PSY 309 Abnormal Psychology

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Abnormal Psychology examines research surrounding mental disorders, their causes, and treatments. As we learn this research, I ask you to apply the research and concepts you learn to various feature films. We watch 2-3 films across the semester, and you are assigned to write a professional report on the main character. You note what mental diagnoses he or she has, possible causes of his or her disorder, and how you would treat them. These papers are good preparation for the type of report you would write as a therapist or counselor, if you choose to enter into that field. Some of the movies we have watched include Born on the Fourth of July (excellent depiction of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) and A Beautiful Mind (a wonderfully empathic look at what its like to have Schizophrenia).