GCE A Level - Psychology

Course summary

Psychology is the study of mind and behaviour. It seeks to examine the complexities of human behaviour and, through the use of practical research, develop theories and ‘laws’ for why we behave the way we do. It acknowledges individual differences and explores the reasons for these differences, leading to some of the most interesting fields of psychology, most notably clinical and forensic psychology. Psychology is a subject which uses different approaches to explain behaviour: biological (medical/ genetic); cognitive (thought processes); behavioural (learning through experiences); psychodynamic (unconscious); and evolutionary (through evolution). Students who have ever watched people, wanting to understand what motivates them or who have wondered why some people choose to commit crime or develop mental illnesses such as schizophrenia are likely to enjoy studying psychology!