All in the Mind

AS Psychology students visited the Natural History and Science Museums in London on Thursday 7th March.

The purpose of the trip was to assist with some revision for their AS Level course and to introduce them to some of the material they will studying next year or even at University.

Students spent a long time in the Human development gallery reviewing how the nervous system and stress response works in the body before reminding themselves about what we had learnt on memory and eyewitness testimony – many realising that theirs was not as good as they had hoped! Some students then enjoyed participating in the interactive exhibits about perception and child development.

After lunch the group walked across to the Science Museum where they learnt more about the influence of genetics on behaviour, the vast array of different types of phobia people can experience and started to look at factors affecting gender development and identity in the ‘Who am I?’ gallery. The day concluded with the opportunity to view some cross sections of one the most famous brains in Psychology;  HM who had no long term memory, as well as listen to an interview with him.

Students enjoyed this educational trip with comments such as “The range of psychology topics covered in both museums, and the trip provides a great opportunity of revision on some topics, and I also learned new things about bio-psychology from it” from Emma and “I really enjoyed exploring the museums and I found the ‘who am I?’ exhibit in the science museum really interesting especially the section about indentity” from Amelia who are both in Year 12.