Psychology

Psychology is often defined as the ‘science of mind and behaviour’ covering all aspects of human experience using a scientific approach. Psychology is a popular subject which is increasingly attractive to students because it develops a range of transferable skills to further study and the workplace, including critical analysis, independent thinking and research.

Key Stage 5 (Years 12 & 13)

Examining Board: AQA.

The course is linear and runs over 2 years with students developing and deepening their skills as time progresses on the course. It relies on cross linking and development of links between units as well as within units.

There are three units for Psychology:

Unit 1: Social Influence, Memory, Attachment, Psychopathology (Abnormality)
Unit 2: Approaches in Psychology, Biopsychology, Research methods
Unit 3: Issues and debates in Psychology and one choice from each of option 1, 2, and 3:

Option 1: Relationships OR Gender OR Cognition
Option 2: Schizophrenia OR Eating Behaviour OR Stress
Option 3: Aggression OR Forensic Psychology OR Addiction

Year 1 aims to give an overview of the main areas of the subject.

Year 2 allows for some of these areas to be studied in greater depth.

Psychology is an academic subject and will therefore require quiet reading, note-taking and essay writing. Lessons will be varied and class activities could include the following:

discussions and debates
experiments
role-play
videos
student presentations

"We are what we are because we have been what we have been, and what is needed for solving the problems of human life and motives is not moral estimates but more knowledge." Sigmund Freud

Trips

Year 12

Science Museum - January
Holocaust Museum - March
Bethlem, the museum of the mind- April
Psychology Conference - March
Jack the Ripper and London Dungeon - Tbc

Year 13

Visit to University - September
Jail House Tour - October
Psychology Conference - November
Royal Court of Justice - Tbc

Useful Links

The examination board is AQA www.aqa.org.uk

The following websites all contain extra resources and revision materials:

www.psychology4a.com
www.simplepsychology.org

http://www.bps.org.uk - The website of the British Psychological Society – it governs all the research that takes place in the UK and publishes journal articles.

Career progression

The skills and knowledge of psychology are relevant to any career involving contact with other people. Whilst they will be particularly relevant to such careers as teaching, medicine, personnel management and social work, they are also relevant to careers in business, customer relations, the police, journalism, advertising and the law. An A level in psychology can help you into work but is also recognised as a sound preparation for university.