An Insider’s Perspective: Understanding Mental Illness Through Autobiography

Instructor: Adrienne Nishina, Department of Human & Community Development, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences

Description: To cover the wide range of topics in typical abnormal psychology courses, there is generally only time to present disorders from a primarily clinical and detached standpoint. That is, mental illness is approached from the perspective of researchers who study a given disorder, or the people who treat the disorder.  Often, the human component of mental illness is not the main focus in clinical discussion.  In this class, we will examine mental illness through three autobiographical accounts of those who have personally experienced different disorders, supplemented by current information on the disorder from the research literature.  Information will be obtained through readings, class discussions, and informal lectures. Autobiographies, as opposed to scientific, technical books and papers, offer a unique insight into various life experiences.  Presented from the perspective of the individual who experiences them, the informal nature of autobiographical writing will expose students to the human impact of mental illness.  Symptoms of mental disorders and other maladaptive experiences can be difficult to fully appreciate when just reading about symptom checklists. The first goal of the course is to provide students with a better understanding of those with mental illness.  This can be especially useful for students contemplating careers in clinical psychology, social work, or child care and education because the opportunities freshmen have to interact (e.g., through internships) in mental health settings are fairly limited. The second goal of the course is to get students to view future coursework in psychology, human development, and biology, from a more balanced perspective.  Through exposure to the autobiographies, students will gain a better understanding of the major issues related to the disorder (e.g., treatment prognosis, pathways to diagnosis, etc.).

Format: Two autobiographies will be required reading during the 10-week quarter. The first autobiography students will read is An Unquiet Mind, an autobiography written by a highly respected research psychologist about her experiences with bipolar disorder.  The remaining autobiography will be chosen as a class from the following list of autobiographies (representing an even balance of male and female authors) based on the students’ interests:  

Losing My Mind: An Intimate Look at Life with Alzheimer’s (Alzheimer’s Disease)

There’s a Boy in Here (Autism)

Devil in the Details: Scenes from an Obsessive Girlhood (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder)

Recovered, Not Cured: A Journey Through Schizophrenia (Schizophrenia)

Odd Girl Speaks Out (Social Problems, Bullying)

Students have the option of writing two brief reaction papers (2-3 pages) OR one short (approximately 5 pages) integrative reaction paper based on the readings.  Grading: The final course grade will be based on a combination of participation in weekly discussions (55%), and writing assignment(s) (45% total).

About the Instructor: Professor Adrienne Nishina is a member of the faculty in the Department of Human and Community Development. She has a degree in clinical psychology and has worked with youth and adults in a variety of clinical settings. Her research interests include the psychosocial, physical, and academic consequences of peer relations, (in particular, peer victimization, or bullying) in school-aged youth. She also studies the effects of ethnic diversity in public middle schools and high schools.