Adult Psychology Course

Lesson 1 • Biological Bases of Adult Behaviour

Examines neurological and physiological systems underlying adult cognition and emotion. Connects brain structure to behavioural patterns explored throughout the course.

Lesson 2 • Defining Adult Psychology

Clarifies scope, history, and unique focus of adult psychology as a discipline. Anchors subsequent chapters by establishing shared vocabulary and conceptual boundaries.

Lesson 3 • Major Theoretical Frameworks

Surveys psychodynamic, humanistic, cognitive, and behavioural models as applied to adults. Provides analytical lenses used in every subsequent chapter.

Lesson 1 • Middle Adulthood Challenges

Examines generativity, midlife reassessment, and shifting priorities between ages 35–60. Connects developmental theory to real-world professional and personal contexts.

Lesson 2 • Late Adulthood and Ageing

Addresses ego integrity, cognitive shifts, and psychosocial adaptation in adults over 60. Prepares students to support ageing populations with evidence-based understanding.

Lesson 3 • Continuity and Change in Adulthood

Distinguishes normative from non-normative life events and their psychological impact. Introduces resilience and adaptation concepts central to applied chapters.

Lesson 4 • Stage Theories and Critiques

Evaluates Erikson, Levinson, and Vaillant models alongside cultural and gender critiques. Builds critical thinking skills applied to case analysis in later chapters.

Lesson 1 • Adult Cognitive Architecture

Describes working memory, executive function, and processing speed in adult populations. Establishes cognitive baseline for understanding decline and enhancement strategies.

Lesson 2 • Cognitive Biases and Heuristics

Identifies systematic thinking errors prevalent in adult decision-making contexts. Prepares students to recognise bias in clinical, organisational, and personal settings.

Lesson 3 • Cognitive Enhancement and Decline

Reviews evidence on cognitive training, lifestyle factors, and early dementia indicators. Equips students to design or recommend cognitive support interventions.

Lesson 4 • Memory Systems and Ageing

Differentiates episodic, semantic, procedural, and prospective memory trajectories in adults. Connects memory science to practical support strategies introduced later.

Lesson 1 • Emotion Regulation Strategies

Covers cognitive reappraisal, suppression, acceptance, and mindfulness-based regulation methods. Directly applicable to therapeutic and coaching interventions in later chapters.

Lesson 2 • Theories of Adult Motivation

Contrasts intrinsic, extrinsic, self-determination, and achievement motivation in adult contexts. Provides motivational frameworks applied in coaching and organisational chapters.

Lesson 3 • Stress, Coping, and Resilience

Applies transactional stress models and coping taxonomy to adult psychological functioning. Prepares students to assess and strengthen coping resources in practice.

Lesson 4 • Self-Regulation and Goal Pursuit

Analyses self-control, delay of gratification, and goal-setting processes in adult behaviour. Connects to behaviour change and habit formation covered in applied chapters.

Lesson 1 • Personality Trait Models

Reviews Big Five, HEXACO, and type-based models as applied to adult assessment. Establishes trait vocabulary used in clinical, coaching, and organisational contexts.

Lesson 2 • Personality Disorders in Adults

Introduces diagnostic criteria, prevalence, and functional impact of personality disorders. Prepares students to recognise and appropriately refer complex presentations.

Lesson 3 • Personality Stability and Change

Examines longitudinal evidence on trait stability, maturity principle, and plasticity in adults. Challenges deterministic views and supports growth-oriented practice.

Lesson 4 • Personality Assessment Methods

Evaluates self-report inventories, projective tools, and behavioural observation for adult assessment. Equips students to select and interpret appropriate assessment instruments.

Lesson 1 • Prosocial Behaviour and Aggression

Examines altruism, helping behaviour, and aggression through social and evolutionary frameworks. Connects social behaviour to mental health and organisational contexts.

Lesson 2 • Group Dynamics and Social Identity

Applies social identity theory, groupthink, and intergroup dynamics to adult group behaviour. Prepares students for organisational and community psychology applications.

Lesson 3 • Social Cognition in Adults

Examines attribution, social perception, and impression formation processes in adult interactions. Connects cognitive biases from Chapter 3 to interpersonal behaviour.

Lesson 4 • Adult Relationships and Attachment

Covers romantic, platonic, and professional relationship dynamics through attachment and interdependence lenses. Builds relational assessment skills used in counselling chapters.

Lesson 1 • Substance Use and Behavioural Addictions

Analyses neurobiological, psychological, and social factors in adult addiction presentations. Equips students to assess severity and understand treatment pathways.

Lesson 2 • Mood and Anxiety Disorders

Covers depressive, bipolar, generalised anxiety, and panic disorders with adult-specific presentations. Prepares students to recognise and differentiate high-prevalence conditions.

Lesson 3 • Psychotic and Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Reviews schizophrenia spectrum, adult ADHD, and autism presentations in adult populations. Addresses late diagnosis trends and functional impact across settings.

Lesson 4 • Trauma and Stress-Related Disorders

Examines PTSD, acute stress, and adjustment disorders (psychological response to stressor) through trauma-informed frameworks. Connects to coping and resilience content from Chapter 4.

Lesson 1 • Evidence-Based Therapeutic Approaches

Surveys CBT, ACT, psychodynamic, and humanistic therapies with adult-specific efficacy evidence. Synthesises theoretical frameworks from earlier chapters into actionable treatment models.

Lesson 2 • Ethics and Professional Boundaries

Addresses confidentiality, informed consent, dual relationships, and competence in adult psychology practice. Ensures graduates operate within professional and ethical standards.

Lesson 3 • Behaviour Change and Health Psychology

Applies motivational interviewing, behaviour activation, and health behaviour models to adult change. Connects self-regulation theory from Chapter 4 to practical intervention design.

Lesson 4 • Crisis Intervention and Risk Assessment

Provides structured approaches to suicide risk, self-harm, and acute psychological crisis in adults. Prepares students for high-stakes professional decision-making and safety planning.

Lesson 5 • Multicultural and Diversity Competence

Integrates cultural humility, intersectionality, and culturally adapted interventions into adult practice. Ensures interventions are equitable and effective across diverse adult populations.