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Welcome to A level Psychology!. Welcome to the. oo.

A-Q-A A-level Psychology is the study of mind and behaviour. This course is one of the most popular A-levels in the UK, chosen by tens of thousands of students every year. Over the next two years, you’ll explore fascinating questions about why people think, feel, and act the way they do, while developing skills that are highly valued by universities and employers alike.".

[Audio] "Psychology is both a science and a social subject. You’ll learn how to design and carry out research, analyse data, and evaluate theories. You’ll also apply psychology to real world issues, from mental health to crime. Along the way, you’ll sharpen transferable skills like critical thinking, problem solving, and communication — skills that employers consistently rank among the most important for the future workforce.".

[Audio] "Paper 1 introduces you to the foundations of psychology. In Social Influence, you’ll study why people conform or obey authority, drawing on classic experiments like Asch’s line study and Milgram’s obedience research. In Memory, you’ll explore how our minds store and retrieve information, and why eyewitness testimony can be unreliable. Attachment looks at the bonds between infants and caregivers, including Bowlby’s theory of the internal working model. Finally, in Clinical Psychology and Mental Health, you’ll examine definitions of abnormality, and explanations and treatments for phobias, depression, and O-C-D--. These topics give you a strong grounding in both theory and application.".

[Audio] "In the early 1960's, Stanley Milgram set out to test just how far people would go in obeying authority. Volunteers believed they were delivering electric shocks to another participant whenever they answered incorrectly. In reality, no shocks were given — but the participants thought they were real. Astonishingly, 65% of people went all the way to the maximum 450 volts, despite hearing cries of pain. Milgram concluded that ordinary people will obey authority figures, even when it conflicts with their personal conscience. The study raised serious ethical concerns, but it remains one of the most famous demonstrations of obedience in psychology.".

[Audio] "Clive Wearing is a talented musician whose life changed dramatically after a viral infection damaged his brain. He developed profound amnesia — unable to form new memories and unable to recall much of his past. Yet, remarkably, his ability to play the piano and conduct music remained intact. This case shows the distinction between different types of long term memory: episodic memory, which was severely impaired, and procedural memory, which was preserved. Although it’s just one case, Clive’s story provides powerful evidence that memory is not a single system, but made up of separate components.".

[Audio] "John Bowlby investigated whether early separation from mothers was linked to later behavioural problems. He studied 44 juvenile thieves and compared them with a control group. He found that 14 of the thieves were diagnosed as ‘affectionless psychopaths’ — showing no guilt or empathy. Strikingly, 12 of these had experienced prolonged separation from their mothers in early childhood. Bowlby concluded that maternal deprivation could have long term emotional consequences. While his study was hugely influential, critics argue it relied on retrospective data and may have been biased by Bowlby’s own expectations.".

[Audio] "Paper 2 focuses on the big perspectives in psychology. You’ll compare approaches such as the behaviourist, cognitive, biological, psychodynamic, and humanistic traditions. In Biopsychology, you’ll learn how the brain, nervous system, and hormones influence behaviour, and how the brain can adapt after trauma. The Research Methods section is crucial: you’ll design experiments, analyse data, and use statistics to test hypotheses. Did you know psychology students often outperform other social science students in data handling because of this strong research training?".

[Audio] "The case of EB provides remarkable evidence for brain plasticity. As a child, EB had the entire left hemisphere of his brain removed to treat a tumour. Normally, the left hemisphere controls language. Yet EB was able to develop speech and language skills, because his right hemisphere recruited homologous areas to take over these functions. This case highlights the brain’s extraordinary ability to reorganise itself after trauma, especially in young people. While unique, EB’s story demonstrates how flexible and adaptive the human brain can be.".

[Audio] "Paper 3 challenges you to think critically about psychology as a discipline. In Issues and Debates, you’ll tackle big questions like nature versus nurture, free will versus determinism, and cultural bias in research. You’ll also study three applied topics. In Gender, you’ll explore biological and social explanations of gender identity and roles. In Schizophrenia, you’ll examine symptoms, causes, and treatments, including drug therapy and cognitive behavioural therapy. And in Forensic Psychology, you’ll investigate offender profiling, explanations of criminal behaviour, and rehabilitation strategies. These topics show psychology’s relevance to society’s most pressing issues.".

[Audio] “Adrian Raine and colleagues used P-E-T scans to study the brains of 41 murderers who had pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. Compared with a control group, the murderers showed reduced activity in areas such as the prefrontal cortex, which is linked to self control, and abnormal functioning in the amygdala, associated with emotion and aggression. Raine concluded that there may be biological differences in the brains of violent offenders. However, the study cannot prove cause and effect — brain differences may be a result of behaviour, not the cause. Still, it was a landmark study in the biological explanation of crime.".

[Audio] "David Rosenhan’s famous study, ‘Being Sane in Insane Places,’ challenged the reliability of psychiatric diagnosis. Eight healthy volunteers presented themselves at psychiatric hospitals, claiming to hear voices. All were admitted with a diagnosis of schizophrenia. Once inside, they behaved normally, yet their actions were still interpreted as symptoms of illness. On average, they remained in hospital for 19 days. Rosenhan concluded that psychiatric diagnosis could be unreliable and that once labelled, patients were often treated according to the label rather than their actual behaviour. The study was groundbreaking, though it raised ethical concerns and reflected the psychiatric practices of its time.".

[Audio] "These landmark studies illustrate the diversity of methods in psychology — from controlled experiments to case studies and brain scans. Each one has shaped our understanding of human behaviour, from why we obey authority, to how memory works, to the challenges of diagnosing mental illness. They provide essential evidence for your essays and show how psychology connects directly to real world issues.".

[Audio] "Assessment is through three exam papers, each worth 96 marks and two hours long. Paper 1 covers introductory topics, Paper 2 covers approaches, biopsychology, and research methods, and Paper 3 covers issues and options. Each paper is worth a third of your final grade. You’ll face a mix of multiple choice, short answer, and extended essay questions. Importantly, research methods and statistics are embedded across all three papers, so you’ll need to apply these skills throughout.".

[Audio] "Beyond content knowledge, psychology equips you with powerful skills. You’ll learn to analyse evidence, weigh up competing explanations, and construct logical arguments. You’ll design and evaluate research, gaining confidence with data and statistics. You’ll also develop ethical awareness, considering the impact of research on individuals and society. These skills are not just academic — they’re life skills that prepare you for university, work, and citizenship.".

[Audio] "Psychology opens doors to a wide range of careers. Many students go on to become clinical, counselling, forensic, or educational psychologists. Others apply psychology in health, social care, or business settings. Skills in research and data analysis are valuable in marketing, HR, and consumer research. Psychology also links closely with law, criminology, and public policy. Even if you don’t pursue psychology professionally, the subject gives you insights into human behaviour that are useful in almost any career.".

[Audio] "AQA A-level Psychology is more than just an exam subject. It’s a journey into understanding people, society, and yourself. You’ll gain knowledge, skills, and perspectives that will stay with you long after the course ends. Whether you’re aiming for a career in psychology or simply want to broaden your horizons, this subject will challenge and inspire you. Psychology is the science of mind and behaviour — and it could shape your future.".

Thank you from the. oo.