Incorporating Published Autobiographies into the Abnormal Psychology Course

Abstract

Published autobiographies written by individuals suffering from mental disorders can enrich abnormal psychology courses by complementing the outside-looking-in perspective of textbooks with an insider perspective. Autobiographies can serve as outside readings, lecture examples, primary texts for discussion sections, extra-credit assignments, and source books for topical seminars. Students favorably rated the pedagogical value of such autobiographies in 3 separate evaluations. We present a condensed autobiography review form and a Web site address for an annotated list of autobiographies.