Psychology

Staff

Head of Department: Mrs L Smith

Teacher: Mrs L Sullivan

Intent

The Psychology department aims to provide all pupils with a broad and balanced insight into all key areas of Psychology. Motivational teaching allows pupils to respond meaningfully to differentiated objectives. We are keen for pupils to establish a love for the subject, to develop a keen and enquiring mind and to understand the complexities of human behaviour expressed through the language of character virtues. Pupils will develop a deeper understanding of key psychological principles, through a spiral curriculum that aims to build upon prior learning, and prepares our pupils for the next stage in their educational journey. We use the latest developments in psychological research to provide pupils with cultural capital.

Introduction

Have you ever found yourself wondering;

How did you develop?

How does your memory work?

How would Psychological problems affect you?

How does your brain affect you?

How do other people affect you?

If you answered yes to any of the following questions then Psychology could be the subject for you.

Want to gain another Science at GCSE? Thinking of working with children? Already thinking of Psychology at AS/A Level? Thinking of Sciences at University?

Psychology complements the study of Biology, Childcare and other Social Sciences, as well as the study of personal development including Citizenship and Religious Education. It can be applied widely to support and extend the study of many other subjects.

These two exams will include some multiple-choice questions, some short answer questions and some extended writing. These will be case studies with questions and you need to give answers about what happened in the study and the possible problems with it. You will be asked to use your understanding of psychology, such as commenting on a dream or comparing two different explanations of aggression.

Curriculum Overview

Assessment Overview

Paper 1 (55%) consists of the following topics:

Topic 1: Development – How did you develop?
Topic 2: Memory – How does your memory work?
Topic 3: Psychological problems – How would psychological problems affect you?
Topic 4: The brain and neuropsychology – How does your brain affect you?
Topic 5: Social influence – How do others affect you?

This is a written examination in which all questions must be answered.

The paper consists of six sections. The first five sections each cover one of the topics listed above. These sections will include multiple-choice, short-open and open-response questions.

The sixth section will contain two extended open-response questions. These questions will focus on debates within psychology and the interrelationships between the core areas of psychology.

Paper 2 (45%) consists of the following topics:

Topics 6 to 10 are optional; students must study two of them. Topic 11 is compulsory.

Topic 6: Criminal psychology – Why do people become criminals?
Topic 7: The self – What makes you who you are?
Topic 8: Perception – How do you interpret the world around you?
Topic 9: Sleep and dreaming – Why do you need to sleep and dream?
Topic 10: Language, thought and communication – How do you communicate with others?
Topic 11: Research methods – How do you carry out psychological research?

Assessment overview

Section A (Topic 11): Research methods – How do you carry out psychological research?

This section will focus primarily on Topic 11: Research methods – How do you carry out psychological research?, although it can draw on material from Topics 1 to 5 from Paper 1.
It will contain question types that include calculations, multiple-choice, short-open and open- response questions, and one extended open-response question.

Sections B to F: Optional topics

Each of these sections covers one of the optional Topics 6 to 10. These sections will include multiple-choice, short-open and open-response questions, and one extended open-response question.

Calculators may be used in the examination.

PSYCHOLOGY

Useful Links

Sample assessment material:

Maths guide for psychology: