Introduction to Psychology

Yale University

About this Course

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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.

Learner Career Outcomes

12%

got a tangible career benefit from this course

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.

Beginner Level

Approx. 15 hours to complete

English

Subtitles: French, Portuguese (Brazilian), Russian, English, Spanish

Skills you will gain

reasoningProblem Solvingabstract thinkinganalytical thinkingCritical Thinking

Learner Career Outcomes

12%

got a tangible career benefit from this course

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.

Beginner Level

Approx. 15 hours to complete

English

Subtitles: French, Portuguese (Brazilian), Russian, English, Spanish

Instructor

Instructor rating

4.86/5 (4,839 Ratings)

Paul Bloom

Brooks and Suzanne Ragen Professor of Psychology and Cognitive Science at Yale University

Psychology

590,136 Learners

2 Courses

Offered by

Yale University

For more than 300 years, Yale University has inspired the minds that inspire the world. Based in New Haven, Connecticut, Yale brings people and ideas together for positive impact around the globe. A research university that focuses on students and encourages learning as an essential way of life, Yale is a place for connection, creativity, and innovation among cultures and across disciplines.

Syllabus - What you will learn from this course

Content Rating98%(76,833 ratings)

Week

Week 1

1 hour to complete

Welcome to Introduction to Psychology

Meet Paul Bloom, your instructor.

1 hour to complete

1 video (Total 3 min), 3 readings

1 video

How to take this course2m

3 readings

About this course10m

Optional Happiness Survey10m

Introductory readings10m

3 hours to complete

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.

3 hours to complete

17 videos (Total 136 min), 3 readings, 1 quiz

17 videos

The astonishing hypothesis4m

Dualism14m

Neurons14m

Parts of the brain9m

Our two brains5m

A bit of humility5m

Sigmund Freud3m

The psychodynamic approach10m

Stages of development5m

Defense mechanisms6m

Scientific assessment of Freud7m

Taking Freud seriously3m

B.F. Skinner4m

Habituation2m

Classical conditioning12m

Instrumental conditioning14m

Scientific assessment of Skinner11m

3 readings

The Brain10m

Freud10m

Skinner10m

1 practice exercise

Foundations30m

Week

Week 2

3 hours to complete

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.

3 hours to complete

14 videos (Total 111 min), 2 readings, 1 quiz

14 videos

Big questions about development6m

Piaget4m

Piaget's Developmental Stage Theory7m

Scientific evaluation of Piaget4m

Methods for studying infants14m

How are children different from adults?6m

Explanations for development11m

What is language?2m

Basic facts about language11m

Phonology3m

Morphology5m

Syntax8m

Language acquisition13m

Language and thought10m

2 readings

Development10m

Language10m

1 practice exercise

Development and language30m

Week

Week 3

2 hours to complete

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.

2 hours to complete

12 videos (Total 65 min), 2 readings, 1 quiz

12 videos

From the world to the mind2m

Problems of perception5m

Perception of brightness2m

Perception of objects4m

Perception of depth5m

Attention8m

Important memory distinctions2m

Memory storage6m

Learning5m

Remembering4m

Failures of memory10m

False memories6m

2 readings

Perception and attention10m

Memory10m

1 practice exercise

Cognition30m

Week

Week 4

3 hours to complete

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.

3 hours to complete

15 videos (Total 122 min), 2 readings, 1 quiz

15 videos

Evolution of emotion10m

Why evolution matters13m

Facial expressions7m

Fear4m

Kinship7m

Attachment8m

Prisoner's dilemma12m

Irrationality and culture8m

Social animals3m

Self12m

Attribution4m

Liking8m

The psychology of groups4m

Social categories4m

Social categories II11m

2 readings

Emotions10m

Social10m

1 practice exercise

Self and others30m

Frequently Asked Questions

When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
Access to lectures and assignments depends on your type of enrollment. If you take a course in audit mode, you will be able to see most course materials for free. To access graded assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience, during or after your audit. If you don't see the audit option:
The course may not offer an audit option. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid.
The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.
What will I get if I purchase the Certificate?
When you purchase a Certificate you get access to all course materials, including graded assignments. Upon completing the course, your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.
Is financial aid available?
Yes, Coursera provides financial aid to learners who cannot afford the fee. Apply for it by clicking on the Financial Aid link beneath the "Enroll" button on the left. You’ll be prompted to complete an application and will be notified if you are approved. Learn more.
Wow, the animations in this course are great! Who did them?
This course combines complex subject matter with high-end animation. Learn about Julia Veldman, a visual storyteller at http://www.juliaveldmanc.nl/
Will I earn university credit for completing the Course?
This Course doesn't carry university credit, but some universities may choose to accept Course Certificates for credit. Check with your institution to learn more. Online Degrees and Mastertrack™ Certificates on Coursera provide the opportunity to earn university credit.

More questions? Visit the Learner Help Center.

Introduction to Psychology