A2 Level Psychology

Prerequisites: AS Psychology (in Year 13, AS Psychology can be taken concurrently with A2 Psychology, if approved by the Curriculum Leader)

Students will cover two of the following specialist options:

• Clinical psychology: This option considers the definitions, symptoms, causes, and treatments of a variety of mental disorders, including schizophrenia, mood, impulse control, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorders.

• Consumer psychology: This option reflects the society in which we live and looks at both seller and purchaser decision making and behaviours, as well as the design of products, consumer environments, and advertising techniques.

• Health psychology: This option focuses on issues important to health care, including the importance of interpersonal skills between medical practitioners and patients; factors contributing to misuse of the health care system and patient non-adherence to medical advice; types, theories and management of pain and stress, and strategies for promoting public health.

• Organisational psychology: This option considers the world of work, and how individuals and groups within an organisation function and influence each other and have an impact on the organisation itself. Factors studied include goal-setting theory, intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, theories and styles of leadership, individual and group dynamics in decision making, and conflict resolution.