What Is IB Psychology?
IB Psychology is part of Group 3—Individuals and Societies—in the IB Diploma Programme. It presents the scientific study of behavior and mental processes by integrating:
- Biological Perspective: How physiological processes (brain, hormones, genetics) affect behavior
- Cognitive Perspective: What mental processes (memory, perception) contribute to thought and action
- Sociocultural Perspective: How culture, society, and social norms shape behavior
- Research Methods: How scientists design experiments, analyze data, and consider ethics
The course combines theory with practical research skills, preparing students for fields such as psychology, education, health sciences, sociology, and beyond.
Course Structure and Content
- Levels Available
- Standard Level (SL): 150 teaching hours
- Higher Level (HL): 240 teaching hours
- Core Topics (SL & HL)
- Biological Approach: brain localization, neurotransmitters, hormones, genetics, animal studies
- Cognitive Approach: memory models, cognitive biases, language, decision-making
- Sociocultural Approach: social identity, stereotypes, conformity, cultural influence
- Research Methods: quantitative and qualitative methods, ethics, reliability and validity
- Options
- SL students choose one option topic
- HL students study two option topics
- Options include:
