This seasonal class will provide an opportunity for learners to apply Psychology knowledge to Halloween topics, with a video lesson covering theory, and a creative task to design a haunted house!

In the welcome thread, learners will be asked to share what they like or dislike about Halloween, and/or an example of something they think is spooky or creepy.

The main class activities will include:
1) A video covering elements of the biopsychology and evolutionary psychology of fear, focusing on why many people can easily share ideas of what makes something creepy or scary; the 'fight or flight' response, as well as 'agent detection mechanisms', which links to cognitive psychology concepts of attention and perception. We will also cover elements of social psychology, focusing on how people can learn to fear certain things and how shared experiences can lead to social bonding.

2) Classroom prompts for learners to post and respond to ideas about questions posed in the video.

3) A creative task, in which learners may post a written/drawn/animated/video account of the choices they would make in designing a haunted house, linking in with concepts from class.

Pictures of Halloween costumes/decorations are welcome, relating to the class topic.

Learners should be comfortable with Halloween topics (e.g. haunted houses, witches, ghosts, zombies, graveyards, etc), however, the class will be inclusive to anyone who may wish to avoid a particular element for any reason, e.g. phobias or bad experiences - please contact me before class if this applies to you!!

No specific Psychology knowledge is needed, but there will be opportunities for learners to share their knowledge and opinions.