Explore the basics of psychology

Psychology is the study of animal and human behaviour. This course will develop your ability to analyse aspects of a person's psychological state and apply derived knowledge to motivate that person. This provides a solid introduction/foundation for further studies of psychology covering the nature and scope of psychology, neurological and environmental effects on behaviour, personality, consciousness, perception, needs, drives and motivation.

"Ever wondered what Freud said, but were afraid to ask? Do you think psychology sounds interesting and want to know more, but don't know where to start? Well, stop right here. This course gives you an interesting and informative start to the exciting field of psychology.Tracey Jones, B.Sc. (Hons) (Psychology), M.Soc.Sc (social work), DipSW (social work), PGCE (Education), PGD (Learning Disability Studies)

There are 7 lessons in this course:

1. The nature and scope of Psychology
2. Neurological basis of behaviour
3. Environmental effects on behaviour
4. Consciousness and perception
5. Personality
6. Psychological development
7. Needs, drives and motivation

Each lesson culminates in an assignment which is submitted to the school, marked by the school's tutors and returned to you with any relevant suggestions, comments, and if necessary, extra reading.

• Explain the nature and scope of psychology.
• Explain characteristics of the neurological basis of behaviour.
• Explain environmental effects on behaviour.
• Explain the differences between consciousness and perception.
• Explain the effect of personality on behaviour.
• Explain psychological development.
• Apply different techniques to motivate people.

• Define different psychological terms such as ambivalence, apathy, behaviour, catalyst, cognition, empirical, fixation, homeostasis, obsession, perception, performance, psychosomatic, socialisation, stereotype, temperament, trait.
• Explain how a knowledge of psychology can be applied in different types of jobs.
• Explain risks involved in applying psychology in two different specified situations.
• Differentiate between developmental and interactive explanations of behaviour, in a case study.
• Describe how the nervous system functions to transmit messages throughout the body.
• Explain how the disfunctioning of different parts of the nervous system, can influence behaviour.
• Compare the function of the left and right hemispheres of the brain.
• Explain two examples of conditioning, which you observe.
• Explain an example of behaviour affected by modelling, observed by yourself.
• Compare the likely affects of positive and negative reinforcement in a case study.
• Distinguish between consciousness and perception, in the attitude of an observed individual.
• Explain selective attention, in a case study.
• Explain in summaries, different states of consciousness including daydreams, sleeping and dreaming, meditation.