PSYC 152 Syllabus 1 Abnormal Psychology PSYC 152 Spring 2006 Class Times: Classroom: Tuesdays and Thursdays 9:30 10:45 AM Angell B106 Instructor: Kelly Rohan, Ph.D. Phone: (802) 656-0798 E-mail: kelly.rohan@uvm.edu Office: 224 John Dewey Hall Office Hours: Wednesdays 11:00 am 1:00 pm* or by appointment. *Please be sure to e-mail or call me to reserve a time, as I may be meeting with other students. Teaching Assistant: Adam Gonzalez Phone: (802) 656-3589 E-mail: adam.gonzalez@uvm.edu Office: 356 John Dewey Hall Office Hours: Mondays 1:00 3:00 pm or by appointment. Course Objectives 1. Communicate excitement about the field of abnormal psychology, particularly the challenges researchers and clinicians face in their search for the causes of psychological disorders and ways to prevent and treat them. 2. Consider issues related to defining abnormal behavior. Emphasis will be placed on historical and cultural conceptualizations of abnormality. 3. Discuss issues related to the diagnosis and classification of behavior problems in adults, including the current DSM-IV multiaxial classification system and alternative approaches. Special attention will be placed on the continuum between normal and pathological behavior. 4. Provide up-to-date descriptive information about the symptoms, prevalence, risk factors, and course for different adult psychological disorders. 5. Introduce different theoretical perspectives on abnormal behavior. Students will develop an understanding of the basic assumptions behind alternative models that attempt to explain abnormal behavior. For each psychological disorder covered, students will examine the proposed causes and treatments offered by each perspective. 6. Present current research using a variety of different scientific methodologies to study abnormal behavior.
PSYC 152 Syllabus 2 Textbooks Required: Davison, G. C., Neale, J. M. & Kring, A. M. (2004). Abnormal Psychology (9 th Edition). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. (ISBN: 0-471-18120-X) Optional: American Psychiatric Association (2000). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4 th Edition Text Revision). Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Press, Inc. (ISBN 0-89042-061-0) Course Requirements Readings: Assigned chapters are listed on the course schedule. Lectures will relate to the text, but add something to it (e.g., case examples, research findings, discussion of controversial issues). Thus, you should complete your reading assignment prior to class to lay the foundation for this supplemental material. Exams: Four non-cumulative multiple choice exams (worth 100 points each) will be given. Each exam will cover assigned reading material (whether or not it has been discussed during class), class lectures, and any films shown. The fourth (final) exam will be on Friday, May 12 th, 8:00 11:45 AM in your classroom. Make-up exams are strongly discouraged and will be more difficult than the original exams. Make-ups will consist of matching, true/false, short answer, and essay questions. All make-ups will be given on one of the reading days during final exam week (date and time TBA) so there should be no other scheduled activities. Class Participation: Because issues related to abnormal psychology are frequently value-laden, students will be asked to exercise critical thinking skills throughout the course. In order to make class discussions interesting and enjoyable for everyone, class participation is expected and encouraged. Grades Exam grades will be posted on WebCT as soon as they are available: https://www.uvm.edu/webct/ Login using your UVM NetID and password (same as your UVM email username and password) and click on this course. Final grades will be determined by summing test scores from the four exams and dividing by 4. The following scale will be used to determine your final grade: A-Range B-Range C-Range D-Range 100-94 A 89-87 B+ 79-77 C+ 69-67 D+ 59 and below F 93-90 A- 86-84 B 76-74 C 66-64 D 83-80 B- 73-70 C- 63-60 D-
PSYC 152 Syllabus 3 Opportunities for Extra Credit Students have the opportunity to earn up to 5 extra credit points for participation in psychological research conducted at the University of Vermont. Please do not sign up for experiments through the PSYC-1 Research Pool. There are a limited number of research projects that are appropriate for this course. Suitable research projects will be announced in class and sign-up sheets will be circulated. Your 1 to 5 credits will be added to your final grade. Participation is entirely voluntary. Classroom Environment This course will uphold the University of Vermont s Classroom Code of Conduct and Policy on Academic Honesty (Source: 2005 2006 University of Vermont Official Catalogue). University of Vermont Classroom Code of Conduct: Faculty and students will at all times conduct themselves in a manner that serves to maintain, promote, and enhance the high quality academic environment befitting the University of Vermont. To this end, it is expected that all members of the learning community will adhere to the following guidelines: 1. Faculty and students will attend all regularly scheduled classes, except for those occasions warranting an excused absence under the University Attendance Policy (e.g., religious, athletic, and medical). 2. Students and faculty will arrive prepared for class and on time, and they will remain in class until the class is dismissed. 3. Faculty and students will treat all members of the learning community with respect. Toward this end, they will promote academic discourse and the free exchange of ideas by listening with civil attention to comments made by all individuals. 4. Students and faculty will maintain an appropriate academic climate by refraining from all actions that disrupt the learning environment (e.g., making noise, ostentatiously not paying attention, and leaving and reentering the classroom inappropriately). (Please turn your cell phones off). (Excerpts from the) University of Vermont Policy on Academic Honesty: Academic dishonesty or an offense against academic honesty includes acts that may subvert or compromise the integrity of the educational process. Such acts are serious offenses that insult the integrity of the entire academic community. Offenses against academic honesty are any acts that would have the effect of unfairly promoting or enhancing one s academic standing within the entire community of learners which includes, but is not limited to, the faculty and students of the University of Vermont. Academic dishonesty includes knowingly permitting or assisting any person in the committing an act of academic dishonesty.
PSYC 152 Syllabus 4 Examples of academic dishonesty include: Communicating in any manner with other students during an examination; copying or giving aid during an examination; bringing notes or aids to an examination; possessing or providing to another person an examination or portions of an examination prior to or subsequent to the administration of the examination without the authorization of the instructor; and substituting for, arranging for substitution by another student, or otherwise representing oneself as another person during an examination session or comparable circumstance. Special Accommodations: If you believe that there is anything that the instructor needs to know that might improve your learning environment in this class, please contact her by phone, or in person, as soon as possible.
PSYC 152 Syllabus 5 Class Schedule (Dates and scheduled topics are tentative and somewhat flexible). Date Topic Assigned Chapters Tues., Jan. 17 Course Introduction -- Thurs., Jan. 19 Defining Abnormal Behavior 1 Tues., Jan. 24 Historical Views of Abnormal Behavior 1 Thurs., Jan. 26 Theoretical Perspectives on Abnormal Behavior I 2 Tues., Jan. 31 Theoretical Perspectives on Abnormal Behavior II 2 Thurs., Feb. 2 Classification & Diagnosis 3 Tues., Feb. 7 Clinical Assessment 4 Thurs., Feb. 9 Exam #1 Tues., Feb. 14 Studying Abnormal Behavior: Research Methods 5 Thurs., Feb. 16 Anxiety Disorders I 6 Tues., Feb. 21 Anxiety Disorders II 6 Thurs., Feb. 23 Mood Disorders I 10 Tues., Feb. 28 Mood Disorders II 10 Thurs., Mar.2 Mood Disorders III 10 Tues., Mar. 7 No Class Town Meeting Day -- Thurs., Mar. 9 Exam #2 Tues., Mar. 14 Schizophrenia I 11 Thurs., Mar. 16 Schizophrenia II 11 Tues., Mar. 21 No Class Spring Recess Thurs., Mar. 23 No Class Spring Recess Tues., Mar. 28 Eating Disorders 9 Thurs., Mar. 30 Dissociative Disorders 7 Tues., Apr. 4 Somatoform Disorders 7 Thurs., Apr. 6 Substance-Related Disorders 12 Tues., Apr. 11 Exam #3 Thurs., Apr. 13 Personality Disorders I 13 Tues., Apr. 18 Personality Disorders II 13 Thurs., Apr. 20 Sexual & Gender Identity Disorders 14 Tues., Apr. 25 Psychological Disorders & Aging 16 Thurs., Apr. 27 Contemporary Issues in Treatment 17 Tues., May 2 Ethical & Legal Issues 18 Exam #4 will be during finals week on Friday, May 12 th, 8:00 11:45 AM in your classroom. Other Important Dates: Mon., Jan. 30: Add/Drop, Audit, Pass/No Pass Deadline Fri., Mar. 17: Last Day to Withdraw Thurs., May 4; Sat.-Sun., May 6-7; Wed., May 10: Readings Days