Psychology

2021-2023 Specification: Head of Department: AQA Psychology A Level 7182 Mr Sam Shaw

Who should study this course?

Psychology is defined as ‘the scientific study of mind and behaviour’ and so would suit students who are interested in looking at why humans act and think the way they do. The topics covered are instantly applicable to everyday situations, giving pupils an insight into their own thinking and behaviour, as well as having wider reaching applications. This realworld application gives students of psychology an advantage in many domains. Students should ideally have achieved at least grade 6 in English and Science (Biology) and 5 in mathematics at GCSE.

What will I be studying?

The main topics studied in Year 12 are intended to give students a broad insight into how Psychology works. These are:

Social Influence: How we are influenced and motivated by the world around us, including conformity, social change and obedience.

Attachment: Looking at the development of children and the factors which affect and explain the formation of inter-personal attachments.

Memory: Studying cognitive processes which explain the storage and retrieval of memories, including explanations of forgetting.

Psychopathology: Studying how we define abnormality, specific disorders and different approaches to explaining and treating them.

Approaches: How different schools of thought in psychology try to explain behaviour from a certain viewpoint and with a certain set of techniques.

Research Methods: Understanding how to use a scientific and objective approach to gather data and study psychological phenomena. This includes mathematical skills and statistics.

In Year 13 we look at additional research methods, biopsychology and options in psychology. These include studying schizophrenia, relationships and aggression in more detail and with a focus on theory and research. Year 13 also look at some of the key debates in psychology and how these are present across the field.

How will I be assessed?

The course is assessed by examination only. There are three examination papers each lasting two hours taken at the end of Year 13. Question styles range from multiple choice through to short answer and essay questions.

What next?

Psychology is probably one of the most versatile A-level and degree courses. The most traditional route is into clinical psychology - helping those with mental health issues. Psychology is also important in medical and legal professions. Other related professions include working in sports, business and social work. However, a psychology degree provides an in-depth knowledge of research skills and scrutiny as well as the opportunity to specialise in a range of fields including the increasingly popular occupational and business psychology. When applying to universities via UCAS, psychology is classed as a science and so is a versatile choice when deciding subject combinations.