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- Social psychology - when and why do we conform, how and why do our attitudes change and when and why do we help others?
- Cognitive psychology - how does our memory, vision and thinking perception and attention actually work?
- Neuropsychology - what are thoughts made of and what happens when our brain is injured?
- Developmental psychology - how do we mature and develop across the lifespan?
Throughout the year, we examine how different key studies have contributed to our understanding of the human mind and human behaviour, and research methods are another core part of the course.
Click here to watch Sophie Maxwell discuss Psychology with Jasper O'Neill and Leon Simpson-Fino.
What will I do in class?
Classes are interactive with lots of discussion. We examine case studies and key experiments, and often watch and analyse YouTube clips. We also do practical experiments ( a brain dissection and eye dissection). You will also undertake your own research on a topic of your choice. In semester 2, you will conduct research in groups and collect and analyse your own data. We also go on various excursions throughout the year which help to deepen your understanding of the concepts we cover in class.
How much homework will I have?
Usually, consolidation questions are set after each class (about 30 minutes worth of homework per class)All students will be expected to watch summary videos and complete textbook questions on Edrolo outside of class to consolidate their learning. There is also an expectation that you create summaries in your own time outside of class. You will also need to prepare for SACs (create your own revision summaries, flashcards and notes).
How do I satisfactorily complete the unit?
Learning will be assessed in a variety of ways, such as media analyses, scientific posters, brain models, practical investigations and research reports. The SACs are quite frequent in Psychology to prepare you well for the pace of study in Year 12. There is a test per topic (multiple choice and short answer) as well as various SACs. As an overview, there are about four tests per semester and then there are various other assessments throughout the term (a scientific poster, an oral presentation about mental illness, a brain poster, a research report, a practical investigation). There is also an exam at the end of each semester.In addition to a SAC for each topic, there will be two other tests for each topic to check your progress
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