Front Cover and back cover 2010 christmas - Stanwell School

Psychology
Miss L Donovan
It has been a busy and enjoyable term in the
Psychology Department. Highlights have included
the October Open Day which was a
great success as visitors were keen to get involved.
Favourite activities included the
Stroop test, which required participants to
override the automatic process of reading
meaning into words, as well as attempts to
guess the real smile from a series of genuine
and posed photographs.
Year 12 have worked hard this term as they
have been introduced to research into the nature
and structure of memory. This has involved
practical class experiments to assess
the differences between short term and long
term memory. Students have also used cognitive
models to explain how memory works.
They particularly enjoyed designing models
of their own in class. This knowledge of
memory has been applied to everyday life
when looking at the accuracy of eye witness
testimony and techniques to improve memory
including mind maps and peg word methods.
Students have examined evidence which
shows these strategies work. This has an important
message as the students prepare to sit
their first AS exam in January on Memory,
Attachment and Research Methods.
Year 12 groups have been looking at the key
impact of attachment theory on society. They
have looked at the roles of comfort, responsiveness
and food in order to understand that there
is an interaction of many factors in producing
developmental outcomes. More recently students
have enjoyed looking at topical issues relating
to attachment including the issue of day
care. They have examined research which suggests
day care can be potentially harmful whilst
other contradictory studies have asserted the
benefits of day care for social development.
Year 13 are also preparing for exams early in
the new year. They have shown great interest in
the topic of psychopathology as we have discussed
the issues surrounding the classification
and diagnosis of depression. Students have enjoyed
exploring the various explanations of depression
and the different approaches to treatment
ranging from drug therapy to psychoanalysis
or ECT. Students have also enjoyed
studying the new topic of addictive behaviour.
They have looked at initiation, maintenance and
relapse of specific addictions such as smoking
and gambling and more recently have been
learning about interventions to deal with such
addictions. In research methods students have
been revising the various ways in which research
can be conducted and have been considering
how the scientific method can be applied
to human behaviour.
Many students in Year 12 and 13 have taken
advantage of Psychology drop-in sessions on
Wednesdays from 3-4.30pm. Students have
used these sessions as an opportunity to begin
revision early or to revisit more challenging aspects
of the course. These will continue in the
new year and all Psychology students are welcome
to attend.
We wish all the students taking exams in January
the best of luck.
“Students ….taken advantage of Psychology drop-in sessions”