Enrolments for 2019 have closed.
This unit contains mature content and may not be suitable for some students. Any student under the age of 16 who would like to enrol in this unit must first complete a Parental Consent Form.
Abnormal Psychology
Undergraduate | SWI-PSY30010 | 2019
Course information for 2019 intake
View information for 2020 course intakeStraddle a range of abnormal and dysfunctional human behaviours. Read up on key mental disorders. Tackle stress, anxiety, schizophrenia and eating disorders. Study individual cases. Examine psychologists’ resources, diagnoses and treatments.
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- Subject may require attendance
- Entry requirements
- Prior study needed
- Duration
- 13 weeks
HECS-HELP and FEE-HELP available
Abnormal Psychology
About this subject
Students who successfully complete this subject will be able to:
- Compare and critique the ways in which human behaviours have been identified as 'abnormal' or dysfunctional;
- Compare the features of major systems of classification of mental disorders, and explain how they are applied to individual cases;
- Critically review the major features of a multi-dimensional approach to understanding mental disorders (biological, sociocultural and psychological);
- Describe and characterise the phenomenology and aetiology of major classes of mental disorders, such as anxiety disorders, mood disorders, psychotic disorders, eating disorders and addictive behaviours, personality disorders and developmental disorders.
- Conceptualising and researching distress and mental health
- Causal factors in mental health
- Stress and mental health
- Description and diagnosis of anxiety disorders
- Description and diagnosis of mood disorders
- Psychological treatments: the major evidence based approaches
- Description and diagnosis of dissociative disorders
- Breaks from reality: schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders
- Problems with reward management: eating disorders and substance-related disorders
- Pervasive disorders related to the personality
- Disorders of childhood and adolescence
This subject introduces students to the ways in which human behaviour has been conceptualised as 'abnormal'. Students are introduced in depth to the diagnostic manual used by Australian psychologists. Important examples of psychological disorders are introduced in terms of their phenomenology and nosology, as well as theories about aetiology and approaches to psychological treatment. In sum, the subject develops understanding of the concept of abnormal behaviour, and develops understanding of key mental disorders and the major psychological treatments used to address them.
Please note: assessment values are indicative only, details will be advised at the start of the subject.
- Invigilated Exam (40%)
- Test — Online (20%)
- Assignment (40%)
For textbook details check your university's handbook, website or learning management system (LMS).
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- 19
- Times Higher Education Ranking 2024:
- 14
Entry requirements
Prior study
You must have successfully completed the following subject(s) before starting this subject:
one of
- SWI-PSY10004-Psychology 101
SWI-PSS120 (Not currently available)
and one of
- SWI-STA10003-Foundations of Statistics
SWI-STA102 (Not currently available)
and one of
SWI-PSY30009 (Not currently available)
- SWI-PSY20016-Social Psychology
and one of
- SWI-PSY20007-Developmental Psychology
SWI-PSS250 (Not currently available)
and one of
- SWI-PSY20006-Cognition and Human Performance
SWI-PSS240 (Not currently available)
and one of
- SWI-PSY10003-Psychology 100
SWI-PSS110 (Not currently available)
Equivalent subjects
You should not enrol in this subject if you have successfully completed any of the following subject(s) because they are considered academically equivalent:
SWI-PSS330B (Not currently available)
Additional requirements
No additional requirements
Study load
- 0.125 EFTSL
- This is in the range of 10 to 12 hours of study each week.
Equivalent full time study load (EFTSL) is one way to calculate your study load. One (1.0) EFTSL is equivalent to a full-time study load for one year.
Find out more information on Commonwealth Loans to understand what this means to your eligibility for financial support.
Student feedback
17 student respondents between 17 July - 17 July 2023.
94%of students felt the study load was manageable
100%of students felt this subject helped them gain relevant skills
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