20-Lecture Course: Introduction to Psychology

June 18, 2010 · 1 comment

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Do your dreams have meaning or are they just for entertainment? Why is it not possible to tickle ourselves? Do men actually have more intense sexual desires? Is it possible for apes to learn sign language? Psychology, the study of mental functions and behaviors, has long sought to answer these questions and more. This course delves into the topics of love, lust, art, dreams, hunger, fiction, memory, communication, learning, perception, religion, persuasion, and decision-making. It also looks at how the mind develops, how it is wired, how it differs from person to person, and how it breaks down.

The course is taught by Professor Paul Bloom at Yale University. He studied at McGill University and received his Ph.D. from MIT. He has been published in several journals and has authored two books: Descartes’ Baby: How the Science of Child Development Explains What Makes Us Human and How Children Learn the Meanings of Words.

1. Introduction (#1)

- Introduction to Psychology (PSYC 110) Professor Paul Bloom welcomes students and presents the course as a comprehensive introduction to the study of the human mind. Course readings and requirements are discussed. The five main branches of psychology are presented: neuroscience, which is a study of the mind by looking at the brain; developmental, which focuses on how people grow and learn; cognitive, which refers to the computational approach to studying the mind; social, which studies how peopl...

2. Foundations: This Is Your Brain (#2)

- Introduction to Psychology (PSYC 110) This lecture introduces students to two broad theories of how the mind relates to the body. Dualism is the ubiquitous and intuitive feeling that our conscious mind is separate from our physical bodies, whereas Materialism is the idea that all of our mental states are caused by physical states of the brain. This lecture reviews arguments explaining why materialism has become the predominant theory of mind in psychology. This discussion is followed by a basic...

3. Foundations: Freud (#3)

- Introduction to Psychology (PSYC 110) This lecture introduces students to the theories of Sigmund Freud, including a brief biographical description and his contributions to the field of psychology. The limitations of his theories of psychoanalysis are covered in detail, as well as the ways in which his conception of the unconscious mind still operate in mainstream psychology today. 00:00 - Chapter 1. Sigmund Freud in a Historical Context 06:51 - Chapter 2. Unconscious Motivation: The Id, Ego a...

4. Foundations: Skinner (#4)

- Introduction to Psychology (PSYC 110) Professor Bloom opens with a brief discussion of the value and evolutionary basis of unconscious processing. The rest of this lecture introduces students to the theory of Behaviorism, particularly the work of prominent behaviorist, B. F. Skinner. Different types of learning are discussed in detail, as well as reasons why behaviorism has been largely displaced as an adequate theory of human mental life. 00:00 - Chapter 1. A Brief Review on the Unconscious 0...

5. What Is It Like to Be a Baby: The Development of Thought (#5)

- Introduction to Psychology (PSYC 110) This lecture explores issues and ideas related to the branch of psychology known as cognitive development. It begins with an introduction of Piaget who, interested in the emergence of knowledge in general, studied children and the way they learn about the world in order to formulate his theories of cognitive development. This is followed by an introduction to the modern science of infant cognition. Finally, the question of the relationship between and the e...

6. How Do We Communicate?: Language in the Brain, Mouth (#6)

- Introduction to Psychology (PSYC 110) One of the most uniquely human abilities is the capacity for creating and understanding language. This lecture introduces students to the major topics within the study of language: phonology, morphology, syntax and recursion. This lecture also describes theories of language acquisition, arguments for the specialization of language, and the commonalities observed in different languages across cultures. 00:00 - Chapter 1. The Scientific Notion of Language an...

7. Conscious of the Present; Conscious of the Past: Language (#7)

- Introduction to Psychology (PSYC 110) This lecture finishes the discussion of language by briefly reviewing two additional topics: communication systems in non-human primates and other animals, and the relationship between language and thought. The majority of this lecture is then spent on introducing students to major theories and discoveries in the fields of perception, attention and memory. Topics include why we see certain visual illusions, why we don't always see everything we think we see...

8. Conscious of the Present; Conscious of the Past: (#8)

- Introduction to Psychology (PSYC 110) In this lecture, Professor Bloom reviews the basic psychological research on memory. Specific topics covered include the different memory types, memory limitations, strategies that improve memory, and memory disorders. This lecture also includes a discussion of several important social implications for memory research, such as recovered memories, and the influence of suggestibility on eyewitness testimony. 00:00 - Chapter 1. Distinctions Between Short-Term...

9. Evolution, Emotion, and Reason: Love (Guest Lecture by (#9)

- Introduction to Psychology (PSYC 110) Guest lecturer Peter Salovey, Professor of Psychology and Dean of Yale College, introduces students to the dominant psychological theories of love and attraction. Specific topics include the different types of love, the circumstances that predict attraction, and the situations where people mistakenly attribute arousal for love. 00:00 - Chapter 1. Introduction to Dr Peter Salovey 01:41 - Chapter 2. Defining Love and Its Permutations 16:22 - Chapter 3. The...

10. Evolution, Emotion, and Reason: Evolution and Rationality (#10)

- Introduction to Psychology (PSYC 110) This lecture introduces students to the study of psychology from an evolutionary perspective, the idea that like the body, natural selection has shaped the development of the human mind. Prominent arguments for and against the theory of natural selection and its relationship to human psychology are reviewed. Students will hear several examples of how studying mental phenomenon from an evolutionary perspective can help constrain theories in psychology as wel...

11. Evolution, Emotion, and Reason: Emotions, Part I (#11)

- Introduction to Psychology (PSYC 110) This class is an introduction to the evolutionary analysis of human emotions, how they work, why they exist, and what they communicate. In particular, this lecture discusses three interesting case studies, that of happiness (e.g., smiling), fear and the emotions we feel towards our relatives. Finally, this lecture ends with a brief discussion of babies' emotional responses to their caregivers. 00:00 - Chapter 1. The Different Functions of Emotions 09:06 - ...

12. Evolution, Emotion, and Reason: Emotions, Part II (#12)

- Introduction to Psychology (PSYC 110) Professor Bloom continues the discussion of emotions as useful evolutionary adaptations for dealing with our social environment. In particular, this lecture describes evolutionary explanations for several important emotional responses, such as the love between parents and their offspring, the gratitude we feel towards cooperative behaviors, the spite we feel for cheaters, and the cultural differences in feelings of revenge. 00:00 - Chapter 1. Emotional Res...

13. Why Are People Different?: Differences (#13)

- Introduction to Psychology (PSYC 110) Why are people different from one another? This lecture addresses this question by reviewing the latest theories and research in psychology on two traits in particular: personality and intelligence. Students will hear about how these traits are measured, why they may differ across individuals and groups, and whether they are influenced at all by one's genes, parents or environment. 00:00 - Chapter 1. Personality, Intelligence and Determining Difference 13:...

14. What Motivates Us: Sex (#14)

- Introduction to Psychology (PSYC 110) This lecture reviews what evolutionary theories and recent studies in psychology can tell us about sex and gender differences. Students will hear how psychology can help explain many of the differences that exist in whom we find attractive, what we desire in a mate, and sexual orientation. 00:00 - Chapter 1. Addressing Morality and Inevitability on Evolution, Sex and Gender 10:47 - Chapter 2. Basic Sex Ed 19:22 - Chapter 3. Sex Differences Among Humans 32...

15. A Person in the World of People: Morality (#15)

- Introduction to Psychology (PSYC 110) Professor Bloom provides an introduction to psychological theories of morality. Students will learn how research in psychology has helped answer some of the most central questions about human morality. For instance, which emotions are "moral" and why did these moral feelings evolve? What factors guide our moral judgments? And what factors predict when good people will do bad things? 00:00 - Chapter 1. Kin Selection, Cooperation and Moral Feelings 23:07 - C...

16. A Person in the World of People: Self and Other, Part I (#16)

- Introduction to Psychology (PSYC 110) This is the first of two lectures on social psychology, the study of how we think about ourselves, other people, and social groups. Students will hear about the famous "six degrees of separation" phenomenon and how it illuminates important individual differences in social connectedness. This lecture also reviews a number of important biases that greatly influence how we think of ourselves as well as other people. 00:00 - Chapter 1. Social Psychology and Co...

17. A Person in the World of People: Self and Other, Part II; (#17)

- Introduction to Psychology (PSYC 110) This lecture begins with the second half of the discussion on social psychology. Students will learn about several important factors influencing how we form impressions of others, including our ability to form rapid impressions about people. This discussion focuses heavily upon stereotypes, including a discussion of their utility, reliability, and the negative effects that even implicit stereotypes can incur. The second half of the lecture introduces stude...

18. What Happens When Things Go Wrong: Mental Illness, Part I (#18)

- Introduction to Psychology (PSYC 110) Professor Susan Nolen-Hoeksema describes how modern clinical psychology both identifies and treats various mental disorders. Particular focus is placed upon mood disorders such as bipolar disorder and depression, including current diagnostic criteria and current practices for treatment. 00:00 - Chapter 1. Introduction to Dr Susan Nolen-Hoeksema 01:36 - Chapter 2. Behavioral Criteria for Accessing Mental Disorders 11:53 - Chapter 3. Unipolar Disorders 21:30...

19. What Happens When Things Go Wrong: Mental Illness, Part II (#19)

- Introduction to Psychology (PSYC 110) This lecture continues to cover one of the most salient areas within the field of psychology known as psychopathology, or clinical psychology. Following a discussion of the different ways of defining mental illness, Professor Bloom reviews several classes of clinical diagnoses including schizophrenia, anxiety disorders, dissociative disorders, and personality disorders. The lecture concludes with a brief introduction to therapy. 00:00 - Chapter 1. Identify...

20. The Good Life: Happiness (#20)

- Introduction to Psychology (PSYC 110) The last lecture in the course wraps up the discussion of clinical psychology with a discussion of treatment efficacy. Does therapy actually work? Professor Bloom summarizes the different types of influences that clinical interventions might have on people who receive therapy. Professor Bloom ends with a review of one of the most interesting research topics in "positive psychology," happiness. What makes us happy? How does happiness vary across person and ...

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{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }

Elaine C March 2, 2011 at 10:41 am: I am really enjoying the psych 110 course, I am so glad you have in online for me to view for free.I am planning on majoring in this field,and this material gives me great insight into it.
Thank you

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20-Lecture Course: Introduction to Psychology

1. Introduction (#1)

2. Foundations: This Is Your Brain (#2)

3. Foundations: Freud (#3)

4. Foundations: Skinner (#4)

5. What Is It Like to Be a Baby: The Development of Thought (#5)

6. How Do We Communicate?: Language in the Brain, Mouth (#6)

7. Conscious of the Present; Conscious of the Past: Language (#7)

8. Conscious of the Present; Conscious of the Past: (#8)

9. Evolution, Emotion, and Reason: Love (Guest Lecture by (#9)

10. Evolution, Emotion, and Reason: Evolution and Rationality (#10)

11. Evolution, Emotion, and Reason: Emotions, Part I (#11)

12. Evolution, Emotion, and Reason: Emotions, Part II (#12)

13. Why Are People Different?: Differences (#13)

14. What Motivates Us: Sex (#14)

15. A Person in the World of People: Morality (#15)

16. A Person in the World of People: Self and Other, Part I (#16)

17. A Person in the World of People: Self and Other, Part II; (#17)

18. What Happens When Things Go Wrong: Mental Illness, Part I (#18)

19. What Happens When Things Go Wrong: Mental Illness, Part II (#19)

20. The Good Life: Happiness (#20)

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