Both Standard and Higher Level students will explore four contexts, each of which is an important area of applied psychology. The contexts that will be covered are:
1. Health and Wellbeing- Recently it has become clear that mental and physical health are encompassed by the mind – body interaction. Students will learn about mental health disorders, explanations for such disorders, drug misuse, and how to prevent and treat these issues.
2. Learning and Cognition- Humans have highly developed cognitive abilities, so it is important to understand human cognition: what it is, how it develops and how reliable it is in various situations. This context includes the study of cognitive biases and how our thinking and decision making operates, as well as delving into memory and the biological, cognitive and environmental factors that influence it.
3. Human Development- Developmental psychology is the study of how and why people’ s behaviour and cognition changes over time. Students will learn models of development that consider the role of the brain and sociocultural factors. They will also consider the influence of social norms, peer influence and childhood experiences on the development of the self.
4. Human Relationships- People influence and are influenced by the behaviour of others in interpersonal relationships such as friendships, romantic partnerships, family relationships and work relationships. Students will learn about group behaviour and the role of culture and group pressure. They will also consider cognitive and biological factors in forming a relationship, and the role of communication in maintaining relationships.
Across the four contexts, Higher Level students will also cover extension material which investigates the role of culture, motivation and technology. All students will develop their critical thinking and analytical skills by considering conceptual issues across the contexts, such as bias, causality and measurement.
Research methods are integral to investigating and measuring human behaviour. Students will develop their understanding of research methods throughout the course by conducting class practicals across each context. These methods include an interview, experiment, observation and survey. Beyond this, students will also learn about data analysis and interpretation, but this will only be assessed at Higher Level.
Students have access to a large selection of Psychology textbooks as well as a dedicated IB website. There is a Psychology discussion group led by students, and external speakers. There are opportunities to engage with the subject outside the classroom. This includes live conferences with influential psychologists, a visit to Bethlem Museum of the Mind, and the chance to plan and conduct observational research in the centre of London. Each year approximately 60 students choose Psychology. For the majority of students, it is a new subject, and no prior knowledge of the subject is required.
THE IB AT SEVENOAKS | GROUP THREE 25