Online Course
Introduction to Psychology
Overview
Class Central Tips
What are people most afraid of? What do our dreams mean? Are we natural-born racists? What makes us happy? What are the causes and cures of mental illness? This course tries to answer these questions and many others, providing a comprehensive overview of the scientific study of thought and behavior. It explores topics such as perception, communication, learning, memory, decision-making, persuasion, emotions, and social behavior. We will look at how these aspects of the mind develop in children, how they differ across people, how they are wired-up in the brain, and how they break down due to illness and injury.
Syllabus
Welcome to Introduction to Psychology
-Meet Paul Bloom, your instructor.
Foundations
-In this module, you will learn about foundational psychological theories and findings in psychology. We will start with the discovery that our mental lives have a physical basis, introducing the field of neuroscience. And then we will turn to two major psychological theories that have come to shape the world that we now live in—Freud’s psychodynamic theory and Skinner’s theory of behaviorism.
Development and Language
-In this module, you will learn about foundational psychological research into development and language. Specifically, you will learn about methods for studying how infants and children think and the core discoveries that they have led to. Then you will learn about the structure of language, how language is learned, and end with a little bit on animal communication, language processing, and relationship between language and thought.
Cognition
-In this module, you will learn about cognitive psychology. Specifically, you will learn about how we perceive the world, how attention works, and we store our experiences in memory.
Self and others
-In this module, you will learn about psychology examining the self and others. Specifically, in the first half, you will learn about social and non-social emotions. In the second half, you will learn about how we deal with other people—social psychology.
Variation
-In this module, you will learn human variation. The focus will focus on personality and intelligence, and the role of genes and environment in explaining individual differences. The second half will focus on clinical psychology by reviewing prominent mental illnesses and therapies.
The good life
-In the final module, you will learn how psychologists measure happiness and what factors contribute to the good life
-Meet Paul Bloom, your instructor.
Foundations
-In this module, you will learn about foundational psychological theories and findings in psychology. We will start with the discovery that our mental lives have a physical basis, introducing the field of neuroscience. And then we will turn to two major psychological theories that have come to shape the world that we now live in—Freud’s psychodynamic theory and Skinner’s theory of behaviorism.
Development and Language
-In this module, you will learn about foundational psychological research into development and language. Specifically, you will learn about methods for studying how infants and children think and the core discoveries that they have led to. Then you will learn about the structure of language, how language is learned, and end with a little bit on animal communication, language processing, and relationship between language and thought.
Cognition
-In this module, you will learn about cognitive psychology. Specifically, you will learn about how we perceive the world, how attention works, and we store our experiences in memory.
Self and others
-In this module, you will learn about psychology examining the self and others. Specifically, in the first half, you will learn about social and non-social emotions. In the second half, you will learn about how we deal with other people—social psychology.
Variation
-In this module, you will learn human variation. The focus will focus on personality and intelligence, and the role of genes and environment in explaining individual differences. The second half will focus on clinical psychology by reviewing prominent mental illnesses and therapies.
The good life
-In the final module, you will learn how psychologists measure happiness and what factors contribute to the good life
Taught by
Paul Bloom
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Reviews
5.0 rating, based on 8 reviews
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Dave Rawlings completed this course, spending 8 hours a week on it and found the course difficulty to be easy.
A clear, enjoyable introduction to the subject. The amount of time I spent each week varied significantly - the first week being the longest and the last week the shortest. The presentation is animated throughout - I didn't mind that although I think some people prefer seeing the professor in person. His style is relaxed and engaging. -
Anonymous
Anonymous completed this course.
This course provides a high-level overview of psychology as an academic field and covers areas including memory, intelligence, personality, and mental illness. -
Pooja
Pooja is taking this course right now.
I am Pooja Sharma from Delhi , India. I have done my masters in Applied psychology from Delhi university, India. Currently I am working as a psychologist in a college. In further I want to do mphil in clinical psychology and want to be the best psychologist in The world. -
Kim Goed
Kim Goed completed this course, spending 6 hours a week on it and found the course difficulty to be easy.
You do get a really good introduction to Psychology. It gives you the right understanding of the basic principles, research methods and history of Psychology. I would definitely recommend this course to give you a good perspective of the field of Psychology -
Anonymous
Anonymous is taking this course right now.
I'm learning alot. Loving how convenient this class is and easy to follow along with. Will be recommending this to all my friends colleagues and family. -
Anonymous
Anonymous is taking this course right now.
Um curso muito interessante, principalmente nos dias atuais onde questões de saúde mental estão cada dia mais sendo colocadas em pauta. -
Vitor Alves RaquelExcellent instructor, he gives lots of examples which makes you understand the concepts without the need for reviewing the material to memorize. Although it was my first time studying psychology, it was very easy to understand.
The recommended readings are also great. Lots of references, so you can go further on the subjects you are more interested.
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Anonymous
Anonymous is taking this course right now.
This was a real eye-opening experience into the world of psychology. It will help me on my way to hopefully become a psychologist.
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