Psychology and Mental Health: Beyond Nature and Nurture
Learn how a psychological understanding of our emotions and behaviour gives us new ways to improve mental health and well-being.
Duration
6 weeksWeekly study
3 hours
Psychology and Mental Health: Beyond Nature and Nurture
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Psychological therapies and the work of clinical psychologists are now very popular. This free online course provides an introduction to how psychologists understand emotions, behaviours and thinking patterns, and how this helps clinical psychologists make sense of their clients’ problems.
Over six weeks, you will explore some of the current challenges and debates in the area of diagnosis and treatment, and discover new ways of thinking psychologically about mental health.
You will gain new perspectives on the “nature vs nurture” debate, and understand how we are affected by life experiences. You will also discuss new research, which promises to help us improve our own mental health and well-being.
You will learn with Peter Kinderman, Professor of Clinical Psychology at the University of Liverpool, and author of “A Prescription for Psychiatry: Why We Need a Whole New Approach to Mental Health and Wellbeing.”
You can find out more about this course in Peter’s post for the FutureLearn blog: “Rethinking mental health and well-being.”
What topics will you cover?
- The impact of biological and neurological traits on mental health and well-being
- The impact social elements have on mental health and well-being
- The extent to which life events can impact on how we act
- The role that rumination plays in well being and mental health
- Evidence-based suggestions as to how we might all protect and improve our mental health and well-being
- The design of mental health services form a non-medical perspective
Learning on this course
On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.
What will you achieve?
By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...
- Explore how social aspects can impact on mental health
- Explore the extent to which life events affect mental health and well being
- Synthesise differing contemporary approaches to health and well being
- Engage in cutting edge research into mental health and well being
- Compare different explanatory models of mental health
- Synthesise different conceptual and explanatory models of mental health
Who is the course for?
This course is aimed at anyone who wishes to understand more about psychology, about mental health or who wishes to maintain their own mental health and well-being.
Who will you learn with?
Lead Educator and Professor of Clinical Psychology at the University of Liverpool.
@peterkinderman
www.liv.ac.uk/psychology-health-and-society/staff/peter-kinderman
Who developed the course?
University of Liverpool
The University of Liverpool is ranked in the top 1% of higher education institutions worldwide.
Established
1881World ranking
Top 160Source: Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2025
Learning on FutureLearn
Your learning, your rules
- Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
- Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
- Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores
Join a global classroom
- Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
- Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
- Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others
Map your progress
- As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
- Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
- Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate
Want to know more about learning on FutureLearn? Using FutureLearn
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Get a taste of this course
Find out what this course is like by previewing some of the course steps before you join:
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