Psychology AQA Level Advanced
Key Stage 5
Subject Leader: Ms K. Mallen
Exam board: AQA
Level: Advanced
Curriculum Map
The link below allows you to see when topics may be covered; this is a guide for information only and has the potential to change as the year progresses.
Psychology is a fascinating and popular subject, which looks at the scientific study of the human mind, behaviour and experience. Students will gain an insight into this scientific process, looking closely at theories, studies and research methods through studying a number of exciting topics, through which they will be able to apply their knowledge to a wide range of everyday experiences and phenomena.
Psychology will be running as an A Level.
The two-year A Level qualification sees students studying 3 equally weighted papers, each assessed through a two-hour written examination. The examinations include multiple choice, short answer and longer essay questions.
Paper 1: Introductory topics in psychology
- Social influence provides explanations of why people conform and obey and includes famous research such as that conducted by Philip Zimbardo and Stanley Milgram.
- Memory, including the functions of short and long-term memory, how memory can affect the legal system with eyewitness testimony and explanations of forgetting.
- Attachment, including how infant attachments are formed with our parents and what can happen if this attachment is disrupted.
- Psychopathology takes a biological viewpoint, considering how we define abnormality and investigating the causes of and therapies for mental illnesses such as depression, phobias and obsessive compulsive disorder.
Paper 2: Psychology in context
- Approaches in psychology provides an insight into the origins of psychology and the very different perspectives psychologists take in explaining the same behaviour.
- Biopsychology focusses on the structure and of nervous system and endocrine system, brain neurons and brain structure and function, scanning techniques and biological rhythms, including sleep.
- Research Methods looks at how we conduct research in psychology, how we select our participants, ethical issues when carrying out experiments and how to analyse results, including the use of descriptive and inferential statistics.
Paper 3: Issues and options in psychology:
- Section A: Compulsory study of the issues and debates that run through all the theories in Psychology
- Section B: Gender development: students study biological, cognitive and social theories for how humans develop their gender identity.
- Section C: Schizophrenia: students study biological and cognitive explanations and treatment of this psychological disorder
- Section D: Aggression: Students study biological, cognitive and social theories for why humans show aggressive behaviour; with a specific focus on aggression in prisons and the negative effect of violent video games on aggression
For further information please click on the link below:
http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/psychology/as-and-a-level/psychology-7181-7182
For more information surrounding Psychology at A Level please contact Ms K.Mallen via info@stmarys.net or visit the Psychology page on the AQA website.
