What is Psychology 

Psychology fascinates many of us as it enables the study of human behaviour - a subject of endless curiosity and relevance to our lives. Given that we are all human, why are our individual behaviours so different from one another? Why do we behave one way in groups and another when alone? How do our social and cultural background, our genetic inheritance and our developing cognition affect our behaviour? It is because psychology can help us explore these questions and try to understand and explain our behaviour and that of others that it is such a useful and compelling subject. 

Psychology is the scientific study of human and animal cognition and behaviour with the goal of solving problems and increasing the quality of life for individuals and their communities. Psychologists attempt to describe, explain, predict and change behaviour by observing humans, forming hypotheses and theories regarding behaviour and testing them empirically. However, psychology is also a human science and looks for the meaning behind human behaviour conversations and inquiry.

IB Psychology

• Learning & Cognition
• Human Development
• Human Relationships
• Health & Well-being

In each of these contexts, thought and behaviour are considered from biological, cognitive and social perspectives. Among the many topics that we cover are:

• Chemical messengers
• Brain structure
• The effect of culture on cognition
• The causes of, and treatments for depression
• Interpersonal and intergroup relationships
• Persuasion
• Attachment

Lessons in IB Psychology - Lessons are designed to provoke thought and reflection, and to consider what and how we know about different aspects of behaviour. There is a range of interactive, didactic and independent lessons catering to learners of all types.

Class practicals - For each context, there is an in-depth exploration of one of the many research methods that are used by psychologists. Students experience what it's like to be a researcher and a participant in psychological research.

The Internal Assessment (IA/coursework) - Students are invited to consider how psychology can lead to real improvements in people's quality of life. Using one of the research methods encountered in their class practicals, students propose a piece of research. The emphasis is on designing a study and justifying one's choices, not conduction the study, thus freeing students to propose a piece of research that is not limited by the usual practical constraints of being a teenager in school.

Higher and Standard level Psychology - The key difference between the two levels is that HL students have a additional paper that assesses students' ability to interpret graphs, analyse data and draw conclusions from several sources. Unfamiliar materials will be presented in Paper 3 and students must use their understanding of psychology to answer the questions

Further information about the structure of the course can be found here: https://www.ibo.org/globalassets/new-structure/programmes/dp/pdfs/dp_psychology_subjectbrief_en.pdf