Abnormal Psychology

Question 1

Serial Killers

The United States has been home to some of the most famous and vicious serial killers in the history of mankind. Many of our most recent serial killers have well documented cases.

Review a serial killer from the U.S. in the last 50 years that has been or was diagnosed with one of the personality disorders described in the chapter.

In your 1-2 paragraph discussion you will identify the serial killer, provide the personality disorder, and provide historical descriptions of his/her behaviors that support that diagnosis. You will also provide a brief summary of the diagnostic criteria for that diagnosis.

Following your 1-2 paragraph description you will need to discuss your opinion on whether or not psychological treatment should be made available for these types of criminals. Why or why not?

Question 2

After reading chapter 9 and watching the video "Are the Voices in the Genes-Schizophrenia", Write a 1 page paper looking at the genetic factors involved in schizophrenia.

Specifically, discuss the findings of family studies, twin studies and adoption studies and what they suggest about the genetic component of schizophrenia.

Introduction to Sociology II

Question 3

Science and the American Public

In 500 words, answer the following four questions using the information from Chapters 8 and 14 along with your own research on science education in your community and in the United States.

What did you find when you researched science education in your community?;

What are common controversies in science and health education in the United States?;

Is the teaching of scientific theories, such as evolution, restricted and if so, why do you think this is so?;

What is the social impact of restricting scientific education and limiting the information students receive about evolution, time dating of the earth, fossil records, human sexual functioning, and so forth?

Question 4

This week you will be creating the outline for your final.

For the final in this course, you will create a photographic essay to illustrate a social problem, summarize and discuss that social problem using sociological concepts and one sociological perspective, and research two different social movements devoted to solving or alleviating this social problem.

Your outline should include the following information:

Review the Photo Essays that are presented throughout your text. What photo essays are did you like and/or are considering modeling for your own Photo Essay?

Choose a social problem of interest and important to you.

Ideas you are thinking about for the creation of your own Photo Essay that illustrates the social problem.

You can use Microsoft Word and Google Images to copy and paste images into a word document.

Write a brief description of the social problem. What 4-6 social concepts are you going to highlight?

What perspective are you going to use (structural-functionalism, conflict, or symbolic interactionist)? How would this sociological perspective examine and explain the social problem?

Research two different organizations or social movement devoted to solving or alleviating this social problem. What two organizations are you going to use?

Question 5

Crime in the Media

Spend 1-2 days noting images of crime in the media on television and/or in movies. Watch the nightly news, television programs, movies, and read newspaper articles (online or in print). Keep a journal of what types of crimes are reported, discussed or shown, who are the perpetrators of the crime (gender, race, ethnicity, age, social class), who are the victims of the crime (gender, race, ethnicity, age, social class), and how is the crime handled by law enforcement. Note the overall message about crime in society that you receive from these images.

Go to the website for the Bureau of Justice Statistics at www.bjs.ojp.usdoj.gov. Click on the subheading, "Crime Type," at the left side of the page. Read through the summaries for each crime type, noting major themes and trends.

Write a 500 word essay describing your findings from the media analysis and comparing these media images with the information you found on the website for the Bureau of Justice Statistics.

Be sure to discuss, differences between media images about crime and realities based on national statistics. What information from the website surprised you?

What is your overall reaction about this information? Why do you think the media portrays crime as increasing, when national numbers show that violent crime has been decreasing since 1994?

Question 6

Final

For the final in this course, you will create a photographic essay to illustrate a social problem, summarize and discuss that social problem using sociological concepts and one sociological perspective, and research two different social movements devoted to solving or alleviating this social problem. Final Directions:

Review the Photo Essays that are presented throughout your text.

Choose a social problem of interest and important to you. Create your own Photo Essay that illustrates the social problem.

In at least 400 words summarize and discuss the social problem using sociological concepts discussed in the text.

In at least 400 words analyze the social problem using one of the sociological perspectives (structural-functionalism, conflict, or symbolic interactionist) presented in the text. How would this sociological perspective examine and explain the social problem?

Research two different organizations or social movement devoted to solving or alleviating this social problem. In at least 400 words compare and contrast the methods or strategies these organizations use to address the social problem and your evaluation of these methods.

Turn in a document that includes the photo essay, summary of the social problems, analysis using the sociological perspective, and evaluation of organizations that address this social problem. Document should be approximately 1000 words plus the Photo Essay.