VCE Psychology (Unit 1/2)

Psychology (Unit 1/2)

1a. Brain - different approaches over time to understanding the role of the brain

1b. Brain - central and peripheral nervous systems

1c. Brain - the role of the neuron including the role of glial cells

1d. Brain - the hindbrain , midbrain and forebrain

1e. Brain - the role of the cerebral cortex

1f. Brain - periods of rapid development and changes in brain structure and function

1g. Brain - the impact of injury to the cerebral cortex

1h. Brain - animal studies and neuroimaging techniques to understand Parkinson’s disease

2a. Psychological Development - the interactive nature of hereditary and environmental factors

2b. Psychological Development - critical and sensitive periods in a person’s psychological development

2c. Psychological Development - the importance of attachment with reference to the work of Harlow & Ainsworth

2d. Psychological Development - cognitive abilities (Piaget)

2e. Psychological Development - psychosocial development with reference to the work of Erikson.

2f. Psychological Development - normality and mental disorder as a continuum

2g. Psychological Development - mental health as a product of internal and external factors

2h. Psychological Development - major categories of psychological disorder

2i. Psychological Development - the ‘two-hit’ hypothesis as an explanation for the development of schizophrenia.

3a. Perception - sensation and perception

3b. Perception - taste and vision

3c. Perception - the influence of biological, psychological and social factors on visual perception

3d. Perception - the influence of biological, psychological and social factors on gustatory perception, • the fallibility of visual and gustatory perception systems

3e. Perception - distortions of perception of taste and vision illustrated by synaesthesia.

4a. Social Influence - the role of person perception, attributions, attitudes and stereotypes

4b. Social Influence - the tri-component model of attitudes

4c. Social Influence - attitudes and stereotypes that may lead to prejudice and discrimination.

4d. Social Influence - the influence of status and social power within groups, and obedience and conformity on individual behaviour, with reference to Asch, Milgram and Zimbardo

4e. Social Influence - the influences on helping behaviour (or reluctance to help)

4f. Social Influence - factors that influence bullying and the effects of bullying

4g. Social Influence - positive and negative influences of media

Practical Investigation & Research Methods

Practical Investigation & Research Methods