VCE Psychology

Want to learn about the human mind and behaviour? You have come to the right place. Psychology is about human behaviour and what dictates it. Why do people react to certain things in certain ways? What can make people happy or sad, and how can we use that in the modern world? Learning Psychology will teach you all about the behaviour of people and how their minds work, which can be useful everywhere.

VCE Psychology provides for continuing study pathways within the discipline and leads to a range of careers. Opportunities may involve working with children, adults, families and communities in a variety of settings such as academic and research institutions, management and human resources, and government, corporate and private enterprises. Fields of applied psychology include educational, environmental, forensic, health, sport and organisational psychology. Specialist fields of psychology include counselling and clinical contexts, as well as neuropsychology, social psychology and developmental psychology. Psychologists also work in cross-disciplinary areas such as medical research or as part of on-going or emergency support services in educational, institutional and industrial settings. 

How are behaviour and mental processes shaped? 

In this unit students examine the complex nature of psychological development, including situations where psychological development may not occur as expected. Students examine the contribution that classical and contemporary knowledge from Western and non-Western societies, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, has made to an understanding of psychological development and to the development of psychological models and theories used to predict and explain the development of thoughts, emotions and behaviours. They investigate the structure and functioning of the human brain and the role it plays in mental processes and behaviour and explore brain plasticity and the influence that brain damage may have on a person’s psychological functioning.

Areas of Study: 

1. What influences psychological development? 

2. How are mental processes and behaviour influenced by the brain?

3. How does contemporary research conduct and validate psychological research?  Student-directed practical investigation.

How do internal and external factors influence behaviour and mental processes? 

In this unit students evaluate the role social cognition plays in a person’s attitudes, perception of themselves and relationships with others. Students explore a variety of factors and contexts that can influence the behaviour of individuals and groups, recognising that different cultural groups have different experiences and values. Students are encouraged to consider Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s experiences within Australian society and how these experiences may affect psychological functioning.

Students examine the contribution that classical and contemporary research has made to the understandings of human perception and why individuals and groups behave in specific ways. Students investigate how perception of stimuli enables a person to interact with the world around them and how their perception of stimuli can be distorted.

Areas of Study: 

1. How are people influenced to behave in particular ways?

2. What influences a person’s perception of the world?

3. How do scientific investigations develop understanding of influences on perception and behaviour? Student-directed practical investigation.

How does experience affect behaviour and mental processes?

The nervous system influences behaviour and the way people experience the world. In this unit students examine both macro-level and micro-level functioning of the nervous system to explain how the human nervous system enables a person to interact with the world around them. They explore how stress may affect a person’s psychological functioning and consider the causes and management of stress. Students investigate how mechanisms of memory and learning lead to the acquisition of knowledge, the development of new capacities and changed behaviours. They consider the limitations and fallibility of memory and how memory can be improved. Students examine the contribution that classical and contemporary research has made to the understanding of the structure and function of the nervous system, and to the understanding of biological, psychological and social factors that influence learning and memory. 

Areas of Study: 

1. How does the nervous system enable psychological functioning?

2. How do people learn and remember? 

How is wellbeing developed and maintained?

Consciousness and mental health are two of many psychological constructs that can be explored by studying the relationship between the mind, brain and behaviour. In this unit students examine the nature of consciousness and how changes in levels of consciousness can affect mental processes and behaviour. They consider the role of sleep and the impact that sleep disturbances may have on a person’s functioning. Students explore the concept of a mental health continuum and apply a biopsychosocial approach, as a scientific model, to analyse mental health and disorder. They use specific phobia to illustrate how the development and management of a mental disorder can be considered as an interaction between biological, psychological and social factors. Students examine the contribution that classical and contemporary research has made to the understanding of consciousness, including sleep, and the development of an individual’s mental functioning and wellbeing.

Areas of Study:

1. How do levels of consciousness affect mental processes and behaviour?

2. What influences mental wellbeing? 

3. How is scientific inquiry used to investigate mental processes and psychological functioning?  Student-directed practical investigation.

Ms Ashlee Burke: asburke@cmc.vic.edu.au

Mrs Alana Burke: aburke@cmc.vic.edu.au

Ms Claire Moloney:  cmoloney@cmc.vic.edu.au

Ms Sue Bradley: sbradley@cmc.vic.edu.au

Mrs Jess Tasca: jtasca@cmc.vic.edu.au