1. Psychology Taster

2. Teachers
Miss Shefik (Head of Department)
Mrs Watts
Miss Mawdsley

3. What is Psychology?
What do you think psychology is?
Do you know about any studies or research in Psychology already?

4. What is Psychology?
Psychology is a science of mind, behaviour and experience. As a recognised science, it is accepted by universities in the same standing as Biology, Physics and Chemistry. However, we are a subject that arouses hot debate as some of our methods are less ‘scientific’ than others. As such, we cross-over and complement a range of other disciplines including the humanities, sciences and social science.

5. Most people use only 10% of their brains.
True or False?
Most people use only 10% of their brains.

6. FALSE!
From an evolutionary perspective (i.e. how we’ve adapted), it makes no sense that we would have 90% of our brain that is unused, particularly as the brain is the main consumer of energy in our body
The evidence for this myth is practically non-existent and the myth is attributed to the misinterpretation of statements from early psychologists
If even small areas of the brain are damaged this can cause significant disruption and changes to people’s behaviour
Studies of people with brain damage to certain areas helps psychologists to understand the function of certain areas of the brain.

7. True or False?
Human memory works like a tape recorder or video camera, and accurately records the events we have witnessed.

8. FALSE!
While we may feel as though our memory is very good, in fact, it is quite fallible.
An example of this is Eye Witness Testimony
Interested? During your A Level you will learn about Loftus and Palmer’s famous study into Eye Witness Testimony
If you wanted to learn more before then, you could look up The Innocence Project, a charity that highlights wrongful convictions due to EWT
The emergence of DNA evidence has exonerated many of those convicted

9. True or False?
Most of us would not follow instructions from an authority figure to hurt another person.

10. You probably guessed it… False!
One of the studies you will learn about during your A Level is one of the most famous in Psychology. Stanley Milgram wanted to see if, when ordered by an authority figure, people would administer electric shocks up to a fatal voltage… 65% did. (Don’t worry, they weren’t real electric shocks and the victims were actors).

11. 1minute

12. Can you help the police with the following questions?
Did the woman call for help before or after she handed out the money?
Did the getaway car turn left or right?
Was the robbers hat blue or green?
About what age and build were the robbers?
How sharp was the knife they used?

13. The Course and Entry Requirements
Board: Edexcel Recommend: AAA GCSE in Biology/Double Science, Maths and English Minimum: AAB in any combination

14. Who does it suit?
Typically ‘science’ orientated students will find Psychology offers an opportunity to expand their knowledge through differing methods. They can develop their critical and analytical skills which are important to the arts. Whereas, students who favour humanity based subjects will benefit from the gentle shift into the ‘scientific method’ and develop a new way of thinking about the world around them.

15. A level specification (3 exams – June 2017)
Paper 1 (Year One material): Foundations of Psychology
 Social psychology; Impact of others on our behaviour
 Cognitive psychology; How we store, process and retrieve information in the brain.
 Biological psychology; The impact of our genes, hormones and brain structure on our behaviour.
 Learning Theories; How we learn new behaviours from our environment.
Paper 2: Applications of Psychology
 Clinical psychology - Diagnosis of mental disorders, Schizophrenia and Anorexia
 Child psychology – Attachment theory, impact of positive/negative attachments on adult life, Autism.
Paper 3 (Year Two material - part): Psychological Skills
 Research Methods (review from all Topic Areas)
 Review of studies
 Issues and Debates: Ethics; Practical issues in the design and implementation of research; Reductionism; Comparisons between ways of explaining behaviour using different themes; Psychology as a science; Culture and gender; Nature-nurture; An understanding of how psychological understanding has developed over time; Issues of social control; The use of psychological knowledge in society; Issues related to socially sensitive research.

16. Experiments Psychologists are interested in testing hypotheses
One way of doing this is through experiments
A key feature of experiments is the manipulation (change) of variables
Let’s have a go at a very famous experiment

17. What are our results?
One person from each pair give all the results (no names)
Firstly we have to work out the mean score for each condition
We had two conditions: one where the colour of the writing and the word itself matched, one where the did not
Let’s think about the questions on the sheet – you can fill in the graph if you like too
During your A Level you will have to show ‘evidence of practice’ – this means you will conduct mini studies throughout the year which you will be asked about in the exam

18. Behaviour/Characteristic
Debates in Psychology
Alongside relevant research you will learn about debates and controversies within psychology.
An example of this is the nature/nurture debate.
Behaviour/Characteristic
Nature
Nurture
Both
Eye colour
Height
Being Optimistic
Committing a crime (e.g. stealing)
Getting an ‘A’ in psychology
Hair Colour

19. Psychology Memory, Visual Processing, Thinking, Problem Solving
Brain, Nervous System, Neurons
Mental health, definitions, diagnosis, disorders e.g. schizophrenia
Cognitive Psychology
Biological psychology
Clinical Psychology
Psychology
Child Psychology
Social Psychology
Cognitive ability, speech development, attachment, deprivation
Learning
Conformity, Obedience, Groups, Prejudice, Altruism.
Imitation, reinforcement, punishment

21. Want to find out more? Visit the Psychology at SHS learning space
Learn.surbitonhigh.com/psychology