AS – covers four types of Psychology plus research methods:

Social Psychology – how the real or imagined presence of others affects our behaviour.

Cognitive Psychology – how the way we make sense of and process information affects our behaviour.

Biological Psychology – how genes, brain structure and brain chemistry affect our behaviour.

Learning Theories – how past experiences, rewards and punishments and observing others affects our behaviour.

A level Psychology also includes the study of:

Clinical Psychology – this focuses on the assessment and treatment of mental illness, abnormal behaviour and psychiatric problems including schizophrenia and anorexia nervosa.

Criminal Psychology - this focuses on understanding the causes of crime and anti-social behaviour and of the identification and treatment of offenders undertaken by forensic investigators.

Psychological Skills – this is a synoptic element where students draw off other areas of the qualification in order to understand conceptual and methodical issues.

 

Exam board: Edexcel