At A-level, psychology is now classified as a science and seeks to understand and explain thought, emotion and behaviour through a scientific approach. There is still an arts element in the specification and so now when studying psychology at A-level you will require an interest in a range of disciplines. You will use skills from subjects such as natural sciences (Biology, Chemistry and Physics) as well as Maths, English, Sociology and Philosophy.

Unit 1 - Social and Cognitive psychology (AS)

Social Approach

In the social approach you will learn about two areas that have generated a great deal of controversy over the years, obedience and prejudice. You will study research as well as theories that try to explain such behaviour. The social practical involves you conducting a questionnaire to discover about people's attitudes or beliefs to something.

Cognitive Approach

In the cognitive approach the main area you will study is memory. Here you will look at research and theories that seek to explain how memory works and how we forget. You will also learn how to create new memories that will last - so you should be better at learning for your exams! In the Cognitive Approach you will also have an opportunity to conduct a short experiment on memory or forgetting.

Unit 2 - Individual differences (AS)

Psychodynamic approach

The Psychodynamic Approach focuses on Freud and his theory of how personality develops. Freud's views on the way children develop ideas of right and wrong and their relationships with their parents are as controversial today as when he first produced them. In the Psychodynamic Approach the practical will involve collecting evidence regarding an aspect of personality and an aspect of behaviour.

Biological Approach

In the Biological Approach you will discover how genes and hormones influence us. You will learn too about differences between male and female brains, why that difference occurs and the implications for our behaviour. The practical for the Biological Approach will involve testing two groups of people who differ in some way that is biologically based, such as males and females.

Learning Approach

The Learning Approach looks at what is involved in learning. The three types of learning covered will feel very familiar. As you learn about each one you will recognise how much of your own learning can be explained in this way.

• Do you have an irrational fear of something? Perhaps classical conditioning can explain why.

• Does your pet dog know when it is time for his walk? Operant conditioning can explain how.

• Ever noticed how your best friend has exactly the same mannerisms as their same sex parent?

Social learning theory can explain why.

Unit 3 - Criminal and Health psychology (A2)

Criminal Psychology deals with our understanding of crime and criminals. Why does someone become a criminal? How can we stop people re-offending? How do psychologists build profiles of serial offenders? These are just some of the issues examined in this unit. Health Psychology focuses on the issue of substance abuse. You will learn how addiction can occur, effects of certain drugs on the brain and body, and also look at how health campaigns have tried to prevent or limit the use of recreational drugs and whether such campaigns make an impact or not.

Psychology is a very useful subject for any career where you interact with people. Occupations such as journalism, nursing and marketing all welcome trainees who have studied psychology. Also, if you're considering Higher Education psychology can be an invaluable subject as it gives you experience in the skills required for both science and arts subjects.

Is the subject right for me?

The most important quality for anyone wanting to study psychology is to find people fascinating. Are you intrigued by why people act in the way they do? If so, then psychology will capture you imagination and you will never look at people in the same way again.

You will need to;

• Be willing to listen to take on board new ideas and novel arguments.
• Be able to see both sides of an issue and not reject one side simply because you initially believe it is wrong.
• Have an interest in data collection and data analysis.

Do I need to have previous knowledge of the subject?

You do not need to have any previous knowledge to study psychology. However, due to the scientific status of the subject you definitely need to have had an interest in science subjects at GCSE. The course involves a number of skills such as essay writing, data collection and data analysis and so it would also be strongly advisable to have science, maths and English language, to a grade C or better at GCSE level.

What are the benefits to studying psychology?

Psychology can benefit both science and arts students. For the traditional scientists it can provide many opportunities to develop skills in assessing debates and arguments. Whereas, for the arts student studying psychology can show a competence in scientific thinking and numeracy that will add breadth to your skills.

Unit 4 - How Psychology Works (A2)

Clinical Psychology

In Clinical Psychology you will look at the application of psychology in the area of mental health. You will learn about how mental illness is diagnosed, and also about two disorders in detail including Schizophrenia and Eating Disorders.

Issues and Debates

This is a unit which examines issues that occur throughout Units 1, 2 and 3 and which draw together the subject of psychology. You will consider whether psychology can be viewed as a science or not, the relative importance of nature and nurture in explaining human behaviour, how cultural bias might have affected some of the research you have looked at over the course and whether society can exert control over another person through use of psychology.

Mike Leatherbarrow
Head of Psychology