Psychology

Course summary

Psychology is a fascinating science concerned with the study of the human mind and behaviour. Anyone who has an interest in analysing human behaviour from a scientific perspective will enjoy psychology. You should be interested in the wide range of influences on behaviour, from the biological (e.g. neurotransmitters, hormones and genes), to the social (e.g. peer groups or those in authority), and be prepared to learn about theories of human behaviour and the research studies that underpin our current understanding. The A-level course content provides students with the opportunity to study a wide range of psychological approaches to explaining behaviour including, biological, cognitive, psychodynamic and social approaches. The course also includes the opportunity to consider the explanations of specific behaviours, such as aggression and psychopathologies, including depression and OCD. Throughout the course, there is a strong focus on developing an understanding of the nature of science and conducting valid and reliable psychological research. Studying Psychology will enable you to consider questions such as: What is schizophrenia? Why is eyewitness testimony often wrong? Do we have free will? Why can jealousy cause aggression?