What is psychology? Psychologists study everything about people – and what could be more interesting than people? Just look in any newspaper or on social media – full of stories about people’s behaviour. These stories tell us about what people are doing and try to explain why they do the things they do – for example, reporting that someone has been married for 60 years, and offering an explanation about why their marriage is so successful. Or reporting that a person has committed a terrorist act and trying to explain that. But psychology is more than just everyday interest in people… … Psychology is a science This means it is a systematic investigation of what people do and why. This systematic investigation involves two things: 1. Developing theories to explain why people do things. In Unit 1 you will be studying the main approaches (theories) in psychology. 2. Conducting research studies to collect evidence of what people actually do. In Unit 2 you will be studying the research process. Science is not perfect. Science takes small steps towards gradually getting at the ‘truth’. This is where evaluation comes in – at all times scientists must question and retest their ideas. But science is more than knowledge and evaluation… … Science is applied We depend on science to govern our world. Without science we could not develop safe and effective methods to treat disease, build bridges or buildings that don’t fall down, try to forecast dangerous weather conditions, develop successful methods to deal with criminal behaviour and so on. Psychological theory and research have a very large number of applications. →Physical health – advising the medical profession about, for example, how to best explain treatments to patients so they will remember what to do. If you go on to study BTEC Level 3 Extended Certi cate in Applied Psychology, you will study Health psychology. →Mental health – developing treatments for depression or anorexia and so on. This involves testing both psychological therapies and physical treatments such as drugs. If you go on to study the BTEC Level 3 Extended Certi cate you may have the chance to study Psychopathology which is concerned with mental health. The following three branches of psychology are also options for the Extended Certi cate. →Criminal and forensic psychology Theories and approaches in psychology are applied to explain why some people become criminals. Psychological approaches are also used to develop successful methods to reduce reoffending and to research strategies to help the police solve crimes. →Child psychology is concerned with explaining how and why people change as they develop from birth through to adolescence. →Sport psychology Any sportsperson will tell you that winning is all in the mind. Yes, you do have to have certain skills but in the end it is the winning mindset that makes the difference between success and failure. Studying people (and animals). Health psychology Child psychology Sport psychology Criminal and forensic psychology 6 Copyright: Sample material
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