A recent survey found that 37% of teens say they have poor mental health. This 6-week course aims to curb this mental health crisis by bringing together the best insights from Dr. Laurie Santos’ popular Yale course Psychology and the Good Life. In this course, you will explore what the field of psychology teaches us about how to be happier, how to feel less stressed, and how to thrive in high school and beyond. The lessons along with short weekly ‘happiness homework’ assignments will ultimately prepare you to put these scientific findings into practice. The ultimate goal is for you to feel better and build healthier habits. Parents, teachers, and other professionals supporting teenagers may also find the course beneficial.
The Science of Well-Being for Teens
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The Science of Well-Being for Teens
Instructor: Laurie Santos
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159,558 already enrolled
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4.9
(582 reviews)
Beginner level
No prior experience required
Flexible schedule
Approx. 12 hours
Learn at your own pace
97%
Most learners liked this course
What you'll learn
You will learn what psychological science has to say about living the good life
You will engage in evidence-based behaviors proven to boost mood
Details to know
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Assessments
10 assignments
Taught in English
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There are 6 modules in this course
In this module, you will learn what it means to be happy and why pursuing happiness is not a pointless endeavor. Dr. Santos addresses how our minds lie to us and how the science shows that our misconceptions about money, grades, and social media are holding us back from implementing the techniques studied in positive psychology.
What's included
12 videos3 readings1 assignment
In this module, you will learn about biases that get in the way of our own happiness. Dr. Laurie Santos explores why we get used to good and bad things in life and how we can deal with growing accustomed to things and making bad predictions about what we will want in the future. Dr. Santos discusses how we compare ourselves to others using reference points and what we can do to deal with our limited attention.
What's included
12 videos2 readings2 assignments
In this module, you will learn about behaviors that make us happy. Dr. Laurie Santos discusses behaviors such as engaging in social behaviors, finding time to do the things you love, and practicing healthy habits. Dr. Santos explains how a little bit of extra sleep each night or exercise can make a world of a difference.
What's included
10 videos2 readings2 assignments
In this module, you will learn about thought patterns that lead to better moods. Dr. Laurie Santos addresses the power of focusing our thoughts and developing the right mindset in order to experience gratitude, practice mindfulness, and get some perspective.
What's included
9 videos2 readings2 assignments
In this module, you will learn how harnessing our feelings can make us happier. Dr. Laurie Santos explores how we need both our positive and negative emotions in order to improve our well-being. Dr. Santos also explores how to regulate your fight-or-flight response using a tool that is most definitely underused, the breath.
What's included
5 videos2 readings2 assignments
In this module, you will learn techniques to achieve happiness goals learned throughout the course. Dr. Laurie Santos investigates how we can put happiness tips into practice, addressing the ways in which situations and people can affect us. Dr. Santos additionally discusses how to implement better habits and hack the habits that we do have.
What's included
11 videos6 readings1 assignment2 peer reviews
Instructor
Instructor ratings
4.9 (213 ratings)Offered by
Recommended if you're interested in Personal Development
Yale University
Coursera Instructor Network
University of Colorado System
University of Pennsylvania
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Frequently asked questions
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