FINAL GRADES The final grades have been calculated. Overall, the class did quite well.
Here is a little bit of "Primary Prevention" -- I DO NOT adjust final grades. Please do not email me asking for me to "boost" your grade one or two points. As you know, I used a very liberal extra credit program in the course, one reason being I did not want to have to consider student requests to modify the final grade. Students who took advantage of the extra credit opportunities controlled their own destiny so to speak. If a student emails me asking for consideration, that student will be referred to this page.
For final grades in Abnormal Psychology 222 CLICK HERE
I enjoyed working with this class this semester and hope everyone has a very nice summer!
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April 30 PLEASE NOTE A MISPRINT WAS DISCOVERED ON THE EXAM ROOM ASSIGNMENTS. PLEASE RECHECK YOUR ROOM ASSIGMENT FOR SUNDAY MAY 5.
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April 27 Final Exam Review sheet - a final exam review sheet outlines what you should concentrate on when studyig for the final. It is recommended that students use the study guide as a worksheet. For the studyguide Click here
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April 26 FINAL EXTRA CREDIT PROJECT - You watched a video on prevention strategies across the lifespan. Choose a psychological problem we discussed in the course this semester. Describe the main problems associated with the disorder for the individual and those around him or her. Describe the etiology of the disorder. Then, describe how you would prevent the disorder on a primary, secondary, and tertiary level (definitions of these levels are in your notes). The paper must be 1-2 pages and typed. It is due by 3:00 on Monday April 29.
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April 22 GRADES THROUGH EXAM THREE ARE POSTED HERE Grades are posted by the LAST five digits of your person number.Look at the total points column and compare the total points you have earned to the point/grade distribution listed on your syllabus (e.g., 244 points would earn a grade of B-).
If you have taken only two exams so far, you must take the final or you will fail the course.
These grades include extra credit earned so far.
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April 22 EXTRA CREDIT - You watched a video in class on the effects stress can have on physical health.
PART 1: Using examples from the video, describe three environmental/psychological contributions to stress. Also, describe how one's body responds to stress.
PART 2: Choose a phsical problem. Describe how stress may make the problem worse or affect a person's experience with the problem. Describe how psychological treatments might be effective for (1) preventing the disorder; (2) in the treatment of the disorder; and (3) in maintaining adherence to needed treatment (e.g., medication or other treatments). The paper must be TYPED and 1-2 pages in length. Papers that fail to address all the questions listed above will receive no credit. It is due Wednesday April 24 at 3:00.
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April 15 For some sample questions on the next exam CLICK HERE
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April 15 On Wednesday April 17, you will have the opportunity to complete an evaluation of the course and instructor (e.g., the UB CATS). Please bring a #2 pencil with you to facilitate this process. Thanks. ----------------------------------------------------------------------
April 11 For the Exam 3 study guide Click here
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April 8 JOB OPPORTUNITY WORKING WITH CHILDREN - The Center for Children and Families is looking for someone to help with childcare while the child's parents attend a parent training class. We are looking for reliable people to work Thursday evenings from 6:00-9:00 from April 18 until May 23. The pay is $7.00 an hour ($21.00 per evening). This is an excellent opportunity to get "hands on" experience with children in a clinical treatment program - which is what all employers/graduate schools look for in applicants. If interested, email Adia Onyango (onyango@acsu.buffalo.edu) to let her know you are interested. Please include your GPA and a summary of your past experiences with children in the email.
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April 5 EXTRA CREDIT ASSIGNMENT -- You watched a video in class on one of the most notorious psychopaths of all time, Ted Bundy. In a 1-2 page paper, describe how a psychopath develops. Include information on biological variables, psychological variables, and social variables and back up your agrument with evidence from the video. In light of these factors, describe at least two prevention methods you think might be helpful in changing a developing psychopath's behavior. The paper must be typewritten and it is due by 3:00 on Wednesday April 10.
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March 20 Joe Baschnagel's office hours will be held at 3:00 Wenesday March 20 instead of Thursday afternoon.
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March 20 EXTRA CREDIT ASSIGNMENT - Binge drinking, defined as consuming a large number of drinks in a short period of time, has been cited as a significant problem on college campuses (and in high school). In a 1-2 page type-written paper answer the following questions. First, why is binge drinking cited as a problem on college campuses? Defend your answer with evidence from the book, lecture. Second, what are possible short-term and long-term consequences of binge drinking? Third, what can be done by students to reduce bing-drinking? by colleges to reduce binge drinking? and by the government/society to reduce binge drinking? This assignment is due by Friday March 22 at 3:00.
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March 15 EXAM 2 Grades Click here
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March 8 EXTRA CREDIT ASSIGNMENT 4 - The videos you watch profiled adolescent suicide and eating disorders. In the past decades, prevalence estimates indicate that these problems are rapidly increasing in adolescent populations. Write a 1-2 page paper that responds to the following questions: (1) Why do you think that these disorders are increasing in adolescent populations? Give at least three reasons. Back up your argument with evidence from the videos/text/lecture; and (2) What ideas do you have to reverse or slow down this trend (Describe at least one well-developed idea for suicide and at least one for eating disorders)? Papers must be typed and are due by 3:00 MONDAY MARCH 18.
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March 7 Here are some sample questions for exam 2. These are not questions that will be on the exam, but they are similar to some questions on the exam, and you can use them to guide your studying. Sample items
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March 7 The final exam for this course is scheduled. The final will be held on Sunday May 5 from 8:00-11:00. I understand that the date/time of this exam might pose problems for some people given that like all other exams at the university it is different than the typical class time. That is why the provision was included in the syllabus that students are only required to take 3 out of the 4 exams offered, since it was anticipated that some students might have conflicts with some exam dates. This way a student may miss one exam without penalty. Anyone with questions should see me before or after class.
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March 5For the exam 2 study guide Click here
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March 4 Joe Baschnagel's office hours will be held from 4-5 on Wednesday this week instead of Thursday
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February 26 EXTRA CREDIT ASSIGNMENT - Attend play reported in this link Click here and write a brief summary of the performance. Then answer the following questions: 1. There is no diagnostic category for domestic violence, yet it is a serious and impairing problem. What symptoms can you identify of a person who is violent toward his (or her) spouse or partner (Name and describe at least three). 2. What sort of impairment is present for (a) the perpetrator and (b) the family. 3. What sort of treatment intervention do you recommend for a person/family where domestic abuse is present. The project is due on Friday March 22 by 3:00 pm. Projects must be typewritten.
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February 20 Interested in abnormal child psychology? You are welcome to attend a speaker series sponsored by the Center for Children and Families. Click here for a schedule
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February 18 Students had requested that a study guide be posted sooner so that it would help guide their reading before the exam. I tried to create one but I do not write the exam until about a week before it. Therefore, I cannot create an accurate study guide. However, your notes highlight the material that will appear on the exam, and these may act as a guide for your reading.
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February 18 EXTRA CREDIT ASSIGNMENT 3 -- In the video we watched, you learned about how a person with schizophrenia can be involuntarily hospitalized and/or made to take anti-psychotic medication if they are found to be a danger to themselves or others. There are pros and cons to having laws that allow someone to be involuntarily hospitalized/treated. Take a position - are these laws good or bad? Back up your position with at least three of your own reasons why the laws are good or bad. You can support your arguments with information from the text/video. The paper MUST be typed (I will not accept any hand-written assignments) and it is due Monday February 25 by the end of class. The paper should be no longer than two double-spaced pages.
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EXAM 1 GRADES Grades are listed by the last five digits of the ID number you recorded on your exam. To estimate your final grade, double your score, then multiply that number by three. Look on the syllabus for grade distributions. The class average was 35, and scores ranged from 14-48. Click here for exam1 grades
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February 8 To access the Center for Children and Families website continaing information on the summer employment positions described in class Click here
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February 8 A study guide for the first exam, to be held on Friday February 15 is available. Click on the link to view the study guide. Exam 1 Study Guide
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February 4 Joe Baschnagel's office hours will be held from 11-12 instead of 3-4, this Thursday, February 7.
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February 1 EXTRA CREDIT ASSIGNMENT 2
Be your own behavior modifier! Choose a behavior you would like to change (e.g., drink less coffee, spend more time on task during studying, spend less money, watch fewer Beverly Hills 90210 reruns). If you do not feel comfortable sharing a behavior of your own, you may make up a behavior to change and complete the assignment using this "imaginary" behavior (Note this means you will also have to make up your data to graph). The important thing is to correctly apply the behavior modification principles. Use this form to complete the assignment Click here for the form
For an example of a completed project click here
The assignment is due by the end of class Monday February 11. This extra credit assignment is worth two points. You may type or write legibly on the sheet. You may decide you want to use a different form than the one provided. That is fine as long as it includes all the required information. Late assignments will not be accepted.
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January 28 - Change in lecture outlines. Based on some helpful feedback from some students, and the fact that the lectures are slowed down by the length of time it takes to copy the lecture notes, I have put complete lecture notes up on the web. Please remember that exams will include information from class that do not appear in the notes on the website. Feedback on ways to make this process better is welcomed.
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January 25 - EXTRA CREDIT ASSIGNMENT 1
Assigned January 25. Due February 1 by the end of class. The assignment must be typewritten.
In the video you watched, most of the patients had chronic illnesses. That is, most described life-long problems and required multiple hospitalizations and constant treatment (both medication and psychotherapy). It seemed like in many of the cases, the current treatment received was either insufficient or not working optimally. Describe at least three ideas you have for treating chronic illnesses like the ones you viewed in the video.
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Compare the conditions in the mental hospital on the video to the conditions described in the textbook (pgs 7-16) on the history of treating the mentally ill. Take the position that the approach to treating the mentally ill has changed for the better or take the position that the approach to treating the mentally ill has changed for the worse. Back up your argument with at least three pieces of evidence from the film and the book.
Please do not exceed two pages of type. The assignment is worth two extra credit points. Papers that have excessive typographical errors, misspellings, poor grammar, or do not adequately answer the questions included in the assignment will be returned for revisions before credit will be granted. Be creative!