12/27/2024 9:34:20 AM	PSYC 5 Course Outline as of Summer 2025	Changed Course
CATALOG INFORMATION
Discipline and Nbr:  PSYC 5	Title:  ABNORMAL PSYCH
Full Title:  Abnormal Psychology
Last Reviewed:12/9/2019

Units		Course Hours per Week			Nbr of Weeks	Course Hours Total
Maximum	3.00	Lecture Scheduled	3.00		17.5 max.	Lecture Scheduled	52.50
Minimum	3.00	Lab Scheduled	0		4 min.	Lab Scheduled	0
		Contact DHR	0			Contact DHR	0
		Contact Total	3.00			Contact Total	52.50
		Non-contact DHR	0			Non-contact DHR Total	0

Total Out of Class Hours:  105.00

Total Student Learning Hours: 157.50

Title 5 Category:  AA Degree Applicable
Grading:  Grade Only
Repeatability:  00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP
Also Listed As: 
Formerly:  PSYCH 5

Catalog Description:

This course examines the biological, psychological, and social science of abnormal psychology. Major areas of examination will include theoretical orientations, important psychotherapeutic methods, current issues in abnormal psychology and selected disorders such as depression, schizophrenia, and psychosomatic disorders.

Prerequisites/Corequisites:

Recommended Preparation:
Eligibility for ENGL 1A or equivalent

Limits on Enrollment:

Schedule of Classes Information
Description:

This course examines the biological, psychological, and social science of abnormal psychology. Major areas of examination will include theoretical orientations, important psychotherapeutic methods, current issues in abnormal psychology and selected disorders such as depression, schizophrenia, and psychosomatic disorders.

(Grade Only)
Prerequisites:
Recommended:Eligibility for ENGL 1A or equivalent
Limits on Enrollment:
Transfer Credit:CSU;UC.
Repeatability:00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP

ARTICULATION, MAJOR, and CERTIFICATION INFORMATION

Associate Degree:		Effective:	Fall 1993	Inactive:
Area:	D	Social and Behavioral Sciences
CSU GE:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
	D	Social Science		Fall 1994
	D9	Psychology
IGETC:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
	4	Social and Behavioral Science		Fall 1995
	4I	Psychology
CSU Transfer:	Transferable	Effective:	Fall 1993	Inactive:
UC Transfer:	Transferable	Effective:	Fall 1993	Inactive:
C-ID:

Certificate/Major Applicable: Both Certificate and Major Applicable

COURSE CONTENT

Student Learning Outcomes:
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:

1.   Assess and diagnose a psychological profile with a major psychological disorder.

2.   Describe the symptoms of major psychological disorders and suggest the most effective

treatment currently used.

 

Objectives:

At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:

1.   Discuss criteria used to define abnormal behavior, and various

      methods used to study abnormal behavior, including the naturalistic,

      observation method, the correlation method, the experimental method,

      kinship studies, the epidemiological method, and the case-study

      methods.

2.   Distinguish among the following contemporary perspectives on

      abnormal behavioral:  biological, psychodynamic, learning based,

      humanistic, cognitive, and sociocultural.

3.   Describe approaches used by investigators to demonstrate

      the reliability and validity of classification and methods of

      assessment.

4.   Summarize the findings of research into the effectiveness of

      psychotherapy in general and specific therapeutic approaches in

      particular.

5.   Explain the significance of stress factors in health and illness, and

      discuss some of the psychological factors that moderate stress.

6.   Define and describe generalized anxiety disorder, and be able to

      identify various treatment approaches.

7.   Describe the major features of the dissociative and somatoform

      disorders and recount various theoretical perspectives for both.

8.   Distinguish between normal and abnormally depressed moods, define

      the term "mood disorder" and discuss the incidence of suicide and

      theoretical perspectives on its causes.

9.   Compare and contrast the three research clusters of personality

      disorders:  paranoid, schizoid, and schizotypol personality disorder.

10.  Differentiate between psychological and physiological dependence and

       describe the physical and psychological effects of depressants,

       stimulants, and hallucinogens.

11.  Describe the diagnostic features of anorexia, bulimia, obesity,

       and sleep disorders; and discuss the prevalence and treatment for

       each.

12.  Describe sociocultural factors involved in classifying sexual

       behaviors as normal or abnormal.

13.  Discuss theoretical perspectives and schizophrenia, including the

       psychodynamic learning, biological, and family theories in the

       development of schizophrenia.

14.  Identify ways of determining what is "normal" and what is "abnormal"  in

       childhood and adolescent development.

15.  Discuss developmental types, theoretical perspectives,

       and interventions for learning disorders.

16.  Discuss the basic features of dementia and the relationship between

       dementia and normal aging.

17.  Differentiate among biological, social-cognitive, and socioculture

       perspectives in explaining human aggression.

18.  Outline the legal procedures for psychiatric commitment and the

       safeguards to prevent abuse of psychiatric commitment.

Topics and Scope

I.      Introduction and Research Methods

II.     Contemporary Perspectives on Abnormal Behavior

III.    Classification and Assessment of Abnormal Behavior

IV.    Methods of Treatment

V.     Stress, Psychological Factors and Health

VI.    Anxiety Disorders

VII.   Dissociate and Somatoform Disorders

VIII.  Mood Disorders and Suicide

IX.    Personality Disorders

X.     Substance Abuse and Dependence

XI.    Eating Disorders, Obesity, and Sleep Disorders

XII.   Gender Identity Disorder, Paraphilia, and Sexual Dysfunctions

XIII.  Schizophrenia and Other Psychotic Disorders

XIV.  Abnormal Behavior

     A. Childhood

     B. Adolescence

XV.   Cognitive Disorders and Disorders Relating to Aging

XVI.  Violence and Abuse

XVII. Abnormal Psychology and Society

Assignments:

1. Read approximately 35 pages per week

2. Writing assignment that may include research, experiential, response, or

     project for a minimum of 1,250 words

3. Quizzes, exams, and a final

4. Oral presentation and/or group project may be assigned

Methods of Evaluation/Basis of Grade.

Writing: Assessment tools that demonstrate writing skill and/or require students to select, organize and explain ideas in writing.		Writing 30 - 60%
Research, experiential, response, or project paper
Problem solving: Assessment tools, other than exams, that demonstrate competence in computational or non-computational problem solving skills.		Problem Solving 0 - 0%
None
Skill Demonstrations: All skill-based and physical demonstrations used for assessment purposes including skill performance exams.		Skill Demonstrations 0 - 0%
None
Exams: All forms of formal testing, other than skill performance exams.		Exams 40 - 60%
Quizzes, Exams, and a Final
Other: Includes any assessment tools that do not logically fit into the above categories.		Other Category 0 - 10%
Oral presentation and/or group project

Representative Textbooks and Materials:

Fundamentals of Abnormal Psychology. 9th ed. Comer, Ronald. Macmillan Learning. 2019

 

Sue, David, Sue, Derald, Sue, Diane, Sue, Stanley. Essentials of Understanding Abnormal Behavior. Sue, David and Sue, Derald and Sue, Diane and Sue, Stanley. Cengage. 2017

 

Abnormal Psychology. 2nd ed. Ray, William. Sage. 2018

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