What scares people the most? What do our dreams signify? Are we born with racial biases? What brings us happiness? What are the causes and treatments for mental illness? This course aims to answer these questions and many more, offering a thorough overview of the scientific study of thought and behavior. It delves into topics like perception, communication, learning, memory, decision-making, persuasion, emotions, and social behavior. We will examine how these mental aspects develop in children, vary among individuals, are connected in the brain, and how they are affected by illness and injury.