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  • Berkeley Global

Abnormal Psychology

PSYCH X146

42042
Delivery Options Online
From work in the public policy sector to private relationships, having insight into and the understanding of normal and abnormal behavior is both useful and practical. Learn to recognize abnormal behavior when it occurs, understand what promotes it and then know what steps can be taken to address it. You’ll also learn about the dynamics and prevention of abnormal behavior, including neuroses, psychoses, character disorders, psychosomatic reactions, schizophrenia and other abnormal personality patterns.

Course Outline

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Course Objectives

  • Discuss the elements characterizing abnormality and the use of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) in diagnosis.
  • Describe the major historical theories of the study and treatment of abnormal behavior, including animistic, psychodynamic, behaviorist, cognitive and neuropsychological approaches.
  • Understand the major biological systems involved in normal and abnormal behavior, including the roles played by hormones and neurotransmitters, the functions of major parts of the brain, and the roles played by genes and the environment.
  • Describe the symptoms and etiology of and treatments for the most common anxiety and dissociative disorders, including fears, phobias, generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, agoraphobia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, somatoform disorders, dissociative amnesia and dissociative identity disorder.
  • Discuss the causes and treatment of the major mood disorders (major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder and seasonal affective disorder) and understand the links between these disorders and suicide.
  • Be familiar with the most common childhood disorders and be aware of the controversy surrounding the diagnosis of many of them, especially attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
  • Be conversant with the symptoms of the most common personality disorders, especially antisocial personality disorder.
  • Understand schizophrenia's major symptoms, subtypes, associated brain and neurotransmitter abnormalities, and current treatments and their side effects.
  • Know the five layers of sexuality, as well as the possible origins of sexual identity, sexual orientation, sexual interests and sex roles.
  • Be conversant with current treatments for sexual disorders and dysfunctions.
  • Differentiate the symptoms and etiology of the most common late onset disorders, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Pick's disease, and vascular dementia.
  • Discuss the Selye and Lazarus models of stress and coping and to describe the roles psychological factors play in physical illnesses such as peptic ulcers, coronary heart disease and death from cancer.
  • Understand how different classes of psychoactive substances affect brain functioning and how the use of these drugs can lead to addiction.
  • Discuss the most common treatments for substance abuse.
  • Describe the major standards for involuntary commitment and for finding a person not guilty by reason of insanity, and understand why there is an uneasy relationship between psychology and the law.

What You Learn

  • Conceptions of mental illness
  • Neuroscience approaches to understanding psychopathology
  • Research methods
  • Assessment and classification
  • Disorders of childhood
  • Schizophrenia
  • Mood Disorders
  • Stress, trauma and psychopathology
  • Anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorders
  • Dissociative, somatic symptoms and eating disorders
  • Sexuality disorders and gender dysphoria
  • Substance-related, addictive and personality disorders
  • Neurocognitive disorders
  • The law and mental health

How You Learn

  • Reading assignments
  • Self-study questions
  • Written assignments
  • Discussion forums
  • Midterm exam
  • Final exam

Is This Course Right for Me?

If you work with clinical populations or are planning to do so in the future, or are seeking professional advancement or personal interest, this course can provide invaluable background information, as well as a comprehensive view of the social, emotional, physical and cognitive aspects of abnormality.

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Sections

Section 041

May 19, 2021 to Aug 25, 2021 Live Online

Course Fee(s)

Fee credit (3 units)

$785.00


Type Live Online

Access classroom-style interactive learning from anywhere in the world! Attend scheduled online sessions with your instructor and classmates in addition to completing your coursework.

Live Online format allows you to take classes from anywhere with an internet connection. Classroom sections will be taught in this format through Spring 2021. Learn more about this format.

Beginning August 15, 2020, you must have a Zoom account to participate.

Many schools are now accepting transfer credit for online coursework, including health and sciences programs. Check with your institution before enrolling.

Days

W

Time

6:30PM to 9:30PM Pacific Time

Dates

May 19, 2021 to Aug 25, 2021

Schedule and Location

View Details

Instructional Hours

45.0

Delivery Options

Online

Available for Credit

3 semester units

Instructors

  • Dr. Christina Villarreal

Section Materials

  • Textbook (Mandatory) Abnormal Psychology: An Integrative Approach, 8th Edition by David H. Barlow; V. Mark Durand; Stefan G. Hofmann ISBN 978-1-305-95044-3
  • (Mandatory) Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders by American Psychiatric Association American Psychiatric Publishing; 5 edition (May 27, 2013) ISBN 978-0890425558

Section 040

May 21, 2021 to Aug 27, 2021 Live Online

Course Fee(s)

Fee credit (3 units)

$785.00


Type Live Online

Access classroom-style interactive learning from anywhere in the world! Attend scheduled online sessions with your instructor and classmates in addition to completing your coursework.

Live Online format allows you to take classes from anywhere with an internet connection. Classroom sections will be taught in this format through Spring 2021. Learn more about this format.

Beginning August 15, 2020, you must have a Zoom account to participate.

Many schools are now accepting transfer credit for online coursework, including health and sciences programs. Check with your institution before enrolling.

Days

F

Time

6:30PM to 9:30PM Pacific Time

Dates

May 21, 2021 to Aug 27, 2021

Schedule and Location

View Details

Instructional Hours

45.0

Delivery Options

Online

Available for Credit

3 semester units

Instructors

  • William Holcomb

Section Materials

  • Textbook (Mandatory) Abnormal Psychology: An Integrative Approach, 8th Edition by David H. Barlow; V. Mark Durand; Stefan G. Hofmann ISBN 978-1-305-95044-3
  • (Optional) Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders by American Psychiatric Association American Psychiatric Publishing; 5 edition (May 27, 2013) ISBN 978-0890425558

This course applies to the following programs:

Post-Baccalaureate Program for Counseling and Psychology Professions

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Required Courses

  • Counseling and Psychotherapy as a Career Option
  • Introduction to Developmental Psychology
  • Psychology of Personality
  • Research Methods in Psychology
  • Abnormal Psychology
  • Seminar on the Graduate Application Process

Courses of Related Interest

  • Adolescent Psychology
  • Biological Psychology
  • Cognitive Psychology
  • Emerging Adulthood
  • Health Psychology
  • Positive Psychology
  • Psychology of Communication
  • Social Psychology

Learn More About this Program

Notes

Departmental contact: extension-counspsych@berkeley.edu
Classroom sections: (510) 643-3883
Online sections: (510) 642-6362
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Dr. Christina Villarreal

Christina Villarreal, Ph.D., maintains a private practice in personal and executive coaching and forensic assessment and consultation in the San Francisco Bay Area. She has taught and supervised doctoral students in psychology at Argosy University and The Wright Institute, and has published widely in newsprint, magazines, television news, scientific journals and social media/blogs. Read our instructor spotlight on Villarreal.

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PSYCH X146 - 040 - Abnormal Psychology

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William Holcomb

William Holcomb, M.B.A., Ph.D., is a licensed psychologist in California and a Diplomate of Psychology by the American Psychological Association. He has published more than 70 articles in peer-reviewed journals and has taught undergraduate and graduate courses in social psychology and abnormal psychology for the last 15 years. Primary areas of research interest are business entrepreneurship, severe mental illness and mental health/substance abuse treatment.
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