AS/ A Level Psychology
Why should I study Psychology?
Advantages of A Level Psychology
“Cambridge International A Level Psychology provides a suitable foundation
for the study of Psychology or related courses in higher education. Equally it
is suitable for candidates intending to pursue careers or further study in
social sciences, or as part of a course of general education.
Cambridge International AS Level Psychology constitutes the first half of the
Cambridge International A Level course in Psychology and therefore provides
a suitable foundation for the study of Psychology at Cambridge International
A Level and thence for related courses in higher education. Depending on
local university entrance requirements, it may permit or assist progression
directly to university courses in Psychology or some other subjects. It is also
suitable for candidates intending to pursue any career in which an
understanding of human nature is needed. The qualification is also suitable
for any further study in social sciences, or as part of a course of general
education.”
The basic questions of psychology:
How do our brains and minds develop?
What makes individuals unique?
What impact do our environment and life
choices have on our mental state and
development?
How can we foster healthy development and
heal those with mental disorders?
How will the study of psychology benefit me?
• Psychology is a social science that is a useful foundation for a future in
management, health care and social services, education and academic
research.
• A basic understanding of psychological motivation can improve your
interactions with others in work, friendship, family life, and parenting.
• An understanding of psychology increases understanding of self, and can
help us to improve our ability to learn, interact with others, and feel
comfortable with our life choices.
• You may need it to supplement other studies- Psychological concepts
expand on issues of personal development that you may have studied in
other social studies, health and science courses.
• You may enjoy it- Psychology is closely related to sociology, but it is all
about YOU.
Psych and Soc- what’s the difference?
Sociology
Psychology
• The study of groups
• Focus on the interaction
between people and their
societies
• Focus on the interactions
between groups and societies
• More emphasis on theoretical
links between experimental data
and real world observation
• The study of individuals
• Focus on the interaction
between biological,
psychological and social factors
in individual development
• More emphasis on observational
research methods & medical
research
What will we study?
• Themes (AS level)
• Methodology of social sciences research
• Approaches & Perspectives
• Current issues and debates within the field
• Core content- approaches to psychological study (AS level)
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Cognitive (how we think)
Social (how we work with others)
Developmental (how brains develop and change from conception to death)
Physiological (how biological changes affect our mental state)
The psychology of individual difference (what influences personality)
• Specialist Choices (A level only)
• The intersection of psychology with other fields including education, health, the
environment, organizational structure, and the study of abnormality/ mental health
disorders
How will the class be structured?
• The textbook and supplemental materials will focus on understanding
the method, motivation, and findings of famous psychological studies.
• Vocabulary and understanding of theoretical concepts will be an
important foundation of each unit.
• There will be opportunities to conduct our own research.
• All content will be applied directly to your own life, and course work
will draw heavily from personal experience.
• PARTICIPATION IS ESSENTIAL
How will understanding be assessed?
• There are 3 papers in the AS/A sequence. These have a mixture of
multiple choice and essay questions aligned with our topics of study.
• Interim assessments will be structured to prepare you for this format.
• Classroom activities, behavior, and questions will form a large portion
of your grade here at MIS.
• Success in this course demands an inquiring mind, original thinking,
and the ability to draw inferences from data to form new hypotheses.