Teacher 1: Students will complete the approaches unit that they would have started in year 1. They will consider the cognitive, humanistic and psychodynamic approaches to human behaviour and how to compare and contrast these. Learning will then move on to the Issues and Debates topic. Students will consider the issues of gender and culture bias in psychology as well as the free will verses determinism debate.
Teacher 2: Students will continue with their learning of biopsychology which includes localisation of function in the brain, hemispheric lateralisation, split brain research, plasticity and functional recovery of the brain after trauma, ways of studying the brain and biological rhythms.
Students will be assessed fortnightly with 24 mark (30 minutes) timed exam papers for both teachers. These involve a mix of multiple choice, short answers and essay questions.
The process whereby cognitive psychologists draw conclusions about the way mental processes operate on the basis of observed behaviour.
The part of the mind that we are unaware of but which continues to direct much of our behaviour.
The desire to grow psychologically and fulfill ones full potential - becoming what you are capable of.
The aim of Rogerian therapy, when the self-concept and ideal self are seen to broadly accord or match.
When a parent places limits or boundaries on their love of their children; for instance a parent saying to a child 'I will only love you if you study medicine'.
The idea that the two halves (hemispheres) of the brain are functionally different and that certain mental processes and behaviours are mainly controlled by one hemisphere rather than the other, as in the example of language.
This describes the brain's tendency to change and adapt as a result of experience and new learning.
An area of the frontal lobe of the brain in the left hemisphere (in most people) responsible for speech production.
An area of the temporal lobe in the left hemisphere (in most people) responsible for language comprehension.
A type of biological rhythm, subject to a 24 hour cycle, which regulates a number of body processes such as the sleep/wake cycle and changes in core body temperature.
Students will develop a real sense of enjoyment and fascination in theory learning, particularly that of the function and plasticity of the brain.
Through the study of culture and gender bias in issues and debates, students will consider cross-cultural research which will enable them to understand, appreciate and respect cultural differences.
Teacher 1: Students will continue and complete the Issues and Debates topic covering all of the following: nature-nurture, holism and reductionism, idiographic and nomothetic approaches and ethical implications of research studies and theory.
Teacher 2: Students will complete the biopsychology unit by completing their studies on biological rhythms and consider the effect of endogenous pacemakers and exogenous zeitgebers. Students will then consider the biological approach as a whole including the study of features of science. Students will then begin the Schizophrenia unit by learning about the diagnosis and classification of schizophrenia.
Students will be assessed fortnightly with 24 mark (30 minutes) timed exam papers for both teachers. These involve a mix of multiple choice, short answers and essay questions.
Students will also sit a formal set of mock exams during this term which will include a full paper 1 (Social influence, Memory, Attachment, Psychopathology) and paper 2 (Approaches, Bio-Psychology, Research Methods). These are both 2 hours each.
The notion that humans can make choices and are not determined by biological or external forces.
The view that an individual's behaviour is shaped or controlled by internal or external forces rather than an individuals will to do something.
A argument or theory which proposes that it only makes sense to study an indivisible system rather than its constituent parts.
The belief that human behaviour is best explained by breaking it down into smaller constituent parts.
The impact that psychological research may have in terms of the rights of other people especially participants. This includes at a societal level, influencing public policy and ways in which certain groups or people are regarded.
A type of biological rhythm with a frequency of less than one cycle in 24 hours, such as menstruation and seasonal affective disorder.
A type of biological rhythm with a frequency of more than one cycle in 24 hours such as stages of sleep.
Internal body clocks that regulate many of our biological rhythms such as the influence of the suprachiasmatic (SCN) on the sleep/wake cycle.
External cues that may affect or entrain our biological rhythms, such as the influence of light on the sleep/wake cycle.
A positive symptom of schizophrenia. They are sensory experiences of stimuli that have either no basis in reality or are distorted perceptions of things that are there.
There will be a strong focus on ethics in psychological research in this term, challenging students to consider the boundaries of what is right and wrong and develop their own moral conscience.
The focus on the diagnosis and classification of schizophrenia will promote a greater understanding and tolerance of complex mental health disorders.
Teacher 1: Students will begin the Forensic Psychology unit by studying offender profiling (top down and bottom up approaches). The focus will then move to learning a range of psychological explanations of criminal behaviour including; the biological explanations (atavistic form, genetic and neural), Eysenck's theory of the criminal personality and cognitive explanations of offending.
Teacher 2: Students will continue their study of schizophrenia by examining the biological explanations and treatments followed by the psychological explanations and treatments for the disorder. This is followed by ways of managing schizophrenia including consideration of the interactionist approach. Students will begin studying the unit 'Relationships'. The unit begins with learning about evolutionary explanations for partner preferences.
Students will be assessed fortnightly with 24 mark (30 minutes) timed exam papers for both teachers. These involve a mix of multiple choice, short answers and essay questions.
Also known as 'criminal profiling', a behavioural and analytical tool that is intended to help investigators accurately predict and profile the characteristics of unknown criminals.
A form of bottom-up profiling based on the principle of spatial consistency; than and offender's operational base and possible future offences are revealed by the geographical location of their previous crimes.
Faulty, biased and irrational ways of thinking that mean we perceive ourselves, other people and the world inaccurately and usually negatively.
The tendency to judge ambiguous situations, or the actions of others, as aggressive and/or threatening when in reality they may not be.
A type of deception that involves downplaying the significance of an event or emotion. A common strategy when dealing with feelings of guilt.
A positive symptom of schizophrenia. They involve beliefs that have no basis in reality, for example, that the sufferer is someone else or that they are the victim of a conspiracy.
A negative symptom of schizophrenia that involves reduced frequency and quality of speech.
A negative symptom of schizophrenia. It involves loss of motivation to carry out tasks and results in lower activity levels.
The occurrence of two illnesses or conditions together, for example a person has both schizophrenia and a personality disorder.
Drugs used to reduce the intensity of symptoms, in particular the positive symptoms of psychotic disorders like schizophrenia.
All three of the units in this term will promote students enjoyment and fascination in learning about the world and people around them.
There will be developed discussions in the Forensic Psychology unit with regards to how we identify and manage those who commit crime, and ethical discussions about the use of biological differences as an explanation of offending.
Teacher 1: Students will complete the topic of forensic psychology by studying differential association theory and the psychodynamic explanation of criminal behaviour. The unit finishes with a study of ways of dealing with offending behaviour and the relative strengths and weaknesses of each method. This includes, custodial sentencing, behaviour modification, anger management and restorative justice programmes.
Teacher 2: Students will continue and complete the Relationships unit by studying the following: factors affecting attraction (self-disclosure, physical attractiveness, filter theory), theories of romantic relationships (social exchange theory and equity theory, Rusbult's investment model & Duck's phase model), virtual relationships in social media and parasocial relationships.
Students will also sit a formal set of mock exams during this term which will include a full paper 1 (Social influence, Memory, Attachment, Psychopathology) and a full paper 2 (Approaches, Bio-Psychology, Research Methods). These are both 2 hours each. Students will also sit half of paper 3 (Issues and Debates & Schizophrenia).
Students will also be assessed fortnightly with 24 mark (30 minutes) timed exam papers for both teachers focusing on paper 3 topics. These involve a mix of multiple choice, short answers and essay questions.
A judicial sentenced determined by a court where the offender is punished by serving time in prison (incarceration) or in some other closed therapeutic and/or educational institution such as a psychiatric hospital.
Re-offending, a tendency to relapse into a previous condition or mode of behaviour in the context of crime.
An application of the behaviourist approach to treatment, based on the principles of operant conditioning. The aim is to replace undesirable behaviours with more desirable ones through the use of positive and/or negative reinforcement.
A therapeutic programme that involves identifying the signs that trigger anger as well as learning techniques to calm down and deal with the situation in a positive way.
A system for dealing with criminal behaviour which focuses on the rehabilitation of offenders through reconciliation with victims. This enables the offender to see the impact of their crime and serves to empower victims by giving them a 'voice'.
Revealing personal information about yourself. Romantic partners reveal more about their true selves as their relationship develops, these strengthen a romantic bond when used appropriately.
An explanation of relationship formation. It states that a series of different factors progressively limits the range of available romantic partners to a much smaller pool of possibilities.
A theory of how relationships form and develop. It assumes that romantic partners act out of self-interest in exchanging rewards and costs. A satisfying relationship is maintained when rewards exceed costs.
Face-to-face relationships often fail to form because of obstacles such as facial disfigurements that some people might find off-putting. These barriers or 'gates' are absent in computer-mediated communication allowing virtual relationships to begin.
Similarity becomes less important as a relationship develops, and is replaced by a need for your partner to balance your traits with opposite ones of their own.
Students will develop a sense of enjoyment and fascination in learning about themselves, others and the world around them through the relationships topic. They will also weigh up the moral dilemmas involved with out to deal with offenders.
Students will continue to develop their social skills by discussing and debating different view points to explaining criminal behaviour and the development of relationships.
Students will spend their lessons revising in preparation for their final external exams which normally begin at the end of term 5.
Formal A-Level examinations
Paper 1 (Topics) 33% Social Influence; Memory; Attachments; Psychopathology
Paper 2 (Context) 33% Approaches; Biopsychology; Research Methods
Paper 3 (Issues and Debates) 33% Issues and Debates; Relationships; Forensic Psychology; Schizophrenia
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