This course is designed to provide an engaging and personally relevant overview of the discipline of Abnormal Psychology. You will examine the cognitive and behavioral patterns which impair personal effectiveness and adjustment. Students will provide much of the substantive content and teaching presence in this course. Additional content has been curated from "The Noba Project (http://nobaproject.com/)" and "Abnormal Psychology: An e-text! (http://abnormalpsych.wikispaces.com/).

By Todd Kashdan, George Mason University. Social anxiety occurs when we are overly concerned about being humiliated, embarrassed, evaluated, or rejected by others in social situations. Everyone experiences social anxiety some of the time, but for a minority of people, the frequency and intensity of social anxiety is intense enough to interfere with meaningful activities (e.g., relationships, academics, career aspirations). When a person’s level of social anxiety is excessive, social interactions are either dreaded or avoided, social cues and emotions are difficult to understand, and positive thoughts and emotions are rare, then that person may be diagnosed with social anxiety disorder (or social phobia). There are effective treatments—with both medications and psychotherapy–for this problem. Unfortunately, only a small proportion of people with social anxiety disorder actually seek treatment.

Open textbook on abnormal psychology. Includes sections on personality disorders, mood disorders, anxiety, schizophrenia, psychopathy, behavioral disorders, autism and disassociative disorders.

A brief introduction about characteristics of the anxiety disorders in general, and specific types: specific phobia, agoraphobia, social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder
Duration: 4:35.