Richmond School
School Departments | Psychology
KS5
A flexible and popular choice at A level, Psychology offers the opportunity of studying the subject, which is both academically challenging and relevant to all of our lives. Psychology is the scientific study of the theory and research that has been conducted into human behaviour. You do not need any previous knowledge or experience of the subject but you will gain most from the course if you approach it from a firm interest in people and a desire to make a systematic study of what makes us all tick. It can be a misunderstood subject – it will not make you psychic or teach you how to read body language at parties!
The skills you will need to develop during the course include the ability to evaluate and conduct scientific research, to construct complex arguments, communicate effectively and perfect essay-writing skills.
AS Unit 1: Developmental and Cognitive psychology
We will be asking: How important are parents in our early development? What happens to those individuals who are subject to emotional and physical abuse and never experience a parent-child bond? How does our memory work? Why do we forget things? Is eyewitness testimony as reliable as we think it is?
AS Unit 2: Individual differences and Biopsychology
We will be asking: How do we decide what normal and abnormal behaviour is? Why do people develop eating disorders? What happens to our bodies when we are stressed? What can we do to reduce stress? Does your personality make you more vulnerable to stress?
AS Unit 3: Research methods and social psychology
We will be asking: Why do people obey orders, even if that order is to kill another human being? How far are psychologists able to go ethically in the name of research? What is involved in a psychology experiment?
A2 Unit 4: We will be asking: What happens when we go to sleep? Why do we dream? How does our personality develop? Why are teenagers so difficult?
A2 Unit 5: Individual differences, perspectives in Psychology and synopticity. We will be asking: What is schizophrenia? Why do some people have obsessive-compulsive behaviour? Are you able to look at an unseen scenario and explain the behaviour as a psychologist would, using your knowledge of psychology?
A2 Unit 6: Coursework
A chance for the student to conduct their own research into one aspect of psychology.
Psychology covers a wide range of topics and will appeal to students with a variety of skills and interest. A Grade C or above in Maths and English will be the entry requirement to this course.
Contact Information
Mrs T Cole – tcole@richmondschool.net
Mr A Hannah – ahannah@richmondschool.net