Psychology

Course summary

Why are 65% of the population willing to give what they think are lethal electric shocks to innocent people when told to do so? Why is somebody in a room with a mirror less likely to pick up and pocket a £20 note lying on the floor than somebody in a room without a mirror? Why, if four people stand on the pavement and look skywards, do others join them and also look upwards, but if only one person does then no one else joins in? Psychology is the scientific study of the human mind and behaviour, it helps us explain why people act the way they do. Many of the primary modern applications for psychology revolve around protecting people from emotional and physical harm. It is an exciting and dynamic subject which stimulates discussion and debate. It will introduce you to many ground-breaking research studies which have provided us with insight into areas such as the diagnosis of schizophrenia (Rosenhan) and explanations for conditioned human behaviour (Pavlov’s dogs). A level Psychology is a stimulating subject, that will help you to understand not only why we all behave differently but also why so often we behave so predictably. Psychology is a practical, research-based subject, grounded in the scientific method. You will develop skills of literacy, numeracy, application, analysis, evaluation & critical thinking. You will learn quantitative and qualitative research skills and develop a practical and applied understanding of descriptive and inferential statistics.