Maths
Chemistry
Biology
English Language
History
Responding to change (a2 only)
Infection and response
Homeostasis and response
Energy transfers (a2 only)
Cell biology
Organisms respond to changes in their internal and external environments (a-level only)
Biological molecules
Organisation
Substance exchange
Bioenergetics
Genetic information & variation
Inheritance, variation and evolution
Genetics & ecosystems (a2 only)
Ecology
Cells
Show all topics
Britain & the wider world: 1745 -1901
1l the quest for political stability: germany, 1871-1991
The cold war
Inter-war germany
Medieval period: 1066 -1509
2d religious conflict and the church in england, c1529-c1570
2o democracy and nazism: germany, 1918-1945
1f industrialisation and the people: britain, c1783-1885
1c the tudors: england, 1485-1603
2m wars and welfare: britain in transition, 1906-1957
World war two & the holocaust
2n revolution and dictatorship: russia, 1917-1953
2s the making of modern britain, 1951-2007
World war one
Britain: 1509 -1745
Show all topics
Psychology
9 Dec 2025
238
4 pages
Timileyin Folorunso @prettypettygal
Psychology is all about understanding why people behave the way they do, and there are four main approaches... Show more
Ever wondered why you pick up habits from people around you? The behaviourist approach explains that all behaviour is learned from our environment through two main processes.
Classical conditioning (Pavlov's famous dogs) shows how we learn through association. Pavlov rang a bell before feeding dogs, and eventually the dogs would salivate just hearing the bell. Watson and Rayner's controversial Little Albert experiment proved this works with humans too - they made a baby afraid of white rats by pairing them with loud noises.
Operant conditioning focuses on learning through consequences. Skinner's rats learned to press levers because they got treats (positive reinforcement) or stopped getting electric shocks (negative reinforcement). This law of effect explains why we repeat behaviours that have good outcomes.
Social Learning Theory adds a crucial element - we learn by watching others. Bandura's Bobo doll experiment showed children copying aggressive behaviour they'd seen adults display. The key factors are ARMM Attention, Retention, Motor reproduction, and Motivation. Vicarious reinforcement means we're more likely to copy behaviour when we see others being rewarded for it.
Quick Tip Think about your own habits - most were probably learned through one of these three methods!
Your brain is basically a computer that processes information, and the cognitive approach studies how this mental processing affects behaviour. Unlike behaviourists who ignore internal thoughts, cognitive psychologists focus on what happens between stimulus and response.
Schemas are mental frameworks we build from experience that help us interpret the world quickly. The clever Rat-Man study by Bugelski and Alampay showed this perfectly - people who'd seen faces interpreted an ambiguous image as a man, whilst those who'd seen rats saw it as a rat.
The approach uses theoretical models like the multistore model of memory, which breaks down how information flows from sensory memory through short-term to long-term memory. Murdock's serial position curve supports this, showing we remember words from the beginning (primacy effect) and end (recency effect) of lists better.
Cognitive neuroscience combines brain science with mental processes. Beck's negative triad explains depression through negative thoughts about self, world, and future, whilst Ellis's ABC model shows how our beliefs about events create emotional consequences.
Memory Hack The computer analogy helps - your brain encodes (inputs), processes (thinking), and outputs (behaviour) information just like a computer!
Think of your memory as having three separate storage systems that work together like a factory production line. The multistore model revolutionised our understanding of how information moves through your mind.
Sensory memory captures everything you see, hear, or feel for just milliseconds. Only information you pay attention to moves into short-term memory, which can hold about 7 items for 15-30 seconds. Through rehearsal, some information transfers to long-term memory for permanent storage.
Computer models help us understand these complex processes by comparing your brain to computer hardware and your thoughts to software. Both humans and computers process information in stages, store data, and have limited capacity - though computers don't forget or get emotional like we do!
The breakthrough in cognitive neuroscience started with Paul Broca discovering the brain's speech centre in 1860. Modern researchers like Tulving developed the encoding specificity principle, explaining why you remember things better when you're in the same context where you learned them.
Study Smart Use the encoding specificity principle - revise in similar conditions to your exam environment for better recall!
Your behaviour isn't just learned - it's also hardwired into your biology through genetics, hormones, and brain chemistry. The biological approach explores how your physical body shapes who you are.
Genotype vs phenotype explains the classic nature vs nurture debate. Your genotype is your genetic blueprint, but your phenotype is how those genes actually express themselves through environmental influences. It's like having a recipe (genes) but the final dish depends on the ingredients available (environment).
The endocrine system pumps hormones around your body that dramatically affect behaviour. Adrenaline triggers your fight-or-flight response when you're stressed, whilst biochemical imbalances can cause mental health issues. Low serotonin levels link to depression, and imbalanced dopamine connects to anxiety.
Charles Darwin's evolution theory explains how natural selection shaped human behaviour over thousands of years. Behaviours that helped our ancestors survive got passed down through genes. Modern research uses brain scans and studies the effects of drug therapy like SSRIs to understand these biological influences.
Real World Next time you feel anxious before an exam, remember that's your ancient fight-or-flight system trying to help you survive - even though you're not actually in danger!
Our AI Companion is a student-focused AI tool that offers more than just answers. Built on millions of Knowunity resources, it provides relevant information, personalised study plans, quizzes, and content directly in the chat, adapting to your individual learning journey.
You can download the app from Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
That's right! Enjoy free access to study content, connect with fellow students, and get instant help – all at your fingertips.
9
Smart Tools NEW
Transform this note into: ✓ 50+ Practice Questions ✓ Interactive Flashcards ✓ Full Mock Exam ✓ Essay Outlines
Quotes from every main character
English LiteratureApp Store
Google Play
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
Timileyin Folorunso
@prettypettygal
Psychology is all about understanding why people behave the way they do, and there are four main approaches that explain this. Each approach offers a different perspective on human behaviour, from learning through observation to the role of genetics and... Show more
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Ever wondered why you pick up habits from people around you? The behaviourist approach explains that all behaviour is learned from our environment through two main processes.
Classical conditioning (Pavlov's famous dogs) shows how we learn through association. Pavlov rang a bell before feeding dogs, and eventually the dogs would salivate just hearing the bell. Watson and Rayner's controversial Little Albert experiment proved this works with humans too - they made a baby afraid of white rats by pairing them with loud noises.
Operant conditioning focuses on learning through consequences. Skinner's rats learned to press levers because they got treats (positive reinforcement) or stopped getting electric shocks (negative reinforcement). This law of effect explains why we repeat behaviours that have good outcomes.
Social Learning Theory adds a crucial element - we learn by watching others. Bandura's Bobo doll experiment showed children copying aggressive behaviour they'd seen adults display. The key factors are ARMM: Attention, Retention, Motor reproduction, and Motivation. Vicarious reinforcement means we're more likely to copy behaviour when we see others being rewarded for it.
Quick Tip: Think about your own habits - most were probably learned through one of these three methods!
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Your brain is basically a computer that processes information, and the cognitive approach studies how this mental processing affects behaviour. Unlike behaviourists who ignore internal thoughts, cognitive psychologists focus on what happens between stimulus and response.
Schemas are mental frameworks we build from experience that help us interpret the world quickly. The clever Rat-Man study by Bugelski and Alampay showed this perfectly - people who'd seen faces interpreted an ambiguous image as a man, whilst those who'd seen rats saw it as a rat.
The approach uses theoretical models like the multistore model of memory, which breaks down how information flows from sensory memory through short-term to long-term memory. Murdock's serial position curve supports this, showing we remember words from the beginning (primacy effect) and end (recency effect) of lists better.
Cognitive neuroscience combines brain science with mental processes. Beck's negative triad explains depression through negative thoughts about self, world, and future, whilst Ellis's ABC model shows how our beliefs about events create emotional consequences.
Memory Hack: The computer analogy helps - your brain encodes (inputs), processes (thinking), and outputs (behaviour) information just like a computer!
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Think of your memory as having three separate storage systems that work together like a factory production line. The multistore model revolutionised our understanding of how information moves through your mind.
Sensory memory captures everything you see, hear, or feel for just milliseconds. Only information you pay attention to moves into short-term memory, which can hold about 7 items for 15-30 seconds. Through rehearsal, some information transfers to long-term memory for permanent storage.
Computer models help us understand these complex processes by comparing your brain to computer hardware and your thoughts to software. Both humans and computers process information in stages, store data, and have limited capacity - though computers don't forget or get emotional like we do!
The breakthrough in cognitive neuroscience started with Paul Broca discovering the brain's speech centre in 1860. Modern researchers like Tulving developed the encoding specificity principle, explaining why you remember things better when you're in the same context where you learned them.
Study Smart: Use the encoding specificity principle - revise in similar conditions to your exam environment for better recall!
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Your behaviour isn't just learned - it's also hardwired into your biology through genetics, hormones, and brain chemistry. The biological approach explores how your physical body shapes who you are.
Genotype vs phenotype explains the classic nature vs nurture debate. Your genotype is your genetic blueprint, but your phenotype is how those genes actually express themselves through environmental influences. It's like having a recipe (genes) but the final dish depends on the ingredients available (environment).
The endocrine system pumps hormones around your body that dramatically affect behaviour. Adrenaline triggers your fight-or-flight response when you're stressed, whilst biochemical imbalances can cause mental health issues. Low serotonin levels link to depression, and imbalanced dopamine connects to anxiety.
Charles Darwin's evolution theory explains how natural selection shaped human behaviour over thousands of years. Behaviours that helped our ancestors survive got passed down through genes. Modern research uses brain scans and studies the effects of drug therapy like SSRIs to understand these biological influences.
Real World: Next time you feel anxious before an exam, remember that's your ancient fight-or-flight system trying to help you survive - even though you're not actually in danger!
Our AI Companion is a student-focused AI tool that offers more than just answers. Built on millions of Knowunity resources, it provides relevant information, personalised study plans, quizzes, and content directly in the chat, adapting to your individual learning journey.
You can download the app from Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
That's right! Enjoy free access to study content, connect with fellow students, and get instant help – all at your fingertips.
9
Smart Tools NEW
Transform this note into: ✓ 50+ Practice Questions ✓ Interactive Flashcards ✓ Full Mock Exam ✓ Essay Outlines
Quotes from every main character
English LiteratureApp Store
Google Play
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
Sociology