What Is Abnormal?: The Individual, Diagnostics, And Society (CO2006Z)

Content

Clients come to counselling for a variety of reasons. However, the motivating force is often a change in their cognitions/emotions/behaviours/physiology. Some, not all, changes represent “abnormality”, and only severe changes may require a diagnosis. This unit will teach you about normal responses to abnormal situations, the cultural context of diagnostics, the State-sanctioned use of diagnostics to assert power, and the appropriate use of diagnostics. Once students understand these nuances they will be introduced to the aetiology, presentation, and treatment of a variety of common mental health conditions.

Learning outcomes

Unit sequence

Offering: This unit is to be taught in year 2, semester 2 (term 3).
Prerequisites: CO1007Z Introduction To Psychology Prohibited combinations: NA

Pedagogy

Scaffolded learning. Seminar and tutorial format over 8 weeks. All weeks will utilise asynchronous on-line learning, 2 hours of synchronous on-line learning (i.e., compulsory seminar) and 1 hour of synchronous on-line learning (i.e., non-compulsory tutorial).

Indicative Bibliography

1. American Psychiatric Association. (2022). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM-5-TR). American Psychiatric Association.
2. Barlow, D., Durand, M., & Hofmann, S. (2017). Abnormal Psychology: An integrative approach (8th edition). Cengage. [TEXTBOOK]
3. Douglas, J., & Olshaker, M. (2000). The anatomy of motive. Pocket Books.
4. Foucault, M. (2006). Psychiatric power: Lectures at the College de France 1973-1974. Palgrave Macmillan.
5. Kottler, J. (2006). Divine Madness. Jossey-Bass.
6. Nesse, R. (2019). Good reasons for bad feelings. Dutton.
7. Oltmanns, T., & Martin, M. (2018). Case studies in abnormal psychology (11th edition). Wiley.
8. Rasmussen, S. (1995). Spirit possession and personhood among the Kel Ewey Tuareg. Cambridge University Press.

Assessment