Psychology
What subject interests everyone?
What subject reveals all and leads to the most people-centred careers?
Psychology is the scientific study of mind and behaviour. It attempts to answer questions of fundamental importance to anyone who is interested in why they, and others, behave and think as they do. It is the study of what it is to be human.
Because the human brain and human behaviour are so startlingly complex, the range of questions psychologists ask is enormous; examples include:
- why is eyewitness testimony so unreliable?
- what are the possible consequences of a traumatic childhood?
- is there such a thing as normality and if so what is it?
- does stress affect everybody in the same way?
- why did ‘ordinary people’ participate in the horrors of the holocaust?
- what causes depression and which are the most effective therapies?
- what shapes our personalities?
COURSE DETAILS
The AS course examines a number of topics:-
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Human memory |
- how we remember and why we forget |
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Attachments |
- the importance of our first relationships |
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Stress |
- what is it, what causes it and how can we manage it better? |
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Abnormality |
- what is abnormal behaviour and how do |
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Social Influence |
- why do we conform and why do we obey orders |
Topics studied at A2 include:-
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Pro and anti social behaviour |
- why people are aggressive, what motivates people |
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Social development |
- how do we develop our personalities and our |
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Biological rhythms, sleep and dreaming. |
-why do we dream, what happens when people are deprived of sleep and do we really need to sleep? |
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Psychopathology |
- what causes mental disorders such as |
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Issues in psychology |
- e.g. is it right to inflict harm on humans or animals for psychological research? |
Underpinning the course is the need for students to develop a disciplined approach to research methods. Research design and data must be handled in a scientific manner, with results analysed using a variety of statistical techniques. Students need to feel comfortable with mathematics and will need a higher grade pass at G.C.S.E. (C or above)
As students are required to describe and evaluate psychological theories and research they should have competent English skills with at least a grade C at GCSE for AS level.
Assessment at AS level is by three 1 hour examinations, one in January, two in May. Assessment at A2 is by two 11/2 hour examinations and one piece of coursework.
WHY STUDY ‘A’ LEVEL PSYCHOLOGY?
- Firstly, it is an extremely interesting subject that is relevant to us all.
- Studying psychology prepares you well for any career that involves dealing with people, e.g. the police, teaching, medicine, law, journalism etc.
- A significant number of students go on to study psychology at university. This can lead to careers in areas such as counseling, clinical psychology, educational psychology and forensic psychology.
