IB Psychology Study Guide
Complete IB Psychology guide covering the biological, cognitive, and sociocultural approaches, abnormal psychology, research methodology, and HL extensions. Includes study flashcards, key researcher profiles, and essay frameworks.
The Prep Den IB Psychology study guide is your complete companion for revising the course: full topic-by-topic coverage, spaced-repetition flashcards, practice quizzes with worked explanations, a key-terms bank, and exam-technique tips. Use it as your main study guide or as a supplement to your textbook and class notes.
Topics Covered
What you get
Course Architecture & Assessment
THE BIG PICTURE. IB Psychology is built around three core approaches to understanding behaviour: biological, cognitive, and sociocultural: plus options (SL: choose 1; HL: choose 2) and approaches to research (research methods). Strong essays integrate named studies, theory, and evaluation rather than just describing.
Sample Flashcards
List the three core approaches and their HL extensions.
THREE CORE APPROACHES:
- Biological: physiological basis of behaviour.
- Cognitive: information-processing models of mind.
- Sociocultural: group, cultural, and social influences.
HL EXTENSIONS (one per approach):
- Bio: role of animal research in understanding human behaviour.
- Cog: **cogn…
Outline the IB Psychology Paper 1 structure (SL and HL).
Paper 1: 2 hours; SL 50%, HL 40%.
Section A (SAQs): answer three short-answer questions, one per approach (bio, cog, sociocultural). 27 marks; ~30 minutes total.
Section B (essay): one essay chosen from three approach-based prompts.
Sample Key Terms
Biological Approach
Explains behaviour through biology: brain structure, neurotransmitters, hormones, and genetics. Often reductionist.
Cognitive Approach
Treats the mind as an information processor: perception, memory, thinking, language. Uses experimental methods to study internal processes.
Sociocultural Approach
Examines how social groups, culture, identity, and norms shape behaviour. Emphasises context and group dynamics.
What's Covered
- Course Architecture & Assessment
- Biological Approach
- Cognitive Approach
- Sociocultural Approach
- Option: Abnormal Psychology
- Option: Health Psychology
- Option: Developmental Psychology
- Option: Psychology of Human Relationships
- Approaches to Research (HL Paper 3)
- Internal Assessment (IA)
- Course Architecture & Assessment (2027)
- Six Concepts (2027)
- Biological Approach (2027)
- Cognitive Approach (2027)
- Sociocultural Approach (2027)
- Context: Health and Well-being (2027)
- Context: Human Development (2027)
- Context: Human Relationships (2027)
- Context: Learning and Cognition (2027)
- HL Extensions: Culture, Motivation, Technology (2027)
- Internal Assessment: Research Proposal (2027)
21 topics · 117+ flashcards · quizzes included
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