Year 12 Psychology
(Unit 3 & 4)

COURSE OUTLINE

Unit 3: How does experience affect behaviour and mental processes? 

In this unit students investigate the contribution that classical and contemporary research has made to the understanding of the functioning of the nervous system and to the understanding of biological, psychological and social factors that influence learning and memory. Students investigate how the human nervous system enables a person to interact with the world around them. Students investigate how mechanisms of learning and memory lead to the acquisition of knowledge and the development of new and changed behaviours. 

Outcome 1 

On completion of this unit the student should be able to analyse how the functioning of the human nervous system enables a person to interact with the external world, and evaluate the different ways in which stress can affect psychobiological functioning. 

Outcome 2 

On completion of this unit the student should be able to apply different approaches to explain learning to familiar and novel contexts and discuss memory as a psychobiological process. 

Unit 4: How is mental wellbeing supported and maintained? 

In this unit students explore the demand for sleep and the influences of sleep on mental wellbeing. They consider the biological mechanisms that regulate sleep and the relationship between rapid eye movement (REM) and non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep across the life span. Students consider ways in which mental wellbeing may be defined and conceptualised, including social and emotional wellbeing (SEWB) as a multidimensional and holistic framework to wellbeing. They explore the concept of mental wellbeing as a continuum and apply a biopsychosocial approach, as a scientific model, to understand specific phobia. 

Outcome 1 

On completion of this unit the student should be able to analyse the demand for sleep and evaluate the effects of sleep disruption on a person’s psychological functioning. 

Outcome 2 

On completion of this unit the student should be able to discuss the concept of mental wellbeing, apply a biopsychosocial approach to explain the development and management of specific phobia, and discuss protective factors that contribute to the maintenance of mental wellbeing. 

Outcome 3 

On completion of this unit the student should be able to design and conduct a scientific investigation related to mental processes and psychological functioning, and present an aim, methodology and method, results, discussion and conclusion in a scientific poster. 

ASSESSMENT 

Unit 3  & 4

Assessment will include the following types:

• Analysis and evaluation of at least one psychological case study, experiment, model or simulation

• Analysis and evaluation of generated primary and/or collated secondary data

• Comparison and evaluation of psychological concepts, methodologies and methods, and findings from three student practical activities

• Analysis and comparison of two or more contemporary media texts.

• Communication of the design, analysis and findings of a student-designed and student-conducted scientific investigation through a structured scientific poster and logbook entries.

The level of achievement for Units 3 and 4 is also assessed by an end-of year examination