The following sample is a response to the question: Discuss a sociocultural approach to personal relationships. Discuss asks students to consider a range of arguments.The sample response is an example of an exemplary response that should receive top marks. Comments about the essay are included below.The highlighted areas of the essay demonstrate critical thinking.Sample essayEssay contentMarker's...

The following sample is a response to the question: Discuss how genetic similarities help psychologists in the study of genes and behaviour. Discuss asks students to consider a range of arguments.The sample response is an example of an exemplary response that should receive top marks. Comments about the essay are included below.The highlighted areas of the essay demonstrate critical thinking.Sample...

Health psychologists have found that obesity "runs in families." But is that because of genetics or is it because of the eating and exercise habits of the family?One of the ways to test this is through adoption studies. This study may be used to discuss the biological approach to one health problem. For Paper 1, the study may be used to discuss the role of genetics in behaviour or the question...

The following sample is a response to the question: Discuss a cognitive approach to personal relationships. Discuss asks students to consider a range of arguments.The sample response is an example of an exemplary response that should receive top marks. Comments about the essay are included below.The highlighted areas of the essay demonstrate critical thinking.Sample essayEssay contentMarker's...

Essential understandingsOur behaviour is influenced by others, even when we believe that we are acting independently.We have both an individual and a social identity which influences our behaviour.Behaviours are learned through our interaction and observation of others.Stereotypes affect behaviour.The sociocultural approachPsychologists recognize that human behaviour can only be fully understood if...

The following set of practice papers are not official IB papers. As of the creation of this page, there is only one specimen paper available. All of the papers are created here by me, based on examiner experience.The questions for the papers are always the same. An explanation of the questions is given below.For each exam, there is a set of sample responses. Remember that in the new curriculum the...

This lesson plan examines the role of emotion on memory. The theory that will be discussed is Flashbulb Memory.This part of the unit will introduce some of the biological concepts that will be discussed in the next part of the course - specifically, the use of an fMRI and the role of the hormone adrenaline in the creation of emotional memories.In addition, this part of the unit is also linked to the...

The following lesson plan looks at the Dual Processing Theory of thinking and decision making. There are several short activities used in this lesson which are all based on Daniel Kahneman's book "Thinking Fast and Slow." The lesson is not research heavy because the research on cognitive biases - that is, heuristics - can also be used to demonstrate the model and how it works.Introducing...

The following lesson introduces the cognitive processes of "thinking" and "decision making." In addition, it will look at how psychologists study these processes, as well as the inherent limitations of such research.Students will first look at the role of interviews in studying thinking; specifically, they will look at a type of interview called a verbal protocol. Then they will...

This section of the site is devoted to materials that may be used to organize and assist students in the setting up and carrying out of the internal assessment. The section includes suggestions for experiments to replicate, reminders of restrictions for the internal assessment, planners and checklists, as well as samples of IA's which students should consult before starting their report writing....