Humans are fascinating. Why do we think and behave the way we do? What makes us similar in some ways and different in others? And, above all, how do these factors affect how we interact with the world around us?

In Psychology Basics, we will explore all of these questions and much more. Throughout the course, you will get to know some of the brilliant psychologists and their contributions to the field – like S. Freud, A. Bandura, E. Loftus, and I. P. Pavlov. It has been said that “psychology has a long past, but only a short history,” so we will trace the ideas that have shaped psychology as a discipline from the early beginnings to the current state of things. You will discover how humans develop from a psychological perspective across the lifespan, how language and memory work, and, at the end of the year, you will also obtain foundational knowledge of psychological disorders. You may expect a wide range of activities, real-life scenarios and tips for your everyday life: for example, how to recognise cognitive obstacles, cope with stress or learn new information effectively.

The course is divided into 5 topical modules, each lasting 6-8 weeks. The content is presented on the learning platform Buzz, whereby students engage with short texts, videos or interactive activities at their own pace, following a recommended timeline of 1-2 assignments per week. Assignments typically take the form of multiple-choice questions (MCQs), mini-essays and presentations. Moreover, each module contains a discussion-based assessment and a short MCQ-based test to assess students’ knowledge. Lastly, students are also invited to complete a collaborative project, having the option to choose between a theoretical and a practical task.