Psychology
Teacher: Ethan Murphy
If our brains use 20% of the oxygen and blood in our bodies and comprise approximately 100 billion neurons, is it not worth knowing a little more about how this important part of our bodies affects our behaviour?
In Stage 1 Psychology, students engage with the characteristics that influence human and animal behaviour through a critical study of psychological research, parts of the brain, emotional development and how our childhood and upbringing guide our responses. While this subject does not teach how to read minds and psychoanalyse your closest family and friends, Psychology exposes students to a range of important topics surrounding wellbeing, and past students have reported the principles addressed in the subject have relevance to their everyday lives beyond school.
Assessment:
- Assessment Type 1: Investigations Folio (50%)
- Assessment Type 2: Skills and Application Tasks (50%)
Pathways:
The most common reasons for studying psychology at this level are a personal curiosity about human behaviour, a desire to gain knowledge that can translate into personal growth, or a wish to evaluate psychology as a career option. Psychology is relevant to all fields of employment that involve contact with other people. It has applications in diverse fields such as child care, sales, health, journalism, information technology, law enforcement, and advertising. It is also possible to be involved in psychological research to better understand factors that influence human and animal behaviour and to improve wellbeing.
Stage 1 Psychology will also provide background knowledge for studying Psychology at a Stage 2 level.