ISI Website | indepst@uidaho.edu | 208-885-6641 

PSYC 3110 Abnormal Psychology

Sponsoring Institution: University of Idaho

3 Credits 

Instructor Information 

Course Instructor:  Seth Courrege

• Email:  scourrege@uidaho.edu
• Office Hours:  Available via email anytime
• Copy the ISI office at indepst@uidaho.edu on all communications. 

Course Description 

Nature, causes, treatment, and prevention of patterns of emotional disturbances and personality disorders, including neuroses and psychoses.

This course will provide an introduction to abnormal psychology by presenting an interactional view of abnormal behavior involving personal attributes and the challenges that people confront in life. The interactions of life situations, vulnerabilities, and resiliency influence the development of disorders, treatment plans, and clinical outcomes.

Traditionally, it was believed that biology drove most of everything and that biological defects always underlie maladaptive behavior. Biological determinants are pertinent; however, there is growing evidence that the environment can have a major impact on biological processes; for optimal outcomes, treatment typically requires a combination of elements such as medication and psychotherapy. Our focus is on the complexity of human behavior and the elements that contribute to the development of adaptive and maladaptive behavior. Research is central to the study of human behavior because new evidence greatly influences how we understand people with problems.

Throughout the course, you will be asked to look internally at your behavior and externally to the environment around you. Consider how you adapt and cope with your environment, and observe the behaviors of others. Ask yourself: What is considered normal behavior? What is considered abnormal? Why?

• Prerequisites: PSYC 101/1101
• Recommended prerequisites: a Methods in Psychology course, such as PSYC 218: Introduction to Research in Behavioral Sciences

Course Learning Outcomes 

• To gain an appreciation of the fundamental issues that underlie the concept of mental abnormality. These issues include such questions as:
  • How does one define mental disorder?
  • Is the definition of mental illness relative, depending on society or on historical context?
  • What tools are used to assess mental disorder and how are they used?
  • What are the consequences, both practical and ethical, of classifying individuals? Can such classification be made accurately and reliably?
• To become familiar with how, in terms of symptoms, the various psychological disorders present themselves.
• To appreciate different explanations of abnormality. That is, to understand the role of environment, genetic factors, psychodynamics, neuropsychology, and biochemistry in the determination of psychopathology.
• To appreciate the experience of mental disorder. This will be accomplished through the use of case histories and similar material.

Required Materials 

• Bernheim, Kayla F. The Lanahan Cases and Readings in Abnormal Psychology. 2nd ed. Baltimore:Lanahan Publishers, Inc., 2004.
  • ISBN-10: 1930398069
  • ISBN-13: 9781930398061
• Sarason, Irwin G., and Barbara R. Sarason. Abnormal Psychology. 11th ed. Upper Saddle River:Prentice Hall, 2005.
  • ISBN-10: 0131181114. ISBN-13: 9780131181113 Hardcover or
  • ISBN-10: 8120326636. ISBN-13: 9788120326637 Paperback (same content as hardcover)

Course Rules and Requirements 

10 graded lessons, 7 self-study lessons, 3 exams

Lessons Overview

The course structure covers the seventeen chapters in the Abnormal Psychology text and the selected readings from the Lanahan Cases text. There are seventeen lessons in total. There is an assignment following each lesson to check your understanding of the material.

You will be responsible for ten graded assignments, listed in the Assignment Submission Log and in the Written Assignment section of the lessons. For these assignments, feel free to use the texts and your notes; they are entirely “open book.”

The remaining seven assignments are “self-study.” These assignments are not graded. They are intended to assist you in preparing for exams. For each self-study activity, the answers will be revealed on Canvas after you press the submit button on the assignment.

Material from the self-study activities and the graded assignments will appear on the exams.

Time Commitment

Many students ask how much time they can reasonably expect a lesson to take. Of course, this varies with the material. But you should note that a general rule of thumb for a three-credit class is that it should involve a time investment of about nine hours per week, or 144 hours total, distributed across a 16-week semester. Basically then, it would be reasonable to spend an average of 5 to 6 hours on any one lesson, graded or self-study, and the balance of your time studying for the three exams.

Lesson Guidelines

• Students may submit up to 2 lessons at once. Students may submit up to 2 lessons in one week.
• Assignments must be word processed.
• Essays should be at least one 1/2 page in length.
• To help you get the most out of your essays, use the formula of state, show, and explain.
  • State the answer to the essay question using the appropriate psychological concepts or issues.
  • Show or illustrate the concept or issue by using an example from the world around you.
  • Explain why this concept or issue is relevant to the study of psychology. In other words, why do psychologists study this issue or concept?

Submitting Lessons

• Keep a copy of every lesson submitted. Write your name and V Number on every submission.
• Wait for grades and feedback on lessons prior to submitting subsequent lessons.
• Students may submit lessons via Canvas.
• Students will receive graded lessons via Canvas.
• You will typically receive graded lessons within three weeks after the date of the receipt by the instructor.

Study Hints

• Complete all assigned readings.
• Set a schedule allowing for completion of the course one month before your desired deadline. An Assignment Submission Log is provided for this purpose.

Exams

• Material from the self-study activities and the graded assignments will appear on the exams.
• You must wait for grades and comments on lessons before taking each subsequent exam.
• For your instructor’s exam guidelines, refer to the Exam Information pages on Canvas. (Example: The exam information page for Exam 1.)
• Exams are taken in Canvas. 
• Exams are closed book.

See Grade Information for specific information on exams, points, and percentages.

Email Standards

Place questions or comments for the instructor in the body of the email.

• In the email's subject line include: Your name, V number, course subject and number, and lesson number(s).
• • Example: Joe Vandal, V01234567, BUS L321, Lessons 1, 2
• In the body of the email above the lesson include: Your name, V number, course subject, number, title, date and lesson numbers(s).
• • Example: Joe Vandal, V01234567, BUS L321: Principles of Marketing, day-month-year, Lessons 1, 2

Grade Information 

Grades will be based on the total number of points earned. The arrangement is as follows:

Possible Points

Assignments	Points
Exams I, II, and Final Exam (100 points each)	300 points
10 Lessons (20 points each)	200 points
Total points possible:	500 points

 

Of the 100 points possible for an exam, about 60% of the grade is based on multiple-choice, and the remainder is a short to medium length essay.

The final course grade is issued after all submitted lessons and exams have been graded. Your letter grade is determined as a percentage of the total number of points it is possible to earn:

Grade Scale

Points Received	Percentage	Letter Grade
450-500	90%-100%	A
400-449	80%-89%	B
350-399	70%-79%	C
300-349	60%-69%	D
Below 300	59% and below	F

Course Policies 

Refer to the ISI website's Current Students page for the most current policies and procedures, including information on setting up accounts, student confidentiality, exams, transcripts, course exchanges, refunds, academic integrity, library resources, disability support and other services.