Psychology
Psychology
Exam Type: | Linear 2 year A-Level |
Exam Board: | AQA |
About the Course
Through the Psychology curriculum, students develop fundamental knowledge of key psychological concepts and how these shape human behaviour. Students explore theories and research studies, derived from the key psychological approaches.
Students become independent learners in their exploration of human behaviour and are actively engaged in exploring this within real world application. Students develop a love of learning and an understanding of how the mind can influence human behaviour as well as developing our students into well rounded active citizens.
Through the study of a broad range of topics such as mental illnesses, aggression and relationships, our students develop a tolerance, awareness and respect towards other individuals. Students are challenged in class to consider alternative ideologies and concepts, as well as how behaviour affects various and diverse cultures and upbringing experiences.
It is expected that students will have achieved at least a Grade 6 in GCSE English and Mathematics.
You do not need to have studied Psychology at GCSE in order to take an A-Level course in the subject. It is more important that you should have a lively and enquiring mind, an interest in human behaviour and experience and a desire to explore new ideas. Due to the nature of the course, you need to be able to learn and understand large amounts of material mostly in essay style questions.
A. Topics in Psychology:
- Social Psychology which looks at conformity and obedience
- Memory Psychology including the study of the modes of memory.
- Attachment focusing on attachment with caregivers and early social development.
- Psychopathology begins to address what ‘abnormal’ psychology is and how mental illness can be explained and treated.
B. Psychology in context:
- Approaches used within Psychology; biological, cognitive, behavioural and psychodynamic.
- Biological Psychology which looks at the role of the nervous system, hormones and neurotransmitters
- Research Methods in Psychology and the scientific process
3. Issues and options
- Issues and debates
- Relationships
- Aggression
- Eating Behaviour
A-Level
Three exams of equal weighting, all taken in Year 13 and each 2 hours long covering all the course units.
A-Level Psychology gives students some understanding of the complexities of human behaviour. This course is extremely beneficial for careers in health, welfare, medicine, law, teaching, marketing, general management, the police and the media.
A-Level Psychology is an excellent foundation for further study in this subject or related subjects in higher education.
Attachments
St Edward's Academy Psychology Reading List
St-Edwards-Academy-Psychology-Reading-List.docx.pdf
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