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Psychology 363: Abnormal Psychology
“Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it.”
-Helen Keller
Instructor:
Dr. Catherine Lutz Zois
Phone: (937) 229-2164
E-mail: [email protected]
E-mail policy: I generally attempt to respond to e-mail inquiries within approximately
24 - 36 hours (spanning working days, not weekends, vacation time, or holidays).
Because I often have back-to-back classes and other commitments throughout the day, it
is not always possible for me to respond earlier than that.
Office Location: 330 Saint Joe's Hall
Office hours: Mon. & Wed. from 1:00-2:00 or by appointment
Teaching Assistant:
Name: Lauren Hurd
Phone: 229-2175
E-mail: In “address book” of g-mail
Contact for the following: To schedule make up exams.
Purpose/Course Description:
In this course, we will cover diagnosis, causes, course, and treatment of mental disorders
and maladaptive behavior. We will also explore cultural variations in definitions of abnormal
behavior. In order to accomplish these goals, we will draw on a variety of sources including
empirical/scientific research, case studies, and psychological theory.
Required Text:
Barlow, D. H., & Durand, V. M. (2014). Abnormal Psychology: An Integrative
Approach, (7th ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.
Text Format Options:
1. Standard textbook.
2. Digital copy only (instructions for accessing are on page 10).
3. Digital copy and loose leaf print.
Supplemental Articles on My Website:
1. Readings on “Are Blocked and Recovered Memories Valid Phenomena?”
2. Readings on “Should individuals with Anorexia Nervosa have the right
to refuse life-sustaining treatment?”
3. Readings on “Is addiction a brain disease?”
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My Website and Lecture Outlines:
Outlines of all of my lecture notes can be found on my website. The address is
http://academic.udayton.edu/CatherineLutz. It is highly recommended that you print them at the
beginning of the semester and put them in a three ring binder. Most students use them as a
structure for taking notes and as an important resource when studying for the exams.
Course Requirements:
300pts. (100 each)
45pts. (15 each)
30pts.
25pts.
400pts.
3 Cumulative Exams
3 Debate Assignments
Participation and Attendance
1 Short Paper
Exams: There will be three non-cumulative exams in this course. Make up on exams
will be allowed, but only during a designated time at the end of the semester.
Debate Assignments: There will be 3 debate assignments, for one of which you will be
part of the debate panel. Each of these debate assignments requires that you read the designated
articles prior to the class period and answer pre-assigned questions. The written answers to these
questions will be collected at the end of the class period in which they are due. All of the debate
articles are on my website. Because these articles are available from the very beginning of the
course, “computer problems” will not be accepted as a valid excuse for not completing the
assignment. If you turn in the written comments after the day that they are due (but were
present that day in class), you will lose 3 points off the assignment.
Participation/Attendance: Active involvement in class discussions is a crucial part of this
course. My expectations for participation are such that students who make comments almost
every class period will earn A's, students who make comments in class a few times between each
exam will earn B's, and students who rarely make comments in class will earn C's.
In order to reward students who may be less vocal than their peers, but attend class
regularly, attendance will be part of your participation grade. However, it is recognized that
absence is at times unavoidable; thus, perfect attendance is not expected.
I expect you to turn off your cell phones once class begins. Each time that I see you
texting at any time during the class period (including during videos or student
presentations), you will lose 5 points from your participation grade.
Paper: You will be required write one brief (4-5 pages typed and double-spaced) paper
from two options. The first paper option entails choosing a television or movie character that
you believe depicts symptoms of a DSM-V disorder, and writing about the symptoms and
treatment of this disorder as it applied to that hypothetical character. The second paper option
entails reading and reviewing one of the recommended books on a specific disorder. Details of
these assignments can be found on page 4-6 of this syllabus. You will lose a half of a grade (1
point) each day the paper is late.
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Extra Credit:
You will have the opportunity to earn up to 5 points added to your final grade by
attending on-campus lectures pertaining to mental illness or completing the three diagnostic
cases posted on my website.
Please note, that if you choose the diagnostic exercise, I would like you to provide a
diagnosis as well as a typed rationale for your diagnostic impressions for all three cases. You do
not need to give a “five-axis” diagnosis, as the DSM-V does not use a system based on axes.
Grading Policy:
All points will be tallied at the end of the semester course including extra credit, if
applicable. Your grade is the resultant number. I do not add extra points to your final
score beyond this number for any reason! Final grades will be based on the following number
of points:
400-372pts. = A
371-360pts. = A359-348pts. = B+
347-332pts. = B
331-320pts. = B319-308pts. = C+
307-292pts. = C
291-280pts. = C279-240pts. = D
239-Below = F
General Policies:
1. This syllabus is subject to change at any time at the discretion of the instructor.
2. Cheating of any sort is a serious violation of academic honesty and will not be
tolerated. If cheating is suspected all students involved will earn zero points for the
assignment, and disciplinary procedures will be undertaken.
3. Students with disabilities are asked to identify themselves to the instructor before the
first scheduled exam. All possible assistance will be provided in coordination with the
Office for Students with Disabilities.
4. Students will lose points on all late assignments. Specifically, students will lose 3
points for late discussion assignments. Students will lose a 1 point for every day late on
their final paper assignment.
5. Students will automatically lose points toward their participation grade if seen texting
in class.
6. No homework or paper assignments will be accepted after the last scheduled day of
classes.
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Paper Assignment
Option 1: Analysis of a Disorder of Your Choice
Due: 4/13/14
Paper Length: 4-5 pages typed and double-spaced
Grading:
Grading will be based on the quality of the paper as a whole. Specifically, I will be looking at
three factors: (1) the extent to which you carefully followed the instructions outlined on this
handout, (2) the quality and sophistication of your analysis of your chosen disorder, and (3) your
ability to effectively convey psychological ideas in written form.
Assignment Instructions: Select a character from television or a movie who could be diagnosed
with a DSM-V psychological disorder. Imagine that this character is seeking help at your
psychotherapy practice. Write a case report that addresses all of the following questions/issues:
1) Outline the symptoms that the character is experiencing, providing specific examples of
scenes in which the symptoms are depicted. 2) Based upon the symptoms that you have
described, what DSM-V disorder do you think should be given to the client and why? 3) Explain
from a psychodynamic perspective how this problem might have developed and propose a
treatment plan based on this conceptualization. 4) Explain from a cognitive/behavioral
perspective how this problem might have developed and propose a treatment plan based on this
conceptualization. 5) Use APA style citations throughout your case report to support your
arguments and include a reference list. Make sure to cite your textbook and at least four other
scholarly sources.
Resources for the Assignment:
 This Wikipedia website provides a comprehensive list of mental illness in film.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_films_featuring_mental_disorders
 You should support your ideas by citing and referencing scholarly sources using APA
format. If you are unfamiliar with APA citation and reference format, you might find the
following website to be a helpful resource:
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/05/
 You may also find it helpful to use the PsycINFO online database to help you locate
relevant articles. This database can be accessed through the Roesch library website.
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Paper Assignment
Option 2: Book Review
Due: 4/13/14
Paper Length: 4-5 pages typed and double-spaced
Grading:
Grading will be based on the quality of the paper as a whole. Specifically, I will be looking at
three factors: (1) the extent to which you carefully followed the instructions outlined on this
handout, (2) the quality and sophistication of your analysis of your chosen book, and (3) your
ability to effectively convey psychological ideas in written form.
Assignment Instructions: Read one of the books listed on page 6 of this syllabus. In the first
section of your paper, give a detailed summary of the book. In the second section of the paper,
comment on the consistencies and inconsistencies between the information from the book versus
from the text and other course materials (Note: if your chosen book summarized a disorder that
we did not specifically cover in class, you are expected to read that section of your textbook or
get articles from external, scholarly sources).
Resources for the Assignment:
 You should support your ideas by citing and referencing scholarly sources using APA
format. If you are unfamiliar with APA citation and reference format, you might find the
following website to be a helpful resource:
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/05/
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Books About Mental Illness for Paper Option 2
An Unquiet Mind: Memoir of Moods and Madness by Kay Redfield Jamison
A wonderful book written from the perspective of a psychologist suffering from bipolar disorder.
The Boy Who Couldn’t Stop Washing by Judith Rappoport
This book is a series of accounts of obsessive compulsive disorder in children and adults. Some
are written by patients, with commentary from Rappoport, a prominent researcher of OCD.
The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat by Oliver Sachs
Fascinating stories of neurological phenomena such as spatial neglect, agnosia, etc. A great book
for those who want to learn more about specific functions (and malfunctions) of the brain.
Phantoms in the Brain by V. S. Ramachandran and Sandra Blakeslee
An amazing book that explains unusual phenomena in neuroscience such as phantom limb
syndrome and bizarre delusions.
The Man Who Tasted Shapes by Richard Cytowic
A book of vignettes on synaesthesia, the neural condition associated with sensory overlap (e.g.,
the experience of ‘hearing’ colors, ‘seeing’ sounds, or ‘tasting’ shapes).
What Remains by Carole Radziwill
A moving and intense story of human suffering, grief, and coping with tragic circumstances.
Unbearable Lightness by Portia de Rossi
A surprisingly compelling autobiography that deals with eating disorders, gay and lesbian issues,
and the darker side of fame. Highly recommended.
Electroboy by Andy Behrmann
This highly entertaining book gives the reader a sense of what it’s like to be bipolar. Also an
interesting chronicle of art forgery and other illicit acts by the author, many of which took place
during his manic phases in NY’s East Village in the 1980’s and 90’s.
Wasted by Marya Hornbacher
A book that reveals the lesser-known side of living with a serious eating disorder.
The Quiet Room by Lori Schiller and Amanda Bennett
A book about schizophrenia and related problems, such as drug abuse, homelessness, and
suicidality.
As Nature Made Him – The Boy Who Was Raised As a Girl by John Colapinto
This is a story of gender identity and the failure of an attempt to artificially reassign gender
following a botched circumcision.
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Course Outline
This is a preliminary outline of the readings and lecture each class period. It is subject to change
based on time and other constraints.
______________________________________________________________________________
WEEK # 1 (1/12-1/16)
Mon.
Topic: History of Abnormal Psychology
Readings: Chapter 1
Wed.
Same
Fri.
Same
______________________________________________________________________________
WEEK # 2 (1/19-1/23)
Mon.
**No Class**
Wed.
Same
Fri.
Topic: An Integrative Approach to Psychopathology
Readings: Chapter 2
______________________________________________________________________________
WEEK # 3 (1/26-1/30)
Mon.
Same
Wed.
Same
Fri.
Same
_____________________________________________________________________________
WEEK # 4 (2/2-2/6)
Mon.
Topic: Clinical Assessment and Diagnosis
Readings: Chapter 3
Wed.
Topic: Anxiety Disorders; Obsessive-Compulsive and Related-Disorders;
Trauma and Stressor Related Disorders
Readings: Chapter 5
Fri.
Same
_____________________________________________________________________________
WEEK # 5 (2/13-2/13)
Mon.
Same
Wed.
Same
Assignment: Debate: Are Blocked and Recovered Memories Valid Phenomena?
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Fri.
Same
____________________________________________________________________________
WEEK # 6 (2/16-2/20)
Mon.
**Exam #1**
Wed.
Topic:
Dissociative Disorders; Somatic Symptom and Related Disorders
Readings: Chapter 6
Fri.
Same
____________________________________________________________________________
WEEK # 7 (2/23-2/27)
Mon.
Same
Wed.
Topic: Mood Disorders and Suicide
Readings: Chapter 7
Fri.
Same
_____________________________________________________________________________
WEEK # 8 (3/2-3/6)
Mon.
Same
Wed.
Same
Fri.
**No Class**
_____________________________________________________________________________
WEEK # 9 (3/9-3/13)
Mon.
Same
Wed.
Topic: Eating and Sleep-Wake Disorders
Readings: Chapter 8
Fri.
Same
____________________________________________________________________________
WEEK # 10 (3/18-3/20)
Mon.
Same
Assignment: Debate: Should individuals with Anorexia Nervosa have the right
to refuse life-sustaining treatment?
Wed.
Fri.
Same
Topic:
Sexual Dysfunctions, Paraphilic Disorders, and Gender Dysphoria
Readings: Chapter 10
_____________________________________________________________________________
WEEK # 11 (3/25-3/27)
Mon.
Same
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Wed.
**Exam #2**
Fri.
Topic:
Substance Related, Addictive, and Impulse-Control Disorders
Readings: Chapter 11
_____________________________________________________________________________
WEEK # 12 (3/30-4/3)
Mon.
Same
Wed.
Same
Assignment: Debate: Is addiction a brain disease?
Fri.
**No Class**
______________________________________________________________________________
WEEK # 13 (4/6-4/10)
Mon.
**No Class**
Wed.
Topic: Personality Disorders
Readings: Chapter 12
Fri.
Same
______________________________________________________________________________
WEEK # 14 (4/13-4/17)
Mon.
Same
**Paper Due**
Wed.
**No Class**
Fri.
Same
______________________________________________________________________________
WEEK # 15 (4/20-4/24)
Mon.
Topic: Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders
Readings: Chapter 13
Wed.
Same
Fri.
Same
______________________________________________________________________________
FINAL EXAM
S1: Thurs. April 30th 2:30 – 4:20
S2: Thurs. April 30th 10:10 – 12:00
______________________________________________________________________________
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How to access your MindTap course
PSY 363 - Spring 2015
Instructor : Catherine Zois
Start Date : 01/12/2015
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