AS Level Psychology Notes

Understanding the Brain and Body

Understanding the World we Live In

Critical Thinking

Strengths and Weaknesses

  • Jot down strengths and weaknesses.

  • Everything is in the text, modules, and syllabus.

  • Understand the question requirements.

  • Recall specific points.

Key Components

  • Aim

  • Procedure

  • Methods

Five Issues

  1. Applications of psychology to everyday life.

  2. The use of children in psychological research.

  3. The use of animals in psychological research.

  4. Individual and situational explanation.

  5. Nature versus nurture.

Applications of Psychology to Everyday Life

  • Benefits of the study to society.

  • Benefits to the individual.

  • Benefits to the world.

  • Researchers conduct studies to address real-world problems.

Example

  • Issue: People not adhering to medical appointments.

  • Reason: Forgetfulness.

  • Solution: Reminders and prompts (messages, emails).

Study

  • Normal human beings feel guilty and sad when people beg them to stop and say that I'm in pain.

  • Tendency to stop when someone begs.

  • Researchers instructed participants to continue even when others begged.

Issues and Debates in CIE Psychology Syllabus

  • Five issues and debates at AS level.

  • Further five issues and debates at A level. (separate video).

AS Level Issues:

  1. Applying psychology to everyday life.

  2. Individual versus situational explanations.

  3. Nature versus nurture.

  4. Using children in psychological research.

  5. Using animals in psychological research.

Applying Psychology to Everyday Life

  • Evaluate research for usefulness and applicability.

  • Example: Saavedra and Silberman study (learning approach).

    • Treating a boy with a phobia of buttons.

Individual vs. Situational Explanations

  • Individual explanations: Behavior based on internal factors (personality, biology).

  • Situational explanations: Behavior based on environmental factors (social pressure).

Milgram Study

  • Situational factors pressured participants to obey.

  • Prestige location (Yale University).

  • Status of the researcher (lab coat).

  • Proximity of the researcher.

Hypothetical scenario

  • Pulling lever to change direction of truck.

  • Potential to hit one person versus five people.

Analysis

  • Is it individual? Does this make him a bad person?

  • Or situational? Is it an impossible situation?

Issues and Debates

  • Ongoing discussions without definitive answers.

  • Behavior influenced by both individual and situational factors.

Individual Factors:

  • Personality traits.

Situational Factors:

  • Environmental events at a particular time.

  • Challenges faced.

Example

  • Participant in a research at a well-known university.

  • Likely to trust the research due to the university's reputation.