PSYC 235 When Good Kids Go Bad

Winter 2020 (3.0 Cr)

Office Hours
Instructor: M. Dean Graham, Ph.D.
Class: Wednesdays, 20:30-23:00, H-553
Office: PY135.01 (Loyola Campus)
Office Hours: By appointment, before/after class only
Email: m.dean.graham@concordia.ca (preferred method)
Be sure to write PSYC235 in email subject heading
“There is in every child at every stage a new miracle of
vigorous unfolding, which constitutes a new hope and a new
responsibility for all.”
--- Erik Erikson
“Don't let yourself become so concerned with raising a good
kid that you forget you already have one.”
--- Glennon Melton

“There are no bad children. There are bad choices. There are
bad moments. There are bad days. There are bad situations.
But there are no bad children. Period.”
--- L.R. Knost
Course Description
This course examines the social, emotional, and behavioural problems encountered by children, youth, and
parents. Manifestations of these issues range from day‑to‑day “normal” concerns to maladaptive and
dangerous behaviours. Potential contributing biological, familial, peer, cultural, and economic factors are
considered, as well as the uniquely different ways in which individuals react to what seem to be “similar”
backgrounds.

NOTE: Students registered in a Psychology program may not take this course for credit.

Overview & Objectives

This is an introductory course aimed at understanding behaviour disorders of childhood and adolescence.
Introduction to this field will focus on core issues, theoretical and methodological underpinnings, descriptions
and discussions of many disorders, clinical and research data, and treatment approaches. Please note that you
are responsible for the textbook readings, class notes, as well as any additional material presented in class
(documentaries or other AV material) or posted on Moodle.

It is necessary to discuss all important contributions to the field, including ideas that were/are racist, sexist, or in any other way
offensive. These ideas will be introduced in the most respectful manner and are in no way reflective of the views or values shared by
the University or professor.

Course Materials
All course materials (lecture notes, homework, handouts, and assigned readings, etc.) will be posted on the
course website. Students are encouraged to download and print out handouts prior to the class lecture, as
handouts will not be distributed in class. Information is presented both in the classroom and through the text.
During classroom meetings, I will lecture on the most important material, but not all aspects of the book will
be covered in the lectures. You will be required to read the textbook, as you will be examined on the contents
of the lectures AND the text. The required readings are indicated in the detailed course schedule.

My Concordia Portal (select Course Websites under Menu, powered by Moodle)

https://moodle.concordia.ca/moodle/course/view.php?id=121189 (PSYC 235 2019/AA)

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Required Textbook & Readings
Material for the course lectures will be based on a variety of sources, but drawn principally from the following
required text:

Mash, E. J. & Wolfe, D. A. (2019). Abnormal child psychology (7th Edition). Boston, MA: Cengage.
(Available in loose-leaf or e-text version)

NOTE: Previous editions are used at your own risk. It is a good idea to check an older edition against the
latest one to verify if the material has changed so that you can adjust accordingly. This is your responsibility.

** Additional readings may be posted on Moodle, so check the course website regularly. **

Grading System
Points Letter Equivalents
Midterm 50 points A+ 90 – 100%
Final Examination 50 points A 85 – 89.99% Outstanding
A- 80 – 84.99%
TOTAL 100 points
B+ 77 – 79.99%
B 73 – 76.99% Very Good
All grades are final. B- 70 – 72.99%
Please note that I do not round up grades. C+ 67 – 69.99%
C 63 – 66.99% Satisfactory
C- 60 – 62.99%
D+ 57 – 59.99%
D 53 – 56.99% Marginal Pass
D- 50 – 52.99%
F < 50% Poor - Failure

Exams
There will be one in-class mid-term examination (worth 50% of final grade). Further details will be provided
in class as the examination date approaches, and every effort will be made to provide a brief in-class exam
review (subject to time constraints). The final exam (worth 50% of final grade) will cover material from the
entire course, and MUST be taken during the final exam period determined by the university (April 16th -
May 3rd, inclusive), at the date, time, and place determined by the Examinations Office. Do not schedule
anything until the end of the final exam period. You will not be able to take this exam earlier than the date set
by the Examinations Office. No exceptions.

In class questions and discussions are fair game for exams, so it is recommended that you attend lectures to
ensure that you are aware of all material that may be on an exam.

It is your responsibility to be familiar with all policies pertaining to cases of illness, missed exams, and
incomplete work as described in the Undergraduate Calendar. In this course, there will be NO supplemental
or make-up examinations (including the in-class midterm) other than in the case of illness with an explicit and
clearly dated official letter from a medical doctor. In such cases, this make-up exam may be an oral exam.
Failure to write the final exam will result in a failure grade in this course.

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Lectures
The structure and content of the lectures will correspond approximately to those of the indicated chapters,
but will not necessarily cover all material in each chapter. Additional material will also be discussed, and
research and/or multimedia presentations (e.g., videos) will also be presented. This additional in-class material
will not be posted to Moodle, but may appear on your exams; it is your responsibility (not mine) to catch up
on any material missed due to absences (make a friend in the class!). Assigned chapter readings are to be done
in advance of the class in which they are discussed. Any supplementary readings will be posted on Moodle for
easy access, and you will be responsible for these on your exams.

Tentative Course Outline*

We will cover the material in this course in this general order; any variations will be posted on Moodle.
Whenever possible I will try to post pdf versions of the lecture slides on Moodle prior to the lecture. It is in
the student’s best interest to read the chapters before class (I will assume you have). Students are responsible
for material in the textbook as well as any other material covered in class, or posted on Moodle.
TOPIC READINGS

Understanding Abnormal Child Psychology Chapters 1-3

Assessment, Diagnosis, and Treatment Chapter 4
Intellectual Disability Chapter 5
Autism Spectrum and Childhood-Onset Schizophrenia Chapter 6
Communication and Learning Disorders Chapter 7
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Chapter 8

Mid-term examination Wednesday, February 19th

Conduct Problems Chapter 9

Depressive and Bipolar Disorders Chapter 10
Anxiety and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders Chapter 11
Trauma- and Stressor-Related Disorders Chapter 12
Health-Related and Substance-Use Disorders Chapter 13
Feeding and Eating Disorders Chapter 14

Final examination TBA during exam period (April 16-May 3)

All scheduled lectures are subject to modification (due to semester progression, unforeseeable circumstances, etc.).
You will be notified in class and/or on Moodle if necessary.

Other Important Dates

Deadline to withdraw from tuition refund (DNE) is Monday, January 20th, 2020.
Midterm break: Monday, February 24th, 2020 to Sunday, March 1st, 2020
Deadline for academic withdrawal from winter-term courses (DISC) is Monday, March 23rd, 2020.
Last day of classes: Thursday, April 9th, 2020.
Exam period runs from Thursday, April 16th, 2020 to Sunday, May 3rd, 2020.

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Code of Conduct - Academic Honesty Policy
Please familiarize yourself with the University’s policy on plagiarism (from website):
The most common offense under the Academic Code of Conduct is plagiarism which the Code defines as
“the presentation of the work of another person as one’s own or without proper acknowledgement.”
This could be material copied word for word from books, journals, internet sites, professor’s course notes,
etc. It could be material that is paraphrased but closely resembles the original source. It could be the work of
a fellow student, for example, an answer on a quiz, data for a lab report, a paper or assignment completed by
another student. It might be a paper purchased through one of the many available sources. Plagiarism does
not refer to words alone - it can also refer to copying images, graphs, tables, and ideas. “Presentation” is not
limited to written work. It also includes oral presentations, computer assignments and artistic works. Finally,
if you translate the work of another person into French or English and do not cite the source, this is also
plagiarism.
In Simple Words:
Do not copy, paraphrase or translate anything from anywhere without saying where you obtained it!
(Source: The Academic Integrity Website: http://provost.concordia.ca/academicintegrity/plagiarism/)

Concordia Services Available to Improve Students’ Academic Experience

 Psychology Department Academic Advisors  New Student Program
(514) 848-2424 x2222 for appointment http://newstudent.concordia.ca/
 Concordia Counseling and Development  Access Centre for Students with Disabilities
Offers career services, psychological services, http://supportservices.concordia.ca/disabilities/
student learning services, etc.  Student Success Centre
http://cdev.concordia.ca/ http://studentsuccess.concordia.ca/
 The Concordia Library Citation and Style  The Academic Integrity Website
Guides (APA) http://provost.concordia.ca/academicintegrity/
http://library.concordia.ca/help/howto/citations.html  Financial Aid and Awards
 Advocacy and Support Services http://web2.concordia.ca/financialaid/
http://supportservices.concordia.ca/  Health Services
 Student Transition Centre http://www-health.concordia.ca
http://stc.concordia.ca/

In the event of extraordinary circumstances beyond the University’s control, the content and/or
evaluation scheme in this course is subject to change.

* Dates subject to change

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