The following notes on psychology have been created in accordance to the British A-Level system taking into consideration the Edexcel specification. The notes cover both Year 1 (AS Level) as well as Year 2 (A-Level).

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The notes cover the following topics: 

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Social Psychology

Part 1 - Obedience:

• Agency Theory

• Social Impact Theory

• Milgram’s Baseline Study

• Milgram’s Variation Studies

Part 2 - Factors Affecting Obedience and Dissent:

• Individual Differences (Personality and Gender)

• Situation and Culture

Part 3 - Prejudice:

• Social Identity Theory

• Realistic Conflict Theory

Part 4 - Factors Affecting Prejudice:

• Individual Difference (Personality) 

• Situation and Culture

Part 5 - Studies:

• Classic Study: Sherif et al. (1954/1961)

• Contemporary Study: Burger (2009) 

 

Cognitive Psychology:

Part 1 - Memory:

• The Working Memory Model

• The Multi-Store Model of Memory

• Explanation of Long-Term Memory

• Reconstructive Memory

Part 2 - Studies:

• Classic Study: Baddeley (1966b) 

• Contemporary Study: Schmolck et al. (2002) 

 

Biological Psychology

Part 1 - Content:

• The Central Nervous System and Human Behaviour

• Neurons, Synaptic Transmission and Neurotransmitters

• Effects of Recreational Drugs

• The Structure of the Brain and Aggression

• Evolution, Natural Selection, and Aggression

• Freud’s Psychodynamic Explanation of Aggression

• Role of Hormones in Human Behaviour

Part 2 - Studies:

• Classic Study: Raine et al. (1997) 

• Contemporary: Brendgen et al. (2005) 

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Learning Theories

Part 1 - Conditioning:

• Classical Conditioning – The Main Features

• Pavlov (1997) 

• Operant Conditioning – The Main Features

• Reinforcement and Behaviour Modification

• Social Learning Theory – The Main Features

• Bandura et al. (1961) 

• Bandura et al. (1963, 1965) 

Part 2 - Phobias:

• Learning Theories as Explanations of Phobias

• Treatments based on Phobias

Part 3 - Studies:

• Classic Study: Watson and Rayner (1920)

• Contemporary Study: Becker et al. (2002)

 

Clinical Psychology

Part 1 - Diagnoses and Classification:

• Diagnosis of Mental Disorders

• Classification Systems: The DSM

• Classification Systems: The ICD

Part 2 - Schizophrenia:

• Symptoms and Features

• Neurotransmitters as an Explanation

• One Other Biological Explanation

• One Non-Biological Explanation

• One Biological Treatment

• One Non-biological Treatment

Part 3 - Studies:

• Classic Study: Rosenhan (1973)

• Contemporary Study: Carlsson et al. (2000)

Part 4 - Anorexia Nervosa:

• Symptoms and Features

• One Biological Explanation

• One Non-Biological Explanation

• One Biological Treatment

• One Non-Biological Treatment

Part 5 - Studies:

• Contemporary Study: Guardia et al. (2012)

 

Criminological Psychology

Part 1 – Explanations of Crime and Anti-Social Behaviour:

• Biological Explanations

• Personality

• Social Explanations

Part 2 – Understanding the Offender, Offence Analysis and Case Formulation:

• Cognitive Interview and Ethical Interview Techniques

• The use of Psychological Formulation

Part 3 – Treatments for Offenders:

• Cognitive-Behavioural Treatment

• Biological Treatment

Part 4 – Factors:

• Factors Influencing EWT: Reliability

• Factors Influencing Jury Decisions-Making

Part 5 – Studies:

• Classic Study: Loftus and Palmer (1974)

• Contemporary Study: Valentine & Mesout (2009)

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