PSYC 100: Intro to Psychology

Unravel the workings of the cognitive unconscious and its influential role in our daily lives. Learn how it silently steers our thoughts, behaviors, and preferences. Discover the power of the cognitive unconscious in both routine tasks and complex decisions.

Discover the intricacies of our olfactory system and how it connects to emotions and memories. Learn how odorant molecules interact with receptors and influence brain regions. Grasp why certain smells can evoke powerful feelings or vivid recollections.

Explore the principles of functionalistic psychology, from its emphasis on understanding the purpose behind our thoughts and behaviors to its integration of pragmatism and evolutionary perspectives. Discover how context, individual differences, and a holistic approach play pivotal roles in this psychological framework.

Discover the essential process of neural pruning in brain development, distinct from creating new connections, managing neural waste, or increasing brain weight. Uncover how this natural "clean-up" refines our neural network, making our brains more efficient in processing information. Explore the impact of neural pruning on cognitive growth and the interaction between genetics and environment in brain development.

Explore the unique perspective of accomplished author and professor Heather Sellers as she shares her journey with prosopagnosia, a condition that highlights the distinction between sensation and perception. Discover how her fully functional sensory organs contrast with impaired cognitive processes, shedding light on the intricate relationship between sensing and interpreting the world around us.

Explore persuasion techniques such as Door-in-the-face, Foot-in-the-door, That's-not-all, and Not-so-free sample, commonly used in psychology, marketing, and sales, where only Foot-in-the-door initiates with a small request to enhance compliance with a larger one later based on the consistency principle.