Abnormal Psychology

Psychology 245
Spring 2018
J. S. Abramowitz, Ph.D.

Tuesdays and Thursdays 2:00-3:15 pm

Manning Hall 209
Office Hours: Wednesdays 12:00-2:00 pm and Thursdays 3:30-5:00 pm (or by appointment)
Office: 255 Davie Hall
E-mail: jabramowitz@unc.edu

TA information and office hours

Katie Thompson – Tuesdays 12:30-1:30 pm (270 Davie Hall)
Matt Cohen – Thursdays 12:30-1:30 pm (245 Davie Hall)
Jacquee Genzlinger – Wednesdays 12:30-1:30 pm (Davie 249c)

Required text

Durand, V. M., Barlow, D. H., & Hofman, S. G. (2017). Essentials of abnormal psychology (8th
edition). Boston, MA: Cengage Learning Inc.

*Older editions of this book might be outdated. Please make sure you have the 8rd edition.

What is the Goal of this Course?

In this course we will explore the major mental and behavioral health problems that can affect adults,
adolescents, and children. We will also examine the major approaches to understanding and treating
these conditions. Emphasis will be placed on understanding the continuum from “normal” to
“abnormal.” We will also look at the context within which abnormal behaviors are defined, including
cultural issues, historical views, and the history of how we classify psychological problems. The
importance of understanding abnormal psychology as a scientific discipline will be emphasized, and
we will devote time to recognizing erroneous and pseudoscientific beliefs and claims that have been
made about psychological problems, their treatments, and the people that suffer from them.

My primary goals for this course are to help you understand:

1. The nature of abnormal behavior and psychological problems,

2. Methods used to understand abnormal behavior and evaluate the effects of treatment,
3. Strengths and limitations of the various theoretical perspectives,
4. The process of assessing psychological problems and the most commonly used system for
classifying psychological disorders,
5. Causes and symptoms of various psychological disorders,
6. Effective treatment approaches, and
7. How issues related to ethics, the law, and culture impact how we understand and treat
psychological problems.
 PSYC 245 Spring 2018 - syllabus, page 2

What do I expect from you?

1. Attendance: I expect you to come to each class. Because we will move through the material
quickly, absences will leave you behind. If you miss a class for any reason, make sure you get the
notes from a classmate.

2. Read the assigned material: There will be reading material assigned for each class throughout the
semester. You should complete all assigned readings prior to each class and be prepared to answer
questions and contribute to discussions about what you’ve read. All readings are potential exam
material.

3. Class participation: I strongly encourage an interactive classroom and we will have frequent
demonstrations and discussions about the course material. You should come to class prepared to talk
about the material, and I will often solicit your thoughts and opinions about the topics we cover. We
have a large class. Help me get to know who you are by contributing in class—I will be more likely
to bump up your grade!

Speaking of Grades…

Your grade in this course will be determined by your performance on three exams (25 points each)
and one term paper (25 points).

1. Exams: We will have two midterm exams and a final exam (not cumulative). Exams will cover
information from class lectures, discussions, and demonstrations, as well as from the textbook; so you
will need to be present in class to do well on exams. As exams approach, I will give you more
specific information about the format and what material is more or less likely to be covered. Please
make use of me and the TAs during our office hours if you need help before exams.

Under certain rare circumstances you may receive my permission to take an exam at a different time
than the scheduled date without penalty. Therefore, if you know you will be absent on the day of an
exam for whatever reason (e.g., participation in a collegiate sports event, etc.) please see me at least 2
weeks prior to the scheduled exam and we can arrange an exam date for you, most likely prior to the
regularly scheduled exam date. However, if an emergency occurs, I will consider a make-up exam if
you (1) contact me before the scheduled exam, (2) receive my permission to miss the exam, and (3)
provide satisfactory proof of the cause for missing the exam (a note from a parent, spouse, or
roommate is not satisfactory proof). All three conditions must be met in order for you to make up the
exam. Valid reasons for an excused absence are medical, University-authorized activity (e.g.,
athletic), or those approved by the University administration. The vast majority of potential problems
can be solved by contacting me well before the date of the exam. You will receive zero (0) points for
an unexcused missed exam.
 PSYC 245 Spring 2018 - syllabus, page 3

2. Paper (Abnormal Psychology in Pop Culture): The kinds of topics we will discuss and read about
as part of this class often find their way into movies and films in our culture. For this assignment, you
will choose a pop culture movie (from the list provided on the Final Paper Assignment document)
depicting a psychological disorder, and write a paper in which you discuss: the symptoms of one or
more mental disorders and possible diagnoses for a particular character, factors that could explain the
cause and maintenance of the character’s symptoms (e.g., biological, psychology, sociocultural),
treatment recommendations (and depictions of treatments in the film, if any), and messages the film
sends about psychological disorders, including your evaluation of what the film got correct and
incorrect about the character’s problem and treatment. Additional details and a full grading rubric are
included on the Final Paper Assignment document in Sakai. Your paper will be due by 10:00 pm
on April 26, 2018 and it is to be submitted using the Sakai Dropbox.

Determination of your final grade:

100 possible points to be earned as follows: Points Letter grade

> 92 A
Activity Possible points 90-92 A-
Exams: 75 (25 each) 87-89 B+
Paper: 25 83-86 B
Total possible points: 100 80-82 B-
77-79 C+
Your letter grade in the class will be 73-76 C
determined by the total number of points 70-72 C-
earned as in the chart to the right: 65-69 D
< 65 F

What you can expect from me

I enjoy teaching very much and I want you to succeed in this seminar! So, don’t hesitate to
contact me if you ever have questions about course requirements, material, or your grade; or if
you just want to chat about other stuff. You can expect me to be open and available to your
questions and concerns. I also value the opinions and perspectives of individuals from all diverse
backgrounds. I broadly define diversity to include race, gender, national origin, ethnicity,
religion, social class, age, sexual orientation and physical and learning ability. I strive to make
this classroom a safe and inclusive space for all student groups. I value your input to improve the
climate of my classroom.
I intend to honor class sessions and meeting times, including office hours. You can also
expect me to inform you in a timely way in case of any changes to the syllabus. We will arrange
any adjustments or cancellations in advance, with as much prior notice as possible. I usually
respond quickly to e-mail, and this is the best way to reach me and receive timely responses to
your questions or concerns (jabramowitz@unc.edu).
 PSYC 245 syllabus, page 4

UNC-CH Honor Code

The Honor Code and the Campus Code, embodying the details of academic honesty, integrity,
and responsible citizenship, have for over 100 years governed the performance of all academic
work and student conduct at the University. Acceptance by a student of enrollment in the
University presupposes a commitment to the principles embodied in these codes and a respect for
this most significant University tradition.

Your participation in this course comes with the expectation that your work will be completed in
full observance of the Honor Code. Academic dishonesty in any form is unacceptable, because
any breach in academic integrity, however small, strikes destructively at the University's life and
work. You must sign the following pledge on all of your written work in this class:

"On my honor, I have neither given nor received unauthorized aid on this assignment"

Academic dishonesty (cheating) on exams and other assignments will result in zero points for all
parties involved and may involve more serious consequences depending on the nature of the
offense. If you have any questions about your responsibility or the responsibility of faculty
members under the Honor Code, please consult with someone in either the Office of the Student
Attorney General or the Office of the Dean of Students. Further information on the UNC honor
code can be found at http://honor.unc.edu/.

I also take issues of copyright and plagiarism seriously and expect you to as well. Plagiarism is
further defined at http://honor.unc.edu/students/plagiarism.html.

Accessibility Resources and Services

If you require accommodations to make this class more accessible, please let me know as soon as
possible. I am happy to help out. You will need to contact Accessibility Resources and Services
in the Division of Student Affairs at 919-962-8300, accessibility@unc.edu. See
http://accessibility.unc.edu/ for more information.

Last but not least…

This syllabus is tentative and subject to change. Changes will be announced on multiple
occasions and as far ahead of time as possible. It’s your responsibility to come to class so you’re
aware of any changes.
 PSYC 245 syllabus, page 5

COURSE SCHEDULE

Date Topic What should I read/do to prepare for class?

Th 1/11 Introduction & What is Durand et al., pp. 3-14

abnormal psychology?

Tu 1/16 Science and pseudoscience Watch “5 Ways to Tell Science from Pseudoscience”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3SLiQFdKnA

Th 1/18 Theories of behavior I: Durand et al., pp. 15-28 & 55-68

Psychological perspectives

Tu 1/23 Theories of behavior II: Durand et al., pp. 34 – 54

Genetics and neuroscience
Read or listen to: Fallon, J. (2010). A neuroscientist uncovers a
dark secret. NPR story.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=127888976

Th 1/25 Assessment of abnormal Durand et al., pp. 69-83

behavior

Tu 1/30 Classification, diagnosis, Durand et al., pp 84-91

and DSM-5

Th 2/1 Research methods Durand et al., pp. 92-115

Tu 2/6 & Anxiety and fear Durand et al., pp. 117-145

Th 2/8

Tu 2/13 Posttraumatic stress Durand et al. pp. 146-152

Th 2/15 Obsessions and compulsions Durand et al., pp. 153-168

Tu 2/20 EXAM 1

Th 2/22 Somatization and health Durand et al., pp. 172-183

anxiety

Tu 2/27 Dissociation Durand et al., 184-197

Th 3/1 Depression & mania I Durand et al., pp. 200-226 and 236-240

Tu 3/6 Depression and mania II Durand et al. pp. 227-237; ECT and Me (in Sakai/Resources)
Watch “Treating depression: Is there a placebo effect?” on
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zihdr36WVi4

Th 3/8 Health psychology Durand et al. ch 7

SPRING BREAK

Tu 3/20 & Dysfunctional eating and Durand et al. ch 8

Th 3/22 sleeping behavior
 PSYC 245 syllabus, page 6

Tu 3/27 EXAM II

Th 3/29 Sexual dysfunction Durand et al. pp. 327-345

Tu 4/3 Paraphilias and gender Durand et al. pp. 345-363

dysphoria

Th 4/5 & Tu Psychoactive substance use Durand et al. Ch 10

4/10 and abuse, and impulsivity
Read: Brief Guide to Alcoholics Anonymous (on Sakai)

Th 4/12 Personality Durand et al. ch 11

psychopathology

Tu 4/17 & Psychotic behavior and Durand et al. ch. 12

Th 4/19 schizophrenia

Tu 4/24 Problems with attention, Durand et al. ch 13

intelligence, and cognition

Th 4/26 Ethical and legal issues in Durand et al. ch 14 ***Paper Due by 10:00 PM***
mental health

M 5/7 @ 12 FINAL EXAM

PM