Psychological Perspectives

Overview

Framework:
Access to HE 2024
Level:
Level 3
Unit No:
Not available
Credits:
6
Guided learning hours:
Not available

Qualification Grading Type

Graded

Aim

The purpose of the unit is to develop students understanding of the main psychological perspectives and their application.

Unit Learning Outcomes

1.

Understand different psychological perspectives.

Briefly outline different psychological perspectives.

Assessment Criteria

  • 1.1

    Outline different psychological perspectives e.g.

    • Behaviourism
    • Cognitivism
    • Biological
    • Humanism
    • Psychodynamic.

2.

Understand key issues and debates in psychology.

Demonstrate an understanding of the key issues and debates in psychology. An understanding of the key issues and debates will help students to evaluate perspectives for learning outcome 3.

Assessment Criteria

  • 2.1

    Describe key issues and debates in psychology e.g:

    • Determinism vs. freewill
    • Reductionism vs. holism
    • Nature vs. nurture
    • Gender bias
    • Ethnocentrism
    • Extrapolation
    • Falsifiability.

3.

Understand the application of different psychological perspectives.

Topics could include phobias, eating disorders, stress and aggression, depression, addiction, gender development. For example, behavioural and cognitive explanations of depression. Students could then apply the key issues and debates discussed for LO2 to their evaluation. e.g. the extent to which behavioural explanations of depression are reductionist. 

Assessment Criteria

  • 3.1

    Explain two psychological perspectives on a given topic.

  • 3.2

    Evaluate the psychological perspectives explained in 3.1.

4.

Be able to analyse the relevance of psychology to everyday life.

Relevance of psychology to everyday life e.g. treating medical conditions; working with patients/service users in a health setting or in the community; improving learning; supporting child development; criminal behaviour; sport; health promotion etc. For example, students could describe how psychological explanations of depression have helped to inform treatments. e.g. CBT for cognitive and behavioural, drug therapy for biological. Drawing on research evidence, students can then analyse the impact of these treatments on patients.

Assessment Criteria

  • 4.1

    Describe an area of everyday life where an understanding of psychology is important.

  • 4.2

    Analyse the impact of psychology on the area of everyday life described in 4.1.