Psychology

Department Teachers

Miss F Hutchings  M.Ed., B.Sc.      Head of Department
Mr A Moss B.Sc, PG.Dip.Psych Psychology 1

The Psychology Department aims to:

  • stimulate an interest and enthusiasm in the understanding of mind and behaviour;
  • encourage an interest in and appreciation of psychology through an exploration of the ways in which psychology is conducted;
  • develop psychological skills as well as the learning of psychological knowledge;
  • ensure that students consider spiritual, moral, ethical, social and cultural issues within the psychological knowledge available to them;
  • encourage students to be aware of the wide diversity of human behaviour and of the need for tolerance and sensitivity in dealing with others;

The OCR syllabus is chosen with the above in mind since one of the syllabus aims is to include the application of psychology to real-life events. All students are encouraged to achieve their full potential in this subject with learning objectives tailored to individual needs. Students will have the opportunity to experience a range of stimulating extra-curricular experiences which will include visiting the local Magistrates’ court; hosting visiting letters; primate observations at Durrell and off-island visits to London and Exeter University.

At KS4, GCSE...

students will study the five main perspectives in Psychology:

  • The Biological approach looks at humans as biological creatures. It considers how our biological make-up influences our behaviour. Students will examine the topics of ‘Criminal Behaviour’ and ‘Sex and Gender’
  • The Cognitive approach examines what we remember, how we interpret what we see and how we think. Students will examine the topics of ‘Memory’ and ‘Perception’
  • The Developmental approach considers the way that we grow and develop in our thinking and reasoning and how we learn. Students will examine the topics of ‘Cognitive Development’ and ‘Attachment’
  • The Social approach considers humans as social beings and how we interpret the behaviour of others. Students will examine the topics of ‘Obedience’ and ‘Non-verbal communication’
  • The Individual Differences approach looks at how we are each unique and actually questions whether we should compare ourselves to each other. Students will examine the topics of ‘The Self’ and ‘Atypical Behaviour’.

Students will develop a good understanding of the research methods employed by psychologists. There are three examinations that comprise of 100% of the GCSE Psychology qualification.

 

At KS5, AS...Psychology 2

students will study the five main perspectives in Psychology:

  • The Biological approach looks at humans as biological creatures. It considers how our biological make-up influences our behaviour. Students will examine the topics of ‘Criminal Behaviour’, ‘Sleep and Dreaming’ and ‘Hemisphere Deconnection’
  • The Cognitive approach examines what we remember, how we interpret what we see and how we think. Students will examine the topics of ‘Memory’, ‘Language Acquisition’ and ‘Autism’
  • The Developmental approach considers the way that we grow and develop in our thinking and reasoning and how we learn. Students will examine the topics of ‘Cognitive Development’, ‘Aggression’ and ‘Phobias’
  • The Social approach considers humans as social beings and how we interpret the behaviour of others. Students will examine the topics of ‘Obedience’, ‘Tyranny’ and ‘Helping Behaviour’
  • The Individual Differences approach looks at how we are each unique and actually questions whether we should compare ourselves to each other. Students will examine the atypical behaviour topics of ‘Insanity’, ‘Multiple Personality Disorder’ and ‘Gambling’.

At A2...

students will study ‘Health and Clinical Psychology’ and ‘Forensic Psychology’.Psychology 3

All A-Level students...

will develop a good understanding of the research methods employed by psychologists. There are four examinations that comprise of 100% of the A-level Psychology qualification.
 

Psychology Presentation PowerPoint