Psychology Department 

Teacher in charge of Department:

• Mr I Thompson BA (Hons) PGCE DASE Dip Counselling 

External Examinations:

• AS & A2 Psychology (AQA)

Description of Department:

Psychology is ‘the science of mind and behaviour’.  Psychology at A level has been offered at Larne Grammar School for 10 years young people study the subject currently at AS and A2 level.  Larne Grammar School responded to student interest in the subject and was one of the few grammar schools to offer this course at the time.  Psychology is a science which is included as an entry qualification for medicine; psychology may be studied at University as either a B.A. or as a B.Sc. degree.  A single honours degree in psychology admits the person to membership of the British Psychology Association.  A psychology degree provides the basis for further vocational training in one of many applications of psychology in health, business or sport or as a relevant discipline for life and for employment.  Topics studied at AS level include: memory; child emotional development; physiology and psychology of stress and its management; abnormal behaviour and therapies; social psychology of unjust obedience and conformity.  These are tested by short answers.  Students will also learn to apply scientific research methods to all of the topics.

At A2 level, students study evolutionary psychology, physiological, psychology of sleeping and dreaming, psychology of relationships and go on to deepen understanding of mental illness like depression.  The course requires essays and short answers and requires a varied teaching approach with an emphasis on valid evidence and practical relevance.  Students achieve a grounding in thinking skills and exploration of the human condition, which equips them for both humanities or science careers and courses.