Fall 1992
466.417 - PRINCIPLES OF ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY
Tuesdays 8:10 - 9:50pm
Room 225, New Engineering Building (NEB)
Faculty: Jeffrey A. Schaler
Office hours by appointment:
Telephone (301) 585-5664 in Silver Spring, Md.
Administrative Office: 203 Shaffer Hall

Course Description

How do we decide whether human behavior is "normal" versus "abnormal?" Is this a medical or a moral judgment? To what extent should we hold people responsible for their abnormal behavior? Is abnormal behavior a function of genetic and/or physiological differences that some people are born with or develop? Is it primarily a learned behavior and the result of a person's interaction with his or her environment? Or is it a combination of the two?

In this course we will examine these controversial questions as a way of increasing our understanding of abnormal psychology. Contemporary perspectives will include biological, psycho-social and existential approaches to understanding behavior. Lecture and discussion format.

Course Objectives

1. To familiarize students with current theoretical terms and concepts used to study abnormal psychology, the methods used to research these concepts, and the applications of the concepts in the clinical, legal and policymaking settings.
2. To develop observational skill in self-observation and the observation of others.
3. To increase understanding regarding the potential ideological, economic, and political investments integral to differing perspectives on abnormal psychology.
4. To understand perspectives on abnormal psychology critical of predominant points of view.
5. To acquire confidence in debating ideas regarding abnormal psychology.

Course Requirements and Grades
Paper						25%
Mid-term examination				25%
Debate						20%
Final examination				30%
				   	Total = 100%

Required Texts and Readings
Carson, R.C. & Butcher, J.N. (1992). Abnormal Psychology and Modern Life (Ninth Edition). New York: HarperCollins.

Recommended Reading
Szasz, T.S. (1987). Insanity: The Idea and Its Consequences. New York: John Wiley & Sons.

Paper
Write a maximum of five-pages, typed, double-spaced, paper describing your definition of "abnormal behavior." List the criteria by which you make the distinction between normal and abnormal behavior. Describe what you believe to be the origin of at least one form of abnormal behavior and the extent to which a person should be held responsible for his or her abnormal behavior. Describe what you consider to be appropriate treatment for the abnormal behavior. Make two copies of the paper, one to keep for yourself and one to be handed in to the instructor. Be prepared to discuss your paper in class.

Class debate
A class debate will take place on December 1. All students must participate by making at least a 3-5 minute statement, depending on the size of the class. Your statement will be graded on the basis of presentation (eye and voice contact), as well as clarity of reasoning. You must submit a typed, single-spaced, maximum of one-page copy of your remarks to the instructor by the end of class on December 1. Your name must appear centered at the top of the page under the word "Pro" or "Con" depending on the side of the debate you will be arguing. The topic for the debate will be announced in class.

* Clear and accurate writing will be taken into account in assigning grades. Material discussed in class, and not in any of the readings, may form the basis for questions on the examinations. One grade reduction for over five class absences. Students are responsible for anything covered in class during their absence. Readings must be completed by the session to which they are assigned. Additional readings may be assigned during the course.

Class  Schedule

Date			Topic						Reading

September  15		Introduction and overview		
			What is behavior, normal versus
			abnormal?  "Thomas Szasz:  The
			Myth of Mental Illness" (film)			Chapter 1
September 22		Models of abnormal behavior		
			and etiology					Chapters 2-4
September 29		Papers due 
			Discussion of papers
October 6		Patterns of maladaptive behavior		Chapters 5-8
October 13		Addiction as abnormal behavior?			Chapter 9
October 20		Sexual disorders and preferences		Chapter 10
			Review for mid-term exam
October 27		Mid-term examination
November 3		Discussion of mid-term exam
			Mood disorders and the "right"
			to suicide					Chapter 11
November 10		Schizophrenia and delusional
			disorders					Chapter 12
November 17		Treatment methods				Chapters 16-18
November 24		Contemporary issues			
			The insanity defense and 
			coerced treatment				Chapter 19
			Debate preparation
December 1		Class debate
December 8		Continuation of debate if needed
			Review for final examination
December 15		Final examination

Johns Hopkins University
School of Continuing Studies - Division of Liberal Arts

Fall 1993
466.517.01 - PRINCIPLES OF ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY
Tuesdays 6:15 - 7:55 P.M.
Room 14 - Gilman
Faculty: Dr. Jeffrey A. Schaler
Office hours by appointment:
Telephone (301) 585-5664 in Silver Spring, Md.
jschale@american.edu

Course Description

How do we decide when human behavior is "abnormal" rather than "normal?" Is this a medical or a moral judgment? To what extent should we hold people responsible for their abnormal behavior? Is abnormal behavior a function of genetic and/or physiological differences that some people are born with or develop? Is it primarily a learned behavior and the result of a person's interaction with his or her environment? Or is it a combination of the two?

In this course we examine these issues as a way of increasing our understanding of abnormal psychology. Contemporary perspectives include biological, psycho-social and existential approaches to understanding abnormal behavior. The philosophy of psychiatrist Thomas S. Szasz is highlighted during the second half of the semester. Lecture and discussion format.

Course Objectives

1. To familiarize students with current theoretical terms and concepts used to study abnormal psychology, the methods used to research these concepts, and the applications of the concepts in the clinical, legal and policymaking settings.
2. To develop observational skill in self-observation and the observation of others.
3. To increase understanding regarding the potential ideological, economic, and political investments integral to differing perspectives on abnormal psychology.
4. To understand perspectives on abnormal psychology critical of predominant points of view.
5. To acquire confidence in debating ideas regarding abnormal psychology.

Course Requirements and Grades
Paper						25%
Mid-term examination				25%
Debate						20%
Final examination				30%
				   	Total = 100%

Required Texts and Readings
Carson, R.C. & Butcher, J.N. (1992). Abnormal Psychology and Modern Life (Ninth Edition). New York: HarperCollins.
Szasz, T.S. (1988). Schizophrenia: The sacred symbol of psychiatry. New York: Syracuse University Press.
Becker, E. (1964). Revolution in psychiatry. New York: Free Press.

Paper

Write a maximum of five-pages, typed, double-spaced, paper describing your definition of "abnormal behavior." List the criteria by which you make the distinction between normal and abnormal behavior. Describe what you believe to be the origin of at least one form of abnormal behavior and the extent to which a person should be held responsible for his or her abnormal behavior. Describe what you consider to be appropriate treatment for the abnormal behavior. Make two copies of the paper, one to keep for yourself and one to be handed in to the instructor. Be prepared to discuss your paper in class.

Class debate

A class debate will take place on November 30. All students must participate by making at least a 3-5 minute statement, depending on the size of the class. Your statement will be graded on the basis of presentation as well as clarity of reasoning. You must submit a typed, single-spaced, maximum of one-page copy of your remarks to the instructor by the end of class on November 30. Your name must appear centered at the top of the page under the word "Pro" or "Con" depending on the side of the debate you will be arguing. The topic for the debate will be announced in class.

* Clear and accurate writing will be taken into account in assigning grades. Material discussed in class, and not in any of the readings, may form the basis for questions on the examinations. Students are responsible for anything covered in class during their absence. Readings must be completed by the session to which they are assigned. Additional readings may be assigned during the course. Grades for the paper and debate are as follows: A=95, A- = 90, B+=89, B=85, B-= 80, etc. Final grades are calculated on a numerical basis.

"Students who have been approved for graduate credit (either by their admission to a graduate degree program or by approval as a graduate special student) are expected to do work superior in terms of quality or quantity (or both) to that done by those receiving undergraduate credit for the same course.

Thus, instructors may differentiate between graduate and undergraduate students when assigning course work and letter grades," (SCS policy, page 58, 1993-1994 Academic Year Catalogue).

Class  Schedule

Date			Topic						Reading

September  14		Defining "abnormal behavior,"			Chapter 1-3
			historical perspectives, DSM-III-R,
			etiological paradigms
September 21		Causal factors, stress and adjustment		Chapters 4-5
September 28		Papers due -Discussion of papers		Chapter 6
			Anxiety-based disorders
October 5		Personality & Mood disorders			Chapters 7-8
October 12		Addiction and sexual disorders			Chapts 9-10
October 19		Review for mid-term exam
October 26		Mid-term examination
November 2		Schizophrenia					Chapter 12
November 9		Biologically & psychologically			Chapt 17-18
			based therapies
November 16		Schizophrenia & anti-psychiatry			Szasz,
 									Chapters 1-2
November 23		Schizophrenia & anti-psychiatry			Szasz,
 									Chapters 3-4
			Debate preparation
November 30		Class debate					
December 7		Continuation of debate if needed		Finish Szasz
			Review for final examination
December 14		Final examination