Psychology

Psychology is most appropriately defined as the systematic study of behaviour and experience. All students will follow a programme that is determined by the level that they choose to study and their own personal interests.

Programme in Outline:

• Introduction to the course.   What is psychology about?    Students will be introduced to the main perspectives and methods of research employed by psychologists. Case Study : The Shipman Case

• Biological perspectives.   From this perspective, human behaviour is largely determined by internal physiological factors over which we have no control. Case Study : Eating Disorders

• Cognitive perspective.   Cognitive psychologists explain human behaviour by reference to the mind or “psyche”.   The only way to explain something as incredible as the Shipman Case is to relate what happened to Shipman’s abnormal state of mind. Case Study : Alzheimer's Disease

• Social Learning/Behaviourist Perspective.    Another way of looking at human behaviour is to see all behaviour as a result of learning.   The Behaviourist approach to psychology would therefore explain our actions by looking at the important events/issues/people which have shaped how we behave now, i.e. parents. Case Study : relevant topical issue

• Humanistic Perspective.   From this school of thought, people exercise free choices, determining themselves how they act in a given situation.   This “free will” approach does recognise the range of influence that we are all subject to.   The humanistic psychologists argue that we are ultimately responsible for our own actions. Case Study : Suicide

• Students are asked to complete two options which will complete their Year 12 work.   The two options are:  The psychology of disfunctional behaviour and  social psychology.

In Year 13 students complete a research method module and a piece of coursework on an issue of their choice.