What will I study?

Social influence

This topic explores how a person’s opinion, behaviour and emotions are affected by others.  Some of the questions it examines include, why do people conform in groups? Why do we obey authority figures? Can the pressure to conform sometimes lead people to commit atrocities?

Memory

This topic explores theories and models of memory exploring how we remember. It also examines explanations for forgetting and factors affecting the accuracy of eyewitness testimony.

Attachments

This explores the formation of attachments between infants and caregivers. Animal studies of attachment, cross-cultural differences in attachment and the influence of early attachment on later adult relationships are also studied.

Psychopathology

Psychopathology is the study of mental/psychological disorders. This topic considers different explanations, and treatments for, various psychological disorders e.g. phobias, depression and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD).

Cognition and development

This topic explores the way children’s thinking changes and develops as they mature.

Schizophrenia

This explores symptoms and diagnosis of this mental illness. It also explores explanations for and treatments of schizophrenia.

Forensic psychology

This branch of psychology applies psychological theories and principles to different stages of the criminal justice system, including understanding the cause of crime and ways to deal with offenders.