Psychology

What is A level Psychology?

In order to answer this question, we need to look at not only the content of the A level Psychology specification, but also at what it has to offer for the intellectual and personal development of students of 16 and over.

Psychology can be defined as "The Science of Mind and Behaviour". It is a relatively new subject - only about one hundred and fifty years old. Many people argue that Psychology developed as a subject due to Darwin's ideas. He suggested that all living things were related to each other. This means that human beings could be studied scientifically, like the rest of the natural world. Psychology is about people and their cognitive, biological and social world.

What use is Psychology?

Psychology gives students many things: an insight into the world that we live in, the ability to think deeply about a range of current concerns and issues, and a wide range of skills which can be used in many areas of life, or in further study.
Interest in Psychology is growing rapidly, as are employment opportunities. It is a component part of many educational courses, having links not only with the caring and educational professions, but also with areas such as business and administration. Industrial Psychology is one of the fastest growing areas ill the fields of advertising, medicine, counseling, social work, industry, armed forces, teaching and nursing. These are just a few of the employment areas that utilise aspects of psychological knowledge.

Psychology also develops skills that are transferable to other subject areas. These include analytical and evaluative skills, problem solving skills, the carrying out of practical investigations and the more usual essay writing and research skills.
Psychology can be studied as an arts subject or a science subject at University and therefore combines well with either arts or science subjects at A-level. It also combines well with the other social sciences.

So what is it about?

It is about you, and me, and them.
It is about relationships between people.
It is about the way in which animals, including the human animal, develop, learn and interact with each other

Some of the central issues in Psychology can be best illustrated by looking at some of the questions that it seeks to answer, for instance:

“How does a helpless new-born human organism develop the capacity for abstract thought in sixteen short years?”
“How do we think, remember and learn?”
“Why is it that different people develop different personality types?”
“Do early childhood experiences affect adult behaviour?r”
“Why, are we attracted to some people, and not to others?”
“How should human beings be studied?”

The Course Content

The AS Level consists of 2 units:

Unit 1: Introducing Psychology - Key Approaches in Psychology, Biopsychology and Research Methods.

Unit 2:  Social Psychology, Cognitive Psychology and Individual Differences

The A2 Level consists of 2 Units

Unit 3:
Section A: Child Development: Social Development, Cognitive Development and Moral Development
Section B: Applied Psychology Options: Schizophrenia and Mood Disorders, Stress and Stress Management.

Unit 4:
Approaches, Debates and Methods in Psychology ‘How Science Works’.

The Department

The Psychology Department is a large, dynamic and successful one. The enthusiasm and commitment of the staff leads to a positive and enjoyable learning experience for students.

We hope you will enjoy your studies at Bilborough College.