The Psychology option course presents basic psychology as a social science and promotes curiosity about the causes of human behaviour. 

Some of the topics explored in this course include, but are not limited to: perception, communication, learning, memory, decision-making, belief systems, dreams, emotions, persuasion, and motivation.

You will also learn about the methods psychologists apply in their science and practice. In addition, you will be exposed to the psychological facts, principles, and phenomena associated with each of the major psychological perspectives.

The following lessons are taken from the year's final unit: The Psychology of Relationships.

LEARN Design and Development Team: Author/Lead Teacher: Steve Scallion, BEd; Editor/Instructional Designer: Kristine Thibeault, MEd.

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Introduction:

For the vast majority of people on this planet, relationships are essential. If you are a biological psychologist, you believe that our entire reason for being is to procreate to pass on our genes. If you are a humanist you believe that our reason for being is to reach actualization through relationships with others. A Freudian psychologist may believe that the relationship you have with your mother or father goes on to shape all future relationships. It’s difficult to ignore the impact of relationships. In this unit we will focus on the impact our earliest relationships have on us, we will look at the theories around finding a person to be in a relationship with, and we will look at how relationships grow and deteriorate.

Attachment Theory

This lesson focuses on how the relationship with our parents or archetypal caregivers leads us to our individual attachment styles.


Additional Resources:

The Attachment Theory: How Childhood Affects Life

The Attachment Style Quiz

Psychology of Dating

This lesson describes how our attachment styles affect our idea of dating. We will also look at some dating strategies.


Additional Resources:

The Science of Love with Arthur Aron

See Arthur Aron’s 36 Question Intimacy Experiment in action: Seafret - Wildfire

Psychology Today: 36 Questions to Bring you Closer Together

Psychology of Relationships

Lesson 3 will focus on how we get into relationships, how we build them and how we end them. We will particularly focus on how to get out of a relationship in a constructive way. 


Additional Resources:

TEDxVeniceBeach: John Gottman - The Science of Love

Final Assignment Suggestion: The Great Break-Up

Congratulations on completing Unit 8. There will be no quiz to end this unit. However, it’s time for us to break up.

I’d ask that you send me an email to my LEARN account. In that email I’d like you to break up with me in a respectful, dignified and meaningful way. Here is what I’d ask you to do:

1 - Tell me what I did well as a LEARN online Psychology Teacher. What did you enjoy or like about our time together? What should I continue to do in the future?

2 - Tell me how I can improve as a LEARN online Psychology Teacher, but do so respectfully. What could I have done to better meet your educational needs?

3 - Once you send your email to break up with me, I’ll send you one in return within 24 hours.

Thank you so much for all of your hard work. I have thoroughly enjoyed our time together this year. I wish you a peaceful and safe summer break.