What will I study?
The course is split into AS & A2. Each is divided into two units, AS units being studied in Year 12 and A2 units in Year 13.
AS modules:
Unit 1:Cognitive Psychology, Developmental Psychology & Research Methods
Cognitive Psychology deals with memory and forgetting and how this knowledge is applied in everyday life.
Developmental Psychology looks at the importance of attachment bonds and how these bonds are formed. It also considers the effect of privation and the issue of how day care may or may not affect a child’s development.
Research Methods involves understanding of the practicalities of carrying out valid and reliable research.
Unit 2:Biological Psychology, Social Psychology & Individual Differences
Biological Psychology considers how stress affects our bodies, what causes stress and different approaches to managing stress.
Social Psychology is concerned with the reasons why people conform to group standards and why we obey authority figures. Finally it looks at the ethics and implications of this type of research.
Individual differences provides an insight into the difficulties of trying to define what is abnormal, understanding the different approaches/explanations for abnormality and the therapies that are used to treat different forms of abnormality.
A2 modules:
Unit 3:
You will study three topics from: Biological Rhythms & Sleep; Aggression; Relationships; Perception; Eating behaviour; Gender; Intelligence & Learning; Cognition & Development.
Within each of these topics, you will develop an appreciation of issues and debates such as – gender & culture bias, the role of animals in research, the nature/nurture debate and free will v determinism.
Unit 4:
This unit covers Psychopathology (Schizophrenia, Depression, Anxiety Disorders) and Psychology in action(How our knowledge of Psychology is applied in everyday life), including Psychology of the paranormal.
An important element of this unit is the Coursework. Students will be expected to plan, design, carry out and analyse & interpret a piece of research of their own choosing from any area of the syllabus.
Teachers:
Mrs P Murray
