Course Number: PSY 260
Credit Hours: 4
Contact Hours: 4 (Lecture); 0 (Lab); 0 (Other)
COURSE RATIONALE: To introduce students to concepts of abnormal behavior so they can apply knowledge of psychopathology to further study and/or practice oriented activities.
CATALOG DESCRIPTION: PSY 260: Abnormal Psychology. This course studies abnormal or maladaptive behavior—its causes, symptoms, treatment, and prevention. Major theoretical and research perspectives are covered in a survey of the major categories of mental disorders.
Prerequisites: PSY 180
Course Objectives/Outcomes: Upon completion of this course, students will be able to...
- Describe the normal and abnormal personality.
- Explain the dynamics and determinants of personality development.
- List problems of adjustment and causes of abnormal behavior.
- Explain the diagnosis and therapy of various mental disorders.
Course Outline:
Concepts of Normal and Abnormal Behavior
- Defining Abnormal Behavior
- Classifying Abnormal Behavior
- Use of the most currently-accessible version of the SDM
- Concerns About Classification
- Facts About Abnormal Behavior
- Cost of Abnormal Behavior
- Stereotyping of the Mentally Disturbed (misconceptions)
Historical Perspectives
- Ancient societies
- The Greeks and the Rise of Science
- The Middle Ages and Renaissance: The Return to Demonology
- Witch Hunts
- Renaissance Treatment
- The Reform Movement in America
Explanations of Abnormal Behavior
- Numerous theoretical viewpoints in abnormal psychology
- Psychosocial Factors
- Sociological Factors
- Biological Factors
Assessment of Abnormal Behavior
- The Interview
- Observation
- Psychological Tests
- Neurological Testing: Assessment of Brain Damage
Therapy and Prevention
Anxiety, Somatoform, and Dissociative Disorders
- Anxiety disorders
- Somatoform disorders
- Dissociative disorders
Psychophysiological Disorders
- Introduction
- Life Stress
- The Autonomic Nervous System
- Psychophysiological causes of Specific Illnesses
- Typical Psychophysiological Disorders
Severely Disordered Patterns of Behavior
- Mood Disorders
- Explanations of Mood Disorders
- Treatment of Mood Disorders
- Suicide
Schizophrenic and Delusional Disorders
- Schizophrenic Disorders
- Explanations for Schizophrenia
- Treatment for Schizophrenia
- Delusional Disorders
- Explanations/Treatment of Delusional Disorders
Disorders Usually First Evident in Infancy, Childhood or Adolescence
- Introduction
- Disruptive Behavior Disorders: Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
- Disruptive Behavior Disorders: Conduct Disorders
- Eating Disorders: Anorexia Nervosa
- Eating Disorders: Bulimia Nervosa
- Gender Identity Disorders: Transsexualism
- Pervasive Developmental Disorders: Autistic Disorder
- Specific Developmental Disorders: Learning Disabilities
Age-Related Degenerative Disorders
- Introduction
- Organic Mental Syndromes: Dementia
- Alzheimer's Disease
- Presenile Dementias
- Multi-Infarct Dementia
Personality Disorders
- Subtypes
- Antisocial Personality Disorder: Characteristics
- Developmental Course
- Incidence and Causes
- Treatment of Antisocial Behavior
Psychoactive Substance Use Disorders
- Criteria for Psychoactive Substance Abuse and Dependence
- Alcoholism: Abuse and Dependence
- Explanations of Alcoholism
- Treatment
Sexual Disorders
- Paraphilias
- Sexual Dysfunctions
- Other Sexual Deviations
- Treatment
Sleep Disorders
Resources Included: Upon confirmation of the student's course registration, SC4 will mail an acceptance letter to each student's home address. This letter will contain additional information about login access to the SC4 Portal and establishing a college email account. Students will receive login information to the Canvas learning management system (LMS) via their college email account. The email will provide login procedures necessary to access the online course(s) for which a student is enrolled.
Additional Costs: Required Textbook / Materials: Students or their enrolling schools are responsible to purchase the required textbook and materials listed in the syllabus. Students are responsible for all tuition, books/supplies, and fees the school or school district does not pay; this includes the non-refundable student fee for dropped courses.
To locate your required textbook, use the SC4 Catalog Advanced Search to locate the Section Details and Book Details pertaining to your course section.
- If you have the section number for the course in which you have been registered by SC4, then you can select the Subject of the course name (e.g., Biology) along with the Course Number (e.g., 101) and Section number (e.g., 60) and then click the Search button in order to locate your section description. Click on the Section name and number hyperlink, and scroll down to view the Books Details and Pricing as well as the Book Details, including the required ISBN, title, author, and price. For additional help with textbook information, you may contact the SC4 Bookstore: (810) 989-5725 https://www.bkstr.com/stclaircountyccstore/home.
- If you do not yet have your section number or have not yet registered for the course, then you can locate this information by entering the Term (e.g, Fall 2021), the Course Subject (e.g., Accounting) and Course number (e.g., 211), and select “Online Course” for the Location, prior to clicking on the Search button. Click on “View Available Sections”. Finally click on a section to locate the Section Details and Book Details as described above. NOTE: Prior to purchasing required materials, students should verify that the book details match those displayed in their assigned section once SC4 has completed their dual enrollment registration.
Scoring System: Michigan Virtual does not assign letter grades, grant credit for courses, nor issue diplomas. Michigan Virtual will transmit the final letter grade awarded by SC4 for each dual enrollment course completed to the student and his/her enrolling school.
Time Commitment: Dual enrollment semester sessions are 12-weeks long: Students must be able to spend 1.5 or more hours per day in the course to be successful.
Technology Requirements: Students will require a computer device with headphones, a microphone, webcam, up-to-date Chrome Web Browser, and access to all web resources linked within the online course content provided by the SC4 Canvas learning management system.
Instructor Support System: For technical issues within your course, contact your SC4 instructor or the college at 810-984-3881.
Instructor Contact Expectations: Students can use their college email or other means provided by their instructor within the course syllabus or within their learning management system once the term has begun when they need instructor assistance. The instructor may describe additional communication options.
Academic Support Available: Disability Services - Support services are available to students at SC4 upon request. For information regarding services provided by St. Clair County Community College, contact the Achievement Center at (810) 989-5759. Students must self-identify their need for assistance.
Required Assessment: Online assessments consist of formative and summative assessments represented by computer-graded multiple choice, instructor-graded writing assignments including hands-on projects, model building and other forms of authentic assessments.
Technical Skills Needed: No special skills are required beyond being able to operate a computer and use word processing software.
Additional Information: [1] Dual enrollment courses follow unique start, end and last day to withdraw dates for St. Clair County Community College (SC4)’s academic calendar for courses [https://michiganvirtual.org/dualenrollmentdates].
[2] You are consenting to pay the SC4 in-district tuition and fees for the course(s) selected [https://sc4.edu/admissions/tuition-and-fees/]. Michigan Virtual will send an invoice for eligible charges following the enrollment/withdrawal date of each term. Students or their enrolling schools are responsible to purchase the required textbook and materials listed in the syllabus.
[3] SC4 accepts the SAT as qualifying scores for dual enrollment eligibility. If a student has not taken the SAT, then SC4 will evaluate the student’s high school transcript to determine college readiness. Upload the student’s SAT report and/or high school transcript to Michigan Virtual’s Student Learning Portal (SLP) [https://michiganvirtual.org/about/support/knowledge-base/slp-add-sat-and-transcript-files-to-student-account/].
[4] Dual enrollment courses are limited to students attending public or private schools in the State of Michigan. Nonresident or homeschooled students are not eligible to dual enroll.
[5] SC4 will transmit a student’s scores electronically or by mail via Michigan Virtual. Dual enrollment scores will not appear in the SLP.
[6] Students must complete the online webform linked in their registration email before the enrollment will be confirmed.
[7] SC4 will contact the student directly with an acceptance letter and information on accessing the SC4 Portal, a college email account, and the online course content.