GCSE Psychology AQA
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221 topics in 12 modules
☑️ Brain and Neuropsychology 20 topics
- Basics of Neuropsychology: Overview and Definition
- Introduction to the Brain: Major Structures and their Functions
- Neurons and Neural Communication
- The Nervous System: Central and Peripheral
- The Endocrine System: Hormones and Their Impact
- Brain Plasticity and Change Over Time
- Localisation of Function in the Brain
- The Split Brain: Research, Findings and Implications
- Broca's and Wernicke's Areas: Language and the Brain
- The Impact of Brain Damage: Phineas Gage and Other Case Studies
- The Use and Impact of Neuroimaging Techniques: MRI and fMRI
- Biological Rhythms: Circadian, Infradian, and Ultradian
- The Sleep-Wake Cycle and Disorders of Sleep
- Introduction to Biological Psychology: Nature vs Nurture Debate
- The Role of Genes in Behavior: Twin and Adoption Studies
- Aggression and the Brain: The Role of the Amygdala and Serotonin
- Stress and the Brain: The Role of the Hypothalamus and Pituitary-Adrenal System
- Eating Behaviour and the Brain: The Role of the Hypothalamus, Leptin and Ghrelin
- Understanding Psychopathology: The Biological Approach to Mendel and Mental Health Disorders
- Biological Interventions for Psychological Disorders: Drug Therapies and ECT
☑️ Cognition and Behaviour 27 topics
- Processes of Memory: Encoding (Input) Storage and Retrieval (Output)
- Structures of Memory
- Memory as an Active Process
- Sensation and Perception
- Visual Cues and Constancies
- Gibson's Direct Theory of Perception – The Influence of Nature
- Visual Illusions
- Gregory's Constructivist Theory of Perception – The Influence of Nurture
- Factors Affecting Perception
- Early Brain Development
- Piaget's Stage Theory and the Development of Intelligence
- The Role of Piaget's Theory in Education
- The Effects of Learning on Development
- Formulation of Testable Hypotheses
- Types of Variable
- Research: Sampling Methods
- Designing Research
- Research: Correlation
- Research Procedures
- Planning and Conducting Research
- Research: Ethical Considerations
- Data Handling: Quantitative and Qualitative Data
- Data Handling: Primary and Secondary Data
- Data Handling: Computation
- Data Handling: Descriptive Statistics
- Data Handling: Interpretation and Display of Quantitative Data
- Data Handling: Normal Distributions
☑️ Criminal Psychology 18 topics
- Understanding Crime and Criminal Behaviour: Definition and Explanation
- Biological Theories of Crime: The Role of Genetics and Neurobiology
- Psychological Theories of Crime: Psychodynamic, Cognitive and Behavioural Approaches
- Sociology and Crime: The Influence of Social Factors and Environment
- The Concept of Criminal Responsibility and Its Implications
- Criminal Profiling: Key Methods and Case Studies
- Theories and Research on Criminal Profiling: Effectiveness and Criticism
- The Role of Mental Health in Crime: The Link Between Disorders and Criminal Behaviour
- Eyewitness Testimony: The Role of Memory and Perception in Court Cases
- False Memory Syndrome: Understanding Its Impact on Criminal Cases
- Forensic Psychology: Application in the Criminal Justice System
- The Use of Lie Detector Tests and Their Validity
- Rehabilitation and Recidivism: Approaches to Reducing Criminal Behaviour
- The Impact of Prison Sentence on Criminal Behaviour: Deterrent or Reinforcing
- The Death Penalty: Psychological Perspectives and Arguments
- Victimology: The Psychological Impact of Crime on Victims
- The Role of Psychologists in Law Enforcement: Assistance and Conflict
- Ethics in Criminal Psychology: Dealing with Confidentiality, Consent and Deception.
☑️ Depression 20 topics
- Basics of Depression: Overview and Definition
- Key Symptoms and Diagnosis of Depression
- Exploring Major Depressive Disorder and Dysthymia
- The Role of Genetics in Depression: Heritability and Twin Studies
- Biological Explanation for Depression: Brain Chemistry and Neurotransmitters
- Psychological Models of Depression: Psychodynamic, Cognitive and Behavioural Approaches
- The Interplay of Nature and Nurture in Understanding Depression
- Impact of Depression on Individual's Life and Relations
- Depression in Different Age Groups: Children, Adolescents, Adults and Elderly
- Cognitive Biases in Depression: Negative Triad and Errors in Thinking
- The Role of Stress and Coping Mechanisms in Depression
- Social Factors Contributing to Depression: Isolation, Poverty, and Trauma
- The Co-Morbidity of Depression with Other Disorders
- The Duration, Recurrence, and Progression of Depression Over Time
- Evaluation of Approaches to Understanding Depression
- Biological Interventions for Depression: Antidepressants and ECT
- Psychological Therapies for Depression: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Counselling
- The Effectiveness and Evaluation of Treatments for Depression
- Prevention Strategies and Enhancing Resilience Against Depression
- Depression and Society: Stigma, Awareness, and Mental Health Services
☑️ Development 14 topics
- Early Cognitive Development
- Key Theories of Child Development: Piaget's Cognitive Stages
- Critical Evaluations of Piaget's Theory
- Vygotsky's Sociocultural Theory of Cognitive Development
- Attachment Theories: Bowlby and Ainsworth
- Consequences of Attachment Types in Adult Life
- Moral Development: Kohlberg's Theory and its Controversies
- Influence of Culture and Gender on Moral Judgements
- Language Acquisition Theories: Chomsky vs Skinner
- The Impact of Media and Technology on Adolescence Cognitive Development
- The Role of Play and Peers in Social-Emotional Development
- The Nature vs Nurture Debate in Psychology of Development
- The Continuity vs Discontinuity Controversy in Developmental Psychology
- Stability vs Change in Developmental Psychology
☑️ Memory 15 topics
- Introduction to Memory: Short Term and Long Term Memory
- Sensory Memory: Iconic, Echoic and Haptic Memory
- Models of Memory: The Multi-Store Model, The Working Memory Model and The Levels of Processing Model
- The Role of Attention and Encoding in Memory Formation
- Memory Processes: Encoding, Storage and Retrieval
- Theories of Forgetting: Trace Decay, Displacement, Interference and Retrieval Failure
- The Concept of False Memories: Loftus and Palmer's Research
- Factors Influencing Memory: Context, State and Mood Effects
- Eye-witness Testimony: Misinformation Effect and The Cognitive Interview
- Importance and Techniques of Improving Memory: Mnemonics, Rehearsal and Chunking
- Amnesia and its Types: Retrograde and Anterograde Amnesia
- Psychological Experiments on Memory: Ebbinghaus' forgetting curve and HM Case Study
- Impact of Aging on Memory: Age related memory loss, Alzheimer's and Dementia
- Neurobiology of Memory: Role of Hippocampus and Amygdala in Memory
- Evaluation of Research, Models and Theories in Human Memory
☑️ Perception 17 topics
- Theoretical Concepts of Perception: Approaches and Definitions
- The Process of Perception: Sensory Information to Meaning
- Sensation versus Perception: Understanding the Difference
- The Role of Attention in Perception
- Perception in various Senses: Sight, Hearing, Taste, Smell, and Touch
- Principles and Laws of Perceptual Organization: Gestalt Psychology
- Depth Perception: Binocular and Monocular Cues
- Perception: Top-down and Bottom-up Processing
- The Role of Expectation and Context in Perception
- Perceptual Constancies: Size, Shape, and Color
- Perceptual Illusions and Their Interpretations
- Influence of Culture on Perception: Cross-Cultural Studies
- The Impact of Learning and Development on Perception
- Role of Memory in Perception: Influence of Past Experiences
- Neurological Basis of Perception: Function of Different Brain Areas
- Perceptual Disorders: Causes and Symptoms
- Influence of Perception on Behaviour and Decision Making
☑️ Psychological Problems 15 topics
- Understanding Psychological Problems: Definition and Overview
- Major Psychological Disorders: Depression, Anxiety, and Schizophrenia
- Biological Explanations for Psychological Disorders: Genetic and Neurobiological Factors
- Psychological Explanations for Psychological Disorders: Cognitive and Behavioural Theories
- Sociocultural Perspective on Psychological Disorders: Role of Environment and Culture
- Prevalence and Statistics of Psychological Disorders: Facts and Figures
- Diagnosis of Psychological Disorders: DSM-5 and ICD-10
- Problems and Controversies in Diagnosing Psychological Disorders
- Treatment and Therapy for Psychological Disorders: Biological and Psychological Interventions
- Evaluations of Treatment and Therapy: Effectiveness and Limitations
- Social Stigma Related to Psychological Disorders: Causes and Consequences
- Influence of Psychological Disorders on Daily Life: Career, Relationships, and Self-Image
- Strategies for Prevention and Coping with Psychological Disorders
- Ethical Considerations in Understanding and Treating Psychological Disorders
- The Future of Understanding and Treating Psychological Disorders: Current Research and Developments
☑️ Research Methods 12 topics
- Understanding the scientific process in psychology: The hypothesis, variables, and operationalization
- Sampling methods in psychological research: Random, Systematic, Stratified, and Opportunity sampling
- Experimental methods: Laboratory, Field, Natural and Quasi experiments
- Non-experimental research methods: Interviews, Observations, Case Studies and Surveys/Questionnaires
- Experimental designs: Independent measures, Repeated measures, and Matched pairs
- Understanding controls in experiments: Random allocation, Control groups and Counterbalancing
- Collecting Data: Quantitative data versus qualitative data
- Data analysis: Measures of central tendency, measures of dispersion, and inferential statistics
- Interpretation of the results: Graphical display of data, Conclusion, and Inferences
- The importance of ethical considerations in psychology research: Informed consent, Deception, Right to withdraw, and Confidentiality
- Reliability and validity in psychological investigations: Internal and external validity, Reliability and Generalizability
- The Peer Review Process: Its purpose, strengths, and weaknesses
☑️ Social Influence 20 topics
- Social psychology - Milgram's obedience to authority studies
- Social psychology - Zimbardo’s Stanford Prison experiment
- Bickman’s study into obedience in the field
- Piliavin et al.'s subway Samaritan experiment
- Haney, Banks, and Zimbardo's prison simulation study
- Bandura, Ross and Ross' study on aggression through imitation
- Tajfel's study into social identity theory
- Sherif's experiment on intergroup conflict and cooperation
- Asch's study on conformity
- Reicher and Haslam's BBC prison study
- Difference between individual and situational explanations for behaviour
- Role of social pressure and personality variables in obedience and conformity
- Ethical considerations of psychological research into social influence
- The influence of cultural factors on obedience and conformity
- The impact of social influence research on understanding human behaviour
- Social influence in everyday life: advertising, peer pressure, and crowd behavior
- Understanding the process and consequences of deindividuation
- Role of social norms in influencing behaviour
- How social roles influence individual behaviour
- Influence of authority figures on obedience and compliance
☑️ Thought and Communication 21 topics
- Understanding the Basics of Thought: Process and Definition
- Cognitive Processes Involved in Thinking
- Difference Between Focused and Divided Attention
- Components of Language: Phonemes, Morphemes, Syntax, and Semantics
- Theories of Language Development: Chomsky's and Skinner's Theories
- The Structure of Language: Deep and Surface Structures
- Problem-Solving Strategies: Algorithm and Heuristic
- Decision-Making Techniques: Rational and Intuitive Thinking
- Impact of Cognitive Biases on Thinking and Decision-Making
- Understanding Memory Systems: Working Memory and Long-Term Memory
- Role of Working Memory in Thought Processes
- Importance of Metacognition in Learning and Problem-Solving
- Role of Language in Thought: Linguistic Relativity Hypothesis
- Non-Verbal Communication: Importance and Types
- The Role and Interpretation of Body Language
- The Use of Paralinguistic Features in Communication
- Understanding Proxemics and Personal Space in Communication
- Importance of Active Listening in Effective Communication
- Differences Between Verbal and Written Communication
- Cross-Cultural Communication: Importance and Challenges
- Role of Social Media and Technology in Modern Communication
☑️ Social Context and Behaviour 22 topics
- Conformity
- Obedience
- Prosocial Behaviour
- Crowd and Collective Behaviour
- The Possible Relationship between Language and Thought
- The Effect of Language and Thought on Our View of the World
- Differences between Human and Animal Communication
- Non-Verbal Communication
- Explanations of Non-Verbal Behaviour
- Structure and Function of the Nervous System
- Neuron Structure and Function
- Structure and Function of the Brain
- An Introduction to Neuropsychology
- An Introduction to Mental Health
- How the Incidence of Significant Mental Health Problems Changes Over Time
- Effects of Significant Mental Health Problems on Individuals and Society
- Characteristics of Clinical Depression
- Theories of Depression
- Interventions or Therapies for Depression
- Characteristics of Addiction
- Theories of Addiction
- Interventions or Therapies for Addiction
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GCSE Psychology AQA Revision Content
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GCSE Psychology AQA - Depression - Basics of Depression: Overview and Definition Content Preview
Depression
Basics of Depression: Overview and Definition
Basics of Depression: Overview and Definition
Understanding Depression
- Depression is a mental disorder characterised by constant feelings of sadness and a general loss of interest in activities once enjoyed.
- It can cause a variety of emotional and physical issues and can decrease an individual's functionality at work or home.
- This mental illness, contrary to popular belief, is not simply about feeling 'a bit down' due to a bad day but is a persistent condition.
Types of Depression
- Various types exist including Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), Postnatal Depression (PND), and Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).
- MDD, often just referred to as 'depression', is diagnosed when a person experiences a depressed mood or lack for interest in activities for at least two weeks.
- PND refers to the onset of depressive symptoms in a mother, after giving birth, whereas SAD is connected to the change in seasons, particularly during winter.
Symptoms
- The manifestation differs from person to person and diagnosis is made when an individual reports a specific number of symptoms such as low mood, lack of energy, feelings of worthlessness or guilt, disturbed sleep or appetite.
- These symptoms may lead to difficulty in maintaining relationships or decreased productivity at work.
- Symptoms must be persistent and exist for a minimum of two weeks for a diagnosis of MDD.
Depression and the Brain
- It's much more complex than just being a result of an imbalance of chemicals; it involves changes in the function and structure of the brain.
- Neuroimaging studies have shown that the hippocampus, a region of the brain associated with memory and emotion, is smaller in people with MDD.
- Various neurotransmitters, such as serotonin, dopamine and noradrenaline are implicated in its development, although a direct causative relationship has not been fully established.
Treatment
- Depression is usually managed through a combination of medications, psychotherapy, or lifestyle changes.
- Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) are common approaches in treating depression.
- A healthcare professional should always monitor treatment as it can vary based on the severity of symptoms and individual response to therapy.
Key Points to Remember
- Depression is a serious and debilitating mental health disorder, not just a case of 'feeling down'.
- It's associated with changes in brain structure and function.
- Symptoms can vary widely between individuals, but must persist for at least two weeks before a diagnosis can be made.
- Treatment is multifaceted and involves medication, psychotherapy and lifestyle changes.
Question: What physical changes in the brain have been linked to Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)?
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