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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 35 Class Central reviews

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  • Marqas Sajid
    I learned altos about Psychology thank you , it was a great journey to learn about Psychology with Yale university thank you for giving us best knowledge throughout your university
  • This course is so cool. I learn a lot about Psychology. I think I want to be psychologist in the future. The professor, teaches all the things a student needs to learn. Very amazing. Also, I'm very thankful, because I get to learn a lot, I know that what I learn in this course is can be used in the future.🤗
  • 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.
  • Sima Yusifova
    This course was very useful and educational for me. The topics were explained clearly and in a well-structured way, and the instructor’s teaching style made everything easy to understand. The practical examples helped me grasp the material more effectively. I highly recommend this course to anyone who wants to improve themselves.
  • Sinenhlanhla Sibanda
    Introduction to Psychology — Yale (Paul Bloom)
    "Paul Bloom is an exceptionally clear, engaging lecturer. Covers neuroscience to happiness with guest lectures that are excellent."
  • Profile image for Syeda Zeynub
    Syeda Zeynub
    An absolutely fantastic course! Professor Paul Bloom is an engaging and insightful lecturer who makes complex psychological concepts accessible and fascinating. The course covers a wide range of topics from neuroscience to social psychology, all backed by compelling research and real-world examples. Being available for free on YouTube makes quality education accessible to everyone. Highly recommended for anyone curious about the human mind and behavior
  • Profile image for Haidr Ismail
    Haidr Ismail
    professor Paul bloom is an exceptional communicator who make complex psychological theories incredibly accessible especially appreciated how he blended classic experiments with modern research and real-world examples this courese provided a fantastic comprehensive foundation for anyone interested in thehumen mind
  • 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 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 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 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 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 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

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