Psychology

Assessment

During the 2-year course, students will study: Theme 1: Introductory topics in Psychology (paper 1) • Social Influence i.e. any change in an individual’s beliefs attitudes or behaviours that result from interaction with another individual or group. • Memory i.e. different aspects of memory and forgetting as well as theory applied to the topic of eyewitness testimony. • Attachment: how infants and caregivers interact and the importance of this for later development. • Psychopathology: definitions of abnormality characteristics of different disorders and explanations and treatments of these disorders. Theme 2: Psychology in Context (paper 2) • Approaches in Psychology i.e learning approach, cognitive approach, biological approach and the origins of psychology, psychodynamic approach, and humanistic approach. • Research methods: Experimental methods, observational studies, correlations of a range of scientific processes and data handling and analysis, and additional A-level content. • Biopsychology: AS content includes the nervous system and endocrine/hormone systems, fight, and flight A ‘level content includes localization of function in the brain and hemispheric lateralization, studying brain function and biological rhythms. • Issues and debates in Psychology, e.g.the ideas of free will Vs determinism, nature Vs nurture, holistic, and reductionist views. Theme 3: Issues and Options in Psychology • Relationships • Schizophrenia • Forensic Psychology • Research methods