Psychology

Course summary

IS THIS COURSE FOR YOU? To help you decide whether psychology is for you, consider the following questions. 1. Are you interested in scientific understanding of human behavior? 2. Are you comfortable working with data (analysis and interpretation)? 3. Are you confident engaging with a range of theoretical approaches and considering the strengths and weaknesses of each? As a result you might feel that the course is not for you or it definitely is for you. Alternatively, the questions might stimulate you to do further research or test out trying something new. YEAR 12 COURSE SPECIFICATION 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 COURSE SPECIFICATION Research methods Options from: * Biopsychology * Issues and debates in psychology * Gender * Schizophrenia * Forensic psychology * Aggression * Relationships * Stress