Psychology
‘The science of mind and behaviour’
Psychology AS and A2 are offered in the sixth form at The Queen’s School. The subject matter of psychology relates to the sciences, humanities and mathematics, so combines successfully with a range of subjects and it provides a good preparation for many university courses. It is particularly useful as a complement to science-based courses, for example for girls planning futures in medicine or veterinary science.
Aims of psychology:
- To explore people’s thinking and behaviour, such as learning, memory, gender differences and prejudice.
- To develop investigative skills and critical thinking in relation to theories and research
- To apply knowledge and understanding about psychology to the real world in areas such as eye-witness testimony, addiction and mental health.
- To develop a thorough understanding of the ways in which psychologists conduct research using experiments, observations and other methods and to build the skills needed to conduct effective investigations.
What is AS psychology about?
The AS Psychology specification includes six approaches to psychology, they are:
- cognitive approach: this explores memory, considering such questions as Why do I forget things? and Is crime scene reconstruction useful?
- social approach: this explores why we obey orders and what causes prejudice. We consider such questions as Why do people join cults? and Are football scarves symbols of violence?
- psychodynamic approach: this explores our unconscious motives and how they affect us. We consider such questions as Do people really have hidden memories? and Is our personality fixed in childhood?
- biological approach: this explores biological influences including genetics and the nervous system. We consider questions such as Are men’s and women’s brains different? and Can we see thoughts with brain scans?
- learning approach: this explores how new behaviours are acquired. We consider such questions as Does advertising work? and Does violence on television matter?
What is A2 psychology about?
The A2 Psychology specification consists of the following topics:
Applications of psychology:
- criminal psychology: Are criminals born or made? An opportunity to find out about causes of criminal behaviour and how psychologists can help in the process of justice.
- health psychology: Is there an addictive personality? An investigation into how drugs work, what makes people take them and how addiction can be treated.
How psychology works:
- clinical psychology: If schizophrenia isn’t about having a multiple personality, what is it? In this section we explore the symptoms and causes of psychological problems such as schizophrenia and depression and discover how people with these disorders can be treated.
- Issues and debates in psychology: In this section we consider the social and moral dilemmas raised by psychological research and arguments, such as the nature-nurture debate that relate to many areas of the course.
How do students learn about psychology?
Psychology lessons involve a range of activities including note-taking, experiments and demonstrations. For example:
- using video sequences of simulated crimes to test the students' own reliability as witnesses
- students using a range of practical tasks to explore their own thinking
- discovering how unconscious motives affect our choice of films
- conducting online personality tests
- analysing newspaper articles
Homework assignments are varied and include structured questions, essays, crosswords, quizzes and tasks based on activities they can conduct at home. At AS and A2 there are set assessed tasks that allow the students the opportunity to conduct practical investigations on a range of topics.
Psychology in school
Results in external examinations are excellent. In 2009, 100% of candidates gained A grades in their A level Psychology and 100% gained A grades at AS. Many girls have gone on to read Psychology at a wide range of universities.
The Department also organises Psych Soc, a Sixth Form society for all girls to enjoy exciting and entertaining aspects of Psychology.
