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Yale University

Introduction to Psychology

Yale University via YouTube

Overview

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What do your dreams mean? Do men and women differ in the nature and intensity of their sexual desires? Can apes learn sign language? Why cant we tickle ourselves? 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, religion, persuasion, love, lust, hunger, art, fiction, and dreams. 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

1. Introduction.
2. Foundations: This Is Your Brain.
3. Foundations: Freud.
4. Foundations: Skinner.
5. What Is It Like to Be a Baby: The Development of Thought.
6. How Do We Communicate?: Language in the Brain, Mouth.
7. Conscious of the Present; Conscious of the Past: Language.
8. Conscious of the Present; Conscious of the Past:.
9. Evolution, Emotion, and Reason: Love (Guest Lecture by.
10. Evolution, Emotion, and Reason: Evolution and Rationality.
11. Evolution, Emotion, and Reason: Emotions, Part I.
12. Evolution, Emotion, and Reason: Emotions, Part II.
13. Why Are People Different?: Differences.
14. What Motivates Us: Sex.
15. A Person in the World of People: Morality.
16. A Person in the World of People: Self and Other, Part I.
17. A Person in the World of People: Self and Other, Part II;.
18. What Happens When Things Go Wrong: Mental Illness, Part I.
19. What Happens When Things Go Wrong: Mental Illness, Part II.
20. The Good Life: Happiness.

Taught by

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Reviews

4.8 rating, based on 30 Class Central reviews

Start your review of Introduction to Psychology

  • Hoor Nawaf
    The Pythagorean theorem is one of the most important principles in mathematics, especially concerning right-angled triangles. It states that the square of the hypotenuse (the longest side of a right triangle) equals the sum of the squares of the other two sides. Mathematically, it is written as (a^2 + b^2 = c^2), where (c) is the hypotenuse and (a) and (b) are the two legs. This theorem is widely used in measuring distances, geometry, physics, and engineering, and it helps verify if a triangle is right-angled. It was discovered by the Greek philosopher and mathematician Pythagoras, and it remains essential in education and practical applications today.
  • Wow! The professor and guest speakers had an amazing way of breaking down each subject and discussing it in a way that was memorable. This course will serve as a fundamental piece in my professional and personal foundation.
  • Sabeeha Nadem
    This course is very interesting and useful. It explains the basics of psychology in a clear and simple way. I learned many new ideas about human behavior, emotions, and thinking. The professor explains the topics very well, and the lectures are easy to follow, I recommend this course to anyone who wants to understand psychology and how the human mind works.
  • Besnik Bislimi
    The Yale “Introduction to Psychology” course is clear, engaging, and well‑organized. The professor explains complex ideas with practical examples, making the material accessible even for beginners. The lectures are motivating and provide a solid foundation for anyone interested in psychology.
  • Nadifa Sidqia Khansa
    The experience of taking this online course was very engaging. The lecturer explained psychological concepts using relevant examples and clear language. The high-quality videos greatly helped me understand the basic principles of psychology.
  • Profile image for Siddhartha Gupta
    Siddhartha Gupta
    This course really really so good , i literally spend so good time at listening and i never predicted that some of the professors explain topic so good ,,,, many guest proffesor also teaches us the new things about everything which have different perception of topic some of the topics are conflicted ones but the way of explaining is so good that rather than fighting we understand every thing so good .
    i really got best course and i get really one of the best knowledge about evreything now my way of thhinking have different ........
    thankyou to professors and guest and the university for best education .
  • Profile image for Joshua Owens
    Joshua Owens
    very great for understanding the mind and other people. i learned alot from this course and has given me an amazing look into life itself.
  • Profile image for Ahmed Faïz Hamallate
    Ahmed Faïz Hamallate
    "أود أن أعبر عن امتناني لهذا المحتوى الرائع؛ لقد كانت تجربة تعليمية متميزة جداً. الشرح كان واضحاً وسلساً، مما ساعدني على فهم النقاط المعقدة بكل سهولة. أنصح الجميع بالبدء في هذه الدورة لأنها تضيف قيمة حقيقية للمهارات الشخصية والمهنية."
  • Snehita Kabi
    The course is really engaging and easy to follow. The lectures break down complex psychological ideas into simple explanations, which made learning enjoyable and informative. It helped me develop a better understanding of human behavior and thought processes.
  • Profile image for Lameck Dopper
    Lameck Dopper
    1
    Course Content: The course content was comprehensive, covering a wide range of topics in psychology. From foundational concepts to specialized areas, it provided a holistic understanding. The depth of material varied, but overall, it struck a balanc…
  • Profile image for امير محمد بلو الحمداني
    امير محمد بلو الحمداني
    تعتبر محاضرة مدخل علم النفس نقطة انطلاق أساسية لفهم هذا العلم الشيق والمتعدد التخصصات. لا تقدم هذه المحاضرة فقط المعرفة الأكاديمية، بل تفتح آفاقاً لفهم أعمق للإنسان وسلوكه، وتساهم في تطوير مهارات التفكير النقدي والتحليل العلمي. إن فهم مبادئ علم النفس ليس حكراً على المتخصصين، بل هو أداة قيمة لأي فرد يسعى لفهم نفسه والآخرين بشكل أفضل، مما يساهم في بناء مجتمع أكثر وعياً وتكاملاً.
  • Phanor Peña
    This course was wonderful; it reminds me of my undergraduate psychology years at university. I highly recommend it.
  • Profile image for Zepzepa
    Zepzepa
    I understand all information my English is not good but ı understand everything ı like This course ı learn new things this experience iş helps me my daily life and my work life thank you for everything
  • Profile image for Aisha Aisha
    Aisha Aisha
    "This intro to psychology course was incredibly engaging and informative. The faculty expertly covered key concepts, from cognitive processes to social psychology. The hands-on learning opportunities and discussions encouraged critical thinking and analysis of psychological theories. I appreciated the comprehensive approach and the way the course connected theoretical concepts to real-life applications. Overall, it was a great introduction to the fascinating world of psychology. I highly recommend this course to anyone interested in understanding human behavior and mental processes. It provided a solid foundation for further study or simply satisfying curiosity about the human mind."
  • Aarohi Rawal
    Taking the Yale psychology course was honestly one of the most eye-opening experiences I’ve had so far. The course didn’t just throw theories at me, it actually showed how psychology connects to real life from how we make decisions to why we form habits the way we do. I really liked how the lessons were structured: simple language, clear examples, and practical applications. It felt less like a class and more like a guide to understanding myself and others better. This course made me more curious about pursuing psychology seriously in the future.
  • Profile image for Vrinda Chhabra
    Vrinda Chhabra
    The course had clear explanations, engaging delivery, and comprehensive coverage of the field. The course is well-structured, making it easy to grasp the relationships between different areas of psychology. The course was both informative and inspiring, sparking further interest in the subject.
    It was well structured,with clear connections between different areas of psychology, allowing for a holistic understanding of the field. It was easy to understand, was enjoyable. Concept are explained clearly and with the use of relevant examples, making them easier to grasp. The course covers a wide array of topics within psychology, from basic concepts to more advanced areas like neuroscience, memory, and social psychology.
  • Profile image for Ayra Qamar
    Ayra Qamar
    Instructor was expert in expressing the main content and detailing of human psychology. Handling depression and life up and downs.
  • Profile image for Micah Chan
    Micah Chan
    This course was enjoyable and taught me a great deal about psychology, despite being an introductory course. The pace at which the professor went was also perfect for me to take notes on without having to pause or go back a lot. However, the videos did not show everything that the course showed due to copyright, and don't link to the PowerPoint mentioned in the video. As a result, some information is kept away in this course.
  • Arpit Kumar
    It was the best decision of my life to grab this course i was so much curious about how our mind works how do we think? How do we get angry,the sexual desires and so much more
    I got many answers from this course
  • Amgad Alkamel
    This course was very good and useful in psychology. I benefited a lot from it. It was a learning experience. The educational career path and psychological culture seemed to me well motivated and supported.

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