Psychology

Course summary

YEAR 12 Cognitive Psychology includes: * Models of memory: multi-store and working memory model * Types of long term memory * Explanations for forgetting * Factors affecting the accuracy of eye-witness testimony Developmental Psychology includes: * Caregiver-infant interactions in humans * Animal studies of attachment * Explanations of attachment * Ainsworth’s strange situation study and types of attachment * Bowlby’s theory of maternal deprivation Social Psychology includes: * Types of conformity * Conformity to social roles * Explanations for obedience * Explanations for resisting social influence * Minority influence * The role of social influence processes in social change Approaches in Psychology: * The origins of psychology and psychology as a science * The behaviorist approach * The cognitive approach * The biological approach Biopsychology: * The divisions of the nervous system * The structure and function of neurons * The function of the endocrine system * The fight or flight response Psychopathology: * Definitions of abnormality * The characteristics of phobias, depression and OCD * The behaviorist approach to explaining and treating phobias * The cognitive approach to explaining and treating depression * The biological approach to explaining and treating OCD Research Methods: * Experimental methods * Observational techniques * Self-report techniques: questionnaires and interviews * Correlations * Scientific process – sampling, variable control, ethical issues * Quantitative and qualitative data * Primary and secondary data including meta-analysis * Descriptive statistics * Graphs * Distributions * Statistical testing – the sign test YEAR 13 Research methods: Options from: * Biopsychology * Issues and debates in psychology * Gender * Schizophrenia * Forensic psychology * Aggression * Relationships * Stress LEARNING AND SKILLS: * Critical reading, analyzing and selecting of key information from long Psychological texts * Designing and carrying out research * Drawing appropriate graphs and tables based on research data * Using maths concepts and formulae * Analysing and interpreting data from research to draw conclusions * Logical structuring and coherent wording in extended writing * Drafting and redrafting extended writing based on feedback * Reading around the subject eg newspapers, reading list (provided) * Application of psychological theory and research to real life events These are just some of the skills you will learn during the course.