Psychology

‘One can choose to go back toward safety or forward toward growth. Growth must be chosen again and again; fear must be overcome again and again.’ Abraham Maslow

At CSGS in Psychology we aim to inspire students to become curious learners with a thirst for understanding the human mind. Through understanding a wide range of theories and studies students will gain a greater appreciation and compassion for many types of human behaviour they may never have even heard of. They will develop the critical thinking skills which will allow them to evaluate and question new research. One of the most popular and exciting aspects of studying psychology is being able to apply research to not only students personal lives but also being able to draw links between a number of other key events in the world and also with popular subjects from sports science through to history and biology to name just a few.

With a strong emphasis on research methods students will also develop their creativity in order to design, conduct and report on their own scientific research. Throughout the 2-year course students will be encouraged to become committed independent and reflective learners and through class discussions and debates will develop the confidence to speak out and share their opinions on a variety of sensitive matters.

A Level Psychology recommended reading by topic:

Memory

The memory illusion, Julia Shaw. The Memory Illusion: Remembering, Forgetting, and the Science of False Memory: Dr Julia Shaw: 9781847947611

Attachment

Attached, Amir Levine. Attached: Are you Anxious, Avoidant or Secure? How the science of adult attachment can help you find – and keep – love eBook : Amir Levine, Rachel Heller

Social Influence

The lucifer effect, Phillip Zimbardo. The Lucifer Effect: How Good People Turn Evil: Philiip Zimbardo 9781846041037

Obedience to authority, Stanley Milgram. Obedience to Authority: An Experimental View: Stanley Milgram, Philip Zimbardo: 9781905177325

Psychopathology

The Skeleton Cupboard, Tanya Byron. The Skeleton Cupboard: The making of a clinical psychologist by Tanya Byron 

The man who mistook his wife for a hat, Oliver Sacks. The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat: Oliver Sacks, Wil Self

The Psychopath Test, Jon Ronson.The Psychopath Test: A Journey Through the Madness Industry: Jon Ronson: 9780330492270

Biopsychology

Why we sleep, Matthew Walker.Why We Sleep: The New Science of Sleep and Dreams: Matthew Walker: 9780141983769

Research Methods

Bad Science, Ben Goldacre. Bad Science: Goldacre, Ben: 9780007284870
Elephants on acid, Alex Boese. Elephants On Acid: From zombie kittens to tickling machines: the most outrageous experiments from the history of science: Alex Boese: 9781509822195

Approaches

Opening Skinner’s Box, Lauren Slater. Opening Skinner's Box: Great Psychological Experiments of the Twentieth Century: Lauren Slater: 9780747568605

Issues and Debates

As nature made him, John Colapinto. As Nature Made Him: The Boy Who Was Raised as a Girl eBook : John Colapinto

Schizophrenia

Hidden Valley Road, Robert Kolker. Hidden Valley Road: Inside the Mind of an American Family: Robert Kolker 9781787473829

Relationships

Games people play, Eric Berne. Games People Play: The Psychology of Human Relationships: Eric Berne: 9780241257470

Aggression

The blank slate, Stephen Pinker. The Blank Slate: The Modern Denial of Human Nature: Steven Pinker: 9780140276053

The Prison Doctor, Amanda Brown (she has 3 books)THE PRISON DOCTOR: My time inside Britain’s most notorious jails. The Honest, unbelievable true story and a sunday times best selling autobiography: Dr Amanda Brown

The dark side of the mind, Kerry Daynes (and her other books). The Dark Side of the Mind: True Stories from My Life as a Forensic Psychologist (Kerry Daynes’ True Stories of Forensic Psychology): Kerry Daynes: 9781788402170

 Unatural causes, Richard Shepherd. Unnatural Causes (HE TRUE CRIME BOOK OF THE YEAR AND SUNDAY TIMES) Dr Richard Shepherd

Key Stage 5

Students study AQA A Level Psychology.This course has three, two-hour examination papers.The topics for each paper are as follows:

Paper 1: Social Influence, Attachment, Memory and Psychopathology.

Paper 2: Approaches, Biopsychology and Research Methods

Paper 3: Issues and Debates, Aggression, Relationships and Schizophrenia

AQA | AS and A-level | Psychology | Specification at a glance

Key Stage 5

We run a variety of trips that differ each year.Here are some of the past and upcoming trips:

• The Freud Museum, London
• Psychology conference including experts in many areas including criminal psychology, consciousness and addition experts and many more.
• SCAMP project (study of cognition, adolescents and mobile phones)– some students have been involved in running this project with Imperial college, London.
• Vienna – possible upcoming trip to include visits to the Sigmund Freud Museum and ‘Fools tower’- Europe’s oldest asylum to name just a few.
• Zoo visit – to include the understand of research methods in a practical context as well as theories behind animal behaviour
• Expert talks on criminal (serial killer behaviour) at the Theatre.
• Bethlem Royal Hospital – visit to the museum, talks on the history of mental illness and exploring related art.