Psychopathology

Course goals

1. developed an appreciation for the various signs and symptoms defining specific disorders, the assessment and diagnosis process, and the ever-changing nature of the classification systems. They are familiar with the DSM-5, and current criticisms of this diagnostic paradigm.
2. developed understandings for the relationships between abnormal behavior patterns and ethnicity, cultural factors, gender, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic status;
3. learned about the ways in which research questions regarding psychopathology are asked, the variety of research approaches used, and learned how to critically evaluate reports;
4. learned to think critically about current theories, findings and treatments for specific disorders.
5. learned about the importance of understanding psychopathology from biological, social and psychological paradigms

1. Participation. Active participation during class discussions, including small assignments such as one-minute papers (course goals 1, 2, 3, 4, 5).
2. Mid-term exam. This written in-class exam covers the material from the first half of the course (course goals 1, 2, 4, 5).
3. Final exam. This written in-class exam covers the material from the second half of the course (course goals 1, 2, 4, 5).
4. Assignment 1. This assignment involves writing a case study on the psychopathology of a character from a movie (course goal 1).
5. Assignment 2. Students present research to the class (course goal 1,2 3, 4, 5).

Content