Curriculum Overview

EDEXCEL 9-1 GCSE Psychology

Ms. Pahl

YEAR CONTENT OVERVIEW

Topic 1- Development
 Development of the brain
 Piaget’s development theory and their role in education
 Piaget’s theory of cognitive development
 Dweck’s mindset theory
 Willingham’s learning theory
 Key studies – Piaget & Inhelder (1956) and Gunderson et al
(2013)
 Issues and debates around the development of morality
Topic 2 - Memory
 The structure and processes of memory and information processing
 Features of short-term and long-term memory
 Amnesia: retrograde and anterograde
 Bartlett’s Theory of Reconstructive Memory (1932)
 Atkinson & Shiffrin’s Multi-store Model of Memory (1968)
 Key studies – Bartlett (1932) and Peterson & Peterson (1959)
 Issues and debates around reductionism and holism
10
Topic 3 - Psychological problems
 Symptoms and features of 2 mental health issues – unipolar depression
and addiction
 How the number of people diagnosed with these conditions has changed
over time
 Individual and societal effects of mental health issues
 Explanations of depression – influence of genes, cognitive theory and
learning theory
 The use of drugs as a treatment for depression and addiction
 Key studies - Caspi et al (2003) and Young (2007)
 Issues and debates around the nature and nurture debate
Topic 4 - The brain and neuropsychology
 The structure and function of the brain
 Lateralisation of function in the hemispheres
 The role of the central nervous system and neurotransmission
 Effect of neurological damage on cognitions and behaviour
 Key Studies - Damasio et al (1994) and Sperry (1968)
 Issues and debates about how psychology has changed over time
 Topic 5 - Social Influence
 Bystander intervention
 Conformity
 Obedience
 How conformity and obedience affect crowd behaviour
 How to prevent blind obedience
 Key studies – Zimbardo. Haney & Banks (1973) and Piliavin et al.
(1969)
 Issues and debates around social & cultural issues in psychology
Topic 6 (options) - Criminal psychology
 How learning theories can explain criminality - Operant conditioning &
11 Social Learning Theory
Term  Biological explanations of criminality
1&  Eysenck’s (1964) personality types
2  Punishment & treatment of offenders
 Rehabilitation – token economy and anger management programmes
 Key studies – Bandura, Ross & Ross (1961) and Charlton et al
(2000)
Topic 7 (options) - Sleep & dreaming
 Features, functions and benefits of sleep
 Internal and external influences on sleep
 Symptoms of and explanations of sleep disorders – insomnia and
narcolepsy
 Freud’s dream theory (1900)
 Activation-synthesis theory (Hobson & McCarley, 1977)
 Key studies – Freud (1909) and Siffre (1975)

Research methods and mathematical requirements

 Use of different research methods – Experiments, Interviews, Questionnaires,
Correlations, Case studies, Observations
 Planning psychological research and setting up variables – IV, DV, Control
variables
 Experimental designs – independent groups, repeated measures, matched
pairs
 Writing hypotheses
 Sampling methods
 Issues of validity and reliability
 Dealing with ethical issues
 Differences between qualitative and quantitative data
 Scatter graphs, distributions, correlations, percentages, fractions, bar charts,
histograms, frequency graphs, data analysis
Examination information