PSY 3003-02 Special Topics in Psychology: HORROR!
Spring, 2026
Professor: Dr. Travis Langley
Office: McBrien Hall 301-F, langlet@hsu.edu
Required Textbook:
Monsters on the Couch: The Real Psychological Disorders Behind Your Favorite Horror Movies
by Brian A. Sharpless
PSY 3003-02. Special Topics in Psychology: HORROR! Examination of how horror stories throughout different media depict mental illness, relationships, and other psychologically relevant issues, as well as how the stories depict psychology itself. Topics of discussion include universal themes, the appeal of scary stories, the psychological value of different types of horror, application of theories and concepts, accuracy in depiction of psychological variables, and personal impact. Character analyses include examination of personality, mental illness, developmental issues, conflicts, motivation, coping mechanisms, and the survival value of fear.
HORROR FILMS INCLUDED IN PREVIOUS SEMESTERS’ PSYCHOLOGY IN FILM AND RELATED CLASSES: The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, The Babadook; Night of the Living Dead; The Signal, 6 Souls; Birdemic 2 clips; and others with horror elements to them (e.g., Gaslight; Monster; The Quiet; The Sixth Sense).
HORROR LITERATURE INCLUDED IN OTHER PREVIOUS CLASSES: “The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allan Poe; Frankenstein by Mary Shelley; The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson; some stories from the Brothers Grimm.
2026 Viewing: “Teatime,” Two-Sentence Horror Stories; Nosferatu (1922 silent film); more to come.
GRADES
25% – attendance questions and other assignments other than the project
25% – project
25% – tests
25% – final
TESTING
Bring #2 pencil and clean, unwrinkled Scantron sheet for each test, including the final.
There will be three 20-point tests covering lecture notes, readings, assignments, and class discussion. One will be dropped: either your lowest test score or a missing one with excused absence. Even if you’re happy with the first two, you need to take the third one seriously to help you prepare for the final. The scale for the 40 points (two highest 20-point tests added together) is simply this:
A 35.1 ‑‑> B 30.1 ‑ 35.0 C 25.1 ‑ 30.0 D 20.1 ‑ 25.0 F <‑‑ 20.0
Your professor reserves the right to assign other values for these grade cutoffs. The professor also reserves the right to subtract any number of points from the grade of someone who disrupts or monopolizes class (however the professor interprets that) or to assign a course grade of F to someone caught cheating. Anyone caught cheating will also be referred for University disciplinary measures.
Writing Across the Curriculum: The last question on every test except the final will be “What else did you learn from the current course material that was not otherwise covered by this test?” For that question, you will need to explain concepts in complete sentences, making certain that you are not simply copying the wording as it appears in the book. Convince me you understand.
There can be other essay questions to assess your understanding of material. The next to last question on each test other than the final will be a diagnostic question like those you will see on the final. The 40-point final exam will have the same scale.
ASSIGNMENTS
Bring pen and paper to class every time. Your professor will ask you an attendance question or questions. Sometimes there is no correct answer and you get the point simply for answering appropriately. Sometimes, though, there is a correct answer based on class material or assignments, in which case getting the point depends on getting the answer right. To get full credit, you need to put your first and last name, as they appear on the roster, on your answer sheet.
If you are not here to answer the attendance question, even with the best of excused absences, then you are not here and you cannot make this up. If you are not here, no matter why, then you are not participating, in which case you will need to make sure to compensate for missed points in other ways. If you miss class, ask other students what you missed.
In addition to the attendance questions, there will be other assignments throughout the semester so that those points will add up to at least 40 and will therefore be graded on the same 40-point scale as the tests. To do the other assignments, check the Assignments section every time class does not meet in person. Each response you’re required to make counts as one point simply for following the instructions well or minus one point (-1, negative credit) if you don’t do it. Because missing an assignment for an online class day counts as missing class, anyone who fails to do three or more of the assignments may be dropped from the course without further notice.
PROJECT
We’re going to discuss that.
ATTENDANCE
Be here. Someone who misses class and/or fails to do assignments three or more times may be dropped from the class without further notice. Again, this is your notice.
ACADEMIC ENVIRONMENT AND INTEGRITY
The professor reserves the right to subtract any number of points from the grade of someone who disrupts class, whether online or in person, or who cheats.
Anyone caught cheating will receive a course grade of F and will be referred for University disciplinary measures. A single instance of plagiarism in any task counts as cheating. A single unauthorized use of ChatGpt, Grammarly, or any other A.I. on any aspect of your work, even just to read or summarize something instead of really reading it, is cheating.
ELECTRONICS
Your phone and other electronic devices must be OFF and OUT OF SIGHT. If your phone is out, you lose a point. If you’re peeking down at your phone, you lose a point. If your phone rings or vibrates loudly enough for your professor to hear it during class, every ring is a classroom disruption and can cost you points. If it rings once, make sure it does not ring a second time. Do not text during class because that is distracting to others. If you need to be on your phone that badly, then you need to be somewhere else. Every time your phone is in sight (yours or mine) during class, you lose a point from your best test grade. If it lights up while we’re watching a movie, TV show, or anything else in the dark, you lose more.
If your phones, notes, or watches are visible during a test, that will be treated as cheating because too many students use their phones to cheat. I do not have to confirm what was on your phone. Also, do not wear watches, earbuds, sunglasses, smartglasses, or hats with forward-facing bills or brims during tests.
Don’t use computers to take classroom notes. Sorry, but too many professors have run into problems with people distracting other students by sitting there surfing the Internet. If you have special permission to use a laptop, the keyboard must be silent, you should sit in the back where it will be less likely to distract others, and if you ever use to surf the Internet, answer email, or use it for any other non-class function, you will not permitted to use it again and will have to make other arrangements.
Any use of generative A.I. or other unauthorized aide to complete any aspect of any assignment would be cheating. Never use copy/paste on any aspect of doing your assignments.
CONTACTING YOUR PROFESSOR
For a partly online course, the easiest way to contact me with questions or comments is by email. Write me at langlet@hsu.edu any time and I will respond after I see the message if a reply is necessary. Emailing me directly is often more reliable than messaging me via Canvas. If you cannot email me, you will need to leave a message on my voicemail at (870)230-5222. Even if the voicemail is not heard for a long time, the record will still exist. Email works best, though. Every time you send me a message without saying who you are or which course you’re talking about in the body of your message (not just the subject line), you will lose a point from your assignments grade, just as you’ll lose a point every time you could have found your answer by checking the syllabus instead of cluttering the email. We all get too much email. Be responsible and don’t lose those points.
I will send messages to the entire class via email at times. The email system is set up to send messages to your HSU student email address. If you prefer to use some other address, you must go into your campus email system and set up your mail options so that it will forward email to you.
If I can help you with anything else, always feel free to ask. Every class is different, so do not be embarrassed when you occasionally goof here or there. That’s part of the learning process, and I’ll endeavor to help you get things running smoothly.
Syllabus Part II: Expected Learning Outcomes, Computer Tips, Disability Services
The schedule and other details in this syllabus may be subject to revision.
