINING ANY INFORMATION ANNOUNCED BY THE INSTRUCTOR
DURING THAT CLASS.
Calculation of Final Grades
The five tests, reading questions, and short papers, will add up to a possible 800 points.
Divide your total points by 8 and use the following grading scale to determine your grade.
Points
Final Grade
93 – 100
A
90 – 92
A87 – 89
B+
83 – 86
B
80 – 82
B77 – 79
C+
73 – 76
C
70 – 72
C60 – 69
D
Less than 60
F
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Tentative Course Schedule
Date
1/14
1/16
1/19
1/ 21
1/23, 26, 28
1/30, 2/2, 4
2/6
2/9
2/11, 13, 16
2/18, 20
2/23, 25, 27
3/1, 3, 5
3/8-12
3/15
3/17
3/19, 22, 24
3/26, 29, 31
4/2, 5, 7
4/9, 12
4/14
4/16
4/19, 21, 23
4/26, 28, 30
Assignment/Exam
Overview of Syllabus
Chapter 1
Martin Luther King Day – NO CLASS
Abnormal Psychology: Definition, categorization, assessment
Chapter 4
Mood disorders
Chapter 5; An Unquiet Mind; A Time to Listen: Preventing Youth
Suicide
Anxiety Disorders
Chapter 6; I Am Not Afraid; A Fear of Snakes
Review for Test 1
TEST 1
Dissociative Disorders
Chapter 7 (pp 198-205); The Divided Woman; The Myth of
Repressed Memory; I Have Multiple Personality Disorder
Dr. Stein in AZ - NO CLASS
Stress and Health
Chapter 8; Is It Worth Dying For?; In Bed; Thorns Into Feathers:
Coping With Chronic Illness
Eating Disorders
Chapter 10; Dying to Be Bigger; Your Dieting Daughter
Spring Break – NO CLASS (Splits topic)
Review for Test 2
TEST 2
Addictive Disorders
Chapter 11; Losing Your Shirt; My Descent into Alcoholism;
Cocaine: Helen’s Story
Etiology Paper is Due
Personality Disorders
Chapter 9; The Duke of Deception; Girl, Interrupted
Schizophrenia
Chapter 13; Welcome Silence: My Triumph Over Schizophrenia;
Tell Me I’m Here; I Feel Cheated by Having This Illness
Easter Break – NO CLASS
Review for Test 3
TEST 3
Sex and Gender Identity Disorders
Treatment Paper is due
Chapter 12; A Fear of Impotency; Secret Life; Surviving a Sexual
Attack
Pervasive Developmental Disorders and Disorders of Childhood
Chapter 14; Emergence Labeled Autistic; Coping with Attention-
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5/3
5/5
Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
Buffer Day or Review for Final
Study Day – NO CLASS
5/7
10:30 – 12:30 Final Exam (Test 4)