Top 4 Resources to Gain a Solid Understanding of Psychology

Psychology is the study of mind and behaviour, and is viewed by many as one of the more interesting academic fields. After all, there's a reason why serial killer movies and TV shows have always been popular.

While some want to unravel the mysteries of the mind as their career, others may simply want to understand the mind better. Whether it's uncovering their own causes of stress, or understanding why bad people act the way they act, learning psychology is sure to help you understand the intricacies of human interaction.

In this article, we'll discuss a few resources that'll give you a deeper understanding of psychology, completely for free. Learning psychology will help you gain insights into human behaviour, and no matter your line of work or interests, having these insights will surely benefit you.

1. Psychology, 2nd Edition - OpenStax

OpenStax is one of the biggest names in free education, and for good reason. The offer free textbooks on many subjects, with the content and quality being very comparable to paid textbooks.

OpenStax Psychology 2e covers all of the topics you would expect in the equivalent of Psychology 101 and 102 classes, all completely for free. You'll learn about all of the major disciplines within Psychology. You'll also learn about research methods, and how academics perform research and use statistics to drive insights in their respective fields.

Reading a textbook from front-to-back may seem a bit dull, so remember, you are encouraged to treat each chapter as an individual model. Focus on what most interests you. Remember, don't forget to study research methods! It may not be the most glamourous subject, but understanding how academics perform research and report their results is crucial to any discipline, and is sure to help you understand Psychology at a deeper level.

• Price: Free
• Paid Option : No
• Difficulty Level: Beginner
• Flexible schedule: Yes

Who should take this course? This is a beginner-friendly resource with no prior experience necessary. Learners may use this to prepare for university-level courses, or to supplement their university-level courses.

Link to the course - Psychology, 2nd Edition

2. Introduction to Clinical Psychology - EdX

Clinical Psychology is, in the most simplest sense, the study of 'negative conditions of the brain'. Most often, this is referred to as mental illness and/or psychological disorders. Depression and Anxiety are the most common psychological disorders, and Clinical Psychologists aim to both treat and understand these conditions.

This course helps answer some of the most common questions related to clinical ailments. For example, what is stress? Why do we react to stress? How does depression and anxiety relate to personality? How are they treated?

• Price: Free
• Paid Option : Yes
• What the paid option offers: Certificate of completion and graded assignments
• Difficulty Level: Beginner
• Flexible schedule: Yes

Who should take this course? This is a fantastic option for anyone wishing to understand clinical ailments, such as depression and anxiety.

Link to the course - Introduction to Clinical Psychology

3. Psychology Today

Psychology Today is one of the world's largest portals to free pyschology and mental health articles. Taking the form of an online magazine, you'll find interesting discussions on common Clinical Psychology topics such as Depression, as well as many other topics in Psychology, such as Autism, Chronic Pain, and Personality.

While we typically link to structured courses or resources, online magazines like Psychology Today are skyrocketing in popularity as more people wish to better understand their mental health, and how psychology is all around us. All articles are written and reviewed by experts (typically a Psychologist with a Ph.D.), so expect to read qualified advice and peer-reviewed discussions.

Honourable Mention: Verywell Mind is another online magazine we see popping up a lot, and provides very similar peer-reviewed articles by educated, practicing Psychologist and Clinicians. The information on the internet is growing exponentially, and if you're looking for sound Psychology advice, stick with peer reviewed advice from experts. Psychology Today and Verywell Mind are reputable networks, so expect to read reputable imformation.

• Price: Free
• Paid Option : No
• Difficulty Level: Beginner
• Flexible schedule: Yes

Who should take this course? This resource is excellent for anyone looking to better understand their own mental health, and psychology in general.

Link to the course - Psychology Today

4. American Psychological Association

The American Psychological Association (APA) is most well known by students from their APA citation style, a common citation style in Social Sciences. But, APA is so much more than a citation style hated by students!

Similar to Psychology Today, APA writes articles on Psychology and Mental Health, which are beneficial to anyone looking to better understand their own mind. They also provide ample resources in other forms, such as podcasts, books, databases (for researchers), and so much more. Now, some of these resources are paid, but that doesn't mean that we can't benefit from their ample amount of free resources. The APA website is a huge resource, and by exploring their vast resources, you're sure to learn something about the topics that interest you the most.

• Price: Free
• Paid Option : Yes
• What the paid option offers: Extra resources, such as data and books. For the average learner, this is not necessary.
• Difficulty Level: Beginner to Intermediate
• Flexible schedule: Yes

Who should take this course? This is a great resource for students and learners to find countless resources on Psychology, Mental Health, and related issues such as Human Rights and Medicine.

Link to the course - American Psychological Association

Final Thoughts

Whether you are interested in Psychology as a student or curious individual, learning Psychology and Mental Health is incredibly rewarding. You'll understand yourself much better, as well as those around you. The human experience is diverse and complicated, but incredibly interesting. Having a better understanding of the mind is sure to improve your life, and help you understand humanity at both a large scale and interhuman interaction around you.