PSYC A232

Introduction to Abnormal Psychology

Course Guide

236
HKMU Course Team
Course Development Coordinator
Dr Vivian Tsang Hiu Ling, HKMU
Developer
Dr Veronica Lai Ka Wai, Consultant
Instructional Designer
Emilie Pavey, HKMU

Internal Course Reviewer

Anthony So Shiu Yuen, HKMU

Production
Office for Advancement of Learning and Teaching (ALTO)

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No part of this material may be reproduced in any form by any means without permission
in writing from the President, Hong Kong Metropolitan University.
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Hong Kong Metropolitan University
Ho Man Tin, Kowloon
Hong Kong
This course material is printed on environmentally friendly paper.

236
Contents

Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 1
Course aims .................................................................................................................... 1
Course learning outcomes .............................................................................................. 1
Working through this course ............................................................................................. 1
Introductory video............................................................................................................ 2
The custom textbook ....................................................................................................... 2
The Study Guide ............................................................................................................. 2
The Online Learning Environment (OLE) ....................................................................... 3
Learning support ............................................................................................................ 3
Assessment..................................................................................................................... 3
Assignments.................................................................................................................... 3
Course overview................................................................................................................... 4
Summary ............................................................................................................................... 4
 Course Guide 1

Introduction
Welcome to PSYC A232 Introduction to Abnormal Psychology! This is a five-credit DL
undergraduate course within the Bachelor of Social Sciences, Bachelor of Social Sciences (Hons)
and Bachelor of Social Sciences (Hons) in Psychology Studies programmes.
This course starts by introducing the essential concepts, theories and findings in abnormal
psychology as well as their areas of application. After the first unit, the course delves into various
types of psychological disorders falling under the psychiatric nomenclature such as anxiety-related
and mood disorders, schizophrenia spectrum disorders, personality disorders, and substance use
and gambling disorders. Related theories and research concerning the origin, diagnosis and
treatment of these disorders will also be discussed.
This course will be delivered in a custom textbook format, supplemented by a Study Guide, online
multimedia components, and face-to-face sessions.

Course aims
PSYC A232 aims to provide you with:
• an introduction to various types of psychological disorders falling under the psychiatric
nomenclature and other behavioural models; and
• a discussion of related theories and research concerning the origin, diagnosis and treatment of
these disorders.

Course learning outcomes

Upon the completion of PSYC A232 Introduction to Abnormal Psychology, you should be able to:
• describe and critique the major characteristics of abnormal psychology;
• critically evaluate the basic concepts and theoretical approaches of abnormal psychology;
• evaluate the major theoretical models of psychopathology and methods of diagnosis;
• critically discuss the symptoms and psychopathology of common psychological disorders;
and
• critically discuss the cultural perspectives in abnormal psychology.

Working through this course

In this custom textbook approach, different learning modules have been carefully selected by the
course team from a leading abnormal psychology textbook and organised into a custom volume
specifically designed for PSYC A232 students. By incorporating selected chapters, case studies,
discussion and summaries, the custom textbook will provide you with comprehensive coverage of
the major concepts, key theories and perspectives, empirical findings and real-world applications
in the field of abnormal psychology.
In addition to the custom textbook, you will be working through the course using an HKMU-
produced Study Guide. The Study Guide leads you along your study pathway unit by unit,
2 PSYC A232 Introduction to Abnormal Psychology

providing commentary on each textbook chapter and supplementary self-learning and self-
assessment opportunities.
The third main point of reference for learning resources during the course is HKMU’s Online
Learning Environment (OLE). There, you will have access to multimedia materials such as the
introductory video, and you will be able to discuss topics with other students and your tutor on the
course discussion board. This course is further supported by regular face-to-face meetings in the
form of tutorials and day schools.

Introductory video
To start off, you should watch the introductory video for the course in the ePub
version of this Course Guide or on the OLE. Then turn to the Study Guide for further
guidance through the course.

The custom textbook

The title of the custom textbook is PSYC A232 Introduction to Abnormal Psychology. The
chapters are selected from the following textbook:
• Jennings, H. (2023). Nolen-Hoeksema’s abnormal psychology (9th ed.). McGraw-Hill.
The Study Guide will indicate at which point you should read each chapter of the custom textbook.

The Study Guide

The Study Guide sets out your study pathway through the custom textbook and other course
learning resources. It serves as a guide to the textbook chapters, helping you to organise major
ideas with tools like tables and diagrams. It also contains activities and self-tests to facilitate your
learning. You will therefore need to keep it by your side as you work through the course.
The Study Guide is divided into five units. The titles of the units and the custom textbook chapters
that they will cover are set out in the following table.

Unit Chapters selected from

Nolen-Hoeksema’s abnormal psychology
1 Introduction to abnormality Ch.1: Looking at abnormality
Ch.2: Theories and treatment of abnormality
Ch.3: Assessing and diagnosing abnormality
2 Anxiety, mood disorders and suicide Ch.5: Anxiety, obsessive-compulsive, trauma, and
stressor-related disorders
Ch.7: Mood disorders and suicide
3 Schizophrenia spectrum and other Ch.8: Schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic
psychotic disorders disorders
4 Personality disorders Ch.9: Personality disorders
5 Substance use and gambling Ch.14: Substance use and gambling disorders
disorders
 Course Guide 3

E-Library E-Reserve readings

In the Study Guide, you may be instructed to read articles in the E-Library E-Reserve. To read
these items, go to the university E-Library homepage and click on ‘E-Reserve’. Log in, click
‘Accept/Agree’ on the Copyright Restrictions page, fill in the ‘Course Code’ box, and click
‘Search’. Alternatively, you may access the readings via a hyperlink in the online course materials.

The Online Learning Environment (OLE)

This course is supported by HKMU’s Online Learning Environment (OLE). You will find course
materials and the latest course information on the OLE. You can also communicate with your
tutor, the Course Coordinator and classmates through the OLE discussion board.

Learning support
You will be supported throughout the course by regular face-to-face meetings in the form of
tutorials and day schools. Essentially, every unit will be covered by one tutorial while two day
schools will be arranged throughout the presentation of the course. Details of the dates and times
of these sessions can be found in the Course Schedules page of the OLE.

Assessment
This course is designed to enable you to move easily from the stated objectives, through the study
units to the assignments. During the course, you will have your progress assessed both formally
(through summative assessment) and informally (through formative assessment).
• Formative assessment includes various self-assessment activities (e.g. self-tests, activities,
and online discussions) that you will undertake while working through the study units. These
activities allow you to develop and monitor your own progress.
• Summative assessment consists of three assignments.

Assignments
Your performance is assessed by continuous assessment, taking up 100% of course grade.
There are three compulsory assignments for the course, each accounting for 33.33% of the course
grade. You will be expected to apply concepts, principles and research findings acquired during
the course when completing assignments.
• Assignment 1, worth 33.33%, evaluates materials covered in Unit 1.
• Assignment 2, worth 33.33%, evaluates materials covered in Units 2 and 3.
• Assignment 3, worth 33.33%, evaluates materials covered in Units 4 and 5.

How to submit assignments

You must use word processing software (such as Microsoft Word) to prepare the assignments. The
Assignment File gives you details on how to present and submit your assignments. Please refer to
the OLE Assignments → General Information section. Please also read the Student Handbook
for HKMU’s policy on late submission of assignments.
4 PSYC A232 Introduction to Abnormal Psychology

Assignments must reach your tutor by the due date shown on the presentation schedule (available
on the OLE). If, for some good reason, you are unable to submit your assignment on time, you
should, before the due date, ask your tutor or Course Coordinator for permission to submit it late.
In general, you are expected to submit your assignments via the OLE. Assignments will be
returned to you, marked and with commentary, as soon as possible.
Please note that there is no extension of the due date for the final assignment. For more
information, please refer to your Student Handbook. 　

Course overview
The following table gives a general overview of the course structure. It suggests the amount of
time you should allow for completing units and provides a broad schedule for you to plan your
work. This estimation includes time for reading the units and custom textbook, completing
activities, self-tests and assignments, and attending tutorials and day schools.

Unit Title No. of Assignment

weeks
1 Introduction to abnormality 2 Assignment 1
2 Anxiety, mood disorders and suicide 2
3 Schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders 2 Assignment 2
4 Personality disorders 2
5 Substance use and gambling disorders 2 Assignment 3
Total 10

Summary
PSYC A232 aims to introduce the scientific study of abnormal psychology, and establish a solid
foundation for further exploration into psychopathology. Abnormal psychology is a scientific
approach which aims to examine the features, causes, assessments, and treatment of various
psychological disorders. After studying this course, you should have a more nuanced
understanding of the continuum between normality and abnormality. In addition, you should be
able to analyse various psychological disorders in terms of their symptoms, etiology and treatment
plans. This knowledge can be useful in understanding how individuals’ mental dispositions and
early-life experiences interact in the development of abnormal behaviours. Moreover, it can bring
valuable insights to the community and to institutions for building a positive environment for
people with psychological disorders.