PSYC& 220 Abnormal Psychology (5 credits)
Distribution Area Fulfilled Social Sciences; General Transfer Elective
Formerly PSYCH 235 - CCN
Prerequisite PSYC& 100 or PSYC 201 , with a 1.5 grade or better.
Course Description
A study of the history, etiology, diagnosis and treatment of abnormal behavior.
Course Content
A. Social definitions of abnormality.
B. Broad historical trends in psychological treatments.
C. The social institution of psychological treatment.
D. Categories of disorders, symptoms, causes, treatments.
E. Introduction to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Psychological Disorders (DSM) system.
F. Research methods in abnormal psychology.
G. Integration of diagnosis, cause and treatment in abnormal psychology.
H. Introduction to preventative intervention.
I. Introduction to concept of treatment matching.
J. Common myths and stereotypes about psychological disorders,
K. The effects of diagnoses as social labels.
Student Outcomes
1. Articulate the significant signs and symptoms associated with five major types of mental illness: Schizophrenic, affective, personality, anxiety, and dissociative disorders.
2. Explain the notion of criteria in psychological judgments.
3. Apply a diagnosis, cause, and treatment model to specific disorders in abnormal psychology.
4. Evaluate the usefulness of the application of scientific research to current issues in abnormal psychology.
5. Apply the concept of treatment matching to case studies, identifying multiple causes of psychological problems and matching components of current treatments to proposed problems.
6. Identify current understanding of the causes of disorders and apply that understanding to prevention.
7. Identify important cultural variations in the occurrence of psychological disorders.
8. Outline an argument that synthesizes individual, family and societal factors that impact a current topic of interest in abnormal psychology.
9. Identify the axes of the DSM and apply some of its broad categories to case studies.
10. Describe the concept of differential diagnosis and apply to some disorders.
11. Compare and contrast the activity of categorizing disorders as a tool for organizing information with its potential for stereotyping and labeling.
12. Discuss social factors that impact diagnosis in modern settings (e.g. school referrals, legal situations).
13. Identify major historical trends in the treatments of disorders, and discuss multiple causes for changes in treatments.
14. Compare and contrast the institution of therapy as a tool for helping individuals with its use as a social control mechanism.
15. Reflect on one’s values regarding mental disorders, including potential actions and/or interventions based upon this analysis.
16. Conduct informed observations of human behavior demonstrating an awareness of the cultural context in which human behavior occurs.
17. Find relevant information from standard reference texts on psychological disorders (e.g. DSM, DSM Casebook).
Degree Outcomes
Social Sciences: Graduates analyze and interpret social phenomenon using social science theories and methods.
Multiculturalism: Graduates will demonstrate knowledge of diverse ideas, cultures, and experiences, and develop the ability to examine their own attitudes and assumptions in order to understand and work with others who differ from themselves.
Lecture Contact Hours 50
Lab Contact Hours 0
Clinical Contact Hours 0
Total Contact Hours 50
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