Psychology

Introduction to Psychology

V9HVG7G6 · 17 modules

This course provides a comprehensive survey of the science of mind and behavior, covering the historical foundations, biological underpinnings, and major subfields of psychology. Students will explore how psychologists study the mind through research methods, examine the biological, cognitive, and social processes that shape human experience, and investigate the full lifespan of development from infancy through old age. Along the way, students will engage with core topics including sensation and perception, learning, memory, intelligence, emotion, personality, and social behavior. Beyond foundational theory, the course extends into applied domains such as industrial-organizational psychology, stress and health psychology, and the diagnosis and treatment of psychological disorders. Emphasis is placed on scientific literacy—understanding how psychological knowledge is generated and evaluated—as well as practical application of psychological principles to everyday life, workplaces, relationships, and mental health. This textbook is designed to serve as the primary learning resource for an introductory psychology course, replacing traditional textbooks with structured, in-depth chapters and embedded practice activities. By the end of this course, students will be equipped with a broad conceptual toolkit for understanding themselves and others, critically evaluating psychological claims encountered in media and daily life, and recognizing when professional psychological expertise (research, clinical, organizational) is relevant to real-world problems.

Prerequisites

None. This is an introductory-level course suitable for students with no prior background in psychology or the behavioral sciences.

Module Outline

17 modules

Introduction to Psychology
Introduces the definition, history, major perspectives, and subfields of psychology, along with the diverse career paths within the discipline.
Psychological Research
Covers the scientific method, research designs, data analysis, and ethical considerations involved in psychological research.
Biopsychology
Explores the nervous system, brain structures, neurotransmitters, and genetic influences underlying behavior and mental processes.
States of Consciousness
Examines sleep, dreaming, hypnosis, meditation, and the effects of psychoactive drugs on consciousness.
Sensation and Perception
Investigates how sensory systems detect stimuli and how the brain organizes and interprets sensory information into perception.
Learning
Covers classical conditioning, operant conditioning, observational learning, and cognitive approaches to learning.
Thinking and Intelligence
Explores cognition, problem solving, decision making, language, and theories and measurement of intelligence.
Memory: How the Mind Encodes and Retrieves Experience
Examines the stages of memory processing, types of memory, and factors that contribute to forgetting and memory distortion.
Lifespan Development
Traces physical, cognitive, and psychosocial development from conception through late adulthood and death.
Emotion and Motivation
Explores theories of motivation, biological and psychological components of emotion, and their influence on behavior.
Personality
Surveys psychodynamic, humanistic, trait, and social-cognitive theories of personality along with personality assessment methods.
Social Psychology
Examines how social influence, group dynamics, attitudes, and interpersonal relationships shape individual behavior.
Industrial-Organizational Psychology
Applies psychological principles to workplace settings, including employee selection, motivation, leadership, and organizational behavior.
Stress, Lifestyle, and Health
Explores the physiological and psychological effects of stress, coping strategies, and behaviors that promote health and well-being.
Psychological Disorders
Surveys the classification, symptoms, and causes of major categories of psychological disorders using contemporary diagnostic frameworks.
Therapy and Treatment
Examines major psychotherapeutic approaches, biomedical treatments, and considerations for evaluating treatment effectiveness.
Integrated Case Analysis: A Comprehensive Psychological Portrait
A capstone project in which students apply concepts from biopsychology, development, cognition, personality, social psychology, and clinical psychology to analyze a novel, complex case study and propose an evidence-based intervention plan.

Psychology

Introduction to Psychology

V9HVG7G6 · 17 modules

Prerequisites

None. This is an introductory-level course suitable for students with no prior background in psychology or the behavioral sciences.

Module Outline

17 modules

Introduction to Psychology
Introduces the definition, history, major perspectives, and subfields of psychology, along with the diverse career paths within the discipline.
Psychological Research
Covers the scientific method, research designs, data analysis, and ethical considerations involved in psychological research.
Biopsychology
Explores the nervous system, brain structures, neurotransmitters, and genetic influences underlying behavior and mental processes.
States of Consciousness
Examines sleep, dreaming, hypnosis, meditation, and the effects of psychoactive drugs on consciousness.
Sensation and Perception
Investigates how sensory systems detect stimuli and how the brain organizes and interprets sensory information into perception.
Learning
Covers classical conditioning, operant conditioning, observational learning, and cognitive approaches to learning.
Thinking and Intelligence
Explores cognition, problem solving, decision making, language, and theories and measurement of intelligence.
Memory: How the Mind Encodes and Retrieves Experience
Examines the stages of memory processing, types of memory, and factors that contribute to forgetting and memory distortion.
Lifespan Development
Traces physical, cognitive, and psychosocial development from conception through late adulthood and death.
Emotion and Motivation
Explores theories of motivation, biological and psychological components of emotion, and their influence on behavior.
Personality
Surveys psychodynamic, humanistic, trait, and social-cognitive theories of personality along with personality assessment methods.
Social Psychology
Examines how social influence, group dynamics, attitudes, and interpersonal relationships shape individual behavior.
Industrial-Organizational Psychology
Applies psychological principles to workplace settings, including employee selection, motivation, leadership, and organizational behavior.
Stress, Lifestyle, and Health
Explores the physiological and psychological effects of stress, coping strategies, and behaviors that promote health and well-being.
Psychological Disorders
Surveys the classification, symptoms, and causes of major categories of psychological disorders using contemporary diagnostic frameworks.
Therapy and Treatment
Examines major psychotherapeutic approaches, biomedical treatments, and considerations for evaluating treatment effectiveness.
Integrated Case Analysis: A Comprehensive Psychological Portrait
A capstone project in which students apply concepts from biopsychology, development, cognition, personality, social psychology, and clinical psychology to analyze a novel, complex case study and propose an evidence-based intervention plan.