Psychology

Psychology provides opportunities for students to engage with concepts that explain behaviours and underlying cognitions. In Unit 1, students examine individual development in the form of the role of the brain, cognitive development, human consciousness and sleep. In Unit 2, students investigate the concept of intelligence, the process of diagnosis and how to classify psychological disorder and determine an effective treatment, and lastly, the contribution of emotion and motivation on the individual behaviour. In Unit 3, students examine individual thinking and how it is determined by the brain, including perception, memory, and learning. In Unit 4, students consider the influence of others by examining theories of social psychology, interpersonal processes, attitudes and cross-cultural psychology.

Psychology aims to develop students’:

• interest in psychology and their appreciation for how this knowledge can be used to understand contemporary issues
• appreciation of the complex interactions, involving multiple parallel processes that continually influence human behaviour
• understanding that psychological knowledge has developed over time and is used in a variety of contexts, and is informed by social, cultural and ethical considerations
• ability to conduct a variety of field research and laboratory investigations involving collection and analysis of qualitative and quantitative data and interpretation of evidence
• ability to critically evaluate psychological concepts, interpretations, claims and conclusions with reference to evidence
• ability to communicate psychological understandings, findings, arguments and conclusions using appropriate representations, modes and genres.