(PSYC 440) Abnormal Psychology
The study of the dynamics of maladaptive behaviors; principles of human development and adjustments; causal factors, treatments, and outcome of the major maladaptive patterns; and areas of assessment, therapy, and prevention.
Course Outcomes
1. Explain the nature of psychology as a scientific discipline and be able to compare and contrast the methods of psychological explanation with other disciplines.
2. Describe and analyze major theoretical perspectives (behavioral, biological, cognitive, humanistic, psychodynamic, and socio-cultural) and explain the overarching theme of the interaction of mind and body in understanding psychopathology.
3. Understand psychological disorders and their causes.
4. Describe how various research designs address different types of questions and hypotheses.
5. Distinguish the nature of designs that permit causal inferences from those that do not.
6. Integrate theoretical perspectives and empirical findings to produce comprehensive and multifaceted explanations of mental health and mental illness.
7. Use critical thinking to determine how well reasons support conclusions and identify weak, contradictory, and inappropriate assertions.
8. Understand how scientific research on psychopathology can guide the prevention of behavioral and mental health problems and the treatment of abnormal behavior.
9. Demonstrate how psychological principles can explain social issues and inform public policy.
10. Understand the ADT (Assess, Diagnose, Treat) process and have basic ability in identifying and diagnosing psychological disorder.