What topics are covered in an Introduction to Psychology course?

The course covers psychology’s history, human behavior, the brain, neurotransmitters, development, sensation, perception, consciousness, learning, memory, emotion, personality, and psychological disorders.

What is the difference between classical conditioning and operant conditioning?

Classical conditioning links two stimuli to produce an automatic response, while operant conditioning uses consequences, such as reinforcement or punishment, to shape voluntary behavior.

What does the two-factor theory of emotion explain?

Schachter and Singer’s two-factor theory proposes that emotion results from physical arousal combined with a cognitive interpretation of the situation.

Free Course Image Introduction to Psychology

Free online course Introduction to Psychology

Duration of the online course: 24 hours and 28 minutes

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Build a solid psychology foundation with this free online course—explore behavior, brain science, learning, and mental health, with exercises and a certificate.

In this free course, learn about

Foundations and Perspectives of Psychology
Biological Foundations of Behavior
Human Development and Sensory Processes
Consciousness and Learning
Memory, Emotion, and Personality
Psychological Disorders, Health, and Social Behavior

About the free online course

Understanding why people think, feel, and act the way they do is a practical skill—useful in healthcare, education, business, and everyday relationships. This free online Introduction to Psychology course gives you a clear, science-based framework for making sense of human behavior, from the biology of the brain to the social forces that shape decisions. If you are considering a future in health or simply want a better grasp of yourself and others, you will gain tools to interpret real situations with more accuracy and empathy.

You will explore how psychology developed as a field and how researchers investigate the mind through careful observation, experiments, and ethical study design. The course connects big questions to evidence: how neurotransmitters influence mood and motivation, how different brain areas support survival and higher reasoning, and how development begins even before birth. You will also examine sensation and perception—how the world reaches the brain, and why what we notice is not always the same as what is there.

As you move forward, you will learn how consciousness and biological rhythms affect attention, sleep, and performance, and why these patterns matter for mental well-being. You will also build a practical understanding of learning through classical and operant conditioning—knowledge that helps explain habits, motivation, and behavior change in real life. Memory and emotion are covered in ways that highlight common experiences such as déjà vu, stress reactions, and the link between thoughts, feelings, and the body.

The course introduces key perspectives on personality and provides an accessible entry into psychological disorders and therapy, focusing on how symptoms are understood, categorized, and treated. You will also examine stress and health, including how long-term strain can influence the body, and you will finish with insights from social psychology—how we explain other people’s actions and how judgment can be biased. Short exercises throughout help you check your understanding, strengthen recall, and turn concepts into usable knowledge you can apply beyond the screen.

Course content

Video class: [PSYC 200] 1. Introduction 1h05m
Exercise: Which field of study is fundamentally concerned with understanding the human mind and behaviors?
Video class: [PSYC 200] 2. The Story of Psychology 1h12m
Exercise: According to psychological research, does the human brain produce its own natural opiates that can ease pain and elevate mood?
Video class: [PSYC 200] 3. Introduction to Human Behavior 55m
Exercise: Which assumption is least likely to be held by a psychologist with a naturalistic worldview?

Video class: [PSYC 200] 4. The Biological Basis for Behavior 1h07m
Exercise: Which model emphasizes the influence of genetic background on human behavior?
Video class: [PSYC 200] 5. Neurotransmitters 1h00m
Exercise: Which neurotransmitter is primarily associated with feelings of pleasure and is affected by almost every known drug that humans abuse?
Video class: [PSYC 200] 6. The Brain 48m
Exercise: Based on the Introduction to Psychology lecture, which part of the brain is responsible for automatic survival functions such as breathing?
Video class: [PSYC 200] 7. Fetal Brain Development 50m
Exercise: What has research on prenatal development shown about babies' responses to their environment?

Video class: [PSYC 200] 8. Developmental Psychology: The Newborn 1h00m
Exercise: Which of the following scenarios best illustrates the concept of object permanence in infants?
Video class: [PSYC 200] 9. Sensation 1h06m
Exercise: What experimental method did Gustav Fechner contribute to psychophysics that measures the ability to detect differences between stimuli?
Video class: [PSYC 200] 10. Subliminal Messaging 1h05m
Exercise: What is the McClintock effect in relation to pheromones?
Video class: [PSYC 200] 11. Perception 1h07m
Exercise: In the field of psychology, which term refers to the direct communication of information from one person's mind to another's without using any known sensory channels or physical interaction?

Video class: [PSYC 200] 12. States of Consciousness 1h04m
Exercise: What is the approximate length of the biological rhythm called the circadian cycle?
Video class: [PSYC 200] 13. States of Consciousness, part 2 1h07m
Exercise: Which of the following biological rhythms is associated with a cycle of approximately 90 minutes?
Video class: [PSYC 200] 14. Classical Conditioning 1h07m
Exercise: What is the principle of classical conditioning as described in the provided text?
Video class: [PSYC 200] 15. Operant Conditioning 1h04m
Exercise: In the context of operant conditioning, what distinguishes a positive reinforcer from a negative reinforcer?

Video class: [PSYC 200] 16. Memory 1h04m
Exercise: Which term refers to the phenomenon where an individual feels like they have already experienced a given situation, despite it being unlikely or impossible?
Video class: [PSYC 200] 17. Emotions 1h12m
Exercise: According to the Schachter and Singer's two-factor theory of emotion, which two factors contribute to emotions?
Video class: [PSYC 200] 18. Personality 1h10m
Exercise: According to Freud's psychoanalytic theory, which structure of personality operates on the pleasure principle and demands immediate gratification?

Video class: [PSYC 200] 19. Psychological Disorders 57m
Exercise: Which one of these is NOT one of the three major categories of psychological disorders discussed in the introduction to psychological disorders lecture?
Video class: [PSYC 200] 20. Psychological Disorders, Part 2 1h11m
Exercise: Which of the following psychological disorders is characterized by alternating periods of extreme highs and extreme lows?
Video class: [PSYC 200] 21. Therapy 56m
Exercise: According to the lecture, which factor has NOT been associated with increased risk of depression?
Video class: [PSYC 200] 22. Stress and Health 1h08m
Exercise: Which of the following is NOT a risk factor for heart disease?
Video class: [PSYC 200] 23. Social Psychology 1h00m
Exercise: What is the Fundamental Attribution Error in the context of Social Psychology?