If you’re just starting college and feel overwhelmed by the array of course options out there, there’s one class that’s a must for all majors: Intro to Psychology. It’s offered at just about every college and university. This is usually an option for a core course. It can potentially give you an interesting look into why people act the way they do. This is the kind of insight into human behavior that can really benefit everyone, regardless of the career path he or she chooses. Beneficial things you’ll learn about human behavior run the gamut.
Intro to psych classes often start with an overview of what psychology is and why it’s important. When it’s time to get down to the nuts and bolts, coursework often begins centering on childhood or developmental psychology. This is the classic stuff many people associate with the subject. Students will learn about famous psychologists like Sigmund Freud, Lawrence Kohlberg, and Jean Piaget. They’ll read about theories on prenatal, early childhood, adolescent, and adult development, and become familiar with concepts like individual identity.
Cognitive psychology is an important unit in any intro to psychology course. This portion deals heavily with learning and language. It explores theories of how people learn behaviors, especially the different types of conditioning and reinforcement. This portion also deals with problem solving and intelligence. Continue Reading
