00-outline.md — Applied Psychology for Everyday Life

Complete 40-Chapter Table of Contents

PART 1: Foundations of the Mind (Chapters 1–7)

Core question: How does the mind actually work — and why does that matter for how we live?

Ch. Title Folder Key Concepts
1 Why Psychology Matters — Understanding Yourself and Others chapter-01-why-psychology-matters Scientific method, introspection limits, levels of analysis, the person-situation debate
2 How the Brain Works — Neural Foundations of Behavior chapter-02-how-the-brain-works Neurons, neurotransmitters, brain regions, plasticity, the two-system model
3 Perception and Consciousness — How We Experience Reality chapter-03-perception-and-consciousness Sensation vs. perception, top-down/bottom-up processing, consciousness, attention
4 Cognitive Biases — When Thinking Goes Wrong chapter-04-cognitive-biases Heuristics, confirmation bias, anchoring, availability, framing, debiasing
5 Memory — How We Learn, Forget, and Distort chapter-05-memory Encoding, storage, retrieval, forgetting curves, false memories, memory improvement
6 Emotion — The Science of Feeling chapter-06-emotion Basic emotions, appraisal theory, emotional intelligence, regulation strategies
7 Motivation and Drive — What Makes Us Move chapter-07-motivation-and-drive Hierarchy of needs, self-determination theory, intrinsic vs. extrinsic motivation, flow

PART 2: The Architecture of the Self (Chapters 8–14)

Core question: Who are you — and how did you get this way?

Ch. Title Folder Key Concepts
8 Personality — The Blueprint of Who You Are chapter-08-personality Big Five, MBTI critique, temperament, trait stability, personality change
9 Identity and Self-Concept — Who Do You Think You Are? chapter-09-identity-and-self-concept Self-schema, narrative identity, social identity, role identity, identity crises
10 Self-Esteem and Self-Efficacy — Confidence From the Inside Out chapter-10-self-esteem-and-self-efficacy Healthy vs. fragile self-esteem, Bandura's self-efficacy, impostor syndrome, building confidence
11 Values, Beliefs, and Meaning-Making chapter-11-values-beliefs-meaning-making Value clarification, cognitive schema, worldview, existential meaning, Viktor Frankl
12 Stress and Resilience — The Art of Bouncing Back chapter-12-stress-and-resilience Stress response, allostatic load, coping styles, post-traumatic growth, resilience factors
13 Self-Regulation — Mastering Your Inner World chapter-13-self-regulation Executive function, ego depletion debate, impulse control, emotional regulation, willpower
14 Psychological Development Across the Lifespan chapter-14-psychological-development Erikson's stages, Piaget, Kohlberg, adult development, midlife, aging well

PART 3: Relationships and Social Life (Chapters 15–21)

Core question: How do our connections with others shape us — and how do we navigate them skillfully?

Ch. Title Folder Key Concepts
15 Attachment — The Foundation of Human Connection chapter-15-attachment Bowlby, Ainsworth, attachment styles in adulthood, earned security, anxious/avoidant patterns
16 Communication That Actually Works chapter-16-communication Active listening, nonverbal communication, assertiveness, defensive communication, NVC
17 Conflict Resolution and Difficult Conversations chapter-17-conflict-resolution Conflict styles, Gottman's four horsemen, repair attempts, interest-based negotiation
18 Romantic Relationships and Intimacy chapter-18-romantic-relationships Love theories, intimacy, relationship maintenance, desire, long-term partnership dynamics
19 Family Dynamics and Early Influence chapter-19-family-dynamics Family systems, parenting styles, birth order, intergenerational trauma, family scripts
20 Friendship, Social Networks, and Belonging chapter-20-friendship-and-belonging Social needs, friendship formation, network structure, loneliness epidemic, belonging
21 Empathy and Compassion — Seeing Through Other Eyes chapter-21-empathy-and-compassion Cognitive vs. affective empathy, compassion fatigue, mirror neurons, perspective-taking

PART 4: Work, Achievement, and Purpose (Chapters 22–28)

Core question: How do we perform at our best — and make work meaningful?

Ch. Title Folder Key Concepts
22 Goals, Intrinsic Motivation, and Achievement chapter-22-goals-and-motivation Goal-setting theory, SMART goals, self-concordance, implementation intentions, motivation
23 Procrastination and Time Mastery chapter-23-procrastination-and-time Procrastination types, temporal discounting, time perception, structured procrastination, flow
24 Decision-Making Under Uncertainty chapter-24-decision-making Dual-process theory, heuristics in decisions, prospect theory, satisficing vs. maximizing
25 Leadership and Influence chapter-25-leadership-and-influence Leadership styles, emotional intelligence in leadership, power, ethical influence
26 Learning, Growth Mindset, and Expertise chapter-26-learning-and-expertise Deliberate practice, growth vs. fixed mindset, spacing effect, retrieval practice, expertise
27 Creativity and Problem-Solving chapter-27-creativity-and-problem-solving Convergent/divergent thinking, insight, creative blocks, incubation, brainstorming
28 Finding Meaning and Purpose in Work chapter-28-meaning-and-purpose Job crafting, calling vs. career vs. job, ikigai, work engagement, organizational fit

PART 5: Health, Habits, and Wellbeing (Chapters 29–34)

Core question: How do we build a life that supports our physical and psychological health?

Ch. Title Folder Key Concepts
29 Habit Formation and Behavior Change chapter-29-habit-formation Habit loop, cue-routine-reward, identity-based habits, stages of change, relapse
30 Sleep, Energy, and Peak Performance chapter-30-sleep-and-performance Sleep science, circadian rhythms, sleep deprivation effects, sleep hygiene, recovery
31 Physical Health and Psychological Wellbeing chapter-31-physical-health-and-wellbeing Exercise and mood, nutrition and cognition, biopsychosocial model, chronic illness
32 Anxiety, Depression, and the Spectrum of Distress chapter-32-anxiety-and-depression Anxiety spectrum, depression models, CBT, when to seek help, stigma reduction
33 Addiction, Compulsion, and Recovery chapter-33-addiction-and-recovery Addiction models, dopamine and reward, behavioral addictions, harm reduction, recovery
34 Grief, Loss, and Life Transitions chapter-34-grief-and-loss Grief models (Kübler-Ross, dual process), disenfranchised grief, complicated grief, transition

PART 6: Social and Cultural Forces (Chapters 35–39)

Core question: How do the groups we belong to — and the culture we swim in — shape our minds?

Ch. Title Folder Key Concepts
35 Persuasion, Influence, and Social Pressure chapter-35-persuasion-and-influence Cialdini's principles, propaganda, dark patterns, inoculation theory, resistance
36 Prejudice, Stereotyping, and Group Identity chapter-36-prejudice-and-stereotyping In-group/out-group, implicit bias, stereotype threat, contact hypothesis, allyship
37 Group Dynamics, Conformity, and Collective Behavior chapter-37-group-dynamics Groupthink, Milgram, Asch, bystander effect, deindividuation, crowd psychology
38 Cultural Psychology — How Culture Shapes the Mind chapter-38-cultural-psychology Individualism/collectivism, WEIRD bias, cultural scripts, cross-cultural self-concept
39 Technology, Social Media, and the Digital Self chapter-39-technology-and-digital-self Digital identity, social comparison online, attention economy, screen time, digital wellbeing

PART 7: Integration and Applied Practice (Chapter 40)

Core question: How do we put it all together into a coherent, lived practice?

Ch. Title Folder Key Concepts
40 Building Your Psychological Toolkit — A Life in Practice chapter-40-psychological-toolkit Integration, metacognition, ongoing practice, psychological flexibility, lifelong growth

APPENDICES

Appendix Title Type
A Templates and Worksheets Practical (Cat C)
B Quick Reference Cards Practical (Cat C)
C Resource Directory Practical (Cat C)
D Research Methods Primer Academic (Cat B)
E Key Studies Summary (50 studies) Academic (Cat B)
F FAQ Practical (Cat C)
— Glossary Always
— Answers to Selected Exercises Always
— Bibliography Always

THEMATIC THREADS (cross-chapter)

Theme Chapters
Jordan's anxiety journey 1, 4, 6, 7, 12, 13, 22, 23, 24, 32, 40
Amara's boundary development 1, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 19, 21, 34, 40
The neuroscience of behavior 2, 6, 7, 29, 30, 33
Cognition and distortion 3, 4, 5, 11, 36
Relationships and attachment 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21
Wellbeing and flourishing 7, 22, 28, 29, 30, 31, 40
Social influence and power 25, 35, 36, 37
Culture and identity 9, 36, 38
Technology and modern mind 20, 39
Grief and transition 14, 34