Group 3

Psychology

Psychology is the rigorous and systematic study of mental processes and behavior. The study of behavior and mental processes requires a multidisciplinary approach and the use of a variety of research techniques whilst recognizing that behavior is not a static phenomenon, it is adaptive, and as the world, societies and challenges facing societies change, so does behavior. There are approaches we will take to study and/or analyze behavior and mental processes:

Biological

Cognitive

Sociocultural

Please take a look at the diagram below. . .

The Options or Schools of Psychology

The contribution and the interaction of the three approaches can be best understood through the options. There are four options in the course - HL students study two. They focus on areas of applied psychology:

• abnormal psychology

• developmental psychology

• health psychology

• psychology of human relationships.

Whereas the core provides a general overview, the options allow students to study a specialized area of psychology to apply their learning. What is learned in the core forms the foundation for the learning in the options. The options provide the opportunity to integrate learning in an applied context. In addition, the options provide the opportunity to explore the different approaches taken in research and highlight the ethical considerations and sensitivities pertinent to a specific line of inquiry.

Psychology and the Core

Psychology and TOK

TOK is invaluable for exploring some of the bigger questions relevant to the teaching, learning and practice of psychology. Questions that can be explored include the following.

• Can models and theories be used to understand and predict human behavior?

• Does a researcher’s choice of methodology affect the reliability or credibility of research?

• Is what we know about human behavior limited by our ethical considerations?

• Are emotions universal?

• Are the methods of the natural sciences applicable in the social sciences?

• Are there human qualities or behaviors that will remain beyond the scope of science?

As with other areas of knowledge, there are a variety of ways of gaining knowledge in the social sciences, including observation and experimentation, inductive and deductive reasoning, and the collection of evidence.

Psychology and CAS

CAS plays a crucial role in the DP in the development of personal and interpersonal skills. It also provides an important counterbalance to the academic pressures of the DP, allowing and valuing exploration and engagement beyond the academic.

Examples of CAS experiences with links to psychology include the following:

• acting as a mentor to children in lower years

• designing a welcome pack for students new to the school

• promoting a healthy lifestyle

Assessment outline—HL

External assessment (5 hours)

Paper 1 (2 hours) 40%

Section A: Three short-answer questions on the core approaches to psychology (27 marks)

Section B: One essay from a choice of three on the biological, cognitive and sociocultural approaches to behavior. One, two or all of the essays will reference the additional HL topic (22 marks)

(Total 49 marks)

Paper 2 (2 hours) 20%

Two questions; one from a choice of three on each of two options (Total 44 marks)

Paper 3 (1 hour) 20%

Three short-answer responses from a list of six static questions (published in this guide) on approaches to research (24 marks)

Internal assessment (20 hours) 20%

This component is internally assessed by the teacher and externally moderated* by the IB at the end of the course.

The IA is an Experimental study, a report on an experimental study undertaken by the student (22 marks)