Summary

Psychology is the scientific study of the mind and human behaviour. Psychologists are interested in understanding why people do the things they do and also what causes one individual to be different to the next. Psychologists devise theories which explain and predict human behaviour, and then carry out investigations to find out whether there is any evidence to support them. Throughout the course we will look at a number of different areas of psychological research, such as: how your memory works; how different psychological perspectives explain behaviour; what causes us to form romantic relationships; how to identify, explain and treat mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, depression and OCD; and also how to design and carry out psychological research.

In this course you will study:

Year 1

Memory

• We will look at the different types of memory we have as well as how we remember different things.

Attachment

• This is about how relationships develop between parents and children.

Research Methods

• This is where you learn the practical side of being a psychologist. This includes how to design and carry out experiments and how to analyse the results, including how to interpret basic statistics.

Social influence

• You will find out about how social influences affect our behaviour by looking at conformity, minority influence and obedience.

Psychopathology

• In this unit we consider definitions of normality and abnormality and look at psychological explanations of mental disorders like depression, phobias and OCD. We also look at therapies for treating these types of disorders.

Approaches

• We also study the major approaches within psychology, and the assumptions that they make about human behaviour.

Year 2

Relationships

• This relates to things such as what makes us attracted to people and also what causes us to stay in relationships as well as things that make them break down.

Schizophrenia

• You will learn symptoms and types of one of the most severe psychological disorders as well as what causes it and the different ways in which it can be treated.

Forensic Psychology

• This relates to how we can use insights from psychological research to explain why people commit crimes.

Biological Psychology

• This area takes a scientific approach to explaining behaviour, including studying the functions of different areas of the brain.

Issues and Debates

• There are several common themes that reoccur in all topics, and many unsolved debates within the field of psychology. This section will look at them in more detail.

How will I know how I am doing?

Year 1:

• Two 1.5-hour written exams from content covered in the first year.

Year 2:

• Three 2-hour written exams from content covered in both years.

What do I need to join?

5 GCSE’s at grade 4-9 including English and Maths. Must also have a 5 in English Language and English Literature, plus a 5 in a Science or 5-5 in Combined Science.

How will I learn?

This A Level course is based at our Filton campus, located in South Gloucestershire which is easily accessible from the city of Bristol by train (Bristol Parkway / Bristol Abbey Wood) and bus.

Work Experience

You will be required to do a minimum of 36 hours of work experience. This is usually completed in a week during term-time where you have the opportunity to explore a career-field which takes your interest, with the aim to give you an insight into the full-time working life. In the lead up to this week, you will be asked to create an exciting CV during group tutorial period.

What can I do next?

With an A Level in Psychology you can then take courses in Higher Education which will qualify you to work in areas such as clinical psychology; child psychology; forensic psychology; education; market research; prisons; counselling; advertising; personnel; and many other areas.

Psychology is a rapidly growing field and psychology students are in demand in many careers as they have many useful skills. Psychology teaches you to think logically and critically; to be able to approach problems from different angles; to argue a case effectively; to handle basic statistical problems and above all to think scientifically about any topic you encounter.