Diploma in Abnormal Psychology
A six-unit diploma exploring how psychology understands the conditions and experiences that fall outside what we consider “normal” — taught by Dr. John Crimmins, Director of The Behaviour Institute
This course takes you through the major categories of psychological disorder — how they present, how they’re understood clinically, and how they show up in real people’s lives, not just diagnostic manuals. Across six units, you’ll move from the foundational question of what “abnormal” even means, through personality, anxiety, trauma, mood, psychosis, and coercive control, arriving at a genuinely well-rounded understanding of the field.
This course is designed for anyone with a real interest in psychology — whether you’re considering a future career in the field, working in an adjacent profession, or simply want to understand yourself and the people around you more clearly. No prior psychology background is required.
Each unit combines short core reading, video material, and a real-world case study, giving you both the theory and a sense of how it plays out clinically. The course is grounded throughout in direct clinical experience — not just textbook theory — drawing on 25 years of frontline work across addiction treatment, harm reduction, and psychological practice.
By the end of this course, you will be able to:
- Explain the major models used to define and understand psychological abnormality, and critically evaluate the strengths and limitations of each
- Describe how diagnosis and classification actually work in practice, including the debates and controversies behind modern diagnostic systems
- Identify the key features of major disorder categories, including personality disorders, anxiety and trauma-related disorders, mood disorders, and psychotic disorders
- Distinguish between commonly confused conditions and terms — including the real differences between psychopathy, antisocial personality disorder, and narcissism
- Apply psychological concepts to real-world case studies, developing a more nuanced, less sensationalised understanding of mental health conditions
- Reflect critically on your own assumptions and experiences in relation to psychological wellbeing, whether in your own life or in the lives of people around you
- Produce a written assignment integrating theoretical understanding with personal reflection, demonstrating applied learning across the course
What’s Covered
- Unit 1 — Foundations of Abnormal Psychology
- Unit 2 — Personality Disorders, Psychopathy & Narcissism
- Unit 3 — Anxiety & Trauma-Related Disorders
- Unit 4 — Mood Disorders
- Unit 5 — Psychotic Disorders
- Unit 6 — Coercive Control & Domestic Abuse
Your Tutor
Dr. John Crimmins is Director of The Behaviour Institute, with 25 years of clinical experience spanning addiction treatment, harm reduction, and psychological practice across Ireland and the Gulf region. This course is built directly from that clinical background — not adapted from a generic textbook — and includes personal written feedback on your assignment from Dr. Crimmins himself.
