Psychology

Psychology is in essence the study of human behaviour - how people think, feel and react to others. At St. Edmund's, psychology is taught at AS and A2 Level, and although there is no requirement to have studied the subject previously, an interest in understanding human behaviour is important.

In the Sixth Form our A Level course will cover such issues as Cognitive and Developmental Psychology, which studies the mental processes used when we think, and the exploration of how people change over time, in particular in the vital years of infancy, childhood, and adolescence. Physiological Psychology and Individual Difference explores the relationship between mind and body, and how our behaviour is governed by our biology; what is it, for example, that makes some people more prone to stress, depression or eating disorders than others? Social Psychology looks at the influences on individuals of the world around them.

We also cover the important topic of Research Methods, addressing the collection and interpretation of data; all of our learning in the area of Psychology is based upon research findings, supporting our ability to explain and predict human behaviour. Each of the subject areas outlined above is covered both at AS Level, and then in more detail at A2 Level.

Students of psychology gain skills which can be utilised in many different careers. Examples include advertising, human resources management, the police, and of course specialist areas such as educational, sports, forensic or clinical psychology. In essence, psychology can be an asset for any career that involves working with people; it is an ideal subject for those pupils who are interested in what makes people the way they are, and with an enquiring, logical and reasoning mind.