Psychology

Course summary

The course covers a wide range of topics and encourages students to explore why people think, feel, and behave the way we do, from a range of perspectives. We explore human behavior from the social, cognitive, biological, and learning approaches. Each unit has a key issue that is current and relevant, as well as a short practical investigation where students can conduct their own research and analyze their results. This is not assessed as coursework: instead, an exam question will assess students’ understanding of the research they have carried out. The A Level course covers an introduction to the main Approaches in Psychology (Social, Cognitive, Biological, and Learning Theories), by concentrating on one topic area in each. In year one we will cover: Social Psychology – the origins of prejudice & discrimination Cognitive Psychology – memory and problems such as Dementia and Dyslexia Biological Psychology – the brain and competing explanations for behaviors, e.g. aggression Learning Theory – how behavior is learned through experience, for example how we develop phobias. The second-year course covers two more additional topics: Clinical Psychology – mental illness, including treatments and explanations Criminal Psychology – identification and treatment of offender and eyewitness testimony