Abnormal Psychology

Wes Morgan, Ph.D.

303-B Austin Peay
Phone: 974-7167
E-mail: wesmorgan@utk.edu

To Class Schedule

CAUTION

THIS PAGE UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Fall 2006

Required Text:

          Alloy, Lauren B., Riskind, John H., & Manos, Margaret. (2005). Abnormal Psychology: Current Perspectives (9th. ed). New York: McGraw-Hill.

Course Objectives

This course will familiarize the student with the varieties and anomalies of behavior that are labeled "abnormal." Several different theories of etiology are presented. Psychological assessment techniques are discussed along with general research approaches and various methods used to bring about behavioral change. The student should be familiar with the psychiatric vocabulary and familiar enough with the various etiological positions and research findings to ask informed questions of psychological service providers and to provide informed opinions on questions of current psychological and psychiatric theory, assessment, treatment, and research.


Office Hours

Dr. Morgan's regular office hours will be announced. Appointments with the instructor may be made at other times as well.


Exams

There will be three exams which will based upon the textbook readings and class lectures and discussions. The exams will consist of short-answer questions (fill-in and/or multiple-choice). The Final Exam will be partly comprehensive. No Scantron© answer sheets will be needed.

Make-up Exams will be given for excused absences only and will be administered on Friday, December 8 at 2:45 PM.


Quizzes

Five short, unannounced quizzes over the most recent assigned reading will make up 10 percent of the course grade. If you miss the quiz, you miss the credit. If you have an excused (IN ADVANCE) absence for a day that a quiz is given, you will receive credit for the quiz.


Odlaw


Image of Odlaw This is Odlaw (Waldo spelled backwards). He will change locations throughout the semester, and if you find him (he will usually be smaller than this) and click the mouse pointer on him he will reveal a question to be used on an upcoming quiz.


Papers

Three short papers are required. Each will count 5 percent of the course grade.


Class Cancellations

The instructor has a very good record of meeting his classes despite adverse weather conditions. Please plan to attend if the University is open. Check the UTK Weather Page for official announcements and University policy concerning class cancellations.


Accommodations and Adaptations

If you need course adaptations or accommodations because of a documented disability or if you have emergency information to share, please contact the Office of Disability Services at 191 Hoskins Library or 974-6087. This will ensure that you are properly registered for services.


Lottery Scholarship Students Note to Tennessee Education Lottery Scholarship Recipients: After September 2 if you wish to drop a course that would result in changing your status from full-time (12 or more hours) to part-time (11 hours or fewer), you must receive approval from the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships before doing so (974-3131). See Financial Aid website at: http://web.utk.edu/~finaid.


Announcements & Changes


Class Schedule and Readings

DATE READING
August 24
Th 		Introductions
August 29
Tu		 Chapt. 1:
Abnormal Behavior: Historical Perspectives.
August 31
Th		 Chapt. 2:
Diagnosis and Assessment.
September 5
Tu		 Chapt. 3:
Research Methods in Abnormal Psychology.
September 7
Th		 Chapt. 4:
The Behavioral, Cognitive, and Sociocultural Perspectives.
September 12
Tu		 Chapt. 5:
The Psychodynamic, Humanistic-Existential, and Interpersonal Perspectives.
September 14
Th 		Chapt. 6:
The Neuroscience Perspective.
September 19
Tu 		Paper 1 Due
September 21
Th		 Review
September 26
Tu		 Exam 1 (20 percent)
September 28
Th		 Chapt. 7:
Anxiety Disorders.
October 3
Tu		 Chapt. 8:
Dissociative and Somatoform Disorders.
October 5
Th 		Chapt. 9:
Stress and Physical Disorders.
October 10
Tu		 Chapt. 10:
Mood Disorders.
October 12
Th 		Fall Break (no classes)
October 17
Tu 		Chapt. 11:
Personality Disorders.
October 19
Th 		Film
October 24
Tu 		Chapt. 12:
The Nature of Substance Dependence and Abuse.
October 26
Th 		Paper 2 Due
October 31
Tu 		Review
November 2
Th 		Exam 2 (25 percent)
November 7
Tu 		Chapt. 13:
Sexual Dysfunctions, Paraphilias, and Gender Identity Disorders.
November 9
Th 		Chapt. 14:
Schizophrenia and Delusional Disorder.
November 14
Tu 		Chapt. 15:
Neuropsychological Disorders.
November 16
Th 		Chapt. 16:
Disorders of Childhood and Adolescence.
November 21
Tu 		Chapt. 17:
Mental Retardation and Autism.
November 23
Th 		Thanksgiving Break (no class)
November 28
Tu 		Chapt. 18:
Legal and Ethical Issues in Abnormal Psychology.
November 30
Th 		Paper 3 Due
December. 5
Tu 		Review Image of Odlaw
December 8
F 		Make-Up Exams (2:45 PM to 4:45 PM)
December 12
Tu 		Final Exam: (10:15 AM to 12:15 PM)
(30 percent)

Course Grades

Your course grades can be seen in the "Gradebook" for the course at "Online@UT."

Online@UT


Mental Health Internet Resources:          [ click mouse here ]


Additional Features:

Additional features of this course website, including a discussion board, gradebook where you can check your grades, and a calendar can be found at "Online@UT."

The publisher's website at http://www.mhhe.com/alloy9 has a variety of helpful resources.

Evaluate this syllabus

Online@UT To Morgan's Homepage Return to Top of Page

Wesley G. Morgan, Ph.D.
                     (please use "Psych 330" on the subject line)


Last revision: 21 August 2006