Secondary Catalogue

The first episode 'Why Study Psychology?' introduces psychology as a science of behaviour and mental processes. It explains how understanding why we think and act as we do enhances our lives. The second episode 'Research Methods' provides an overview of observational and descriptive research by illustrating how the scientific method is used to study the relationship between violent video games and aggression. The third episode 'The Nervous System' provides learning about the components of the nervous system and the methods used for studying the brain through the story of a hemispherectomy patient. Show Less

The first episode 'The Neuron and Neural Transmission' illustrates how the brain communicates with the body by explaining what the neuron is, how it functions, and what happens to that communication when neurological disorders occur. The second episode 'Sensation and Perception' demonstrates how our senses gather information about the world around us. Perception is also covered in depth. The third episode 'Consciousness' illustrates how our consciousness and awareness vary throughout a typical day. It also explores the impact of circadian rhythms. Show Less

The first episode 'Classical and Operant Conditioning' discusses Pavlov's classical conditioning experiment and how it demonstrates the process of learning by an association or relationship. The second episode 'Learning: Observational and Cognitive Approaches' discusses observational learning. The cognitive process of learning is illustrated using B. F. Skinner's research. The third episode 'Memory' answers the question of "what is memory?" and explains how our sense of identity relies on memories of personal history and connections with the people around us. Show Less

The first episode 'Language and Cognition' explores the fact that most animals have the ability to communicate, but only humans have language, symbols for objects, actions, ideas, and feelings. The second episode 'Intelligence' explores what intelligence means in different environments and cultures and discusses nature versus nurture and the history and biases of intelligence testing. The third episode 'Motivation' offers an in-depth discussion of biological and social theories of motivation, intertwined with Bandura's presentation on the role of self-efficacy. Show Less

The first episode 'Emotions' asks the following questions: What are emotions? Are they learned or are they innate? Are they expressed in the same way throughout most cultures? The second episode 'Infant and Child Development' provides an overview of Piaget's four stages of cognitive development. The third episode 'Adolescent and Adult Development' explains the significance of peer relationships and Kohlberg's moral development theory. Erikson's theory on human development and Kübler-Ross' five stages of dying and death complete the overview. Show Less

The first episode 'Gender and Sexuality' explores the distinction between the terms sex and gender and describes the similarities and differences between men and women. The second episode 'Personality Theories' explores the three major theories of personality - Freudian, humanistic, and social-cognitive perspective - by examining the life of the former President of South Africa, Nelson Mandela. The third episode 'Personality Traits and Assessment' looks at the ways we can evaluate and assess the many parts of our individual personalities. Show Less

The first episode 'Social Cognition' focuses on how people form impressions of others and how people's behaviour is affected by attitudes. The second episode 'Attitudes' analyses the formation of attitudes and how they can be turned into prejudice. It also explores ways to prevent prejudice and how to appreciate individual and group diversity. The third episode 'Group Influence' explains individuality, group behaviour, and de-individuation. Show Less

The first episode 'Stress, Health and Coping' chronicles a breast cancer survivor who employs successful coping strategies to aid in maintaining good health in stressful situations. The second episode 'Understanding Psychological Disorders Part 1' presents research on obsessive/compulsive disorders, and examines the daily lives of patients with these disorders. The third episode 'Understanding Psychological Disorders Part 2' examines schizophrenia, its symptoms, and types. It asks the question: Can some people who suffer from this disease live a relatively normal life? Show Less

The first episode 'Therapies' examines four different styles of therapy treatment for mental disorders and discusses the role of each style of therapy. The second episode 'Personality Traits and Assessment' looks at the ways we can evaluate and assess the many parts of our individual personalities. The third episode 'Making Psychology Part of Your Life' concludes the series by examining how psychology can be applied to all areas of our lives. Show Less

Students can read about the causes of depression and the therapies for its treatment. But what's it actually like to suffer from depression? This short film looks at one woman's experience of depression: the fatigue, the feeling of being trapped, and the continual voices in her head telling her to end her life. Show Less

WARNING: The content of this programme may be hurtful or offensive to some viewers. Teachers are advised to view the programme and use their discretion to determine the suitability of the programme for their students. This programme - featuring extensive contributions from Professors Alex Haslam and Steve Reicher - looks at the origins of Stanley Milgram's ground-breaking research into the nightmare of the Holocaust and the subsequent trial of Adolph Eichmann. This is followed by an examination of the research itself - the participants, methodology and findings - with a focus on variations in obedience, the agentic state explanation and its critique. The programme then applies Haslam and Reicher's re-interpretation of Milgram's findings through the concept of social identity. Show Less

Are all people capable of murder? What drives people to violence? Can TV affect our actions and even influence us to acts of violence? How do psychologists account for the brutal murder of James Bulger in the UK and the massacre of twelve students and a teacher at Columbine School in America? This interview-led documentary style programme explores and offers psychological explanations for these issues and includes a variety of sources. For example scenarios depicting aggressive incidents to further elaborate psychological explanations by research psychologists, as well as original film footage of research and actual crimes. Show Less

Humans, like many animals, possess a highly developed sense of danger in our environment. In its most basic form, our awareness of these threats is anxiety. Our ‘fight or flight’ response can be highly beneficial, but in the 21st century, this state of anxiety in some people can become a constant state of mind, and a real limitation to a person’s ability to function well. In this programme we take a comprehensive look at anxiety disorders including generalised anxiety, panic, post traumatic, and obsessive compulsive disorders and phobias. With excellent illustrations and input from leading experts, this is a wide-ranging examination of anxiety today. Show Less

Jirtle and Waterland’s Agouti Mouse Study has been called one of the most important pieces of research in the 21st century and this film explores both it’s substance and significance for the Nature-Nurture debate in psychology and sociology. The film, featuring extensive contributions from Randy Jirtle and original film laboratory film from the Agouti study, looks at the context of the study, the experiment itself, reactions to the study, and it's implications. Show Less

This programme is excellent for a wide range of training purposes for foster carers, parents groups, child minders, social work and for those people who work with children. It is also an excellent resource for under-graduate and post graduate studies in both academic and applied psychology. Attachment includes both historical and current research methods and models of attachment behaviour. Show Less

Treading new ground in the field of social psychology, Albert Bandura’s work has become basic to an understanding of how social forces influence individuals, small groups and large groups. Utilising archival materials and newly shot visuals, students will be introduced to the vocabulary and innovative methods of this influential thinker. Dr. Bandura’s narration imbues this film with his compelling presentation style and intellectual authority. Show Less

Simon Baron Cohen discusses his case study Another Advanced Test of Theory of Mind. Cohen explains the aims and origins of his study, illustrates his'Eyes Test' methodology, explaining why the eyes were chosen, and talks about his findings and their implications for understanding autism. The programme is intercut with illustrative footage of autistic children, their parents and autistic adults. Show Less

"Nature or Nurture?” is a long-running debate in psychology, one heavily-influenced by developments in genetics and a rise in the popular belief that "dna is destiny”: the idea human behaviour is broadly is determined by a "good” or a "bad” roll of the genetic dice. This programme, featuring contributions from Dr Nessa Carey and Dr Guy Sutton, goes "Beyond Genetics” to explore recent developments in the field of epigenetics that show the way genes actually work is shaped by environmental influences – a development that introduces a new and exciting dimension to the debate. Show Less

This programme discusses how a person can become resilient and talks about methods that we could use to withstand stress and trauma without permanent damage. If someone is resilient, they have the ability to "bounce back" after something negative happens to them. The programme outlines the importance for young people to build resilience so that they can recover from a trauma without developing any psychological problems. Show Less

This compelling programme, filmed on location in Liverpool, uses the James Bulger case to illustrate some key approaches to bystander behaviour. The programme is clearly divided into three sections: Darley and Latane - the bystander effect; Piliavins - costs and benefits of intervention; and Levine - social identity. Show Less

Illustrated by the case of Susan "Genie" Wiley and a range of other classic and contemporary studies, this video takes you through the essential ideas and skills needed to successfully answer exam questions on case studies. The video covers an overview of the "Genie" case, a brief history of case study research, and the strengths and limitations of case studies. Show Less

The changes that happen to humans in the first two decades of life are astonishing—from being helpless newborns to independent adults. The study of that journey—with its physical, intellectual, social, and emotional changes—is called child development theory. Theories in child development have changed the way that parents raise their children and the way teachers teach those children. Child Development Theorists is an entertaining and enlightening view of fifteen major child development theorists. Show Less

A compelling set of short programmes illustrating five of psychology's most important studies; The Strange Situation, Bandura on Social Learning, Elizabeth Loftus on Eyewitness Testimony, Milgram's Experiments on Obedience and The Stanford Prison Experiment. Also included are lesson plans and activities, PowerPoints and follow-up references and resources. This is ideal for introduction to this field of study. Show Less