The IB Diploma Programme psychology course is the systematic study of behaviour and mental processes.
Since the psychology course examines the interaction of biological, cognitive and sociocultural influences on human behaviour, it is well placed in group 3, individuals and societies. Students undertaking the course can expect to develop an understanding of how psychological knowledge is generated, developed and applied. This will allow them to have a greater understanding of themselves and appreciate the diversity of human behaviour.
The holistic approach reflected in the curriculum, which sees biological, cognitive and sociocultural analysis being taught in an integrated way ensures that students are able to develop an understanding of what all humans share, as well as the immense diversity of influences on human behaviour and mental processes. The ethical concerns raised by the methodology and application of psychological research are also key considerations of the IB psychology course.
Please click on the arrow for a detailed breakdown:
| THE LEARNING JOURNEY FOR PSYCHOLOGY | ||||
| Unit / Block of work | Key Episodes / Questions | Additional Details | Length of time. | Learner Attribute(s) |
| Approaches to researching behaviour | Hypotheses and Variables | Paper 3 content | Week 1 | Principled |
| Sampling Techniques | Paper 3 content Random sampling convenience/opportunity sampling Volunteer sampling Purposive sampling Snowball sampling | Week 2 | Principled | |
| Ethical Considerations | Paper 3 content | Week 3 | Principled | |
| Cognitive Processing | Models of Memory | Multistore Model *add experiments Working Memory Model *add case study | Week 4-5 | Thinker |
| Schema Theory | Cognitive Schema | Week 6 | Thinker | |
| Thinking and Decision Making | Dual- processing model Intuitive Thinking (automatic) Rational Thinking (controlled) | Week 7 | Thinker | |
| Reliability of Cognitive Processes | Reconstructive Memory Theory | Week 8 | Thinker | |
| Biases in Thinking and Decision Making | Heuristic – anchoring bias Cognitive bias- confirmation bias | Week 9 | Thinker | |
| Emotion and Cognition | The influence of emotion on cognitive processes | Flashbulb memories *add questionnaires The amygdala’s influence on memory encoding | Week 10 | Thinker |
| Cognitive processing in a technological (digital/modern) world | The influence (positive and negative) of digital technologies on cognitive processes | HL only | Week 11 | Thinker |
| Methods used to study the interaction between technologies and cognitive processes | HL only *correlational studies | Week 12 | Thinker | |
| The relationship between brain and behaviour | Techniques used to study the brain in relation to behaviour | Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) | Week 13 | Knowledgable |
| Localization of function | Week 13 | Knowledgable | ||
| Neuroplasticity | Neural network Neural pruning | Week 14 | Knowledgable | |
| Neurotransmitters | Neuron Synapse (how these relate to excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters) Agonist antagonist | Week 15 | Knowledgable | |
| Hormones and Pheromones and their effects on behaviour | Hormones | Week 16 | Knowledgable | |
| Phermones | Arguments for and against the influence of pheromones | Week 16 | Knowledgable | |
| The relationship between genetics and behaviour | Genes | Week 17 | Knowledgable | |
| Genetic Similarity | Twin and kinship studies | Week 17 | Knowledgable | |
| Evolutionary explanations for behaviour | Week 18 | Knowledgable | ||
| The individual and the group | Social Identity Theory | Social groups | Week 19 | Open minded |
| Social Cognitive Theory | Week 19 | Open minded | ||
| Formation of stereotypes and their effects on behaviour | Week 20 | Open minded | ||
| Cultural origins of behaviour and cognition | Culture and its influence on behaviour | cultural groups- characterised by different norms and conventions | Week 20 | Open minded |
| Cultural dimensions | Individualism/collectivism | Week 21 | Open minded | |
| Cultural influences | Enculturation | norms | Week 21 | Open minded |
| Acculturation | assimilate/assimilation | Week 22 | Open minded | |
| Approaches to researching behaviour | Qualitative Methods | Case study Naturalistic observations Interviews (unstructured, semi structured, focus groups) | Week 23 | Principled |
| Quantitative Methods | Experiments Field experiments Quasi experiments Natural experiments Correlational research Surveys | Week 24 | Principled | |
| Research Designs | Independent Groups Design Matched Pairs Design Repeated Measures Design | Week 24 | Principled | |
| Drawing Conclusions | Correlation and causation Replication Generalization for quantitative research Transferability for qualitative research Triangulation | Week 25 | Principled | |
| THE LEARNING JOURNEY FOR PSYCHOLOGY | ||||
| Unit / Block of work | Key Episodes / Questions | Additional details | Length of time. | Learner Attribute(s) |
| Internal Assessment | Planning and conducting research | Completion of the Introduction and Exploration sections of the IA | Week 1-2 | Inquirer |
| Option 1: Human Relationships | Formation of personal relationships | Week 3-5 | open minded | |
| Role of communication | Week 6-7 | reflective | ||
| Explanations for why relationships change or end | Week 8 | thinkers | ||
| Internal Assessment | Analysing and evaluating research | Completion of the Analysis and Evaluation sections of the IA | Week 9-10 | Inquirer |
| Option 2: Health Psychology | Biopsychosocial model of health and wellbeing | Week 11-13 | Reflective | |
| Dispositional factors and health beliefs | Week 14-15 | Inquirer | ||
| Risk and protective factors | Week 16-17 | open minded | ||