SOCIOLOGY

A LEVEL PSYCHOLOGY

EXAMINATION BOARD

AQA

WHAT WILL I LEARN ON THIS COURSE?

I will be able to: • Understand self, other people, moral behaviour and thought as well as cultural differences and similarities. • Know and critically understand the explanations for human behaviour. • Appreciate the variety and complexity of the human mind and human relationships. • Describe and evaluate a range of research methods and their relevance within

Psychology. • Develop skills of written and verbal communication, interpretation, analysis and evaluation.

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STRUCTURE AND CONTENT A LEVEL

Students will study three components over two years. Paper 1: Introductory Topics in Psychology • Social influence: Why do we conform? Why do we obey? How do we resist social pressures? • Memory: How does your memory work?

Eyewitness testimony and how to improve your memory? • Attachment: Why do we form attachments?

How and when do we form attachments? • Psychopathology: What is abnormality? How phobias, depression and OCD are explained. Paper 2: Psychology in Context • Approaches in psychology: Origins of psychology. • Biopsychology: The nervous system and the functions of neurotransmitters and hormones • Research methods: What methods does psychology use to study behaviour? What are the advantages and disadvantages? Paper 3: Issues and Options in Psychology • Issues and debates in psychology: issues • include gender bias, culture bias, Nature Vs.

Nurture, free will Vs. determinism • Relationships: How do relationships form, maintain and breakdown? • Schizophrenia: What causes schizophrenia?

How do we treat it? • Aggression: a look into why people are aggressive, prison behaviour and whether criminals are born or made.

ASSESSMENT

Paper 1: 2 hrs worth 33.3.% of total A Level Paper 2: 2 hrs worth 33.3.% of total A Level Paper 3: 2 hrs worth 33.3.% of total A Level

WHERE CAN I GO AFTER COMPLETING THIS COURSE?

Psychology has very wide applications and is extremely popular at university and with employers. Psychology learnt at A Level can be applied in all aspects of life and work e.g. raising children, teaching, medicine, social work and office work.