Chapters
Although certain schools offer Psychology as a GCSE subject, a majority do not. That means that, when it comes to choosing A-Levels, Psychology is an entirely new subject for most students. For all of that, Psychology is an extremely popular A-Level. In fact, last year alone, 97,095 students chose Psychology as one of their A-Level courses.
Why is Psychology so Fascinating?
The study of the human mind, also known as the science of psychology is a relatively young discipline. It was only in 1879 that the Father of Modern Psychology, Wilhelm Wundt, established the first laboratory for psychological research. Until Dr Wundt, the very first person to call himself a psychologist, psychology fell under the general heading of philosophy.
It's a reasonable categorisation. After all, what is philosophy, other than the contemplation of knowledge, thought and existence itself? But contemplating something and actively setting out to discover more about it are two very different propositions.
The human mind is boundlessly capable. Thus, the science of studying it must be endlessly fascinating. Why do people act the way they do? How do we learn? Why do we dream? And, in these crazy times... what compels people to believe as they do?
Psychology teaches us to better understand humanity and human behaviours. More importantly, though, it helps us understand ourselves better. And who seeks self-knowledge more than teenagers - a demographic consumed with defining itself?
Is A-Level Psychology Really Nothing but Positive?
Perhaps you're considering taking A-level Psychology yourself but you worry that it’s somewhat of a leap of faith. You don’t know what the lessons and exams will be like, or whether or not you might be any good at the subject at this stage. But on the other hand, isn't that true of every subject you'll study at the Advanced level?
Granted, you might not know terribly much about psychology, seeing as it was likely not a part of your secondary school education. That doesn't mean anything. You studied English and Maths in secondary school; you even sat GCSEs in those subjects. But A-Level English is so different from the English classes you've had till now.
So, to help you out, let's have a run through of what you can expect from A-Level Psychology. That way, you can select A-Level Psychology with full confidence. That, in turn, will make you more excited about this entirely new subject.
AQA A-Level Psychology Specification: Eight Interesting Facts
The Communications and Culture A-Level explores the ways different cultures communicate and how they relate to other cultures. The Psychology A-Level goes beyond those 'surface' indicators - the visible aspects of culture and communication, to explore the reasons why these manifestations vary from culture to culture. After all, if the workings of the human mind are universal, shouldn't we all operate the same way, no matter our geographical location, personal background and social mores?
Psychology says no. And then, it goes on to demonstrate why such a universal theory cannot be true. But not just with the knowledge psychologists have accrued. It does so by teaching you how to think like a psychologist.
1. You'll learn basic science
You’ll have to learn some basic biology. This will not be extremely complicated stuff so, if traditional sciences aren’t your forte, don’t let this put you off. The type of biology relevant to Psychology topics is actually quite interesting. And even better: it does not involve dissecting anything! Psychology is enjoyable to students with a background in both science subjects and humanities.
2. You'll learn A-Level psychology research methods
You’ll learn all about research techniques and how to conduct and evaluate an experiment. First, you'll look for gaps in the literature; what could you study that hasn't already been researched? Once you've found your niche, you'll formulate a hypothesis, which you'll then set out to prove through experiments.
You'll have to lay out your methodology and make your work open to scrutiny. It’s certainly not as simple as you might have thought but a lot more interesting. You will even get the opportunity to conduct your own experiments. A-Level psychology research methods train you for life as a psychologist.
3. You'll have to write... a lot
You'll write a fair amount during your course. And you'll have a number of essays to compose at the A2 level. So if expressing yourself in writing by drafting long pieces isn’t your forte, perhaps you should talk to your teacher. If you were designated as having Special Educational Needs - if you were a SEN student, your teacher may grant you some concessions.
Keep in mind that being a SEN student and not being a gifted writer are two different categories. SEN students can justify asking for extra time to hand in assignments. Those stymied by the written word... will likely be instructed to find a writing tutor to brush up on their skills.
No need to figure out whether you’ll be able to pick up on this essential skill. You’re probably eager to boost your talent for writing, anyway, aren't you? If so, you'll be happy to know that A-Level Psychology encourages you to develop your ability to communicate clearly and succinctly in writing. Even under time constraints.
4. You'll discover effective revision tools
You may well pick up some handy revision tactics. If you've gone over AQA advance information Psychology, you know you will complete an entire module on memory. That module will not only be very interesting, but it will teach you practical skills to help you excel in exams.
5. You'll become a critical thinker
Much is made of critical thinking these days. The news alternately proclaims a dearth of critical thinkers in the workforce and laments the lack of teaching critical thinking skills in schools. As an A-Level Psychology student, you will avoid those extremes.
This course encourages (demands?) critical thinking. You will have to pick apart case studies, experiments and surveys to discover biases, problems and inconsistencies. Psychology will encourage you to hypothesise, be self-critical and to deconstruct even the most convincing studies.
6. You'll study ethics
Remember, in this article's introduction, we said that psychology used to fall under the philosophy banner? Do you know what else is quite philosophical? Ethics! Ethics, in a nutshell, is the study of right and wrong behaviours. It also involves defining why a behaviour is right or wrong. But Ethics studies stop short of analysing why people engage in the behaviours they do. Such analyses fall into the Psychology domain.
Thus, you’ll learn all about ethics. In Psychology, ethics aren’t as simple as being told what is and isn’t right. Instead, you will discuss where to draw the line between ethical and non-ethical behaviours and actions. You'll learn about certain unethical experiments and discuss whether they have, indeed, benefitted society. You will also consider and debate a variety of ethical issues; not just those limited to physical pain and emotional stress.
7. You'll challenge yourself
Expect complicated questions. Unlike traditional sciences, psychology doesn’t claim to know everything. Instead, it explores daring, difficult and often socially sensitive questions. Remember, too, that psychology always takes into account alternative perspectives.
Your challenge will be even greater because of two factors. For one, you have limited life experience. That's not your fault; at your age, many of life's mysteries and miseries still escape you. However, psychology teaches us that we are shaped by our experiences. With your age-constrained perspective, you might find it difficult to appreciate other points of view.
Your second big challenge is adapting to this type of learning. Much of psychological study is academic. However, the course is not necessarily academic in nature. For instance, unlike what you might expect from other A-Level subjects, Psychology doesn't call for you to only memorise facts. It's more of a thinking discipline.
8. You'll learn to appreciate yourself
You will learn a lot about yourself, the world and your friends and family. Psychology is one of those great subjects that really does change the way you view your everyday life and the world around you. Because Psychology asks a lot of questions, it will prompt you to think critically about human behaviour, what we accept as natural and why people think in certain ways. It’s truly fascinating.
Beyond A-Level Psychology Specification
So, you've read over the AQA A-Level Psychology advanced information. Now, you're thinking of going for a Psychology A-Level. How do you map out your future after sitting exams? Here's how things could shape up for you.
Go for Your Psychology Degree / Masters
Did you know that you can continue to study Psychology, or elements of it by choosing related topics to specialise in at university? Many universities offer degree-level courses as well as a Masters Degree plan. You may even go for your Doctorate in Psychology! So if you know you want a career in Psychology then these are certainly great options for you.
As noted before, psychology is one of the most popular subjects to study at the degree level. Many degree courses are accredited and follow the professional body guidelines set out by the British Psychological Society. This is important if you want to pursue a career as a practising psychologist with chartered status.
You may choose one of two paths of study. One focuses on scientific research; the other on applied psychology. Applied psychology entails adapting psychological research to various real-world fields. To prepare you for them, universities and colleges in the UK offer a wide range of courses, including in specialist areas such as:
- Applied psychology
- Child psychology
- Clinical psychology
- Developmental psychology
- Educational psychology
- Experimental psychology
- Forensic psychology
- Social psychology
- Sport psychology
- Psychology
The research side of psychological studies offers you the chance to explore and discover the theories that serve applied psychology. Many course providers will therefore make available research facilities. There, you can study perception, developmental psychology, cognition, and behavioural neuroscience. You'll also find a direct tie-in to the applied psychology perspective. You may, for instance, pursue studies in neurorehabilitation, education, and health.
Considering Psychology Careers
UCAS.com doesn't stint on listing the many career paths for those with an advanced Psychology background. Beware that these career titles may make it hard for you to settle on just one. According to UCAS, a Psychology graduate may work as a:
- Clinical psychologist
- Counselling psychologist
- Educational psychologist
- Forensic psychologist
- Further education teacher
- Health psychologist
- High-intensity therapist
- Occupational psychologist
Do any of those interest you? If so, this might be some great motivation for signing up for the A-Level and doing the best you can. But if you aren't sure what all of these roles represent, you can go and visit Prospects for students. This page offers some great information about courses and possible career paths.
For example, let's look at a typical job profile. What does a forensic psychologist position entail? The Prospects website clarifies that such a professional will do the following:
- carry out one-to-one assessments, often to assess the risk of re-offending. These tasks are directed at lifers being released into the community and/or sex offenders after a treatment programme. They are also suitable to assess the risk of suicide, self-harm or other high-risk behaviour
- develop, implement and review appropriate offender treatment and rehabilitation programmes. These include anger management, treatment for drug and alcohol addiction and social and cognitive skills training
- to undertake research projects to evaluate situations affecting prisoners. Such may include investigating the impact of bullying in prisons or the effectiveness of an anger management programme, among other duties
- conducting statistical analysis for forensic offender profiling
- deliver training to support forensic staff in areas such as stress management. Develop training materials on how to cope with and understand bullying. Also, train support staff in the techniques for crisis (hostage) negotiation
- provide expert witness testimony at court, for parole boards and mental health tribunals
- contribute to policy and strategy development to ensure continuous service improvement.
What About Gender Bias in Psychology?
It's quite ironic that psychology concerns itself with ethics - the study of right and wrong behaviours, while itself demonstrating substantial bias. Sigmund Freud stands out as a prime example of such. All of his theories were androcentric - they all inferred that women envied their male counterparts' genitals.
As you surely know, everybody has biases. There's nothing wrong with that. Biases only become harmful when they affect society. Gender bias is an excellent example of such. And it's particularly relevant in the study of psychology.
Alpha bias is when the differences between males and females are over-emphasised. Men are naturally linear thinkers while women struggle with circular thinking is a standard bias that many still accept as fact. Women are more nurturing and men are more aggressive is another. These biases have affected every level of society, from the political to the personal. You've surely heard some examples of bias, casually tossed out.
Beta bias represents minimising the difference between males and females. That sounds like it's the opposite of Alpha bias but, in fact, it's more detrimental. It supposes that the conclusions of research done on males must also apply to females, with no further testing or validation needed. Medical research has practised beta bias for centuries. All of the research was conducted on male subjects and the findings were adapted to the female body.
Which leads us to the androcentric bias. This thought pattern suggests that being male is the standard. Females represent a deviation from the standard. Thus, they must be inferior, perhaps even defective. Again, this bias isn't only represented in psychology. It echoes in the medical field, as well.
These biases aren't all doom and gloom, though. Recently, there have been positive changes in the field of psychology to recognise and eliminate bias. For instance, examining alpha bias has led to several major social shifts. For a long time, aggression and ruthlessness have received much praise in the past. Today, we recognise that celebrating those and other 'typically male' traits is harmful to society.
Gender bias in psychology is just one of the fascinating concepts you'll explore as you progress through this curriculum. Indeed, the entire A-Level Psychology syllabus is packed with thought-provoking issues and historical illustrations of such. The more case studies you read, the more interesting the subject becomes.
AQA A-Level Psychology Specification: Why Pick Psychology?
In a lot of ways, Psychology is like any other AQA A-Level subject. You have to read a lot, write a lot and study hard. If you’re worried about the challenges a completely new subject might pose, do not fear. Psychology is a great subject that is popular for a reason. Besides, apart from the academic advantages of studying for a Psychology qualification, there are many personal benefits to the subject too. Such as the way it:
- will help you improve your communication skills
- will enable you to cope better with stress and trying times
- will alter your behaviours (in a good way)
- will help you to empathise with and understand others
- will give you a better memory
- will make it possible for you to help others
What could be better than improving your own self in the above way, while also helping others and giving to your community? To say nothing of contributing to the vast body of psychological literature. So how should you prepare for this A-Level?
If you are still a little jittery about studying psychology, then perhaps reading a few articles on Psychology might calm those nerves. Or maybe you could read some psychological fiction during your school break. It will not only get your psychological brain going but will hopefully get you excited about this new, inspiring subject.
Enjoyed this article? Leave a rating!
Loading...
