How to Learn About Psychology

Textbooks can be a valuable way to learn about psychology, but they are certainly not the only learning tool out there. Thanks to the Internet, there are plenty of different ways that you can increase your knowledge about psychology without ever cracking open a textbook.

Psychology Websites

The goal of the Verywell.com Psychology website is to help high school students, college students, and psychology enthusiasts learn more about the human mind and behavior. We have tons of great resources including study tips, articles, APA format tutorials, biographies, and much more.

Of course, there are some other excellent websites and blogs out there that also contain information and resources that students might find helpful. A few of my personal favorites include Psychology Today, PsyBlog, and Psych Your Mind.

Free Online Classes

A number of universities offer self-study classes online free of charge. This provides a great opportunity for students who do not have access to a traditional college classroom due to their work schedule or geographic location.

TV Programs

Psychology plays a role in a number of fictional serial dramas currently airing on television, but there are also plenty of fact-based television programs that can teach students more about psychology. Unfortunately, many of these shows can only be seen in reruns or by ordering the programs on DVD.

One title students might enjoy is the classic Discovering Psychology series hosted by social psychologist Philip Zimbardo. A more recent show that often covers brain and psychology topics is the PBS series NOVA ScienceNow hosted by astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson (and later technology reporter David Pogue).

Online Videos

Online videos are an excellent way to learn more about psychology, especially for those who tend to be visual and auditory learners. In addition to searching YouTube, some great resources you should check out include:

• The popular TED Talks series includes clips from talks on a variety of topics, including many focused on human psychology and behavior.
• The Khan Academy showcases more than 5,000 videos on many educational topics free of charge. Psychology students might be interested in their selection of videos on probability and statistics.
• The Clips for Class website is a fantastic resource for both psychology students and teachers. Videos are categorized by subject, including clips on development, personality, motivation, cognition, and much more.

Psychology Podcasts

Podcasts can be a fun and informative way to learn about psychology when you are on the go. Just save some free podcasts to your portable digital music player and listen to them while you are commuting to work or to school. Check out our list of psychology podcasts to find some that might interest you.

Study Guides, Quizzes, and Exams

Study guides are always a helpful tool for students, but did you know that testing yourself can actually improve your learning and retention?

Online Psychology Labs

Gaining hands-on experience with research can be particularly helpful when you are trying to learn about different topics in psychology. A number of textbook publishers offer online psychology labs designed to accompany content found in their books. In most cases, you will need a class ID number to log-in and utilize these labs.

You can also check out these free online psychological tutorials and demonstrations to participate in labs focusing on topics such as sensation and perception, social psychology, research methods, and more.