Why do we learn psychology?
The study of psychology allows students to better understand human behaviour and thought, from a social and scientific perspective. To build a tolerant and fair society we must understand the complexities of human behaviour and champion individual differences. The psychology curriculum at Ark Putney Academy aims to foster passion and curiosity in our students; to encourage them to explore how different experiences may shape a person’s responses to different situations. Psychology students also gain a broad understanding of the different research methods and approaches psychologists use to investigate psychological problems and theories, alongside developing skills in researching, describing, applying, analysing and evaluating.
Head of Department
Ms J Caven
Year 12
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Approaches and Research Methods: How do psychologists approach problems and how do they research them? Social influence: Considers why we conform to societal figures and obey figures of authority. Memory: we explore how we remember and why we forget; can eye-witnesses to crimes be trusted? Psychopathology: learn about the symptoms, explanations and treatments for phobias, OCD and depression. Attachment: we study how our early relationships with our caregivers form and how these bonds can impact our relationships later in life. |
| Assessment |
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| AQA Internal summative assessment.
Paper 1: Introductory Topics in Psychology |
Year 13
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Biopsychology: study the relationship between our biology and our behaviour. How do different areas of our brain impact our functioning? What happens after traumatic brain injuries and how are our sleep patterns regulated? Gender: explore how gender is formed and question the accuracy of gender stereotypes in society. We also consider different explanations for gender identity disorder. Schizophrenia: learn about the symptoms, explanations and treatments for schizophrenia. Forensic Psychology: why do people offend? Issues and Debates: what are the issues that psychological research poses? What are the strengths and weaknesses of different types of research? |
| Assessment |
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| AQA A Level
100% exam: Paper 1: Introductory Topics in Psychology |