Psychology

Course summary

Through their science-based approach to the study of Psychology A Level, students develop knowledge and understanding of concepts, theories, research studies, research methods and ethical issues in key areas of Psychology. Students develop skills of analysis, evaluation and interpretation in these areas as well. Areas for study in Year 1 are: • Social Influence – Conformity, obedience and minority influence • Memory – Models of memory, explanations of forgetting and eyewitness testimony • Attachment - Explanations of attachment, types of attachment and influence of early attachment on relationships • Approaches in Psychology - Assumptions of the learning approach, cognitive approach and biological approach, biopsychology • Psychopathology - Definitions of abnormality, mental disorders and treatments • Research Methods - Methods, scientific process, data handling and analysis Areas for study in Year 2 are: • A Level Year 1 content as above • Issues and debates in Psychology - including gender and culture bias, free will and determinism and the nature-nurture debate • Cognition and development - theories of cognitive development, theories of social cognition • Schizophrenia - classification and diagnosis, explanations and treatments • Addiction -risk factors, explanations and theories • Research methods- inferential statistical testing