A-Level Psychology

Course Entry Requirements:

A grade 5 in GCSE English Language/Literature and a grade 5 in GCSE Mathematics

General Course Description:

Psychology is the systematic and scientific study of human behaviour and investigates extremes of human behaviour such as mental disorders and transgender operations, as well as ordinary, everyday behaviour such as memory, development and treatment of phobias and gender development. There is no coursework. If you enjoy looking at the diversity and complexities of human behaviour and like hurly burly debate this course is for you!

Content:

Paper 1: Foundations in Psychology

• Cognitive Approach - This unit focuses on the role of cognition/ cognitive processes in human behaviour. Processes studied include perception, memory, selective attention, language and problem solving.

• Social Approach - This unit focuses on aspects of human behaviour that involve the individual’s relationship to other persons, groups and society, including cultural influences on behaviour. Individual differences and developmental psychology will be studied when investigating obedience, prejudice, personality and cultural influences on social behaviour.

• Biological Approach - Students must show an understanding that biological psychology is about the mechanisms within our body and understand how they affect our behaviour, focusing on the area of aggression.

• Learning Approach - this unit looks at the effects of conditioning, reinforcement and social learning on individual behaviour.

Paper 2: Applications of Psychology

• Criminological Psychology- This looks at the definition and causes of crime and anti-social behaviour, and of the identification and treatment of offenders undertaken by forensic investigators.

• Clinical Psychology- Students must show understanding that clinical psychology is about explaining and treating mental health issues, and of the different ways of treating them, including counselling and drug treatments.

Paper 3: Psychological Skills

This is a synoptic section in which students will be asked to draw on other areas of the qualification in order to understand conceptual and methodological issues. Students will develop an understanding of how to use theories and evidence from many areas of psychology and apply them to the issues.

Find out more information about this course in the Sixth Form Prospectus:

Board: Edexcel

Career Pathways:

Psychology is a science subject and knowledge of Psychology is valuable in all areas of life – at home, in relationships and at work. It will help give you a better understanding of why people think and act as they do. Psychology can be used to broaden your range of subjects and is relevant for many careers. Apart from following a degree programme in Psychology either as a single or joint programme with another subject it can also be useful for Teaching, Law, Police Force, Marketing, public relations, counselling, care sector, nursing and advertising.