Crash Course Psychology #29: OCD and Anxiety Disorders

Distinguish casual and clinical uses of the term OCD and describe its compulsive behaviors and available treatments.

Define Generalized Anxiety Disorder and distinguish a normal fear from an anxiety disorder.

Explain biological and learning-based explanations (genetics, natural selection, reinforcement, stimulus generalization) for anxiety disorders and phobias.

Assign Episode 29 as a flipped-classroom video, or play it in class, since the 15 questions on OCD, GAD, and phobias are written to be answered while or after watching.

Spot-check student responses against the teacher key, which pairs a model answer drawn from Episode 29 with each of the 15 questions.

Handle this topic with sensitivity given its subject matter (OCD, anxiety, phobias); the episode itself models a clinical, non-stigmatizing tone worth reinforcing in discussion.

Video-based note-taking — students extract answers to 15 comprehension questions on OCD and anxiety disorders while watching Episode 29.

Distinguishing related but distinct psychological disorders (OCD, GAD, panic disorder, phobia, social anxiety disorder).

Explaining biological and behavioral mechanisms such as stimulus generalization and reinforcement of avoidance.