International Baccalaureate (Group 3) Psychology Standard Level and Higher Level

International Baccalaureate (Group 3) Psychology Standard Level and Higher Level
The Psychology course systematically considers behaviour and experience from its historical roots to the present day.

What does the course consist of?
Areas studied in the first year:
1) Research and Design

We try out different methods and we ask questions such as:

• What considerations must a psychologist make when setting up a research experiment?
• What are the strengths and limitations of observation questionnaires and interviews?
• How can statistics be applied to interpret data?

2) The Cognitive level of analysis

Here our focus is on memory. We look at the following:

• How does memory work?
• How can memory research be applied to eye witness testimony?

3) The biological level of analysis

Here our focus is on stress. We look at the following:

• Causes of stress and stress management
• How does genetics affect your behaviour?

4) The Socio Cultural level of analysis

Here our focus is on social influence. We ask questions such as:

• What roles do groups play in our lives?
• How does culture affect our behaviour?

In the second year you will study two options in more depth if you are the higher level and one option if you are the standard level.
Option 1- Abnormal Psychology- PSTD, Depression, Schizophrenia and therapies.
Option 2- Health Psychology- this includes eating disorders and addictive behaviour.

What else do I need to know?
Students will be given the opportunity to exchange information. We will encourage the use of the internet to form focus groups with other students who are studying psychology around the globe, to monitor how they are dealing with such issues as mentioned. We have a large contingent of students from China, and we also have close links with a college in Sweden, where we have a student exchange program in operation.
The purpose of the course is to give students the opportunity to follow a comprehensive programme which will allow them to develop a coherent understanding of how individuals behave. Students should be able to interpret meanings of behaviour, understand how relationships work and therefore develop a greater understanding of themselves and how they function in society.
A fundamental part of the course is understanding how different cultures apply different meanings to the same behaviour, and it will look in-depth at the emic-etic distinction. This is where we will explore whether all individuals regardless of culture world experience the same developmental process, or whether they would develop differently (Mead). Much research that has been carried out has been conducted in USA and in White western cultures, and this has for many years clouded our understanding. Replication of research in different cultures brings many problems and students will be encouraged to look at issues such as translation, manipulation of variables, participants and research traditions.