Examines etiological, theoretical, clinical, diagnostic and experimental perspectives of major mental health disorders听with an emphasis on the main symptoms and diagnostic criteria associated with these disorders.

Learning Objectives

  • Critically evaluate the way that we build divisions between normal and abnormal in society;
  • Apply the adage 鈥渁ll models are false, some models are useful鈥� to the development of criteria for mental health disorders;
  • Explain how the DSM diagnostic criteria for psychopathology are organized and how they are used to promote well-being;
  • Discriminate between the three aspects of the biopsychosocial model (biological, psychological听and social) and explain how each contributes to modern approaches to understanding psychopathology etiology.

In this course, you will

  • Learn about the symptoms and treatment of mental health conditions;
  • Be encouraged to critically evaluate how we understand and model human behavior broadly;
  • Engage with brief video lectures and thoughtful discussions with your classmates that motivate you to think differently about what we consider normal and abnormal;
  • Use this exploration to create a project where you will be tasked with studying, modeling听and treating a fictitious global mass hysteria event.