Psychology AS A2

Exam Board AQA

Course Content

At AS, students will develop a broad knowledge and understanding of the core areas of psychology (social, cognitive, developmental, biological and individual differences) through a range of topics chosen for their accessibility and popularity.

Unit 1 will cover

Cognitive psychology, including memory and eye witness testimony.
Developmental psychology, including early social development, attachment and the effects of day care.
Research methods, in the context of the topic areas.

Unit 2 will cover

Biological psychology, including stress, factors affecting stress and managing stress.
Social psychology, including majority and minority influence, obedience and independent behaviour.
Individual differences, including definitions of abnormality approaches and therapies.

At A2, the specification offers a range of topic-based options which bring together explanations from different psychological approaches and engage students in issues and debates in psychology.

Unit 3 will cover three topics chosen from :

Biological rhythms and sleep
Perception
Relationships
Aggression
Eating behaviour
Gender
Intelligence and learning

Unit 4 will cover

Psychopathology – knowledge and understanding of models, classification, diagnosis and therapies in relation to a disorder chosen from schizophrenia, depression or anxiety disorder.
Psychology in action – one contemporary issue chosen from media psychology, addictive behaviour or anomalistic psychology.
Psychological research and scientific method.

Assessment

2 units at AS : PSYA1 – 90mins, PSYA2 – 90 mins
2 units at A2 : PSYA3 – 90 mins, PSYA4 – 120 mins

Possible Careers

Many psychology students go on to study the subject further at university. Psychology is useful in many different careers, particularly those involving people. Past students have gone on to run their own communication companies, teach, work for the BBC.