Blog Assignment - Week 12

Part 1:

Please note: Depending on the length of your response, you may have to split your response in two...you can leave the main response like you always do, and either just submit the rest via another comment or simply reply to the comment you already left (the latter is preferred!).

The next chapter covers the topic of psychological disorders.  For this assignment, I want you to get an in depth look at one psychological disorder of your choice.  Because I want you to get an in depth look, there will be no required comments this week as this assignment should take you awhile to finish.  Thus, this assignment is worth 20 points.

For this assignment, you will be utilizing the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders - Fifth Edition (DSM 5).  Please be sure you are using the DSM 5 rather than the DSM-IV-TR, as this revised edition was just released this summer!

Please complete the following:

• Choose 1 psychological disorder listed in the DSM 5.  You have access to an electronic version of the DSM 5 via the library.  Please click here.  You should be prompted to login with your university login information once you click the link.  From there, you'll want to click on the "Section II: Diagnostic Criteria and Codes" link and choose a class of disorders that is of interest to you.  You'll then be shown a list of the disorders in that class and you can choose one of those.  Please note that the classes in the DSM 5 are different than what is discussed in your book, which covers the old classification system (particularly when discussing what the DSM-IV-TR referred to as "Mood Disorders").  
• Briefly tell me what you know about the disorder before reading about it in the DSM 5.  
• Describe the disorder, according to the DSM 5.  You may wish to summarize the diagnostic criteria here.  Please attempt to use your own words whenever possible.
• After the criteria for each disorder are listed, there are a number of subheadings associated with each disorder.  The subheadings will vary by disorder.  For the disorder you chose, in your own words, summarize the following subheadings:
• Associated Features Supporting Diagnosis
• Prevalence
• Development and Course
• Risk and Prognostic Factors
• Culture-Related Diagnostic Issues (where applicable)
• Gender-Related Diagnostic Issues (where applicable)
• Comorbidity (where applicable)
• Find an associated video that shows the symptoms of the disorder or has somebody with the disorder sharing their experience.
• Summarize the video, being sure to include some of the symptoms of the disorder discussed.
• Did you learn anything new about this disorder?  Was there anything that challenged what you thought you knew?

Most students decide to major in psychology because they are interested in mental illness - hopefully this assignment will be fun and interesting!

Because Monday is a University Holiday (Veteran's Day), this blog assignment has a different due date than the typical Monday due date.  Because I want you to have enough time to complete this assignment thoroughly, I will extend the deadline to Tuesday, November 12th and 11:59p rather than pushing it up to Sunday.

In the spirit of Veteran's Day, and just because you deserve it everyday, thanks to all of you who have or are currently serving our country!

Blog Assignment - Week 11

Week 11 of 14...almost there!

Part 1:

Chapter 11 discusses the topic of gender.  Among the many topics discussed, is the issue of gender stereotypes.  I thought this week we'd do something a little more fun and find some comics that illustrate gender stereotypes.  Or, if you want to get creative and/or are into the new Bitstrips fad (or are otherwise creative), go ahead and make a comic illustrating a gender stereotype.

• What is a gender stereotype?  
• What are some disadvantages to gender stereotypes?
• Find three comics (or make, or a mix of the two).
• Describe the gender stereotype in each of the comics you choose.  You can just provide a link to the comic.

Part 2:

As in the previous weeks, please respond to any 2 existing blog posts (not including this one or posts that you have responded to previously) to get credit for you "blog comments."  Each post has its own instructions to follow in regard to commenting. Note: Replying to other students' comments on blog posts does not count toward your grade, although I encourage you to engage in conversation with your colleagues.

This assignment is due on Monday, November 4, 2013 at 11:59p.

Gender Differences

Chapter 11 discusses several areas where females and males differ, including in cognitive, mathematical, and spatial abilities, among others.  Should you choose to complete this assignment for credit, please do the following:

• Either choose an area outlined in the book which discusses gender differences OR
• Find an article that presents some sort of research in this area.  You can use Huffington Post, BBC, etc.
• Discuss the gender differences outlined in either the textbook or the article you chose.  Remember to use your own words whenever possible, and use quotations when directly using others' words.
• In your experience, do you find these differences to be accurate?  Why or why not.  It would be helpful to provide examples.  

Gender-Role Stereotypes in Advertisements

We have all seen advertisements, either in magazines or on television, that depict gender stereotypes.  Should you choose to complete this assignment, please do the following:

• Find two print ads (e.g., from magazines) or tv advertisements via YouTube.
• Describe the ads and the associated gender stereotypes.
• According to Goffman (1976), there are several ways in which stereotyping in advertisement can occur:
• Function ranking (tendency to depict men in executive roles and as more functional when collaborating with women)
• Relative size (tendency to depict men as taller and larger than women, except when women are clearly superior in social status)
• Ritualization of subordination (an overabundance of images of women lying on floors and beds or as objects of men's mock assault)
• The feminine touch (tendency to show women cradling and caressing the surface of objects with their fingers)
• Family (fathers depicted as physically distant from their families or as relating primarily to sons, and mothers depicted as relating primarily to daughters)
• Which of the above description(s) fit your ads?  Please provide an explanation, don't just say something like "this ad is an example of the feminine touch."

Toy Preference: Socialization or Hormones?

Why do boys play with trucks and girls play with dolls?  If you choose to complete this assignment for course credit, please do the following:

• Explain how socialization plays a role in toy preference in children.
• Read this article about the hormonal influences of toy preference.
• Summarize the article.
• Based on what you know about the socialization of toy preference and what was presented in the article, what are your opinions about why boys tend to play with trucks and girls with dolls?

Gender Dysphoria

Chapter 11's main focus is on gender.  For most, understanding their gender isn't an issue.  However, others struggle with gender identity.  In others, this struggle is distressful enough to be considered a psychiatric illness.  Should you choose to complete this assignment, please do the following:

• Read this article about Gender Dysphoria.
• What is Gender Dysphoria?
• The article discusses the change in not only name, but the focus of this disorder with the new edition of the DSM.  What was Gender Dysphoria formerly known as, and what changed between the old and new edition of the DSM?
• Do you agree with the change?  I realize this is a limited amount of information when considering a psychiatric diagnosis, but base your answer on the information given to you in the article, or feel free to do a little more exploration yourself!
• Do you think this change will affect the amount of stigma associated with this disorder?