Optional subject
Why study Psychology?
Psychology is the scientific study of the human mind and behaviour. It helps students understand why people think, feel and behave the way they do, including how memory works, why people conform, and how mental health problems develop and are treated. Studying GCSE Psychology encourages students to think critically about real-life issues and to question assumptions about human behaviour using evidence.
Through Psychology, students develop a wide range of valuable skills, including critical thinking and evaluation, analysing data and interpreting evidence. They become more fluent at writing essays and extended answers, understanding research methods and ethics and applying knowledge to real-world situations.
Psychology supports progression into A Levels and careers in areas such as healthcare, education, criminology, law, social work, marketing and business, while also helping students gain a deeper understanding of themselves and others.
Subject Content
The GCSE Psychology course is divided into two broad areas:
Cognition and Behaviour
Students explore how the mind works and how behaviour develops, including:
Memory – how we encode, store and retrieve information, and why memory can be unreliable
Perception – how we interpret the world around us, including visual illusions
Development – how thinking and learning change from childhood to adulthood
Research Methods – how psychologists design studies, collect data, analyse results and consider ethical issues
Social Context and Behaviour
Students examine how society, biology and communication influence behaviour, including:
Social Influence – conformity, obedience and bystander behaviour
Language, Thought and Communication – how language shapes thinking and non-verbal communication
Brain and Neuropsychology – how the brain and nervous system affect behaviour
Psychological Problems – mental health, including depression and addiction, and how these are explained and treated
Assessment
Students sit two written exams, each worth 50% of the GCSE:
Paper 1: Cognition and Behaviour
1 hour 45 minutes
100 marks
Covers memory, perception, development and research methods
Paper 2: Social Context and Behaviour
· 1 hour 45 minutes
· 100 marks
· Covers social influence, language and communication, brain and neuropsychology, and psychological problems
Both papers include a mixture of multiple-choice questions, short-answer questions and extended writing questions. There is no coursework, but students complete practical research activities in lessons to develop their skills.
Contact
Mrs A Jervis, Head of Psychology a.jervis@jcg.sch.je
