Abnormal Psychology 460 Instructor: Donna C. Bailey, M.S. Phone: 294-0280 Office: W269 Lagomarcino Hall E-mail: dcbailey@iastate.edu (preferred) Office Hours: MWF noon-1 p.m. Meeting Times/Place: M-F: 11:00-noon Kildee 0108 TA: Amy Cantazaro E-mail: cantazar@iastate.edu (preferred) DESCRIPTION: This is an advanced undergraduate psychology course designed to expose students to the primary models for defining and evaluating normal and abnormal human behavior in American society. Students will be acquainted with the many ways in which biological, emotional, behavioral, and cognitive factors can contribute to distress or impairment, both to the individual and the people around him or her. Students will be exposed to models of how abnormal behavior can be defined, how it can be understood, and in a general sense, how it is usually treated. PREREQUITSITES: It is expected that students will have completed three courses in psychology including 101. TEXT: Required: Comer, R. J. (2007). Abnormal Psychology (6 th Ed). NY: Worth Publishers. Additional Materials: 1. WebCT: All PowerPoint lecture notes will be available on WebCT at least one day prior to their scheduled presentation date. Supplemental materials including the class syllabus, DSM-IV-TR General Assessment of Functioning (GAF) guidelines, and several empirical articles (for those students interested in additional information on a given subject matter) will also be available. *Please note that information provided in the empirical articles is not tested. 2. Student CD-ROM: Each textbook includes a CD offering intriguing video investigations running three to five minutes that center on a person with a particular disorder discussed in the text. Students are highly encouraged to first view the video and then answer a series of thoughtprovoking questions as this will serve as an invaluable study aide. Each CD also contains helpful multiple-choice self-quizzes for each chapter, again highly recommended as a study aide for exams. (note: None of the questions on the actual exams will come from the CD, but exam questions will be of a similar format and contain similar content.) COURSE OBJECTIVES: A. Cognitive Goals: 1. Knowledge of the three basic models used to explain behavior 2. Understanding of the causal factors in abnormal behavior 3. Awareness of the major diagnostic categories of mental illness and their primary symptoms 4. Knowledge of methods of diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders 5. Familiarity with the major research in the field Page 1
B. Process - Skills Goals: 1. Increased ability to utilize the scientific method to evaluate information and opinions 2. Expanded capacity to engage in divergent and critical thinking 3. Enhanced problem solving skills by utilizing psychological principles to analyze situations C. Affective Goals: 1. Stimulation of curiosity about abnormal behavior 2. Increased insight into yourself and your behavior 3. Enhancement of sensitivity and empathy for people who are mentally ill ATTENDANCE: Attendance will not be required for this course; however it is STRONGLY recommended that you not miss class. As an instructor, I respect the fact that you are adults, and if it is necessary that you miss a class you will not need to notify me. You will, however be personally responsible for obtaining the in-class material missed should you be absent. It is important to keep in mind that some test material will be presented exclusively in class. EXPECTATIONS: The best way to contact me is through e-mail. Please put PSY 460 in the subject line. Food and beverage is allowed in class as long as you respect others and clean-up your mess. Please turn off all cell phones before class begins. All of the procedures and schedules described in the syllabus are subject to change. If any changes become necessary, you will be notified of the course adjustments as soon as possible in class or by e-mail, as well as on WebCT. ACADEMIC DISHONESTY: Procedures for dealing with academic dishonesty (cheating, plagiarism, etc.) will follow university guidelines. See the ISU student handbook for details. COURSE FORMAT: The primary format of this course will be lecture-based, though class discussion will be encouraged and expected. To help foster a deeper understanding and appreciation for the complexity of mental pathology, one cinematic exploratory essay (CEE) will be assigned based on a movie of your choosing. A CEE is a short to medium length paper about 8-10 double-spaced pages (but don t be bound by this guideline let the paper find its own length). The purpose of a CEE is to explore, investigate, and comment on a movie (or some aspect of it) that you will view. These are exploratory essays, and I don t want to load you down with too many guidelines about how to write the "right" essay. However, two expectations are (1) that you will approach the movie as an object (text) for serious study, and (2) that you will use the material in our readings to inform your thinking and writing about the movie. Tips on completing this assignment and a point-value breakdown are provided on the WebCT site. EXAMS: There will be two exams (a 75-point midterm and a 100-point final) consisting of multiple-choice and short answer items. They will not be specifically cumulative, though you will need to understand certain early terms to understand the latter material. Please note that each exam will contain information from lectures that cannot be found in the text and material from the text that is not covered in class. Makeup exams will be administered only under the most extraordinary circumstances. Barring a natural disaster or death in the family, the only excuse that I will accept for missing an exam is a written physician s note. Make-up exams must be taken within one week of the missed exam and missed exams without a valid excuse will receive a zero. Students may not take an exam early for any reason. Page 2
CHAPTER CROSSWORD PUZZLES: Because I do not believe in simply regurgitating the text (else my job becomes redundant), an inventive means for students to process chapter material has been derived. Crossword puzzles have been created for content related to each chapter. Students are responsible for completing one crossword for every chapter covered in class (these will be provided in a packet on the first day of class). Each correctly completed crossword will be worth 5 points for a total of 75 points. *Note: there is no crossword assigned for the last chapter (17) as only a small segment of the chapter is being covered. EVALUATION: TOTAL POINTS POSSIBLE FOR THIS COURSE: Chapter Crossword Puzzles (15 x 5 pts each) 75 Cinematic Exploratory Essay 75 Midterm Exam 75 Final Exam 100 Total points possible: 325 EXTRA CREDIT: Extra credit may be obtained by writing about a topic related to abnormal psychology, including something you read in a book, magazine, or newspaper; something you saw in a movie or on television; or something that you, a friend or family member experienced. It is required that you consult with either me or the TA about your topics before completing these papers. Papers turned in without consultation will not be accepted. Page limit: ONE PAGE IN 12 PT. FONT, SINGLE-SPACED. Without exception, extra credit papers will be due AT THE BEGINNING of class on the date listed below. Late papers will not be accepted for any reason, but papers may be turned in at any time before this date. Two such papers may be turned in for up to 5 points extra credit, for a possible total of 10 extra credit points. GRADING SCALE: 100-93% = A, 92-90% = A-, 89-87% = B+, 86-82% = B, 81-79% = B-, 78-76% = C+, 75-71% = C, 70-68% = C-, 67-65% = D+, 64-60% = D, 59-57% = D-, <57% = F ACCOMMODATIONS OR SPECIAL NEEDS FOR STUDENTS: Please address any special needs or special accommodations with me at the beginning of the semester or as soon as you become aware. If you have a documented disability that requires assistance, you will need to initially go to the Disability Resource (DR) Office and request that a Disability Resources staff member give you a SAAR form verifying your disability and specifying the accommodations you will need. The DR Office is located in the Student Services Building, Room 1076. Their phone number is 515-294-6624, TDD 515-294-6335. TENETIVE COURSE SCHEDULE: DATE TOPIC READING ASSIGNMENT DUE: M: 05/14 Welcome/Course Overview T: 05/15 Concept of Abnormality Chapter 1 W: 05/16 Models of Abnormal Psychology (A) Chapter 3 Crossword #1 R: 05/17 Models of Abnormal Psychology (B) Chapter 3 (Cont.) F: 05/18 Assessment/Diagnosis (A) Chapter 4 Crossword #3 Page 3
M: 05/21 Assessment/Diagnosis (B) Chapter 4 (Cont.) T: 05/22 Anxiety GAD Chapter 5 Crossword #4 W: 05/23 Anxiety Phobias and Panic Disorder Chapter 5 (Cont.) R: 05/24 Anxiety OCD Chapter 5 (Cont.) F: 05/25 PTSD and Acute Stress Disorder Chapter 6 Crossword #5 M: 05/28 NO CLASS T: 05/29 Stress and Illness Chapter 6 (Cont.) W: 05/30 Somatoform Disorders (A) Chapter 7 Crossword #6 R: 05/31 NO CLASS F: 06/01 Dissociative Identity Disorder (B) Chapter 7 (Cont.) M: 06/04 Unipolar Depression Chapter 8 Crossword #7 T: 06/05 Bipolar Depression Chapter 8 (Cont.) W: 06/06 Treatments for Mood Disorders Chapter 9 Crossword #8 R: 06/07 REVIEW FOR MIDTERM All of the Above Crossword #9 F: 06/08 MIDTERM EXAM All of the Above M: 06/11 Suicide Chapter 10 T: 06/12 Eating Disorders (A) Chapter 11 Crossword #10 W; 06/13 Treatments for Eating Disorders Chapter 11 (Cont.) R: 06/14 Substance-related Disorders Chapter 12 Crossword #11 F: 06/15 Causes/Treatments of S-R Disorders Chapter 12 (Cont.) M: 06/18 Sexual Disorders Chapter 13 Crossword #12 T: 06/19 Paraphilias Chapter 13 (Cont.) W: 06/20 Schizophrenia Clinical Picture Chapter 14 Crossword #13 R: 06/21 Schizophrenia Theories Chapter 14 (Cont.) F: 06/22 Schizophrenia Treatments Chapter 15 Crossword #14 M: 06/25 Odd Personality Disorders Chapter 16 Crossword #15 T: 06/26 Dramatic Personality Disorders Chapter 16 (Cont.) W: 06/27 Anxious Personality Disorders Chapter 16 (Cont.) R: 06/28 AD/HD Chapter 17 Crossword #16 F: 06/29 Behavioral Disorders Chapter 17 All Extra Credit Due M: 07/02 Catch-up Day CEE Paper Due T: 07/03 Catch-up Day W: 07/04 NO CLASS R: 07/05 REVIEW FOR FINAL EXAM All Since Midterm F: 07/06 FINAL EXAM All Since Midterm Page 4
Page 5