Psychology Department

Facilities

Psychology is taught within the Social Sciences Department suite of classrooms. Each classroom has a data projector linked to a computer and a visualiser. At A level the textbook series used is Psychology: The Complete Companion published by Folens Limited.

Sixth Form

AS and A2 Psychology (specification AQA Psychology ‘A’ 2180)

Students wishing to study Psychology must have achieved at least Grade C in GCSE English, Mathematics and Science (Double Award).

Psychology is the study of mind and behaviour, and bridges the gap between the academic study of the social sciences and the natural sciences. Students are encouraged to develop an understanding of psychological research; the ability  to apply this knowledge to real life situations; critically analyse and evaluate the value of psychological research and its credibility as an explanation of human behaviour.

The study of A level Psychology will appeal to students who are curious about people and are interested in exploring the reasons for their behaviour. Psychology students need to be sensitive, open minded and willing to accept that there are no ‘right or wrong’ answers. Psychology is a science with cutting edge research that can be applied to issues we see in everyday life, such as psychological disorders, stress and aggression. 

AS Psychology

The two units which are studied for the AS course are both assessed by a 1½ hour examination consisting of a mixture of short answer questions and a structured essay. Each unit contributes 50% to the final AS grade and 25% to the full A level grade.

Unit 1: Cognitive Psychology, Developmental Psychology and Research Methods

  • Human Memory explores the structure of human memory, factors that influence human memory such as anxiety as well as strategies for memory improvement
  • Early Social Development explores the nature of early childhood attachments, the effects of failure to form attachments, as well as the impact day care has on a child’s social development.
  • Research Methods investigates the way psychological research into human behaviour is designed and analysed

Unit 2: Biological Psychology, Social Psychology and Individual Differences

  • Psychopathology explores definitions of psychological abnormality as well as different perspectives on the cause and treatment of psychological disorders such as depression, phobias and eating disorders.
  • Stress explores the causes of stress, the relationship between stress and physical illness as well as psychological & physiological methods of stress management. 
  • Social Influence explores psychological explanations of conformity and obedience, as well as investigating factors that influence independent behaviour and social change.

A2 Psychology

The two units which are studied for the A2 course each contribute 50% to the final A2 grade and 25% to the full A level grade. Unit three is assessed by a 1½ hour examination, which consists of three essay questions,  relating to one of the three topic areas studied. Unit four is assessed by a 2 hour examination which consists of short answer and structured essays questions relating to the three topics studied.

Unit 3: Topics in Psychology

  • Relationships explores why people are attracted and fall in love, in addition to reasons why relationships are formed and maintained as well as why they breakdown. 
  • Aggression explores the social and biological causes of human aggression, in addition to investigating explanations of sexual jealousy and homicide. 
  • Eating Behaviours explores factors which affect attitudes to food in addition to the biological and psychological causes of obesity. Neural and cognitive explanations of eating behaviour are also investigated in relation to reasons why diets fail.

Unit 4: Psychopathology, Psychology in Action and Research Methods

  • Psychopathology explores different types of phobias, as well as biological and psychological causes and treatments of this psychological disorder.
  • The Psychology of Addictive Behaviour explores reasons for addictive behaviours such as smoking and gambling, in addition to investigating biological and psychological types of intervention which help addicts break free from the cycle of addiction. 
  • Psychological research and scientific method builds on the research methods unit students were introduced to during the AS course.