Psychology

Have you ever wondered why people behave the way they do? Psychology is the study of the mind and behaviour and it seeks to understand how people think, feel and behave. Psychologists investigate the causes of behaviour employing scientific techniques.

The IB psychology course takes an integrative approach by looking at psychological issues through three approaches (cores):

• The biological approach focuses on physiology, including the role of the brain, neurotransmitters, genetics, hormones, pheromones and the role of animal research.
• The cognitive approach focuses on mental processes like memory, thinking and perception.
• The sociocultural approach focuses on how environment and culture affect the behaviour of the individual.

In the second year, pupils apply these core approaches to a choice of optional topics (abnormal psychology, psychology of human relationships, health psychology and developmental psychology). Higher level pupils study two topics, standard level pupils only one.

The internal assessment task for psychology is the same for both standard and higher level pupils. It involves replicating a published experiment in a simplified form.

Pupils can also opt to study A-Level psychology. This differs quite significantly in terms of assessment to the IB as it is all externally assessed; with pupils will sitting three 2-hour papers at the end of the course.

The three papers address different aspects of psychological theory and knowledge, with a core thread of research methods and core approaches running throughout.

Paper 1	Social Influence; including types of conformity, explanations for obedience, explanations of resistance to social influence and the role of social influence processes in social change.  Memory; including models of memory, explanations for ‘forgetting’, factors affecting the accuracy of eye-witness testimony, and how this may be improved using cognitive interviewing techniques.  Attachment; including stages of attachment and the influence of early attachment on childhood and adult relationships.  Psychopathology; including definitions of abnormality, phobias, depression and obsessive compulsive disorder, the behavioural approach to treating phobias, the cognitive approach for treating depression and the biological approach to explaining and treating OCD.	2 hours (96 marks)
Paper 2	Biopsychology; including the nervous system, the endocrine system, localization of brain function, biological rhythms.  Approaches; cognitive, psychodynamic, behavioural, biological and humanistic approaches; including main assumptions and critique.  Research Methods: scientific method, mathematical content (20% of the whole A level)	2 hours (96 marks)
Paper 3	Issues and Debates; ethics and socially sensitive research, nature vs nurture, holism vs reductionism; free will vs determinism, idiographic vs nomothetic; gender and culture bias  Schizophrenia; explanations and treatments  Gender; differences between sex and gender, biological and psychodynamic and social explanations of gender development; gender dysphoria.  Forensics: explanations of criminal behaviour and treatments	2 hours (96 marks)

The Psychology Department is committed to providing a vigorous and challenging A Level curriculum. The department will deliver the course via a variety of methods, drawing on the most current pedagogical theory and learning and teaching techniques that have been vigorously tested through research-based enquiry. 

The students will be expected to demonstrate their prowess as independent learners, and they will be able to express these skills through challenging prep tasks and project work in class. However, the students can also expect high levels of support and scaffolding from their contact time in lessons. 

 In addition to contact time in lessons, students will be encouraged to seek extra help if they need support or to access the extension materials and reading area when they feel that they would like to supplement their work. 

The department aims to not only deliver the best possible curriculum but also to ensure that students are motivated to carry on the subject once they leave school; whether this be reading the subject at university or continuing to engage with the new scientific developments.  We will achieve this through the delivery of a Psychology reading club (designed for university applicants) and a seminar group (aimed at those with a broader interest in the subject)  

Studying psychology raises questions rather than providing clear cut answers. Pupils become reflective, open-minded and intellectually curious learners. There is also a strong focus on developing critical thinking skills as well as fostering intercultural understanding and respect.

Psychology is unlike any subject you have studied before, however, it is fascinating and relevant to all aspects of everyday life.

Head of Department: Rebecca Jerstice