Human Psychology: Introduction to the Science of Behavior

A gripping and authoritative 24-lecture history course on the Vietnam War from the award-winning professor who cowrote "Argument without End" with Robert McNamara. Using newly available archival and source material from the United States and Vietnam, Vassar College professor Robert K. Brigham helps you grapple with the legacy of the Vietnam War today. Based on more than 100 trips to Vietnam and extensive interviews with key players from all sides, Prof. Brigham weaves vivid biographical sketches and rich anecdotes into recorded history. His masterful storytelling will help you look behind common assumptions about the conflict.  Not since the Civil War had the American national consciousness been as strained as it was by the conflict in Southeast Asia. Indeed, the controversies that the Vietnam War spurred on the home front are more familiar to many Americans than the policies and motives that guided the conflict. "Vietnam: The Definitive History of the War" fills that gap. The provocative questions Prof. Brigham raises will help you reexamine the war from today's vantage.  Throughout, Prof. Brigham sheds light on the United States and its place in the world today. Under his expert guidance, you will gain fresh understanding of this momentous chapter in American history.

One of the world's most influential psychologists turns his attention to some of the most important questions of our lives: Who am I? What am I? What might I become? Join Roy Baumeister, celebrated professor and New York Times best-selling author, on a journey inward to discover the origin and meaning of the self. In 15 audio lectures, Dr. Baumeister draws from his renowned laboratory research to demonstrate the urgency of questions of self and identity in the modern world. Dr. Baumeister begins by showing that the self is what separates humans from other animals. The human self—self-aware, enmeshed in meaningful stories, sensitive to morality and reputation, and endlessly self-altering—has no equal anywhere in nature. The lectures explore the general truths and patterns of the self that have been identified by psychologists while recognizing that each self is unique. Individual lectures address the role of self-esteem, as well as self-control, decision making, and free will. Dr. Baumeister also examines the darker side of the self in lectures on self-deception and self-destructive patterns, including bad decision making and suicide. After listening to this series, you'll have a well-rounded understanding of self that is firmly grounded in scientific research. Perhaps most important, you'll grasp the interpersonal role of the self, which took shape to help us relate to other people and, ultimately, to survive.

Join award-winning historian Christopher Bellitto on this gripping journey through centuries of Greek history. Ancient Greece was one of the most fertile civilizations in history, and its influence on Western philosophy, theology, and civilization is undeniable. Now, you can discover the fascinating legacy of ancient Greece through entertaining and enlightening lectures. With Prof. Bellitto, you will gain a deeper understanding of what made ancient Greece so unique: its polis and democracy, its great battles and personalities, its soaring artistic and literary achievements. You'll also explore dark corners of this civilization, such as its treatment of women and slaves. You will travel from the walls of Troy to the theatres of Athens, from the Delphic oracle to the Spartans' stand at Thermopylae, from Socrates' trial and Alexander the Great's long journeys to the moment where Rome conquered Greece. You'll begin by asking where ancient Greece fits on a broad canvas of world history, geography, and chronology viewed from a wide-angle lens. You will move forward in time, stopping often to explore closely important moments, topics, and themes. You will cover the most essential events in ancient Greece as you travel through millennia of history. Join Prof. Bellitto on this fascinating journey today.

How does your brain work? This 15-lecture audio course will increase your excitement and wonder about the mysterious organ responsible for so many of the invisible but important things (like love, personality, and emotion) that make us who we are. The field of neuroscience is booming, heralding bold new discoveries and fresh insights into human nature, our behaviors, the mind - body connection, and even artificial intelligence. Now, How Your Brain Works: A User's Guide to Neuropsychology gives you exactly the sort of orientation you need to contextualize these discoveries and understand your brain. Your guide is Professor Gerald D. Griffin (Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania), winner of several awards from national research institutions and of the Janet L. Andersen Excellence in Teaching Award at Hope College. You will find that Prof. Griffin brings an infectious energy to every lecture. He makes you appreciate what a fascinating and multidisciplinary field neuroscience is - building on the discoveries of biology, chemistry, physics, and psychology to arrive at new understandings of the nervous system and behavior. Though this course, you will gain a better understanding of how the chemistry, structure, and electrical connections of your brain give rise to complex perceptions and behavior. By the end, you will understand how a multitude of small, delicate changes in the nervous system shape your reality.

Stuart Vyse, Ph.D., is the author of "Believing in Magic: The Psychology of Superstition," which received the William James Book Award of the American Psychological Association. A celebrated psychologist and professor as well as a recognized author, he is the perfect guide for this audio series on the power of superstition. This wide-ranging course reveals the method to our madness in everything from finances to Friday the 13th. An expert on irrational behavior, Prof. Vyse discusses what it means to be rational before delving into the many reasoning errors and psychological challenges that lead us astray. In 15 lectures, you will learn to identify the logical fallacies and quirks of our psychology that tempt us to make unwise decisions. While the course is based in theory, it's also teeming with practical advice. You'll examine several popular conspiracy theories before exploring the remarkable staying power of common "bad luck" superstitions: How did these superstitions come to be? Is it always bad to be irrational? At what point do our beliefs veer into the territory of wishful thinking or willful ignorance? Packed with fun examples and everyday pointers, this course leaves you thinking long and hard about how you think. With Prof. Vyse's guidance, you'll learn to better understand your beliefs and make better decisions.

Why do we connect with some people and not others? What makes great teams flourish? How does culture shape our attitudes? How does influence work? Join the coauthor of the world’s best-selling psychology textbooks to find out how small changes to your social environment can produce big changes in how you approach daily life and major decisions. Most people rush to the power of personality when explaining how we think, feel, and act. While personality certainly plays a role in our behavior, the power of the social situation to influence our actions cannot be underestimated. As it explores the fascinating field of social psychology, this eye-opening audio course busts common myths about human psychology and behavior. Your instructor is University of Kentucky psychology Professor Nathan DeWall, coauthor of the world’s best-selling psychology textbook. Described by Iowa State University Distinguished Professor of Psychology Craig A. Anderson as “one of the most influential psychological science leaders of his generation”, DeWall’s lectures reveal that he is as passionate about his subject as he is knowledgeable. In 24 absorbing lectures, you’ll discover many of the different cognitive, motivational, and emotional factors that underlie social behavior. Along the way, you’ll come to appreciate - and evaluate critically - research in the behavioral sciences, applying what you learn from social psychology research to events in the real world. At the end of this course, you will have clearer self-awareness, better tools to foster friendships and romantic relationships, and a more compassionate heart to become a better global citizen.