Is Psychology a 'weak' subject at A level and Degree level?

I've heard in others posts that Psychology is not considered a strong subject. What are your opinions on this? keep bias to a minimum!

Reasons would be great! :smile:

I dont believe so, as its a traditional a level subject so its regarded well.

Reply 41

Jacke02

Original post by Iqbal007

I dont believe so, as its a traditional a level subject so its regarded well.

I wouldn't say a subject which has existed for less than 100 years traditional. And its not really an arguement about what is traditional, but what it is useful. Chemistry and biology may be useful for a variety of subjects- including psychology!! Even if something like Health care studies was really hard, it is so specialised that it doesn't matter if its hard or not, for many things it may not be very useful. Psychology isn't as specialised as that though so my arugement doesn't actually stand up very well, especially if you take it with more traditional subjects.

(edited 13 years ago)

Reply 42

Symph

16

I don't think the Psychology A-Level even remotely prepares you for the degree (dependent on where you go). Maths and biology would have put me in far better stead at Birmingham. All I can really remember from the A-Level is having to memorise the aims, methods, results etcetc. of a few quite simple and well-known studies i.e. Milgram, which, whilst interesting, didn't highlight just how broad and scientific a subject it is. Even the coursework was nothing like the first report I had to produce in my first year, particularly in terms of researching and referencing other papers.

Psychology has been given a lot of bad press both from 'armchair' psychologists and 'pure' scientists who think that if you don't have a formula to base your theory on then it's not useful. Yes psychologists have been responsible for some pretty bad stuff, and even today things like using electrocution on mentally disabled patients still exists, but no field is going to have all the answers straight away. Most people who know the bare minimum about Psychology seem to think it consists of mind reading, personality analysis and Freud's idea that we all want to kill our mothers/fathers and sleep with the other.

I don't understand why a Psychology degree would be viewed as 'weak'. As said, dependent on where you go, you're provided with strong written, verbal and analytical skills. You develop a pretty good ability at picking apart articles, extracting key information and calling researchers out on dodgy methodology and 'inventive' conclusions. At least here they're very big on 'cutting the crap', we have extremely tight word limits so you have to know what you're talking about and be able to put across an argument concisely and constructively. Some of the modules I've taken have been very demanding, covering everything from science to philosophy.

I wouldn't bad mouth any degree since my view is that all education is valuable, but I do think you get a lot out of Psychology that is overlooked. There may not be as many job opportunities in terms of specific Psychology-related careers if you're only going as far as a BSc, but you will certainly be able to branch out into something else.

Reply 43

Howbeit

OP

19

Original post by Foo.mp3

No idea about A level I'm afraid but as far as employment is concerned I've been lead to believe it's a bit of a dud as a degree subject

I disagree, it gives you many skills. In the world of work Psychology is a massively growing sector with much demand. It gives you skills required for a whole range of jobs.

Reply 44

chlobofro

12

I found Psychology really really difficult at AS so I dropped it yet I found more "traditional" subjects like Lit easy. I'm not really sure. If it was weak, lots of people would find it easy. It's far from weak. It's just not traditional. I can't speak for degree level but it looks really hard.

Reply 45

Alison1992

13

Original post by SophiaKeuning

It's not considered to be as weak as other A Levels (you know the ones), the only unis that would complain about it are the top ones. To be honest, I know people who do psych and geography and they all agree that psych is harder. What's up with Geography being classed as one of the harder ones? :K:

got to disagree hear slightly, I do psychology A level and received offers from 5 russell group uni's

Reply 46

Alison1992

13

Original post by Alison1992

got to disagree hear slightly, I do psychology A level and received offers from 5 russell group uni's

And also, i find my psychology A level harder than biology and english

Reply 47

Noodlepants

8

If you think you'll enjoy it, who cares?

Reply 48

bruce_t89

8

For A level it's not a complete doss subject but it's definitely not taught very well. It merely involves memorising theories/studies.

A psychology degree however is respected and with this degree you will gain many skills including numeracy, critical thinking and presentation skills.

Reply 49

SophiaKeuning

3

Original post by Alison1992

got to disagree hear slightly, I do psychology A level and received offers from 5 russell group uni's

Oooh really? Well that's good news. And well done! :h:

Reply 50

Howbeit

OP

19

Original post by aliluvschoc

Are you being serious. Actually serious. Psychology, as a whole, is based on Skinner's behaviourism.

:mmm:

No.

I wouldn't say Psychology is based on Skinner. I don't know enough about his research to know if it's flawed or not.

Reply 51

Howbeit

OP

19

Original post by bruce_t89

For A level it's not a complete doss subject but it's definitely not taught very well. It merely involves memorising theories/studies.

A psychology degree however is respected and with this degree you will gain many skills including numeracy, critical thinking and presentation skills.

I think there's slightly more to it than memorizing but I do agree it could be taught better.

Reply 52

GodspeedGehenna

3

Original post by beepbeeprichie

Flawed as in still based on Skinner's behaviourism which is widely discredited.

wut.

Behaviourism is based on behaviorism. The entire field of Psychology is not. I have no idea why you think this. Open a textbook and you'll find that 95% of the content is not behaviourism.

Radical behaviourism is not neccesarily discredited, but is instead largely not accepted as arguably the approaches of cognitive psychology are much more able to explain human behaviour. I suspect this is the field that you are referring to. You will struggle to find a psychologist that subscribes to this view. They're a dying breed.

Overall, however, the core aspects of behaviourism are empirically tried and tested and are heavily engrained in all walks of life. Learning by association and reinforcement is everywhere and is essentially the cornerstone of all societies. These principals are far from discredited. Probably one of the most empirically validated concepts in psychology if anything. These two forms of learning are essentially how learning in the nervous system is represented.

(edited 13 years ago)

Reply 53

xoxAngel_Kxox

21

Original post by GodspeedGehenna

The a level is pretty awful.

People who criticise the degree usually have no idea what it actually contains.

This.

And to those who say psychology is worthless, the amount we've learned about the human race BECAUSE of psychology is amazing. You wouldn't have a life if it weren't for psychology. We'd still be waving sticks and killing buffalo.

Everything you do has psychology behind it. When you come on this forum asking for revision tips, you're asking about cognitive psychology theories. Teachers, parents, EVERYONE uses psychology to raise children, train animals, everything.

When you ask for relationship advice, or ask "why does she say/do this/that.." it's ALL psychology!

Everyone is a psychologist to some degree- it's just that professional psychologists understand it in a greater (and more accurate) depth.

Reply 54

Jacke02

Original post by Gemma :)!

This.

And to those who say psychology is worthless, the amount we've learned about the human race BECAUSE of psychology is amazing. You wouldn't have a life if it weren't for psychology. We'd still be waving sticks and killing buffalo.

Everything you do has psychology behind it. When you come on this forum asking for revision tips, you're asking about cognitive psychology theories. Teachers, parents, EVERYONE uses psychology to raise children, train animals, everything.

When you ask for relationship advice, or ask "why does she say/do this/that.." it's ALL psychology!

Everyone is a psychologist to some degree- it's just that professional psychologists understand it in a greater (and more accurate) depth.

Perhaps a little OTT: '. You wouldn't have a life if it weren't for psychology.'. But psychology has had a lot of influence...

In addition its fundamentally different, i think, to be a scientific psychologist and to have some common sense psychology. Its not a matter of degree.

(edited 13 years ago)

Reply 55

Howbeit

OP

19

Original post by Gemma :)!

This.

And to those who say psychology is worthless, the amount we've learned about the human race BECAUSE of psychology is amazing. You wouldn't have a life if it weren't for psychology. We'd still be waving sticks and killing buffalo.

Everything you do has psychology behind it. When you come on this forum asking for revision tips, you're asking about cognitive psychology theories. Teachers, parents, EVERYONE uses psychology to raise children, train animals, everything.

When you ask for relationship advice, or ask "why does she say/do this/that.." it's ALL psychology!

Everyone is a psychologist to some degree- it's just that professional psychologists understand it in a greater (and more accurate) depth.

Agreed. Shame I can't give out any more rep! :tongue:

Reply 56

xoxAngel_Kxox

21

Original post by Jacke02

Perhaps a little OTT: '. You wouldn't have a life if it weren't for psychology.'. But psychology has had a lot of influence...

I don't think it's OTT at all :smile:

If we didn't understand how we thought, why behave or how we learn.. what would/could possibly have been achieved?

Reply 57

Jacke02

Original post by Gemma :)!

I don't think it's OTT at all :smile:

If we didn't understand how we thought, why behave or how we learn.. what would/could possibly have been achieved?

We have clearly achieved things before 1900s, when psychology came about. we don't need psychology at all (as a science) to live our lives, unless your talking about common sense psych about how we understand human relationships, the world et cetra.

Reply 58

GodspeedGehenna

3

Original post by Gemma :)!

This.

And to those who say psychology is worthless, the amount we've learned about the human race BECAUSE of psychology is amazing. You wouldn't have a life if it weren't for psychology. We'd still be waving sticks and killing buffalo.

Don't agree at all.

The study of behaviour and 'the mind' aka Psychology, is not the reason for our development by a long stretch. The mind itself is, yes, but the study of the mind, no.

Reply 59

SpriteOrSevenUp

14

Original post by Gemma :)!

This.

And to those who say psychology is worthless, the amount we've learned about the human race BECAUSE of psychology is amazing. You wouldn't have a life if it weren't for psychology. We'd still be waving sticks and killing buffalo.

Everything you do has psychology behind it. When you come on this forum asking for revision tips, you're asking about cognitive psychology theories. Teachers, parents, EVERYONE uses psychology to raise children, train animals, everything.

When you ask for relationship advice, or ask "why does she say/do this/that.." it's ALL psychology!

Everyone is a psychologist to some degree- it's just that professional psychologists understand it in a greater (and more accurate) depth.

I actually agree with this to an extent :smile:

Well said!

(edited 13 years ago)

Is Psychology a 'weak' subject at A level and Degree level?

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