Crash Course Psychology - Season 1

First aired: 2/3/2014 40 episodes
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Episodes

1. Intro to Psychology

Aired: 2/3/2014

What does Psychology mean? Where does it come from? Hank gives you a 10 minute intro to one of the more tricky sciences and talks about some of the big names in the development of the field. Welcome to Crash Course Psychology!!!

2. Psychological Research

Aired: 2/10/2014

So how do we apply the scientific method to psychological research? Lots of ways, but today Hank talks about case studies, naturalistic observation, surveys and interviews, and experimentation. Also he covers different kinds of bias in experimentation and how research practices help us avoid them.

3. The Chemical Mind

Aired: 2/17/2014

BAHHHHHH! Did I scare you? What exactly happens when we get scared? How does our brain make our body react? Just what are Neurotransmitters? In this episode of Crash Course Psychology, Hank takes us to the simplest part of the complex system of our brains and nervous systems; The Neuron.

4. Meet Your Master - Getting to Know Your Brain

Aired: 2/24/2014

In this episode of Crash Course Psychology, we get to meet the brain. Hank talks us through the Central Nervous System, the ancestral structures of the brain, the limbic system, and new structures of the brain. Plus, what does Phineas Gage have to do with all of this?

5. Sensation and Perception

Aired: 3/3/2014

Just what is the difference between sensing and perceiving? And how does vision actually work? And what does this have to do with a Corgi? In this episode of Crash Course Psychology, Hank takes us on a journey through the brain to better explain these and other concepts. Plus, you know, CORGI!

6. Homunculus

Aired: 3/10/2014

HOMUNCULUS! It's a big and weird word that you may or may not have heard before, but do you know what it means? In this episode of Crash Course Psychology, Hank gives us a deeper understanding of this weird model of human sensation.

7. Perceiving is Believing

Aired: 3/17/2014

So what does perception even mean? What's the difference between seeing something and making sense of it? In today's episode of Crash Course Psychology, Hank gives us some insight into the differences between sensing and perceiving.

8. Consciousness

Aired: 3/24/2014

What exactly is Consciousness? Well... that's kind of a gray area. In this episode of Crash Course Psychology, Hank gives you the basic ideas of what Consciousness is, how our attention works, and why we shouldn't text and drive... ever... no, really, NEVER!

9. To Sleep, Perchance to Dream

Aired: 3/31/2014

Why do we sleep? Well... that's a tricky question. More easily answered is the question,"How do we sleep?" In this episode of Crash Course Psychology, Hank discusses some of the ways our brain functions when sleeping and how it can malfunction as well.

10. Altered States

Aired: 4/7/2014

You may think you know all about hypnosis from the movies. Zoolander, The Manchurian Candidate, etc... but there's a whole lot more going on. In this episode of Crash Course Psychology, Hank tells us about some of the many altered states of consciousness, including hypnosis.

11. How to Train a Brain

Aired: 4/21/2014

I'm sure you've heard of Pavlov's Bell (and I'm not talking about the Aimee Mann song), but what was Ivan Pavlov up to, exactly? And how are our brains trained? And what is a "Skinner Box"? All those questions and more are answered in today's Crash Course Psychology, in which Hank talks about some of the aspects of learning.

12. The Bobo Beatdown

Aired: 4/28/2014

In this episode of Crash Course Psychology, Hank talks about how we learn by observation... and how that can mean beating the tar out of an inanimate clown named Bobo.

13. How We Make Memories

Aired: 5/5/2014

Remember that guy from 300? What was his name? ARG!!! It turns out our brains make and recall memories in different ways. In this episode of Crash Course Psychology, Hank talks about the way we do it, what damaging that process can do to us, and that guy... with the face and six pack...

14. Remembering and Forgetting

Aired: 5/12/2014

In this REALLY IMPORTANT EPISODE of Crash Course Psychology, Hank talks about how we remember and forget things, why our memories are fallible, and the dangers that can pose.

15. Cognition - How Your Mind Can Amaze and Betray You

Aired: 5/19/2014

We used to think that the human brain was a lot like a computer; using logic to figure out complicated problems. It turns out, it's a lot more complex and, well, weird than that. In this episode of Crash Course Psychology, Hank discusses thinking & communication, solving problems, creating problems, and a few ideas about what our brains are doing up there.

16. Language

Aired: 5/26/2014

You know what's amazing? That we can talk to people, they can make meaning out of it, and then talk back to us. In this episode of Crash Course Psychology, Hank talks to us and tries to make meaning out of how our brains do this thing called Language. Plus, monkeys!

17. The Power of Motivation

Aired: 6/2/2014

Feeling motivated? Even if you are, do you know why? The story of Aaron Ralston can tell us a lot about motivation. In this episode of Crash Course Psychology, Hank tells us Ralston's story, as well as 4 theories of motivation and some evolutionary perspectives on motivation.

18. The Growth of Knowledge

Aired: 6/9/2014

How does our knowledge grow? It turns out there are some different ideas about that. Schemas, Four-Stage Theory of Cognitive Development, and Vygotsky's Theory of Scaffolding all play different roles but the basic idea is that children think about things very differently than adults. Hank explains in today's episode of Crash Course Psychology.

19. Monkeys and Morality

Aired: 6/16/2014

In this episode of Crash Course Psychology, Hank takes a look at a few experiments that helped us understand how we develop as human beings. Things like attachment, separation anxiety, stranger anxiety, and morality are all discussed... also, a seriously unpleasant study with monkeys and fake mothers.

20. Adolescence

Aired: 6/23/2014

In this episode of Crash Course Psychology, Hank has a look at that oh so troublesome time in everyone's life: Adolescence! He talks about identity, individuality, and The Breakfast Club.

21. Rorschach and Freudians

Aired: 7/8/2014

Herman Rorschach (no, not the guy from Watchmen) came up with the eponymous tests, but what do they mean? Why are we so fascinated with them despite the division in the world of Psychology? Hank tackles these topics as we take a closer look at personality in this episode of Crash Course Psychology.

22. Measuring Personality

Aired: 7/14/2014

How would you measure a personality? What, exactly, is the self? Well, as you've come to expect, it's not that easy to nail down an answer for those questions. Whether you're into blood, bile, earth, wind, fire, or those Buzzfeed questionnaires, there are LOTS of ways to get at who we are and why.

23. Controversy of Intelligence

Aired: 7/21/2014

So, how many different kinds of intelligence are there? And what is the G-Factor? Eugenics? Have you ever taken an IQ Test? All of these things play into the fascinating and sometimes icky history of Intelligence Testing. In this episode of Crash Course Psychology, Hank talks us through some of the important aspects of that history... as well as Nazis. Hey, I said some of it was icky.

24. Brains vs Bias

Aired: 7/28/2014

In this episode of Crash Course Psychology, Hank takes a look at WAIS and WISC intelligence tests and how bias can really skew both results and the usefulness of those results.

25. Feeling All the Feels

Aired: 8/5/2014

Even if you're Mel Gibson or Kanye, it's probably best to not wear all of your emotions on your sleeve. In this episode of Crash Course Psychology, Hank talks about these things called "Emotions". What are they? And why do we need them?

26. Emotion, Stress, and Health

Aired: 8/11/2014

So, it turns out we have an easy time reading emotions in facial expressions, but emotions can straight up kill us! In this episode of Crash Course Psychology, Hank discusses stress, emotions, and their overall impact on our health.

27. Let's Talk About Sex

Aired: 8/18/2014

Sex is complicated for different reasons in different cultures. But, it's the entire purpose of life, so there's no reason to blush. In this episode of Crash Course Psychology, Hank talks about Kinsey, Masters and Johnson, Sexuality, Gender Identity, Hormones, and even looks into the idea of why we have sex. There's a lot to go through here.

28. Psychological Disorders

Aired: 8/25/2014

In this episode of Crash Course Psychology, Hank takes a look at how the treatment for Psychological Disorders has changed over the last hundred years and who is responsible for getting us on the path to getting us here.

29. OCD and Anxiety Disorders

Aired: 9/1/2014

Ever call someone OCD because they like to have a clean apartment? Ever tell someone you have a phobia of spiders when, in fact, they just creep you out a little? In this episode of Crash Course psychology, Hank talks about OCD and Anxiety Disorders in the hope we'll understand what people with actual OCD have to deal with as well as how torturous Anxiety Disorders and Panic Attacks can actually be.

30. Depressive and Bipolar Disorders

Aired: 9/8/2014

Not sleeping for days on end. Long periods of euphoria. Racing thoughts. Grandiose ideas. Mania. Depression. All of these are symptoms of Bipolar Disorder. In this episode of Crash Course Psychology, Hank talks about mood disorders and their causes as well as how these disorders can impact people's lives.

31. Trauma and Addiction

Aired: 9/22/2014

So, what do Batman and J.R.R. Tolkien have in common? Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. It used to be called "Shellshock" and it can be really really really destructive. In this episode of Crash Course Psychology, Hank lays out the low down on PTSD and how trauma can affect the brain. Plus, a look at how addiction can play into trauma and the different types of treatments used to help those afflicted.

32. Schizophrenia and Dissociative Disorders

Aired: 9/29/2014

Did you know that Schizophrenia and Multiple Personality Disorder aren't the same thing? Did you know that we don't call it Multiple Personality Disorder anymore? In this episode of Crash Course Psychology, Hank takes us down the road of some very misunderstood psychological disorders.

33. Eating and Body Dysmorphic Disorders

Aired: 10/6/2014

In this episode of Crash Course Psychology, Hank walks us through the troubling world of Eating and Body Dysmorphic disorders. There's a lot going on here and, even though we still have a lot of dots to connect, a lot we can learn to help ourselves and each other.

34. Personality Disorders

Aired: 10/14/2014

What exactly are Personality Disorders? How can they be diagnosed? Can we prevent some of them? In this episode of Crash Course Psychology, Hank gives us the down low on things like Ego-Dystonic and Ego-Syntonic Disorders, Borderline and Antisocial Personality Disorders, and Potential Biological, Psychological, and Social Roots of these disorders.

35. Getting Help - Psychotherapy

Aired: 10/21/2014

So, you know you'd like to get help with some problematic behavior (like fear of flying). What do you do? Who can you go to for help? Once you've gone, what can you expect? In this episode of Crash Course Psychology, Hank talks about what "Getting Help" can look like.

36. Biomedical Treatments

Aired: 10/27/2014

Do you know how Prozac works? Or lithium? Did you know that electro shock therapy is still a thing? There's a lot to know about biomedical treatments and how they work in tandem with psychotherapy or talk therapy. In this episode of Crash Course Psychology, Hank talks about how Biomedical Treatments have evolved and how they work with other therapies.

37. Social Thinking

Aired: 11/3/2014

Why do people do bad things? Is it because of the situation or who they are at their core? In this week's episode of Crash Course Psychology, Hank works to shed a little light on the ideas of Situation vs. Personality. Oh, and we'll have a look at the Stanford Prison Experiment... It's alarming.

38. Social Influence

Aired: 11/11/2014

Why do people sometimes do bad things just because someone else told them to? And what does the term Groupthink mean? In today's episode of Crash Course Psychology, Hank talks about the ideas of Social Influence and how it can affect our decisions to act or to not act.

39. Prejudice and Discrimination

Aired: 11/17/2014

In this episode of Crash Course Psychology, Hank tackles some difficult topics dealing with prejudice, stereotyping, and discrimination.

40. Aggression vs Altruism

Aired: 11/24/2014

In our final episode of Crash Course Psychology, Hank discusses the ideas of Aggression and Altruism. These two things are difficult to understand and explain so sit tight and get ready to run the gauntlet of human emotions.