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Psychology

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The psychology department aims for all students to question human behaviour and develop an awe of wonder about the interactions between people. Students should develop an inquisitive nature to finding out the reasons why humans behave in a specific way but also to be confident in evaluating key research so that further developments and knowledge continue. Throughout the course students develop a deeper level of empathy.

Learning Journey

Curriculum Overview

Vision: The psychology department aims for all students to question human behaviour and develop an awe of wonder about the interactions between people. Students should develop an inquisitive nature to finding out the reasons why humans behave in a specific way but also to be confident in evaluating key research so that further developments and knowledge continue. Throughout the course students develop a deeper level of empathy.

In order to be successful Psychology students need to:

Understand key terminology
Know how to explain and evaluate theories
Look at real life behaviours and apply knowledge to explain them
Have an understanding of key studies and relate to research methods when considering evaluations

Year 10	Term 1	Term 2/3	Term 3
Key Topic:	Research Methods	Perception	Psychological problems addiction
Knowledge Taught:	Importance of research Types of data Aims and hypothesis Variables Sampling Experimental method and design Evaluation points for experiments Case studies Correlation Questionnaires Interviews Observations Ethical issues in research Representing data Interpretation of data Reliability and validity	Differences between sensation and perception Visual cues and constancies Monocular depth cues size, linear perspective, occlusion height in plane Binocular depth cues retinal disparity and convergence Gibson’s direct theory of perception Visual illusions- errors in cognitions Gregory's constructivist theory of perception Factors which affect perception including 1. Culture 2. Emotion 3. Motivation 4. Expectation	Characteristics of addiction Diagnosing addiction Experimental method Biological theories of addiction Social learning theory Psychological explanations of addiction Treating addiction - aversion therapy Self-management programmes
Building from Previous Knowledge:	Experimental methods Scatter graphs Bar charts Averages Questionnaires	Visual cues - linear perspective Inferences Schemas Setting out key studies Experimental method - key studies Evaluation of key studies	Cultural awareness Nature vs nurture Case studies Observations Interviews Questionnaires
New Skills:	Observations -inter observer reliability Carrying out research studies Interpreting results in terms of the hypotheses Sampling Evaluating validity of research method chosen	Application of depth cues to explaining illusions Explanation of pictorial stimuli Consideration of how culture influences behaviour Evaluation of theories Debating nature vs nurture	Consideration of effects on society Developing empathy through understanding Twin studies Evaluating through reductionism and holism
Links to the School Curriculum	Science - Scientific method of experiments Maths - Representing and analysing data although be aware of the different terminology	Science - Sensors Art - Depth cues	PSHE - Peer pressure Child development - nature / nurture Science - genetics, hereditary
Enrichment Activities	Design and carry out own questionnaire and collect data Investigate into the Stroop effect	Assess different types of visual illusions Draw your own visual illusion Rate people’s views on food when hungry or full	Research into how people are helped to stop addiction.
Web Links:	https://www.brainscape.com/flashcards/research-methods-9747963/packs/17311066	https://www.studysmarter.us/explanations/psychology/cognition/depth-cues-psychology/https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=7GJJXLiN4Ug	https://www.healthline.com/health/addiction

Year 10	Term 1	Term 2	Term 3
Key Topic:	Memory	Development	Psychological Problems Depression
Knowledge Taught:	Processes of memory Encoding, storage and retrieval Key study - Baddeley encoding Different types of memory Structure of memory Multistore memory model Key study – Murdock’s serial position curve Memory as an active process Key study – Bartlett’s war of the ghosts Theory of reconstructive memory Factors affecting accuracy of memory Retroactive and proactive interference Context dependent forgetting False memories	Early brain development Role of nature vs nurture Piaget's theory of cognitive development Schemas, assimilation and accommodation Key developments in stages - conservation and egocentrism Key studies –McGarrigle & Donaldson and Hughes Evaluation of Piaget's theory Application to education Mindset theory of learning Role of praise and self-efficacy Learning styles Willingham’s learning theory Real life application such as learning styles and education.	Understanding mental health and illness Cultural variations and characteristics of mental health Individual differences in mental health problems Social effects of mental health problems Different types of depression and diagnosis Biological explanations of depression Psychological explanations of depression Treating depression - medication and/or CBT Key study - Wiles assessing effectiveness of CBT Effectiveness of treatments
Building from previous knowledge:	Experimental method Design of study Hypothesis Interpretation of data Calculating averages Drawing line graphs	Schemas Setting out key studies Observations	Experimental method Evaluating research studies Schemas Cognitions
New Skills:	Understanding research studies Evaluating research studies Carrying out research studies Evaluating models Application of case studies	Debating nature v's nurture Evaluating stage theories Evaluating research (Paget’s methods) Application to real world situations - education	Consideration of effects on society Developing empathy through understanding Application of treatments from causes Evaluating effectiveness Evaluating through reductionism and holism
Links to the School Curriculum	Whole School - Revision Skills	Child development - stages of development, Piaget Behaviour 4 learning - Praise and self - efficacy PSHE - self efficacy Science - Parts of the brain	PSHE - Individual differences Pastoral - mental health
Enrichment Activities	Test other people on memory studies covered in class.	Carry out conservation tasks Complete learning styles questionnaire and compare with family members. Check if the results indicate nature or nurture	Research into the affect COVID 19 has had on the increase on mental health
Web Links:	Memory, encoding storage and retrieval	Piaget's Stage Theory	Coping with depression - NHS

Year 11	Term 1/2	Term 2	Term 3
Key Topic:	Language thought and communication	Social influence	Revision
Knowledge Taught:	Piaget’s theory and Sapir Wolfs hypothesis on language and thought. Spoken language on recall of events and colours. Animal communication Communication in Bees Form and function of animal and human Communication Verbal and non-verbal communication (Darwin) Factors affecting personal space Nurture / Nature in non-verbal communication Emoticon study	Asch's Study on conformity Factors affecting conformity rates such as group size, difficulty, anonymity, personality and expertise. Milgram’s study Factors affecting obedience such as authority, proximity, culture, personality. Milgram’s agency theory	Application to GCSE questions Focus on command words Addressing importance of key terminology
Building from Previous Knowledge:	Describe and evaluate theories (Piaget) Evidence from Psychology trip (Zoo) Experimental method Application of studies	Experimental method Predictions of results Criticism of research Cultural evaluations Evaluation of studies including ethics	All topics covered in past exam papers
New Skills:	Compare and contrast Real life application Animal studies	Real life experience and application Observation study
Links to the School Curriculum	Science - Evolutionary Theory	Science - Scientific method of experiments History - Atrocities due to key authority figures i.e. Hitler	Relate to what has already been covered.
Enrichment Activities	Watch your pets and observe how they communicate. Watch animals in a park or garden and observe how they communicate	Carry out Asch’s study on conformity Watch 12 Angry Men Consider how people interact when in pairs or groups	Looking at past exam papers for Psychology Look at mark schemes and examiner reports
Web Links:	https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=GCSE+psychology+languale+and+communication&docid=607986469785660606&mid=364653D9028936EA513E364653D9028936EA513E&view=detail&FORM=VIRE https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=+language+and+communication+in+bees&&view=detail&mid=9C9995C4B487AF31BA349C9995C4B487AF31BA34&&FORM=VRDGAR&ru=%2Fvideos%2Fsearch%3Fq%3D%2Blanguage%2Band%2Bcommunication%2Bin%2Bbees%26FORM%3DHDRSC3	https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=gcse+psychology+social+behaviour&ru=%2fvideos%2fsearch%3fq%3dgcse%2bpsychology%2bsocial%2bbehaviour%26FORM%3dHDRSC3&view=detail&mid=B2AD1C8BCD801241909EB2AD1C8BCD801241909E&&FORM=VDRVSR	https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/psychology/as-and-a-level/psychology-7181-7182/assessment-resources

Year 11	Term 1	Term 2	Term 3
Key Topic:	The brain and neuropsychology	Social influence	Revision
Knowledge Taught:	Human nervous system Neuron structure and function Hebb’s theory of learning and neural growth James Lange theory of emotion Brain structure - frontal, temporal, parietal, occipital lobes and cerebellum Localisation of function in the brain Penfield’s study - interpretive cortex Cognitive neuroscience Scanning techniques Tulving’s gold memory study	Factors affecting bystander behaviour such as presence, cost, similarity and expertise Piliavin’s subway study Collective behaviour factors such as social loafing Crowd behaviour factors such as deindividuation, culture, Personality and morality. Social and dispositional factors	See above.
Building from Previous Knowledge:	Early brain development Nonverbal communication CNS and neurons Evaluating theories	Observation study Learning strategies
New Skills:	Localisation Key areas of the brain Medical research and its impact	Real life application and reporting Observation study Understand the affect others have on our own behaviour
Links to the School Curriculum	Science - Neurons and CNS	Sociology - group behaviour Maths - two way tables for observation research
Enrichment Activities	Create a model of the brain and identify key areas	Observe the occurrence of social loafing in group activities Observe behaviour on public transport
Web Links:	https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=gcse+psychology+websites+for+the+brain&docid=608002189366067880&mid=44AADEC4C7CA9544DE9344AADEC4C7CA9544DE93&view=detail&FORM=VIRE https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=gcse+psychology+websites+for+the+brain&&view=detail&mid=693709B2B3035100CA4D693709B2B3035100CA4D&rvsmid=44AADEC4C7CA9544DE9344AADEC4C7CA9544DE93&FORM=VDRVRV	https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=gcse+psychology+social+behaviour&ru=%2fvideos%2fsearch%3fq%3dgcse%2bpsychology%2bsocial%2bbehaviour%26FORM%3dHDRSC3&view=detail&mid=A98B5B3ACAA81E822610A98B5B3ACAA81E822610&&FORM=VDRVSR

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