If You Know Nothing About Personality

If you know nothing about personality, start with trait theory. The idea is that we are ruled by the stars, our names or some internal built-in characteristics. According to this view, you are born shy (or extroverted,  clever or mean), and there is little you can do about it.

01 Trait Theory

06 Wilhelm Wundt

Wilhelm Wundt is called the founder of psychology. Although it took many people to create a new science, Wundt certainly was a key figure.

He also could be called the patron saint of underachievers. Wilhelm Wundt

05 Experimental Physiology

In addition to philosophy, psychology also steals from physiology. In particular, it uses the techniques of experimental physiology.

Here are some of the techniques previously used. Some are still used today. Experimental Physiology

04 Mind-Body Problem

What makes you you? If you lose a foot are you the same person? How about lsoing your mind?

The mind are body are often thought to be separate but are they? The Mind-Body Problem

03 More Philosophy

The ideas of Hippocrates and other ancient Greek philosophers also impacted psychology.

Here are some of the ideas you’ll still encounter today: More Philosophy

02 Ancient Ideas

Describing people is not new. There have many theories of why people act the way they do.

Here are some of the oldest explanations of people: Ancient Ideas.

01 The Birth Of Psychology

Science is not the only path to truth. It is a useful path, and the primary one science follows. But is only one of several available to us.

It is easy to think of science as the only way to understand things. But using the scientific method is a relatively new hobby. So put science in perspective. It’s really helpful but not the only game in town.

The Birth of Psychology

What This Tour Covers

General Psychology is a survey course. Like a survey of a piece of land, this survey shows you the boundary markers. So you get a broad view of the field of psychology but not a detailed map. Read more