ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY (PSY 333-001)Dr. Paul BishopSpring Semester, 20069 a.m. MWFTEXTBOOK:OVERVIEW:EVALUATION: TESTS AND GRADING, EXTRA CREDITA = 90-100%B = 80-89%MAKE-UP EXAMSSTUDENT HONOR CODESTUDENTS WITH DISABILITIESCOURSE OUTLINE AND READING ASSIGNMENTSREVISION OF THE SYLLABUSABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY (PSY 333-001)Dr. Paul BishopSpring Semester, 20069 a.m. MWFOFFICE: 369 BEPPHONE NUMBER: 859 572-5312EMAIL ADDRESS: [email protected] PAGE: http://www.nku.edu/~pbishop/ TEXTBOOK:Oltmanns, T.F., & Emery, R.E. Abnormal Psychology (4th Edition). Prentice-Hall, 2004.Overheads (Chapter Summaries): sold in bookstore (optional)Study Guide: sold in bookstore (optional, but recommended)LECTURE NOTES: sold in bookstore (required)OVERVIEW: This is an introductory course in psychopathology, or the specific study of mental disorders. It will focus on the description of specific forms of abnormal behavior and the ways in which they are studied. These problems include depression, schizophrenia, anxiety disorders, somatoform disorders, substance use disorders, sexual disorders, and personality disorders. The causes of these problems are largely unknown. Our knowledge of factors affecting their development and treatment is expanding continuously.Class will be a mixture of lecture, films, and in-class activities (e.g., class discussions to determine how well students understand the material and can apply it). Periodic quizzes will also be given to insure students are keeping up with assigned reading.PRE-REQUISITES: At least introductory psychology (Psy 100). Additional psychology courses or background will be extremely useful as a familiarity with basic psychological terms and concepts is assumed by the authors of your textbook, and tends to correlate with grades obtained. Those without this background will be at a disadvantage. Even with this background, there will be a considerable amount of new technical vocabulary and concepts to be learned. The more prior exposure to psychology and psychological terms and concepts, the better.SPECIFIC GOALS: By the end of the course, you will develop an understanding of, or appreciation for, the following:1. Descriptions of various symptoms (e.g., hallucinations, delusions, panic attacks) associated with psychological disorders. Our ideas about their nature and origins change over the years, butclinical problems seem to remain relatively constant.2. The continuity between normal and abnormal behavior. You should understand the difference between dimensional and categorical approaches to psychopathology.3. The classification process (both generally and specifically in terms of psychopathology) and the criteria (e.g., reliability, validity) used to evaluate the usefulness of a classification system.4. The frequency and distribution of these problems in the United States and elsewhere (i.e., epidemiology). Gender differences and cultural factors will be considered with regard to certain forms of psychological disorder.5. Causal models, especially those involving multiple systems (biological, psychological, and social systems). The task for clinical scientists is to discover how different levels of influence combine or interact to produce and maintain mental disorders. Nature and nurture are both involved.6. The ways in which psychologists ask research questions about these disorders and the various research methods by which they seek answers to these questions.7. Different approaches to treatment, as well as the ways in which these treatments can be evaluated. What kinds of treatment are effective for specific problems? What can these results tell us about the nature of the disorders?OFFICE HOURS: My office hours will be from 11-12 a.m. on MWF and 11-12 a.m. TuTh. If you have any questions about material covered in class or want to discuss your progress in the course, feel free to stop by during those times. You may also leave a message in my voice mail (phone 859-572-5312) or my email ([email protected]) and I can arrange to meet with you at a time convenient for both of us.EVALUATION: TESTS AND GRADING, EXTRA CREDITFour regularly scheduled examinations are planned as well as a cumulative final (see course outline). Periodic “quizzes” of 10 to 20 points will also be given. Quizzes will generally not be announced but will often occur at the beginning of a new topic. The cumulative part of the final will cover material emphasized in the course. Tests will generally be of the multiple choice or true false variety. In addition, students will have a portion of their grade (perhaps 10-15%, 2maybe more) evaluated based on their ability to communicate effectively in writing (see below). The exact form this will take will be communicated during the course. For all tests, quizzes, and writing assignments, grades will be determined using the following grading scale:A = 90-100%B = 80-89%C = 70-79%D = 60-69%F = 59% and BelowThere may be periodic opportunities for extra credit, typically by volunteering to be a subject in research being conducted by faculty or students. These opportunities will be announced if and when they occur. The final grade will be calculated by adding together the student’s total points after all quizzes, tests, writing assignments, and extra points, and comparing it to the total points possible. If his/her point total is 90% of the total points available, he/she will receive an A, if it is 80% a B, if 70% a C, etc.The same approach can be used to determine where the student stands at any point during the semester. The student simply adds up their total points to that point in the semester and compares this to total points possible to see if they meet the percentage criteria for an A, B, C, D,or F. This information will updated regularly and posted on the bulletin board outside the psychology department under the instructor’s name.WRITING:One core value held by the Department of Psychology is the importance of effective writing. Our expectation is for students in all Psychology courses is that written assignments be prepared according to accepted college-level standards for English usage, including grammar, punctuation,spelling, sentence structure, and composition. That is, students will be expected to proofread, edit, and correct their own work in these areas prior to submitting assignments for grading and evaluation. Examples of these assignments may include, but are not limited to, research papers, article