psychology

Hocbigg - Psychology

Path to a free self-taught education in Psychology!

Contents

Summary

The Psychology curriculum is a complete education in Psychology using online materials.

Note: When there are courses or books that don’t fit into the curriculum but are otherwise of high quality, they belong in extras/courses, extras/readings or extras/other_curricula.

Process. Students can work through the curriculum alone or in groups, in order or out of order.

How to contribute

Communities

Curriculum

Intro

Subject Why study? Book Videos
History & Schools of Thought / What is Psychology? To understand how modern psychology emerged, the major traditions, and how framing affects interpretation. Psychology (OpenStax, 2e) — free, comprehensive introduction. Open Education Network Introduction to Psychology — full course by Yale University (Prof. Paul Bloom)
Foundations of Scientific Inquiry / Research Methods To gain the conceptual tools for evaluating evidence, studies, and claims about mind and behavior. Psychology (OpenStax, 2e) covers research-method fundamentals. Social Sci LibreTexts MIT OpenCourseWare — Introduction to Psychology (2004)
Statistics Primer (for Psychology) Because statistical reasoning underpins experiments, data analysis, and critical evaluation in psychology. OpenIntro Statistics (a free, high-quality general statistics text) — recommended start for any empirical social science.  
Biological Basics for Psych To ground psychological phenomena in biology: brain, neurons, physiology — essential for biopsychology and neuroscience-informed psychology. Biological Psychology by Michael J. Hove & Steven A. Martinez (Open-access 2024 edition). ROTEL MIT OCW — Introduction to Psychology (contains neuroscientific and biological parts)

Core

Mind, Brain, Behavior

Subject Why study? Book Videos
Research Methods in Psychology To learn how psychologists design studies, collect data, and draw valid conclusions. Use Psychology (OpenStax) for basic coverage; for deeper method/stat design, supplement with a general research-methods text (e.g., Research Methods in Psychology, Jhangiani et al. — free OER) Lehman Library Guides Yale Intro to Psychology (as above)
Biopsychology / Behavioral Neuroscience To understand how neural and physiological systems underlie behavior — bridging mind and body. Biological Psychology by Hove & Martinez (free) ROTEL MIT OCW — Introduction to Psychology, with neurobiological lectures MIT OpenCourseWare
Learning & Conditioning Because learning mechanisms are foundational to behavior change, habits, memory, and developmental psychology. Psychology (OpenStax) — chapters on Learning & Cognition. Social Sci LibreTexts Yale Intro to Psychology course — modules on cognition, learning, memory
Sensation & Perception To understand how minds interpret sensory input — essential before studying cognition. Psychology (OpenStax) — Sensation & Perception chapter. Social Sci LibreTexts MIT OCW — Sensation & Perception lectures inside Introduction to Psychology

Cognition, Memory, Thought

Subject Why study? Book Videos
Cognitive Psychology To grasp how mental processes like attention, perception, reasoning, language, decision-making operate. Psychology (OpenStax) covers basics; for deeper dive after that, you can use standard cognitive psychology textbooks (e.g. Goldstein’s Cognitive Psychology, though not free). Coursera — Introduction to Cognitive Psychology and Neuropsychology (University of Cambridge)
Memory Systems Because memory is central to cognition, identity, learning; memory research underpins many applied domains. Psychology (OpenStax), chapters on Memory & Cognition. Social Sci LibreTexts Yale Intro to Psychology course — memory & cognition modules
Cognitive Neuroscience (bridging biology + cognition) To integrate brain-based mechanisms with cognitive functions — crucial for realistic models of mind. Biological Psychology (Hove & Martinez) — for biological basis; for cognitive neuroscience more specialized texts exist (e.g. Gazzaniga’s Cognitive Neuroscience). libguides.wofford.edu Use MIT OCW or similar brain & behavior courses — many include lectures on neural basis of cognition. For example, MIT OCW Introduction to Psychology includes relevant neuroscience content. MIT OpenCourseWare
Language & Thought / Psycholinguistics To explore how language, thought, and cognition intersect — important for any psychological or cognitive science path. Psychology (OpenStax) provides some introductory exposure; for more depth, specialized psycholinguistics textbooks needed (not listed here). Lecture series on language/ cognition in broader psych or cognitive-science MOOCs (e.g., MIT OCW + additional psych-linguistics lectures).

Development, Personality, Social Mind

Subject Why study? Book Videos
Developmental Psychology To understand how humans change cognitively, emotionally, socially across lifespan — essential for any applied or theoretical path. Development Through Life: A Psychosocial Approach by Newman & Newman — standard development textbook (paid, but widely used). UQx: Introduction to Developmental Psychology
Personality Psychology To understand individual differences, traits, dispositions, how personality shapes behavior across contexts. Personality Theories: Development, Growth, and Diversity by Bem & DeYoung (or similar comprehensive text). Personality and its Transformations (Lecture Series)
Social Psychology To learn how individuals think, influence, and behave in social contexts: group behavior, prejudice, conformity, social cognition. Social Psychology by David Myers — a standard comprehensive text. Social Psychology
Cultural Psychology / Cross-Cultural Variation To understand how culture shapes cognition, emotion, social behavior — critical for global applicability and avoiding ethnocentric bias. Cultural Psychology: A Perspective on Psychological Functioning and Social Reform by Heine (or similar). University lecture series on cultural psychology or anthropology-psychology intersections (search “Cultural Psychology lectures Open Yale / OCW / YouTube”).

Mental Health, Measurement, Applied Domains

Subject Why study? Book Videos
Psychopathology To understand classification, symptomatology, theories and models of mental disorders — foundational for clinical, counseling, or research interest. Abnormal Psychology by Ronald J. Comer — standard undergraduate-level text. Abnormal Psychology
Psychological Assessment To grasp measurement theory, test design, reliability/validity, and how psychological constructs are operationalized and assessed. Psychological Testing and Assessment by Cohen & Swerdlik (or similar) — standard text. Online modules or recorded lectures on psychological assessment / psychometrics (search “Psychological Testing lecture series open courseware”).
Clinical Psychology Foundations (therapy models, ethics, case conceptualization) For exposure to therapeutic models, case work, ethical, systemic, and cultural considerations in applied psychology. Casebook of Clinical Psychology (collection of case studies) + a therapy-models text. Recorded university-level courses on clinical psychology (e.g. “Introduction to Clinical Psychology” lectures).
Industrial-Organizational Psychology (I–O Psychology) To apply psychological principles to workplace behavior, leadership, teams, organizational structure, motivation. Work and Organizational Psychology by Hodgkinson & Ford (or similar) MOOCs or open lectures on I–O psychology or organizational behavior (many business-psych courses exist in open/university archives)

Notes:

Advanced

Cognitive & Brain Sciences

Subject Why study? Book Videos
Advanced Cognitive Neuroscience To explore how neural circuits implement cognition, perception, decision-making; link brain structure and function with mental processes. Biological Psychology by Hove & Martinez — the free open-textbook with relevant chapters. MIT OCW — Introduction to Psychology (neuroscience/cognitive lectures) (includes brain & behavior content)
Computational Modeling for Psychology To learn formal models of cognition and behavior — helps translate psychological phenomena into computational or mathematical frameworks. (No widely used open textbook fully dedicated — use chapters from advanced cognitive texts, or research papers.) Coursera — “Computational Neuroscience” (from University of Washington) — useful for modeling perception, memory, networks.
Attention & Executive Control (Cognitive Control) To understand control processes in thought, decision-making, inhibition, working memory—core to higher cognition. Cognitive Psychology by E. Bruce Goldstein (textbook; not free but standard). Lectures on cognition from MIT OCW or Stanford — e.g. MIT’s Intro Psych + additional cognitive-neuroscience lectures.
Consciousness Studies (Neuroscience of Consciousness / Philosophy of Mind) To probe perhaps the deepest questions: how subjective experience arises, how consciousness links to brain — vital for advanced understanding of mind. Consciousness: An Introduction by Susan Blackmore (or similar) — standard survey text. Search for “Philosophy of Mind / Consciousness lectures open courseware” — there are stable university lecture series (e.g. in philosophy or cognitive science departments) on YouTube / OCW.

Clinical & Counseling Foundations

Subject Why study? Book Videos
Advanced Psychopathology To understand complex, nuanced models of mental disorders; go beyond lay or pop ideas about “normal vs abnormal.” Abnormal Psychology by Ronald J. Comer (standard undergraduate/graduate-level text). [Open Yale Courses — “Psychology, Biology & the Brain” + relevant modules on neurobiology of mental disorders] (course content often covers psychopathological basis).
Evidence-Based Interventions (CBT, ACT, Psychodynamic, Systems) To acquire knowledge of therapeutic models, their evidence, limitations, and applications. Casebook of Clinical Psychology (various authors) — for real-world cases and therapy models. MOOCs or lecture series on clinical therapy models from universities or open mental-health courses (search “Clinical Psychology open lecture series”).
Trauma & Resilience / Stress and Mental Health To understand trauma, stress responses, resilience factors, and therapeutic or preventive strategies — essential for applied mental-health work. Traumatic Stress: The Effects of Overwhelming Experience on Mind, Body, and Society by Bessel van der Kolk — authoritative, foundational (paid). Lectures or open-courses in trauma psychology / trauma-informed therapy (e.g. continuing-education lectures; many are stable on YouTube/university archives).
Ethics & Professional Issues in Clinical Practice To understand ethical, multicultural, and professional standards in therapy, confidentiality, therapist-client dynamics, cultural competence. APA ethics guidelines collections, plus academic texts on multicultural counseling ethics (varies by region). University-level courses on counseling ethics (some available via OCW/YouTube/edX) — especially useful in psychotherapy and applied psychology tracks.

Social, Cultural & Organizational Psychology

Subject Why study? Book Videos
Advanced Social Cognition & Moral Psychology To understand how people think about others, moral reasoning, prejudice, identity — crucial for societal, political, intergroup dynamics. Social Psychology by David Myers — covers social cognition, attitudes, group processes. [MIT OCW — Social Psychology course materials + lecture notes] — long-standing and free.
Cross-Cultural Methods & Cultural Psychology To study psychological processes across cultures: how culture shapes cognition, emotion, social behavior, preventing ethnocentric bias. Cultural Psychology by Steven J. Heine — widely used survey text (paid). Open course lectures in cultural psychology (some from universities’ anthropology or psych-departments) — search “Cultural Psychology lecture series.”
Organizational Behavior / I–O Psychology To apply psychological principles to work, leadership, teams — useful for real-world applications outside therapy. Work and Organizational Psychology by Hodgkinson & Ford (or similar standard text). MOOCs or open-lectures in organizational behavior/ I-O psychology (often part of business-psych courses).
Attitudes & Behavior Change / Applied Social Influence To study persuasion, health psychology, social change, communication — practical in public health, marketing, policy, education. Social Psychology (Myers) + specialized books on persuasion and social influence (e.g. Cialdini’s Influence) — though the latter is more popular-science but strongly referenced. University-level lectures on health psychology, communication, social influence (available via open courseware or YouTube).

Developmental & Educational Psychology

Subject Why study? Book Videos
Advanced Developmental Theory (Cognitive, Socioemotional, Moral Development) To trace how cognition, morality, personality, social behavior evolve — for lifespan understanding or developmental research. Development Through Life: A Psychosocial Approach by Newman & Newman (classic developmental psychology text). Lecture series on lifespan development or developmental psych from universities (search “Developmental Psychology lecture series OCW / YouTube”).
Educational Psychology / Learning & Instructional Design To learn how learning happens, how to scaffold knowledge, motivate learners — useful for teaching, training, or research. How People Learn: Brain, Mind, Experience, and School (National Academies Press) — freely available. MOOCs on learning sciences, education psychology (e.g. some edX/Coursera courses on “Learning How to Learn” or “Foundations of Teaching” combining psychology and pedagogy).
Atypical Development / Neurodiversity To understand developmental disorders, neurodiversity, intervention — important for inclusive education, therapy, social work. Texts on developmental disorders (e.g. Abnormal Child Psychology by Ann Masten & Philip Curtis) — standard for developmental psychopathology. Open-course lectures or seminars in developmental disorders / neurodiversity from universities (available via YouTube/university archives).
Early Childhood Cognition & Developmental Research Methods To study infancy, childhood cognition, developmental methodology — key for research or educational careers focused on young age groups. The Science of Early Childhood Development (various authors) — or academic compilations on infant cognitive development. University-level infant/child development lecture series (search “Infant Cognitive Development lectures OCW/YouTube”)

Final Project

For a capstone project (research proposal, literature review, or mini-study), you’ll benefit from resources on research design, academic writing, and ethics.

Purpose Resource Notes
Research Methods & Design Research Methods in Psychology (Jhangiani et al.) — free OER Good grounding in research design, measurement, ethics
Academic Writing / Literature Review Skills University writing-center guides + online academic-writing MOOCs (e.g. from Coursera/edX) Helps in writing a clean, coherent thesis or review
Ethical Research & Responsible Conduct Online materials from professional psychology associations (e.g. APA Ethical Guidelines) Important for any empirical work, surveys, case studies
Data Analysis / Statistics (if doing empirical study) Free statistics textbooks (e.g. OpenIntro Statistics) + open courses on statistics (R, Python, or SPSS-based) To analyze data if you gather any; or at least understand other studies’ results

Congratulations

After completing the requirements of the curriculum above, you will have completed the equivalent of a full bachelor’s degree in Psychology. Congratulations!

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