Year 9 Psychology: It’s All In Your Head

TERTIARY & CAREER PATHWAYS:

Counsellor, Psychologist/Psychiatrist, Psychotherapist, Social Worker, Sociologist, Chaplain, Youth Worker, Life Coach, Sports Psychologist, Lawyer, Detective, Criminologist, Forensic Psychologist, Medical Practitioner, Mental Health Nurse, Welfare Worker, Teacher, Daycare Assistant, School Psychologist, Human Resource Officer, Market Researcher, Consumer Psychologist, 

In the first unit of this course, students will embark on an exploration of the intricate ways in which human behaviour is influenced by our social environment. From the subtle pressures of conformity to the authority we yield to, participants will examine the mechanisms through which attitudes and actions are moulded. Through a range of psychological experiments and real-world illustrations, students will gain profound insights into the impact of social dynamics on our lives.

In the second unit, learners will delve into the riveting realm of forensic psychology. Here, they will navigate through the labyrinth of criminal minds, uncovering the science behind deviant behaviour. From the intriguing nuances of criminal profiling to the chilling study of stalking behaviours, students will dissect the biological, psychological, and social underpinnings of criminality. Through engaging discussions and activities, students will unravel the mysteries of human behaviour within the context of forensic investigations.

Throughout this course, students will also hone their skills in scientific inquiry, conducting their own scientific investigation and applying their knowledge to unravel the complexities of the human psyche.

Learning Standards:

Students will be able to:‍

• Identify and analyze various social influences on human behaviour
• Analyze and evaluate the multifaceted factors contributing to criminal behaviour, including biological, psychological, and social influences
• Formulate questions or hypotheses that can be investigated scientifically, including identification of independent and dependent variables
• Independently plan, select and use appropriate investigation types, including fieldwork and laboratory experimentation, to collect reliable data, assess risk and address ethical issues associated with these investigation types
• Construct graphs to record and summarise data from students’ own investigations, to represent quantitative patterns or relationships
• Analyse patterns and trends in data, including describing relationships between variables and drawing conclusions that are consistent with evidence
• Use knowledge of scientific concepts to evaluate investigation conclusions, critically analysing the validity of information obtained from primary sources, suggesting possible alternative explanations and describing specific ways to improve the quality of data
• Communicate scientific ideas and information for a particular purpose, including constructing evidence-based arguments and using appropriate scientific language, conventions and representations

Assessment:

There will be a variety of tasks undertaken from the following: 

• Multimedia Presentation
• Scientific Research Investigation
• Semester Test

Contributions to class discussions and completion of class work will also be considered.