PSY 101: Introduction to Psychology
About 3 hours on Lorea16 chapters1 school
Looking up PSY 101 (Introduction to Psychology)? This is the 16-week intro psychology course most majors take to clear a social-science requirement or a psych prerequisite.
At Arizona State University, PSY 101 is the code on the schedule, the textbook list, and the exam. This page follows Psychology 2e (OpenStax) chapter for chapter - 16 chapters over 16 weeks - and opens a free Lorea course with no signup.
If you are asking "is PSY 101 hard?" start with the failure points below, then drill the 16 OpenStax chapters instead of rereading the PDF.
Lorea is independent and not affiliated with Arizona State University.
What PSY 101 covers
PSY 101 covers History and approaches, research methods, biopsychology, consciousness, sensation and perception, learning, thinking and intelligence, memory, lifespan development, motivation and emotion, personality, social psychology, I-O psychology, stress and health, psychological disorders, therapy. The sequence matches Psychology 2e (OpenStax), the open textbook this page is built from - 16 chapters across a 16-week semester, in the same order your lecture is likely to follow.
What makes PSY 101 hard
Confusing correlation with causation in research methods (Ch 2); classical vs operant conditioning discrimination (Ch 6); the memory-stage model (Ch 8); matching theorists to theories across Ch 9-11; DSM categories in Ch 15. Those are the spots students miss on timed PSY 101 exams even after they "read the chapter." Drill them with retrieval - practice questions, blank figures, setup-only problem sets - not another highlight pass.
PSY 101 chapter-by-chapter
- 1.Introduction to Psychology
- 2.Psychological Research
- 3.Biopsychology
- 4.States of Consciousness
- 5.Sensation and Perception
- 6.Learning
- 7.Thinking and Intelligence
- 8.Memory
- 9.Lifespan Development
- 10.Motivation and Emotion
- 11.Personality
- 12.Social Psychology
- 13.Industrial-Organizational Psychology
- 14.Stress, Lifestyle, and Health
- 15.Psychological Disorders
- 16.Therapy and Treatment
How to study for PSY 101
1. Separate theorists from theories
Confusing correlation with causation in research methods (Ch 2); classical vs operant conditioning discrimination (Ch 6); the memory-stage model (Ch 8); matching theorists to theories across Ch 9-11; DSM categories in Ch 15. Make a two-column list: name on one side, claim on the other, then shuffle.
2. Drill research-methods language
Correlation vs causation, independent vs dependent, and operational definitions show up on every PSY 101 midterm. Write one example of each in your own words.
3. Use scenarios, not definitions
Classical vs operant, memory stages, and DSM categories are easy to recite and easy to swap on a vignette. Practice with short stories.
4. Revisit early chapters in week 10
PSY 101 is a survey. Biopsychology and research methods keep returning. Schedule a 20-minute recap of chapters 1-3 before the final.
5. Take a free retrieval pass
The Lorea Introduction to Psychology course is free and does not require an account. Use it to find the chapters you only recognize, not recall.
Schools that use PSY 101
PSY 101 is the published course code at each of these schools:
- Arizona State University
FAQ
Is PSY 101 hard?
Yes - PSY 101 is a weeder for many students because of specific failure points, not because the textbook is obscure. Confusing correlation with causation in research methods (Ch 2); classical vs operant conditioning discrimination (Ch 6); the memory-stage model (Ch 8); matching theorists to theories across Ch 9-11; DSM categories in Ch 15. Plan weekly retrieval around those, not a single reread of Psychology 2e (OpenStax).
How many chapters is PSY 101?
PSY 101 is 16 chapters in this guide, aligned to Psychology 2e (OpenStax): Ch 1 Introduction to Psychology; Ch 2 Psychological Research; Ch 3 Biopsychology; Ch 4 States of Consciousness; Ch 5 Sensation and Perception; Ch 6 Learning; Ch 7 Thinking and Intelligence; Ch 8 Memory; Ch 9 Lifespan Development; Ch 10 Motivation and Emotion; Ch 11 Personality; Ch 12 Social Psychology; Ch 13 Industrial-Organizational Psychology; Ch 14 Stress, Lifestyle, and Health; Ch 15 Psychological Disorders; Ch 16 Therapy and Treatment.
What textbook does PSY 101 use?
PSY 101 in this guide follows Psychology 2e (OpenStax). Your section may assign a different commercial book; the chapter titles above are the OpenStax sequence used at the listed schools.
What is the difference between PSY 101 and the next course in the sequence?
PSY 101 is the first course in the sequence. The follow-on course (often numbered one digit higher, or labelled II) covers the remaining psychology units. Check your school's catalogue for the exact next code - it is not the same at every campus that uses PSY 101.
Which schools use the PSY 101 code?
PSY 101 is used at Arizona State University. If your campus prints this exact code, the chapter list on this page is the one to study against.
Are there free PSY 101 flashcards?
Yes. The free Lorea Introduction to Psychology course linked on this page covers all 16 Psychology 2e (OpenStax) chapters as retrieval practice — use it like PSY 101 flashcards without signing up.
What is on PSY 101 exam 1?
Exam 1 in PSY 101 usually covers the first third of the term — often Introduction to Psychology, Psychological Research, Biopsychology, and more depending on your syllabus. Match the chapter list above to your exam date; the free Lorea course lets you run retrieval on those units before the midterm.