1. Welcome to the Wonderful World of…
Psychology!
By the end of this taster session, you will have:
Developed an understanding of Psychology is
Explored how Psychology has shaped our world
Developed an insight into the Psychology course taught at LPGS

2. Course Structure Paper 1 Paper 2 Paper 3 Cognitive Psychology – Memory
Developmental Psychology – Attachment
Social Psychology – Conformity and obedience
Psychopathology – OCD, phobias and depression
2 hr. exam in 2019
Approaches in Psychology – including behaviourism, humanism and cognitive approaches.
Biopsychology – brain structure
Research Methods in psychology
Relationships – attraction, maintenance and breakdown of relationships.
Schizophrenia – Psychological and biological explanations and treatments
Aggression – explanations for this behaviour
Issues and Debates in psychology
2hr. Exam in 2019

3. What do Psychologists do?
They explain behaviour.
There are many different approaches in Psychology and they all explain behaviour in slightly different ways.
Take a look at the timelines around the room.

4. Think of as many different ways as you can to explain behaviour
Imitation
Learning
Past experiences
Thoughts
Genes
Freewill

5. Phobias
What are they?

6. In what way is this different to just being afraid of something?
Definition
An intense fear of an object, activity or situation and a powerful urge to avoid the feared stimuli. The fear is far out of proportion to the actual danger. When such behaviour interferes with normal everyday functioning a person has a phobia.
In what way is this different to just being afraid of something?

7. Behaviourism and learning
Behaviourists believe all behaviour is learnt.
We learn in 2 ways:
Classical conditioning – learning through association.
Operant conditioning – learning through consequences (i.e. being rewarded or punished)
Have a think about how you might apply CC and OC to a fear of the dentist or a fear of needles.

8. Behaviourism and Phobias
Phobias are learnt
Classical conditioning can explain why we get them – we associate the phobic stimulus with something fearful.
Operant conditioning can explain why phobias are so long lasting – the sufferer is rewarded by avoiding the phobic stimulus – they don’t have to feel anxious or scared if they avoid it!

9. Treating phobias
Psychology makes one of its greatest contributions to society in the creation of treatments/therapies to help people.
To treat phobias we can use a therapy called systematic desensitisation.

10. Systematic Desensitisation
Aim:
For sufferers to unlearn their phobia
To associate relaxation with the phobic stimulus rather than fear.
How might we do this?

11. Systematic desensitisation
3 process therapy:
Anxiety hierarchy – starting at situations that create the least anxiety and building up in stages to the most fear provoking situations.
Relaxation
Exposure

12. Example: Phobia of birds.
Example: Phobia of birds.
Why does this lady have a phobia?
Complete the table below.
Anxiety Hierarchy
Relaxation
Exposure
What would be in her anxiety hierarchy?
What might the therapist do to help her to relax?
Link this to the anxiety hierarchy