Psychology

Course summary

The course is split into 12 modules across three broad areas. 1) Introductory topics in psychology: Social influence especially conformity and obedience; memory including models and eyewitness testimony; attachment including the impact of early attachments on cognition; social and physical development and psychopathology including definitions of abnormality, and causes and treatments of phobias, OCD and depression. 2) Psychology in context: Research methods; approaches in psychology and biopsychology including understanding the brain and biorhythms including sleep and the menstrual cycle. 3) Issues and debates in psychology including ethics and different explanations for causes of behaviour: This is part of the AQA core specification. In addition, we will choose one from each of the following three groups of optional topics Option 1: Relationships; Gender; Cognition and development. Option 2: Schizophrenia; Eating behaviour; Stress. Option 3: Aggression; Forensic psychology; Addiction. The options listed above are chosen by student agreement and guided by the teacher.