PSY 230.

01: Survey in Abnormal and Clinical Psychology

Spring 2015, Frey Hall, Room 102
Instructor: Tamara Sussman, PSY B 343, tamara.sussman@stonybrook.edu
Office Hours: Mon. 1:30 2:30 pm, Friday 12:30 -1:30 am, or by appt. Phone: 632-7801
Graduate Teaching Assistants:
Amri Sabharwal: PSY B 331, amri.sabharwal@stonybrook.edu
Office Hours: Mon 4-6 pm
Brittany Speed: PSY B 329, brittany.speed@stonybrook.edu
Office Hours: Tues, 1:30 3:30 pm
Mike Bixter: PSY B 255, michael.bixter@stonybrook.edu
Office Hours: Wed 11:00 am-1:00 pm
Course Prerequisite: PSY 103
COURSE LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
This course will provide students with the opportunity to acquire basic knowledge about
psychological disordersand how psychological science understands variations in
individual behavior within society (i.e., what is abnormal behavior?). Together, we will
examine the description, etiology, course, assessment and treatment of psychological
disorders. We will also discuss many other topics related to abnormal behavior,
psychopathology, and mental illness. Current theory and research are emphasized.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
Attendance: The lectures will be most valuable if you do the required reading before
the lecture (for instance, the lecture on depression will make much more sense if you
have read the material on depression first). The lectures should serve to crystallize your
knowledge of the reading, and provide you with an opportunity to ask questions and get
clarification on more difficult issues. Lectures are also a chance for me to present things
that are not covered in the book, and tie things together. That said, there is no formal
attendance portion of your grade. You will get the most out of this course if you take an
active role in your own learning process. Please read the assigned material before class
after all, you bought the book.
SBCapture. Classes will be recorded via the SBCapture system and posted on
blackboard under the course documents (available at some point after each class). We
(the instructor and TAs) are not responsible for successes or failures of the system,
if/when things get posted, etc. In fact, I would suggest NOT relying on this.
Required Text:
Durand, V.M. & Barlow, D.H. (2015) Essentials of Abnormal Psychology, (7th edition).

GRADING:
There will be 3 (non-cumulative) exams and a (cumulative) final exam; your grade is
going to be based on your 3 best scores (equally weighted, 33.33% each).
Exams: All exams will be multiple-choice questions. Although subject to change, I would
estimate about 50 questions on each exam. The content will include material both from
the assigned chapters in the text and during lectures. The material covered by the book
and in lecture will be largely overlapping, but not completely (some material from the
text will not be covered, and some lecture topics are not covered in the text; all are fair
game for exams, though I suggest focusing more heavily on material covered in
lecture). Exams 1, 2, and 3 will be non-cumulative, covering only material presented
since the previous exam. The final exam will be cumulative, covering material from the
entire course. Exam grades are never curved down, but I reserve the right to curve
grades up, depending on the class average. I will try to point out here and there in class
the type of questions that Im likely to ask on an exam.
No early or make-up exams will be given, ever. Really. If you miss an exam, you will
be assigned a score of 0 and this will be the score you drop. If you miss two exams,
one of the 0 scores will be counted toward your grade. If you miss an exam due to a
legitimate personal or medical emergency, please bring a written explanation, or a
physicians documentation in the case of medical illness, with you to the next class.
Contact us ahead of time if possible. Although you will still receive a 0 on this exam, I
will keep this documentation on file, and may use it to make adjustments in your final
grade, but only in the case of marginal grade decisions.
Extra Credit: You will have the option of participating in psychology experiments to earn
extra credit. Each experimental hour is worth 1/3 of a percentage point to be added to
your final grade; you can earn up to 2% (no credit beyond 6 experiment hours). Note:
You have to assign credits to this course in order for us to know that you participated in
experiments; if you do not assign credits, you dont get themno exceptions.
Assignment of Letter Grades
93-100%
90-92%
87-89%
83-86%
80-82%

77-79%
73-76%
70-72%
67-69%
60-66%
59% or less

=A
= A= B+
=B
= B-

MEETING SCHEDULE
2

= C+
=C
= C= D+
=D
=F

Course Schedule (subject to change)

Date
January
February

March

April

May

Topic
MON 26
WED 28
MON 2
WED 4
MON 9
WED 11
MON 16
WED 18
MON 23
WED 25
MON 2
WED 4
MON 9
WED 11
MON 16
WED 18
MON 23
WED 25
MON 30
WED 1
MON 6
WED 8
MON 13
WED 15
MON 20
WED 22
MON 27
WED 29
MON 4
WED 6
TUES 12

Reading

CLASS CANCELLED DUE TO SNOW

Introduction, Syllabus, Basic Terms & Myths
CLASS CANCELLED DUE TO SLEET
Abnormal Behavior in Historical Context
Integrative Approach to Psychopathology
Continued
Assessment, Diagnoses, Research
Anxiety, Trauma-related and O.C. Disorders
Continued
Continued
Exam 1
Schizophrenia and Psychotic disorders
Continued
Continued
Spring Break
Spring Break
Mood Disorders & Suicide
Continued
Neurodevelopmental and cognitive disorders
Mood Disorders & Suicide - continued
Exam 2
Somatic Symptom and Dissociative Disorders
Sexual & Gender Disorders
Substance Use and Impulse Disorders
Personality Disorders
Continued
Physical Disorders and Health Psychology
Eating and Sleep-Wake Disorders
Continued
Exam III; last day of class
Final exam (5:30 -8:00 pm)

Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4

Chapter 12

Chapter 6
Chapter 13
Chapter 6
Chapter 5
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 7
Chapter 8

CLASS PROTOCOL
Student Responsibilities. All students are responsible for reviewing, understanding,
and abiding by the University's regulations, procedures, requirements, and deadlines as
described in all official publications. These include the Undergraduate Bulletin (and
supplements), Student Handbook, and Spring Class Schedules.

Athletes who will need accommodation for exams occurring while they are on the road,
please also see me during the first 2 weeks of the semester with documentation of their
status as athletes and their playing schedule.
Respectful class conduct: Please be respectful of the instructor and of other class
members during class meetings. Please turn off cell phones while in the lecture hall.
DISABILITY SUPPORT SERVICES (DSS) STATEMENT
If you have a physical, psychological, medical or learning disability that may impact your
course work, please contact Disability Support Services, 128 ECC Building (631) 6326748. They will determine with you what accommodations are necessary and
appropriate. All information and documentation is confidential.
Students who require assistance during emergency evacuation are encouraged to
discuss their needs with their professors and Disability Support Services. For
procedures and information go to the following web site:http://www.ehs.sunysb.edu and
search Fire Safety and Evacuation and Disabilities.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY STATEMENT:
Each student must pursue his or her academic goals honestly and be personally
accountable for all submitted work. Representing another person's work as your own is
always wrong. Faculty members are required to report any suspected instances of
academic dishonesty to the Academic Judiciary. For more comprehensive information
on academic integrity, including categories of academic dishonesty, please refer to the
academic judiciary website at http://www.stonybrook.edu/uaa/academicjudiciary/
We will take measures to prevent cheating during exams, as outlined in university
policies, including restricting access to electronic devices and bags, and requesting that
you remove hats or other items, show ID to identify yourself, and not removing exam
materials from the classroom.
CRITICAL INCIDENT MANAGEMENT:
Stony Brook University expects students to respect the rights, privileges, and property
of other people. Faculty members are required to report to the Office of Judicial Affairs
any disruptive behavior that interrupts their ability to teach, compromises the safety of
the learning environment, or inhibits students' ability to learn.
Other Issues:
Both the instructor and the TAs can discuss issues related to grades and grading during
office hours. You are always more than welcome to come to look over your tests with
your TAs; however, you need to do the following: figure out who you plan to go see,
and email them with some advance warning (at least 24 hours, preferably more).
This will allow the TA to pull out your exam and have it when you come. There are 4 of
us and your exams cant be all four places at the same time. In terms of what you can
do if you are worried about your grades: utilize TA office hours, talk to us about how you
are studying, and come to office hours to clarify material that is confusing. And by all
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means, do not wait until after the 2nd exam!

Below are some important dates that I pulled together; however, I do not guarantee that
they are accurate (we all make mistakes, and you should certainly double-check if they
are relevant to you):
Waitlist deadline (Jan 30th): The last day you can put yourself on a waitlist for a class.
Drop/withdrawal (without tuition liability): February 1 st (Sunday business office closed).
Drop/withdrawal (without a W; liable for pro-rated tuition and fees): February 6 th (office
closes at 4 pm).
Last day to change a class to or from the Pass/No Credit (P/NC) option, and the last
day to drop a course (W recorded): April 3rd (office closes at 4 pm).
CLASS RESOURCES
Blackboard information:
http://blackboard.stonybrook.edu/
If you have used Stony Brook's Blackboard system previously, your login information
(Username and Password) has not changed.
Login information for students as well as answers to student questions, can be found at:
https://tlt.stonybrook.edu/StudentServices/BbStudents/Pages/default.aspx