Psychology

Course summary

Psychology is the scientific study of the human mind and behaviour. As psychologists, we seek to understand the ways in which people act, and interact, through the use of the scientific method. Understanding the motivations and reasons behind human behaviour can not only aid treatment and therapy, for mental health and neurodegenerative diseases but can help us to understand and offer solutions to individual and social dilemmas such as the holocaust, racism, aggression, mental health, crime and more. The Pearson Edexcel Level 3 Advanced GCE in Psychology is structured into nine topic areas. Topics 1 to 4; Social Psychology, Cognitive Psychology, Biological Psychology and Learning Theories, are compulsory and focus on the areas that have laid the foundations of modern psychological understanding. These four approaches offer different explanations for human behaviour, from group identity to positive reinforcement and the structures of the human brain and nervous system. These will be covered in Year 12. Topics 5–8 focus on how our understanding of psychology is applied today. Topic 5; Clinical Psychology is compulsory. Students apply their Year 12 understanding to mental health understanding, diagnosis, causes and treatment, focusing primarily upon schizophrenia and depression. One topic from 6, 7 or 8 must be studied. At New Hall, we opt for Criminological Psychology due to popular student demand. Both Clinical and Criminological Psychology are studied in Year 13. Finally, Topic 9 summarises the psychological skills and research methods covered in the qualification. These will be covered across years 12 and 13. This qualification consists of three externally examined papers and students complete all external assessments in May/June in any single year.