In the 2012 film Compliance, ordinary and decent workers in a fast-food diner are persuaded by a policeman to subject a colleague – one of their friends – to increasingly cruel and degrading punishments. Is this a ludicrous film story, or a frighteningly plausible chain of events? Why is somebody in a room with a mirror less likely to pick up and pocket a £20 note lying on the floor than somebody in a room without a mirror? Why if four people stand on the pavement and look skywards do others join them and also look upwards, but if only one person does so then no one else joins in? Psychology is the study of human behaviour. A-Level Psychology will help you start to understand not only why we all behave so differently but also why so often we behave so predictably. What will I learn? The course covers a range of theories explaining behaviour. You examine the individual studies that have been completed to test whether these theories are sensible and useful, and the degree to which they help us understand behaviour. One of the first topics you will study, Memory, is an example of cognitive psychology. It includes two theories that explain how long and short term memory works: these mean that the evidence of eye witnesses might be flawed when used in a court room. Memory techniques that can be applied to your revision are also covered. A developmental psychology topic, Attachment, is also studied: attachment is the process by which an infant forms a bond with a primary caregiver. The consequences of the success or failure of this relationship are studied in detail. Social Psychology covers two of the most famous research in Psychology: Milgram’s study of obedience and Zimabardo’s study of conformity, and how these two factors can influence the behaviour of individuals and, possibly, groups. Psychopathology looks at definitions that aim to identify who is society might be described as mentally ill, the controversies surrounding this language, and the variety of treatments available. Biological psychology will look at scientific methods for research the brain and nervous system as well as drug treatments and finally biological rhythms. Throughout you will learn how to take part in psychological debate; looking at the nature vs nurture debate and free will vs determinism. You will also learn the strengths and weaknesses of different research methods; so that you can assess the quality of evidence you are given. You will design and conduct ethical research experiments that will help you mediate between theory and practice, and allow you to analyse data in various forms.