Psychology · 8 modules · 22 steps
The Human Mind
A scientific introduction to psychology modelled on the breadth of a modern behavioural-science degree: experimental method, statistics, brain and cognition, social and developmental psychology, personality and individual differences, language, psychopathology and behavioural decision-making. The promise is not pop-psychology fluency; it is the ability to understand how psychological knowledge is generated, evaluate evidence, and connect mind, brain, development and social context.
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What Psychology Is
Start with the history and scope of psychology as an empirical discipline.
Psychology
David G. Myers and C. Nathan DeWallUse selected chapters as the introductory textbook and vocabulary builder.
Open the core textUniversity-level orientation to the field and its methods.
Open companionThe Story of Psychology
Morton HuntA readable history of the discipline and its major schools.
Open the core textFast map of behaviourism, psychoanalysis, cognitive psychology and more.
Open companionMethods & Evidence
This is the most important module to prevent pop-psychology errors: experiments, correlation, statistics, replication and research ethics.
The Psychologist's Companion
Robert J. Sternberg and Karin SternbergUse selected chapters for research questions, evidence and scientific communication.
Open the core textA practical introduction to experimental design and evidence.
Open companionNaked Statistics
Charles WheelanAccessible statistics for interpreting psychological studies.
Open the core textPractise concepts such as distributions, probability and inference.
Open companionWhy Most Published Research Findings Are False
John P.A. IoannidisA famous cautionary paper about statistical inference, bias and replication.
Open the core textContext for replication and scientific reliability.
Open companionBrain & Cognition
Understand sensation, perception, attention, decision-making and the neural machinery beneath them.
The Brain: The Story of You
David EaglemanAccessible neuroscience without losing the core science.
Open the core textSelected lectures on brain systems and cognition.
Open companionThe Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat
Oliver SacksCase studies show what cognition and perception look like when systems fail.
Open the core textA human and neurological companion to Sacks.
Open companionCognitive Psychology
Ulric NeisserRead selected chapters for the historical emergence of the cognitive approach.
Open the core textAcademic framework for attention, perception and memory.
Open companionLearning, Memory & Language
Study how organisms learn, how memories are formed and distorted, and why language changes the architecture of thought.
The Principles of Psychology
William JamesSelected chapters on habit, attention and the stream of consciousness.
Open the core textClassical and operant conditioning.
Open companionMoonwalking with Einstein
Joshua FoerAn engaging entry into memory techniques; separate the practical tricks from the science.
Open the core textVisual explanation of encoding and retrieval.
Open companionThe Stuff of Thought
Steven PinkerLanguage as a window into concepts, categorization and cognition.
Open the core textNeuroscientific and cognitive context for language.
Open companionDevelopment & Individual Differences
Follow the mind across the lifespan and ask why people differ in temperament, personality and ability.
The Developing Mind
Daniel J. SiegelA broad developmental account linking relationships and brain development.
Open the core textVisual sequence through childhood and adolescence.
Open companionThe Blank Slate
Steven PinkerA readable debate about heredity, environment and human nature; treat its claims critically.
Open the core textA more balanced scientific framework.
Open companionPersonality: A Psychological Perspective
David C. FunderA more systematic introduction to personality and individual differences.
Open the core textAccessible map of major approaches.
Open companionSocial Psychology
Understand conformity, identity, persuasion, groups, prejudice and the social construction of behaviour.
Influence
Robert CialdiniClassic research-based introduction to persuasion.
Open the core textAcademic framework for conformity, groups and influence.
Open companionThe Social Animal
Elliot AronsonReadable survey of social psychological mechanisms.
Open the core textVisual reinforcement.
Open companionThe Presentation of Self in Everyday Life
Erving GoffmanA foundational sociological account of social interaction and performed identity.
Open the core textIntroduction to dramaturgical analysis.
Open companionPsychopathology
Learn how psychology describes mental disorders, the limits of diagnosis, and the evidence behind competing explanations.
Abnormal Psychology
David H. BarlowUse selected chapters as a scientific overview rather than a symptom checklist.
Open the core textIntroductory taxonomy and debates.
Open companionThe Noonday Demon
Andrew SolomonA literary and human account of depression that complements, but does not replace, scientific material.
Open the core textEvidence-based context and terminology.
Open companionBehavioural Science
Finish by connecting psychology to economics, public policy, organizations and everyday decision-making.
Thinking, Fast and Slow
Daniel KahnemanHeuristics, biases and dual-process thinking.
Open the core textA more academic companion to Kahneman.
Open companionMisbehaving
Richard ThalerHow behavioural economics grew out of psychological anomalies.
Open the core textVisual bridge from psychology to economics.
Open companionBehave
Robert SapolskyA broad synthesis across neuroscience, hormones, development and culture.
Open the core textUse alongside Behave to connect levels of explanation.
Open companion