United Kingdom Psychology Syllabus

This syllabus outlines the key topics covered in a typical Year 12 Psychology course in the United Kingdom, often following the AQA exam board specifications. While variations may exist between schools, the core content generally aligns with the AQA A-Level Psychology specification.

Core Topics - Year 12

• Introductory Topics in Psychology: This section introduces foundational concepts and theories.
• Social Influence: Explores how individuals are influenced by others, covering conformity, obedience, and minority influence. Includes key studies like Asch's conformity experiment and Milgram's obedience studies.
• Memory: Examines the processes involved in storing and retrieving information, including models of memory (multi-store model, working memory model), types of long-term memory, and explanations for forgetting.
• Attachment: Focuses on the formation and development of attachments, including caregiver-infant interactions, animal studies, explanations of attachment (learning theory, Bowlby's monotropic theory), and the influence of early attachment on later relationships.
• Psychology in Context: This section delves into different psychological approaches and their applications.
• Approaches in Psychology: Covers major psychological perspectives, such as the behaviourist, cognitive, biological, and psychodynamic approaches. Examines the origins of psychology as a science and the basic assumptions of each approach.
• Psychopathology: Introduces the study of mental disorders, including definitions of abnormality and the characteristics of phobias, depression, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Explores different approaches to explaining and treating these disorders.
• Research Methods: Provides a foundation in research methodologies used in psychology, including experimental methods, observational techniques, self-report techniques, and correlations. Covers scientific processes (e.g., hypothesis testing, sampling) and data handling and analysis. Students gain practical research skills through designing, conducting, and analyzing research.

Additional Topics - A-Level (Covered in Year 13)

While these topics are typically addressed in Year 13 as part of the full A-Level, they build upon the foundation established in Year 12.

• Biopsychology: Explores the biological basis of behavior, including the nervous system, endocrine system, brain localization of function, and biological rhythms.
• Issues and Debates in Psychology: Examines key debates within the field, such as gender and culture in psychology, free will vs. determinism, and the nature-nurture debate.
• Options in Psychology: Students choose from a range of optional topics, which may include areas like relationships, gender, cognition and development, schizophrenia, eating behavior, stress, aggression, forensic psychology, and addiction. These options allow for deeper exploration of specific areas of interest.

This syllabus provides a comprehensive overview of the key areas covered in a UK Year 12 Psychology course, equipping students with a strong foundation for further study in the subject.