Throughout the A Level course, students will have the opportunity to develop skills of interpretation, evaluation, and application in the ever-changing field of Psychology. Experimentation is crucial in Psychology and so the new courses encourage practical investigations. Paper 1 – Introductory topic in Psychology Social Influence Students will be exploring why some people conform to a majority influence, and why people obey authority. Students also examine explanations for resisting pressure to conform and obey. Memory Students will have the opportunity to explore cognitive explanations of memory. During this, they will learn about different models of memory, different explanations for forgetting, and how we use our memory in everyday life. Attachment Students will explore developmental explanations for the early development of children and how babies form attachments, who they form them to, and what happens if they do not form attachments. Psychopathology Students will apply the knowledge gained from the ‘approaches’ topic to explanations and treatments of modern psychological phenomena, including phobias, depression, and OCD. Paper 2 – Psychology in Context Approaches in Psychology Students will consider the different approaches taken in Psychology, both historically and today. These will include the learning, cognitive, psychodynamic, humanistic, and biological approaches. Biopsychology Students will explore various aspects of human biology and how this influences our behavior. This includes the fight or flight response, synaptic transmission, the nervous system, and much more. Research Methods Students will develop their knowledge and understanding of modern research methods, including the scientific process and data handling and analysis. Paper 3 – Issues and Options in Psychology Issues and debates Students will consider issues and debates in Psychology, including gender and culture; free will and determinism; the nature-nurture debate; holism and reductionism; and the ethical implications of research. Aggression Students will examine what the causes of aggression in humans are. This includes studying the influence of media on aggression and what causes aggression in prisons. Schizophrenia Here students will examine what schizophrenia is and how someone would be diagnosed with schizophrenia. Students will also explore the various explanations for the cause of the disorder as well as multiple treatments. Relationships Here students look at the different factors that influence attraction in relationships. They also explore the different theories of why we stay in a relationship and why a relationship may break down. In addition, students will look at the relationships that people create with each other online.