Psychology 3213-01 Abnormal PsychologySummer ‘14: 1-2:50pm in Magruder 226

Instructor: Kevin J. Armstrong, Ph.D. Phone: 662-325-7657Assoc. Professor & Licensed Psychologist Office Hrs: MThF 9:30-10:30 or by appt

(please email me – we’ll find a time!)Office: Magruder Hall, Rm. 311Email: kja3@psychology.msstate.edu Class website http://my.msstate.edu

Required Text (Get the ebook or binder ready version only - use these ISBN numbers!*): Kring, Ann. (2014). Abnormal Psychology, 12th ed, DSM-V Update. Wiley: Hoboken, NJ. Currently only available as a “Binder Ready Version” ISBN 9781118640883 ($90 off Internet, but more at bookstore) OR: purchase a “Coursesmart” online version $49 of the test at http://www.coursesmart.com/abnormal-psychology-12th-edition-dsm-5-update/kring-ann-m-johnson-sheri/dp/9781118640883

Required Website: http://my.msstate.edu – grades & other important information will often be available through our course’s site. Some activities may require postings to the site’s “Discussion” area (an electronic bulletin board of sorts). Other activities will be conducted there, as well. PLEASE check regularly.

Course Catalog description: (Prerequisite: PSY 1013). Three hours lecture. Behavioral patterns and causes of deviant behavior from childhood through later maturity. Etiology and symptomatology are emphasized.

Academic Accommodations for Disabilities: Students who need academic accommodations based on a disability should visit the Office of Student Support Services, 01 Montgomery Hall, call (662) 325-3335, or visit the web site at www.sss.msstate.edu.

Rubric Used for Grading*: 400 points for unit exams (4 exams X 100 points each)100 points for the final exam 500 points possible

Subtract 0-15 points in penalties for poor classroom behaviorAdd 0-8 points research participation credit [Note – only if available this summer]

(2 points per .5 research credit up to 8 points total MAXIMUM)[insert if no RPP available: Add 0-8 points extra credit for various in-class activities]

*But ANY incident of cheating/plagiarism will result in an automatic failing grade for the course!

Percentages Required to Earn Each Grade89.5% and higher = 448/500 = A79.5% to 89.49% = 398/500 = B69.5% to 79.49% = 348/500 = C59.5% to 69.49% = 298/500 = D

Tentative Outline of Topics & Test Dates – Any changes will be announced in class and on the class website.

6/5 Introduction to class6/6 Ch. 1 - Introduction and Historical Overview

6/9 Ch. 2 - Current Paradigms in Psychopathology6/10 Ch. 3 - Diagnosis and Assessment6/11 (Finish up Ch. 1-3)6/12 Unit 1 Exam – Ch. 1-3

Start Ch. 4 - Research Methods in Psychopathology6/13 (Continue Ch. 4)

6/16 Ch. 5 - Mood Disorders6/17 (Continue Ch. 5)6/18 Ch. 6 – Anxiety Disorders6/19 (Continue Ch. 6)6/20 Unit 2 Exam – Ch. 4-6

Start Ch. 9 – Schizophrenia

6/23 (Continue Ch. 9 – Schizophrenia)6/24 Ch. 10 – Substance Use/Abuse6/25 Ch. 11 –Eating Disorders6/26 Unit 3 Exam – Ch. 9-11

Start Ch. 12 – Sexual Disorders 6/27 Ch. 13 - Disorders of Childhood

6/30 (Continue Ch. 13)7/1 Ch. 14 - Late Life and Neurocognitive Disorders7/2 Unit 4 Exam – Ch. 12-14

7/7 Final Exam

Attendance & Classroom Behavior (read carefully - especially if you have a cell phone addiction, chat too much, or bother others!)

University policy makes it clear that attendance is expected. When in class, I also expect you to make a reasonable effort to stay involved with the class lectures, activities, and discussions. I especially request that you not do things that would distract your classmates or violate university expectations for classroom behavior (e.g., talking without being called upon, snoring, unagreed-to-recording of classmates or instructor, using sign language, miming that you are in a box, dancing on your chair, or conducting bad magic tricks). Please, please do NOT use your phone in class.

If I have to talk to you about being distracting to others (e.g., private conversations, using your phone in class, reading a newspaper, etc.) expect to see that you received a 5-point deduction from the next scheduled

exam. If I have to talk with you a second time, there will be a 10-point deduction from the next scheduled exam AND I will refer you to the Dean of Students due to inappropriate classroom behavior. To be allowed back in the class and to become eligible to earn points again, you must provide documentation of that visit and an acceptable written plan outlining how this won’t be a problem again. A third incident will result in failing the class.

If you miss a unit exam, you can take it during our final exam period. I expect reasonable documentation if you miss due to illnesses, funerals, official university functions, presenting at research conferences, etc..

If you want to make up an extra credit points made available in class, you MUST be in contact with me beforehand if at all possible. Your make up work will likely be more demanding than the actual class activity so as to ensure perceptions of fairness by those who were successfully able to attend class.

Incompletes: The University has made it very difficult to award an “Incomplete” grade. Any exceptions have to be approved by the department head, dean and provost. Here is the University policy statement:

“A grade of I may be submitted in lieu of a final grade when the student, because of illness, death in his or her immediate family, or similar circumstances beyond his or her control, is unable to complete the course requirements or to take final examinations. All grades of I must be removed within thirty calendar days from the date of the student’s next enrollment, but only that part of his or her work may be made up which was missed during the emergency for which the incomplete was granted. If a grade of I is not resolved into a passing grade within the allotted time, the grade becomes an F.”

Academic Dishonesty:

I have a “Zero Tolerance” policy for academic dishonesty AND, UNDER THE HONOR CODE, YOUR CLASSMATES DO AS WELL! Please understand that there is an Honor code in place at MSU (http://students.msstate.edu/honorcode/) and that this is a BIG deal - you are obligated to abide by it as a MSU student. With the honor code in place, cheating students IMMEDIATELY risk their own academic career AND the careers of witnesses (i.e., witnesses who fail to report cheating receive serious, expensive consequences, too!). DO NOT CHEAT! IT IS A VERY SELFISH ACT THAT PLACES OTHERS IN GRAVE JEOPARDY. DO NOT FAIL TO REPORT CHEATING AS IT PLACES YOUR OWN CAREER AT RISK SHOULD YOU PASSIVELY PERMIT IT!

Students who cheat on an exam or assignment, or who plagiarize in a written assignment will be considered to have violated the university rules on academic dishonesty. In such a case, the instructor will automatically fail the student for the entire course.

For written assignments that involve some research on your part, you may wish to consider using “Turnitin.com” or similar on-line paper review services to reduce your risk of plagiarizing due to inappropriate documentation/usage of sources. I’ll supply a link in class if you would like it.

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HOW CAN YOU BE SUCCESSFUL IN THIS COURSE? (Use the SQ4R method)

Use the SQ4R (survey, question, read, write, review, and recite) method. It should save you time and increase your productivity. A handout will be made available to help you learn this method.

Effective studying involves:

1) Reading assigned materials thoroughly. If you can’t read a chapter before the class lecture, you should at least spend a half hour reviewing a chapter’s outline before the first lecture on that chapter. Start creating questions that the chapter should answer. Print the lecture handout ahead of time and look at what the instructor plans to discuss. Budget your time wisely!

2) Writing out and studying the learning objectives provided in the text &/or in class. Form a study group with other hard working students. Work ahead!! You don’t want to be reading material for the first time on the night before an exam – the last night is for studying things you’ve already learned.

3) Attending class and using web site materials, if available.

How much should you study? This is hard to answer. Every student is different in how quickly they read, learn, and memorize. Successful students typically report that they complete assigned readings and begin studying the learning objectives prior to lectures. Successful students report spending a minimum of 3 to 5 hours preparing and mastering each chapter. Unless you have an exceptional memory and unusual grasp of the material, you will find that reading a chapter once or twice before an exam won't suffice. I encourage you to consider this information before committing yourself to this course. Drop deadlines are listed in the university bulletin and on the registrar’s web site.