Psychology 380: Abnormal Psychology School of

Nursing Section
University of Massachusetts – Fall 2010
Tuesdays/Thursdays 8:00am to 9:30am (Skinner 12)
Professor: Christopher E. Overtree, Ph.D.
Office: Psychological Services Center, Tobin Hall, Suite 123
Office Hours*: Thursdays at 10am or by appointment.
Email: umass.psych380+nursing@gmail.com (PLEASE NOTE THIS IS
A SPECIAL EMAIL FOR THIS SECTION).

*The best way to contact me is during class, office hours or by email.

*All emails with questions or concerns about the course should be sent to
umass.psych380+nursing@gmail.com. These emails will be forwarded to the
appropriate teaching assistant or professor depending on the nature of the question.

Graduate Teaching Assistants

Lauren Zeranski Kara White

Office Hours: Wednesdays 8-10am Office Hours: Tuesdays 1:30-3:30pm
Office: 620 Office: 620
Email: Email:
umass.psych380+nursing@gmail.com umass.psych380+nursing@gmail.com

Undergraduate Teaching Assistants: Undergraduate assistants will hold office

hours in Bartlett 67. Hours and contact information will be posted on Spark. Stop by
during these hours or send an email to umass.psych380+nursing@gmail.com to
schedule an appointment.

Course Overview: This is a course designed to introduce students to clinical

psychology, a field that deals with research and clinical work in the areas of
diagnosis, assessment, and treatment of psychological disorders. This
course will review various forms of psychopathology including: anxiety,
mood, eating, dissociative, addictive, childhood, impulse control,
personality, psychophysiological, psychotic, and sexual disorders. Based
on a review of contemporary research findings, lectures and discussion will
focus on the most relevant approaches for understanding, diagnosing, and
treating psychological disorders.

Course Content:
Class Meetings: The course is lecture in format, though students are encouraged to
ask questions during class. In addition, videos, case vignettes and other methods will
be used to provide students with the opportunity to understand the material in
realistic contexts.

SPARK: This course will have a SPARK site, which will be used primarily as a location
to a) store course materials and information, b) provide updates to the syllabus and
c) host supplementary readings. All course announcements will be delivered to you
via the Abnormal Psychology Email List, which contains ONLY your official UMass
Email Address. Changes to the syllabus will be posted on SPARK so you must access
this site periodically in order to receive this information. You must have a valid
computer account assigned by the UMass Office of Information Technology (OIT) to
access the course web page. You may access Spark using your OIT login and
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password from the following address:
https://spark.oit.umass.edu/webct/entryPageIns.dowebct.

Course Facebook Page: The SPARK site will primarily host the information about
this course. Professor Overtree’s Abnormal Psychology Facebook Page will be the
online home for the interactive components of this course
(www.facebook.com/abnormalpsych). Students are encouraged to become a
“fan” of this page and view the information contained there, which will include web
links, videos, readings from the popular press and other information. Students are
encouraged to post on the site, submit links of interest to students in Abnormal
Psychology, post videos of interest or add any interactive features you feel will make
this a vibrant and educational tool. For example, you might use the discussion board
to organize study groups or you might share resources that you have found to be
useful with other students. Similarly, your postings might bring attention to
emerging areas of research or videos that are particularly useful in understanding a
particular mental disorder. Because there are many ways of interacting, including
commenting or clicking like/dislike feature, it will be possible for course instructors to
assess the buzz your postings generate and benefit the course by guiding the
instructors to areas of significant interest. Students should thoroughly familiarize
themselves with Facebook’s privacy practices in order that that they are familiar with
how social networking can impact your online identity. It is also recommended that
you take time to understand the privacy features on Facebook, which can enable you
to prevent unauthorized individuals from seeing certain aspects of your pages. For
example, do you want your professor to see the photos from your 21st birthday party?
If not, then make sure you are using your privacy features properly. Students should
be advised that all postings should adhere to standards of common decency, and
University rules. Students who fail to follow these standards may be removed from
the site and subject to University discipline. Students who do not wish to create a
Facebook page are not required to do so.

Textbook Materials: Available from the University Textbook Annex, Jeffery Amherst
Bookshop, and/or online from various online merchants. Other
recommended readings will be listed and posted on SPARK. Two copies of
each book will be placed on reserve in the library.
• Halgin, R.P. & Whitbourne, S.K. (2009). Abnormal Psychology: Clinical
Perspectives on Psychological Disorders (6th Ed). ISBN: 9780073370699 (No
supplementary materials are required).
o (You may use the 5th Ed Media Update, but it is your
responsibility to understand how the 5th Ed. is different from
the 6th Ed. Copies of both will be on reserve in the library).
You may not use the International Edition of this text.

• Akeret, R.U. (1996). Tales from a Traveling Couch: A Psychotherapist Revisits

His Most Memorable Patients. ISBN: 0393314987

Academic Honesty and Other Responsibilities: Students should be prepared by

completing the reading and assignments before the appropriate class. All material
presented in lectures, videos, readings, and class activities will be covered on the
examinations. Students are expected to arrive to class on time and not to leave prior
to the end of class except for emergency situations. Students are strongly
encouraged to participate in class by asking or answering questions, but should also
refrain from talking, using cell phones, or otherwise distracting others. Each person’s
conduct in the room contributes to the smooth running of the course.

All students are expected to adhere scrupulously to the University policy concerning
academic honesty. More information on the University's academic honesty policy,
can be found at this web site:
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 http://www.umass.edu/dean_students/codeofconduct/acadhonesty/

Violations of the academic honesty policy will be vigorously pursued. At a minimum,

cheating on an exam will result in a 0 for the exam, which cannot be dropped in
figuring your grade. In addition, the Dean of Students will be informed, meaning that
you will be subject to additional disciplinary measures.

Changes to the schedule of assignments or exams will be announced in class and

sent to your UMass email. You are responsible for finding out about such changes
even when they are not noted in the syllabus. You should periodically check
SPARK to note any changes to the course schedule.

Policy on Illness and Communicability: The course structure has been designed
to easily accommodate students who are ill via the optional make-up exam and the
posting of lecture materials and notes on the web. Because of the particular
concerns about the communicability illnesses on college campuses, UMass
recommends that those persons with symptoms of communicable illness practice
"social distancing" and self-isolation to minimize contagion.

Evaluation and Grading:

Examinations (95% of Grade): There will be four exams (graded on a percentage)
held during regular class time and noted on the course schedule below. Each exam
covers material for the time period specified (i.e. exams are not cumulative). The
exams will be multiple-choice and will include questions from the readings, lectures,
SPARK materials, special audio/video content, and in-class material. The highest
three exam grades will comprise the exam average. Makeup tests will not be
given for individual exams unless scheduled in advance for excused absences. There
is NOT a final exam given during the final exam period, but see below for information
about an optional cumulative extra-credit exam below.
Extra-Credit Exam (Optional): During the final exam period, students have the
opportunity to gain an additional 10 points on their lowest exam grade for the
semester. Points will be allotted based on the percentage grade on an optional
extra-credit exam. You cannot lower your grade by taking this optional makeup
exam.
Special Assignments and Participation (5% of Grade): The completion of
assignments on SPARK, or other interactive assignments such as web-based surveys
or online participation will represent a component of your grade. Some assignments
will be required, some will be optional, and others may be for extra-credit. The
nature of the assignment will always be noted in SPARK. Assignments may include a)
opinion surveys about course content, b) brief quizzes about course materials, and c)
sample exam questions or review materials, or d) special audio or video content.
Missed SPARK assignments cannot be made up.

Grading Scale: Your highest 4 exams will count for a total of 95% of your final
grade and Special Assignments will count for the remaining 5%. The
grading scale is listed below.

Percentage Letter Percenta Letter

ge
93-100% A 73-75% C
90-92% A- 70-72% C-
86-89% B+ 66-69% D+
83-85% B 60-65% D
80-82 B- Below F
60%
76-79% C+

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Extra Credit From Participation in Experiments: As psychologists, our
understanding of the human mind and behavior is based largely on empirical findings
from studies such as those conducted in our Psychology Department. We strongly
encourage you to participate in psychological studies. First, we believe that you will
gain some direct knowledge of the research process. Second, your participation
provides an important contribution to the field of psychology and will be greatly
appreciated by the members of the Psychology Department.

You may receive extra credit by participating in up to three hours of experiments

offered by researchers in the department of psychology. Each half hour of
participation is equivalent to one experimental “credit,” and up to 6 credits can be
applied to your final grade at a rate of two credits per point (e.g. 6 credits equals 3
grade points). More information about experimental participation can be found at
the end of the syllabus. It is strongly recommended that you participate in the
beginning-of-the-semester prescreening, which will qualify you for a larger number of
studies. To learn more about registration and participations visit:
http://psych.umass.edu/research_and_training/human_subjects/
students/

If you are not interested in participating in experiments for extra credit, you may
email umass.psych380+nursing@gmail.com to request an alternative assignment.
You must make this request prior to December 1st.

Course Calendar: Additional Assignments/Readings will be listed on SPARK,

Facebook, and/or via email or in-class announcements.
Date Topic Assignment
Tuesday, September 7th Introduction Syllabus Review
Thursday, September 9th Understanding Abnormal Psychology, Ch.
Abnormality 1
Akeret, Prologue
Tuesday, September 14th Diagnosis and Treatment Abnormal Psychology, Ch.
Plans 2
Thursday, September 16th Psychological Assessment Abnormal Psychology, Ch.
3
Tuesday, September 21st Theoretical Perspectives Abnormal Psychology, Ch.
4

Thursday, September 23rd Overview of Psychological Akeret, Ch. 1

Treatment for Mental
Illness
Tuesday, September 28th Ethics and Legal Issues Abnormal Psychology, Ch.
15
Thursday, September 30th FIRST EXAM FIRST EXAM
Tuesday, October 5th Psychological/Medical Abnormal Psychology, Ch.
Disorders 6
Thursday, October 7th Dissociative Disorders Akeret, Ch. 2
Tuesday, October 12th No Class: Monday No Class: Monday
Schedule Schedule
Thursday, October 14th Anxiety Disorders Abnormal Psychology, Ch.
5
Tuesday, October 19th Psychological Treatment Akeret, Ch. 3
For Anxiety
Thursday, October 21st SECOND EXAM SECOND EXAM
Tuesday, October 26th Psychotic Disorders Abnormal Psychology, Ch.
9

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Thursday, October 28th Depressive Disorders Abnormal Psychology, Ch.
8
Tuesday, November 2nd Bipolar Disorder and Akeret, Ch. 4
Suicide
Thursday, November 4th Sexual Disorders Abnormal Psychology, Ch.
7
Tuesday, November 9th THIRD EXAM THIRD EXAM
Wednesday, November Personality Disorders Abnormal Psychology, Ch.
10th 10
Thursday, November 11th No Class: Veteran’s Day No Class: Veteran’s Day
Tuesday, November 16th Psychopaths and Serial
Killers
Thursday, November 18th Substance Abuse Abnormal Psychology, Ch.
13
Tuesday, November 23rd Eating/Impulse-Control Abnormal Psychology, Ch.
Disorders 14
Thursday, November 25th Thanksgiving: No Class Thanksgiving: No Class
Tuesday, November 30th Psychopathology in Abnormal Psychology, Ch.
Children 11
Thursday, December 2nd Social Context in Akeret, Ch. 5
Children’s Mental Health
Tuesday, December 7th Mental Illness in a Normal Akeret, Epilogue
College Population

Thursday, December 9th FOURTH EXAM FOURTH EXAM

Final Exam Period MAKE-UP EXAM MAKE-UP EXAM
(Optional) (Optional)

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