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Psychology is an exciting and fascinating field of study which attempts to discover how the human mind works. It is a young science which is rapidly growing in popularity, as it is used to explain people's behaviour and to treat a wide variety of phobias and anxieties.

Psychology pushes us towards a greater self-knowledge by making us more aware of our own actions and how we relate to others. Psychology examines a broad range of real-life issues such as stress, health, social interaction and the environment to name a few.

 

AS/A Level

Some of the questions discussed during the course are:

  • Can social pressure make people act 'out of character'?
  • Are behavioural differences between men and women learnt or inborn?
  • How can memory be improved?
  • Why do we dream?
  • What can we learn about people from studying the behaviour of animals?

Unit 1 : Psychology past to present 1 hour 30 minutes ( 20% qualification)

Pupils will be asked questions relating to five psychological approaches; Biological, Cognitive, Behaviourist, Psychodynamic and Positive. Pupils will be required to learn the main assumptions of all approaches, be able to report on therapies related to each approach and report on classic pieces of research.

Unit 2: Psychology Exploring Behaviour 1 hour 30 minutes (20% qualification)

Pupils will study research methods in depth and be able to identify the different methods used within different studies including methodologies, sampling, experimental design, data / statistical analysis and ethics. Pupils will also study contemporary debates in psychology including the ethics of neuroscience, the mother as a primary care giver of an infant and the reliability of eyewitness testimony.

Unit 3: Psychology in the Real World 2 hours 30 minutes (40% qualification)

Pupils will study three nominated behaviours including criminal and schizophrenia. Pupils will also be required to discuss controversies surrounding the subject including cultural bias, the use of animals and the ethical costs found in studies.

Unit 4 : Applied Research Methods 1 hour 30 minutes (20% qualification)

Pupils will conduct two of their own studies in a specified field of psychology and be able to report on the research methods used. They will also be required to answer relevant questions on a novel scenario provided.