Alright, so I decided it was time to actually get stuck into these psychology modules I’d been thinking about for ages. Wasn’t really for a degree or anything, more just for myself, you know? Personal interest.
Getting Started
First thing I did was gather all the stuff. They had this online portal where most of the materials were, PDF documents, reading lists, that sort of thing. I printed out the main syllabus just to have a physical checklist. Felt more real that way. Also ordered a couple of the recommended textbooks used, saved a bit of money there. Didn’t see the point in getting brand new ones just for my own reading.
Digging Into the Material
I kicked things off with the introductory module. Basic stuff, history, different schools of thought. Honestly, some of the early history felt a bit like wading through treacle. But I pushed through. My method was pretty straightforward: read a section, then scribble down the main points in a notebook. Didn’t bother with fancy highlighting or digital notes, just pen and paper. Found I remembered it better that way.
Then I hit the modules on cognitive psychology and social psychology. Now this was more like it. Stuff I could actually see in everyday life.
- Cognitive Stuff: Memory, attention, biases – fascinating. Made me really think about why I make certain decisions. Started noticing things like confirmation bias everywhere once I knew what it was.
- Social Stuff: Group dynamics, conformity, obedience. The Milgram experiment stuff, wow. Really makes you think.
I tried to be disciplined. Put aside maybe an hour most evenings. Sometimes more on weekends if a topic really grabbed me. There were some optional online quizzes for self-assessment. Did a few of those. Bombed the first one, which was a bit of a wake-up call. Showed me I needed to actually engage with the material, not just passively read it.
Working Through It
Some modules were definitely tougher than others. Developmental psychology was interesting, seeing how things change from childhood onwards. But the biological psychology module, with all the brain parts and neurotransmitters? That took some serious effort. Had to reread sections multiple times, draw little diagrams in my notebook just to keep track of what connected to what.
Consistency was key. Even if I only managed 30 minutes some days, I tried to do something. Read a few pages, review my notes, watch one of the supplementary videos they linked (though some were pretty dry academic lectures). It wasn’t always easy, life gets in the way. But I kept chipping away at it.
Where I’m At Now
I’ve worked my way through most of the core modules now. Still got a couple of the more specialised ones to look at, like abnormal psychology and maybe something on counselling theories. It’s been a slow burn, definitely not a quick process. But I feel like I’ve actually learned things, not just memorised facts for a test. It’s changed how I look at people’s behaviour, including my own. Worth the effort, I reckon.
