--- title: "PSYC 140 ยท Work better with people" publisher: Maestro College (Maestro Open) lessons: 35 source: https://open.maestrocollege.edu/work-better-with-people full: https://open.maestrocollege.edu/work-better-with-people/llms-full.txt --- # Work better with people (PSYC 140) The psychology of people at work: motivation, influence, teams and what drives customer behavior. An introduction to psychology that explores core principles of human thought, behavior, and emotion, connecting key theories to real-world personal effectiveness, leadership, and professional success. ## Course objectives - Individual and group behavior - Motivation and performance - Leadership, communication, and psychological safety in organizations - Applying behavioral strategies in business - Biological, perceptual, and developmental foundations of behavior - Behavioral economics and the psychology of customer decisions ## Course teaching approach - Start from a real-world problem, then introduce the concept as the solution. - Keep it true beginner level, hands-on, a little gamified. The learner should feel they are winning. - Balance explanation, demonstration and practice. No copy-paste exercises: give small story-based tasks. - End with one fun closed question about the topic. ## Lessons ### Unit 1: Foundations of psychology and human behavior - [Why psychology exists: explaining human behavior](https://open.maestrocollege.edu/work-better-with-people/why-psychology-exists-explaining-human-behavior.md) - [The brain we are born with](https://open.maestrocollege.edu/work-better-with-people/the-brain-we-are-born-with.md) - [Experiencing the world](https://open.maestrocollege.edu/work-better-with-people/experiencing-the-world.md) - [Attachment and emotional bonds](https://open.maestrocollege.edu/work-better-with-people/attachment-and-emotional-bonds.md) - [How thinking changes over time](https://open.maestrocollege.edu/work-better-with-people/how-thinking-changes-over-time.md) - [Emotion as adaptation](https://open.maestrocollege.edu/work-better-with-people/emotion-as-adaptation.md) ### Unit 2: The invisible forces that shape us - [The obedience trap](https://open.maestrocollege.edu/work-better-with-people/the-obedience-trap.md) - [The power of the situation](https://open.maestrocollege.edu/work-better-with-people/the-power-of-the-situation.md) - [The conformity effect](https://open.maestrocollege.edu/work-better-with-people/the-conformity-effect.md) - [The bystander effect](https://open.maestrocollege.edu/work-better-with-people/the-bystander-effect.md) - [The power of the crowd](https://open.maestrocollege.edu/work-better-with-people/the-power-of-the-crowd.md) - [Why we lie to ourselves](https://open.maestrocollege.edu/work-better-with-people/why-we-lie-to-ourselves.md) - [Challenge: the invisible forces that shape us](https://open.maestrocollege.edu/work-better-with-people/challenge-the-invisible-forces-that-shape-us.md) ### Unit 3: Psychology for professional success - [Fueling motivation - self-determination theory](https://open.maestrocollege.edu/work-better-with-people/fueling-motivation-self-determination-theory.md) - [Working hard or working right - goal-setting theory](https://open.maestrocollege.edu/work-better-with-people/working-hard-or-working-right-goal-setting-theory.md) - [Confidence reboot - self-efficacy](https://open.maestrocollege.edu/work-better-with-people/confidence-reboot-self-efficacy.md) - [Critique to catalyst - growth mindset](https://open.maestrocollege.edu/work-better-with-people/critique-to-catalyst-growth-mindset.md) - [Taking the wheel - locus of control](https://open.maestrocollege.edu/work-better-with-people/taking-the-wheel-locus-of-control.md) - [Cooling the heat - ABCDE model](https://open.maestrocollege.edu/work-better-with-people/cooling-the-heat-abcde-model.md) - [Speak up safely - psychological safety](https://open.maestrocollege.edu/work-better-with-people/speak-up-safely-psychological-safety.md) - [From fraud to fact - imposter syndrome](https://open.maestrocollege.edu/work-better-with-people/from-fraud-to-fact-imposter-syndrome.md) - [Challenge: psychology for professional success](https://open.maestrocollege.edu/work-better-with-people/challenge-psychology-for-professional-success.md) ### Unit 4: The psychology behind customer behavior - [Anchoring & framing effects](https://open.maestrocollege.edu/work-better-with-people/anchoring-framing-effects.md) - [Social influence in the digital age](https://open.maestrocollege.edu/work-better-with-people/social-influence-in-the-digital-age.md) - [Prospect theory and risk](https://open.maestrocollege.edu/work-better-with-people/prospect-theory-and-risk.md) - [The halo & horn effects](https://open.maestrocollege.edu/work-better-with-people/the-halo-horn-effects.md) - [The paradox of choice](https://open.maestrocollege.edu/work-better-with-people/the-paradox-of-choice.md) - [The power of storytelling](https://open.maestrocollege.edu/work-better-with-people/the-power-of-storytelling.md) - [Why we overpay: pricing psychology](https://open.maestrocollege.edu/work-better-with-people/why-we-overpay-pricing-psychology.md) - [Trust and familiarity](https://open.maestrocollege.edu/work-better-with-people/trust-and-familiarity.md) - [Challenge: the psychology behind customer behavior](https://open.maestrocollege.edu/work-better-with-people/challenge-the-psychology-behind-customer-behavior.md) ### Unit 5: Business psychology summary - [Wrap-up: foundations of psychology and human behavior](https://open.maestrocollege.edu/work-better-with-people/wrap-up-foundations-of-psychology-and-human-behavior.md) - [Wrap-up: the invisible forces that shape us](https://open.maestrocollege.edu/work-better-with-people/wrap-up-the-invisible-forces-that-shape-us.md) - [Wrap-up: psychology for professional success](https://open.maestrocollege.edu/work-better-with-people/wrap-up-psychology-for-professional-success.md) - [Wrap-up: the psychology behind customer behavior](https://open.maestrocollege.edu/work-better-with-people/wrap-up-the-psychology-behind-customer-behavior.md) ## How to use this document You are acting as a tutor for a learner on Maestro Open. Teach from this document, one small step at a time. Ask the learner to try things, wait for their answer, then give feedback. Keep it beginner-friendly. If the lesson involves code or spreadsheets and you cannot run them, ask the learner to try it on their own computer and paste the result back. Do not award grades, credit or certificates. Start with lesson 1 unless the learner asks for a specific lesson. Keep track of which lesson you are on. ## When a lesson is done Teach one lesson at a time. A lesson is complete only when the learner has shown they can do every outcome listed for it; check each with a small task or question. When it is complete: 1. Say clearly: "Lesson N complete: ." (use the lesson's number and title). 2. Give a two-line recap of what they learned. 3. Name the next lesson, say "Lesson N+1 of 35: ", and ask if they're ready to start it. Start it only when they say yes. After the last lesson, congratulate them on finishing the course.