Abnormal Psychology
Spring 2012 Syllabus
Class Meetings:
- Lecture: T Th 9.25-10.40 Room : 211 Williams Hall
Instructor: Dr. Hugh Stephenson
Office: W109 Phone: 274-3251 E-mail: Stephens@ithaca.edu, or just click here to send e-mail to Hugh.
Office Hours: W 3:00 - 4:00 AM, or by appointment.
Click here for more information about Hugh.
Teaching Assistant: Sara Wolkensdorfer
E-mail: swolken1@ithaca.edu
Office Hours: Mon 10.50-11.50 Thursday 11-12 Williams 125, email important messages
Text Books: Barlow
and Durand, Abnormal Psychology. 2009. Thompson
Course Goals
Abnormal psychology is a survey course for psychology majors and students in related disciplines. The course includes lectures, video presentations, discussion and classroom exercises. The course includes an historical perspective of psychological disorders, a review of classification and diagnosis, a review of psychological assessment, and a review of current treatment issues. In addition to these topics the bulk of the course is dedicated to exploring the etiology, symptoms and treatments of specific disorders. In approaching the material we will take a perspective that is:
Scientific-Abnormal psychology is replete with historical examples of diagnostic categories used to promote a particular social value or agenda. It is important that students understand different definitions of pathology, disorder or disease that are employed, and how these judgments affect subsequent scientific investigation. Students will lean the importance of scientific principles in understanding different disorders. A scientific approach is particularly important with respect to assessments of treatment outcomes and nature nurture issues in etiology.
Historical-Many of the disorders are unique to a particular historical context, others are invariant across time and place. Understanding the historical context helps illuminate the roles of cultural versus biological factors in the etiology of a disorder.
Integrative-Most disorders in involve dynamic interaction between mental, social, interpersonal and biological factors. Students will learn to appreciate the dynamic interplay of these "causes" and learn to avoid common simplifications in vernacular understandings of mental illness.
Critical-In the current media culture there has been a rapid expansion of the disorder categories and marketing of pharmaceutical treatments for new disorders, Students need to be properly skeptical of medical claims made in a commercial context and merely couched in scientific terms.
Multicultural-Gender and culture affect the types of disorders
people develop, the symptoms expressed and the treatment
approaches. Students will learn to appreciate
the role of culture and gender in symptom presentation and how issues of
culture and gender can introduce bias into diagnosis and treatment.
Attendance policy:
Attendance and participation. Attendance is required. Participation in discussion is strongly encouraged and extra credit will be available to those who actively participate during the semester.
Absences. To obtain an excused absence for an exam, students must submit a written description of the absence at least a week in advance to the teaching assistant. In the case of illness a doctors' note may be provided following the absence. Conflicting travel plans, social events, or family events will not constitute an excuse for absence.
Evaluation of students:
Exams The class grade will be from
four of the best five multiple choice and short answer exams. Students may drop
one exam, so a total of four exams contribute to the course grade. There are no
makeup exams. Students can drop any exam if they need to be absent but must
then use all remaining four for the course grade. The date of the final
exam is fixed by the registrar and cannot be moved.
Extra credit may be earned through scheduled articles. These articles will be available online with quizzes and reflection questions for set periods of time during the semester. Credit may also be earned by attending scheduled movies or events and completing reflections online. Other means for obtaining extra credit will be announced in class.
Grading. Letter
grades are assigned according to the following scale:
Percent Correct Letter Grade
- 90-100 A
- 80-89 B
- 70-79 C
- 60-69 D
- Below 60 is an F.
General Lecture Topics: This is a general
guide to the course, exact dates may change. Left hand Column indicates
the Monday of the week starting on that date.
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Week of |
Text Chapter and Topic |
Schedule Notes |
Exam |
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Jan23 |
Introduction/History CH1 |
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None |
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Jan30 |
Introduction/History CH1 |
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None |
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Feb 6 |
Integrative Approach CH2 |
Extra Credit 1 |
Exam |
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Feb 13 |
Classification, Diagnoses & Assessment CH3 |
Extra Credit 1 |
None |
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Feb 20 |
Classification, Diagnoses & Assessment CH3 |
. |
None |
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Feb 27 |
Anxiety Disorders CH5 |
Extra Credit 2 |
None |
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Mar 5 |
Anxiety Disorders CH5 |
Extra Credit 2 |
Exam |
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Mar 12 |
Spring Break |
. |
None |
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Mar 19 |
Mood Dsrdr/Depression CH7 |
Extra Credit 3 |
None |
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Mar 26 |
Mood Dsrdr/Depression CH7 |
Extra Credit 3 |
Exam |
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Apr 2 |
Schizophrenia CH13 |
Extra Credit 4 |
None |
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Apr 9 |
Schizophrenia CH13 |
Extra Credit 4 |
Exam |
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Apr 23 |
Somatoform/Dissociative CH6 |
Extra Credit 5 |
None |
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Apr 30 |
Eating disorders CH8 |
Extra Credit 5 |
None |
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May 7 |
Finals Week |
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None |
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Final |