Psychology

Psychology is a subject that is exclusively offered at IB level, and one that is popular amongst pupils seeking a new challenge within their Humanities or ‘Individuals and Societies’ (Group 3) options. The course content is focussed on an understanding of the biological, cognitive and sociocultural influences on human behaviour, and how they interact. It fosters an understanding of how psychological knowledge is generated, developed and applied, enabling pupils to achieve a greater understanding of themselves and appreciate the diversity of human behaviour.

To broaden the focus, pupils explore areas of Developmental Psychology (SL/HL) and Abnormal Psychology (HL only). Additionally, pupils have the opportunity to carry out a ‘simple experimental study’ of their choice: invaluable insight into quantitative research. An appreciation for the value of qualitative research methods within the field of Psychology is also encouraged. An understanding of these methods, alongside ethical considerations in research, is key to enabling critical thinking and evaluation of studies and qualities such as compassion, open-mindedness and a principled and caring approach are integral to studying the course.