Unit I - Introducing Psychology and its Methods - Introduces psychology as a science. The history, schools, and specialty areas of psychology are outlined and research methods are described.

Unit II - The Brain and Behavior - The anatomy, physiology, and biology of the brain, central nervous system, peripheral nervous system, and endocrine system will be covered. You will learn how psychologists study the brain, and you will address issues like genetic abnormalities, genetic counseling, prenatal testing, and genetic engineering.

Unit III- Sensation & Perception - This unit covers the visual system and visual perception, the auditory system and auditory perception, and the other senses. You will learn how the sensory systems work and what can go wrong in the functioning of those systems. You will also learn how psychologists who study perception measure perceptual abilities and conduct their research on animals and humans.

Unit IV - States of Consciousness - Sleep, dreams, and the effects of drugs, meditation, biofeedback, and hypnosis on behaviors and thought processes will be examined. You will learn how methods of altering consciousness might be used to modify or manage undesirable psychological and physical experiences like pain.

Unit V - Basic Principles of Learning & Memory - The principles of classical and operant conditioning, insight learning, latent learning, observational learning, and concept learning will be covered in this unit. In addition, the various models of memory and memory process will be addressed along with the biology of memory and various high interest topics such as flashbulb memory and childhood amnesia. You will learn why and how we remember as well as why and how we forget. You will also learn how psychologists use the principles of learning and memory to modify undesirable behaviors.

Unit VI - Cognition & Language - This unit covers language, language development, thought and problem solving, and the nature and determinates of intelligence. You will examine various views of language acquisition, and diverse theories of intelligence. Controversial issues regarding social-class, ethnic, and racial differences in intelligence will be examined.

Unit VII - Motivation and Emotion - This unit covers physiological, stimulus, and social motives and the development and expression of emotions. You will learn how basic drives like hunger and thirst and simple feelings of self-satisfaction can motivate behavior in a similar fashion. You will learn how psychologists use the principles of motivation and emotion to deal with such maladaptive behavioral patterns as overeating and smoking.

Unit VIII - Personality Theories and Assessment - Various theories of personality and methods of measuring personality will be addressed. You will learn what personality is and what aspects of your own personality might be manageable. You will also learn how to better understand the personality and behavior of others.

Unit IX - Psychological Disorders and Therapies - These chapters cover the major behavioral disorders that are found in the DSM-IV and various types of therapies that have been developed to deal with maladaptive and undesirable behaviors. You will examine various theories as to why and how people might begin to behave in "abnormal" ways and you will critically analyze therapies developed to deal with these behaviors. You will learn how to choose a therapist should you ever require one, and how to cope with the virtual mountain of self-help books that are on the market today.

Unit X - Social Psychology - Attitudes, social perception, interpersonal attraction, social influence, and group behavior will be addressed in this unit. You will learn how social decision schemes and groupthink affect decision making, and you will examine various explanations for obedience to authority. We will consider ways in which you might; enhance social interactions, cope with prejudice and discrimination, and make a more positive first impression on others.