Aims

Group 3 aims

The aims of all subjects in **group 3, individuals and societies **are to: encourage the systematic and critical study of: human experience and behaviour;

1. physical, economic and social environments; and the history and development of social and cultural institutions 2. develop in the student the capacity to identify, to analyse critically and to evaluate theories, concepts and arguments about the nature and activities of the individual and society 3. enable the student to collect, describe and analyse data used in studies of society, to test hypotheses, and to interpret complex data and source material 4. promote the appreciation of the way in which learning is relevant to both the culture in which the student lives, and the culture of other societies 5. develop an awareness in the student that human attitudes and beliefs are widely diverse and that the study of society requires an appreciation of such diversity 6. enable the student to recognize that the content and methodologies of the subjects in group 3 are contestable and that their study requires the toleration of uncertainty.

Psychology aims

In addition, the aims of the **psychology **course at SL and at HL are to: 7. develop an awareness of how psychological research can be applied for the benefit of human beings <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">8. ensure that ethical practices are upheld in psychological inquiry <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">9. develop an understanding of the biological, cognitive and sociocultural influences on human behaviour <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">10. develop an understanding of alternative explanations of behaviour <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; font-size: 9.5pt; line-height: 115%;">11. understand and use diverse methods of psychological <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif';"> inquiry