Allerton Grange School
Course: Psychology
Course Title: Psychology
Qualification: A Level
Assessment Method: Examination (3 exams at the end of Yr13)
Entry Requirements: 5 GCSE’s grade C or above including English & Maths
Description of Course:
Psychology is the scientific study of the mind and behaviour. It investigates how we think, feel and interact as
individuals and in groups. It is concerned with all aspects of behaviour and the underlying motivations that lead to
specific behaviours. By understanding behaviour we are able to solve major problems in society. Psychology aims
to observe, measure and test human behaviour and arrive to conclusions that are rooted in sound scientific
methodology.
Course content:
Social influence – What is conformity and obedience? Why do some conform and obey and others don’t?
Memory - How does our memory work? Why do we remember/forget? What affects our ability to remember
accurately?
Attachment – Why and how do we attach? What are the implications of attachment in adulthood?
Psychopathology – What is abnormal behaviour? How do we explain and treat abnormal behaviour?
Approaches in Psychology – The explanations of behaviour according to the different perspectives in psychology
Biopsychology – What is the role of our body in determining behaviour?
Research methods – How to we carry out psychological investigations
Issues and debates in psychology – How does gender, free will, ethics and culture affect our understanding of
behaviour?
Relationships – How do we form and maintain relationships and why do some breakdown?
Schizophrenia – what is schizophrenia? How do we explain and treat schizophrenia?
Addiction – What is addiction? How do we explain and treat addiction?
Why study Psychology?
Whatever career you pursue, a background in psychology will enhance your employability. Studying psychology can
help you understand yourself and other people by learning about aspects of human behaviour that will help you in
daily life. It complements other subject’s areas such as social sciences and humanities as well as allowing you to
develop sound analytical skills through the application of the scientific method. Many students also look to the
future and chose psychology as a route into specific occupational areas such as clinical, forensic and educational
psychology, development, health or often as a subject in a degree combined with others.
For more information please contact:
nabilamughal@allertongrange.com
Miss N Mughal
SUMMER TASK: gain some subject knowledge. Read up on the Cognitive, Learning (to include
behaviourism and Social Learning Theory) and Biopsychology approaches. Find out their main
assumptions and summarise in no more than 100 words (for each approach) what they are all
about.