Starting with psychology

The most 'important and greatest puzzle' we face as humans is ourselves (Boring, 1950, p. 56). Humans are a puzzle, one that is complex, subtle and multi-layered, and it gets even more complicated as we evolve over time and change within different contexts. When answering the question 'what makes us who we are?' psychologists put forward a range of explanations about why people feel, think and behave the way they do. Just when psychologists seem to understand one bit of 'who we are' up pops some new evidence to show a different side! It is not easy to pin down all the many influences. This free course, Starting with psychology, makes a start.

• Introduction
• Learning outcomes
• 1 Studying people
• 1 Studying people
• 2 A brain of two halves
• 2 A brain of two halves
• 2.1 Introduction
• 2.2 The story of the split brain patients
• 3 It's the thought that counts
• 3 It's the thought that counts
• 3.1 Organisation and improved recall
• 3.2 Using mental images
• 3.3 Forming concepts
• 3.4 Schemas
• 4 Adult and intimate relationships
• 4 Adult and intimate relationships
• 4.1 Introduction
• 4.2 Attraction
• 4.3 Proximity and familiarity
• 4.4 Similarity
• 4.5 Physical appearance
• 4.6 Staying together or falling apart
• 5 Group pressure
• 5 Group pressure
• 5.1 Introduction
• 5.2 ‘In-groups’ and ‘out-groups’
• 5.3 Groups and conformity
• 6 What makes us who we are?
• 6 What makes us who we are?
• 6.1 Introduction
• 6.2 Multiple influences
• 6.3 The Zidane head-butt
• 6.4 Zidane's background
• Conclusion
• References
• Acknowledgements