Education and Early Childhood Learning

Framework for Learning

Framework for LEARNING

English Program

Psychology

Discipline Overview

Psychology is the scientific study of behaviour and mental processes. It uses the scientific method to discover general principles that govern human thought and behaviour while recognizing individual differences. Learners study psychological concepts they can apply to issues in their own lives, giving them lifelong skills to deal with issues proactively, solve problems, learn, and nurture healthy relationships. They learn and reflect on their own experiences to better understand how perceptions and biases form an imperfect lens through which experience is filtered. It also helps learners understand societal problems like drug dependency, aggression, and discrimination. Learning and applying psychological concepts encourages them to critically evaluate current practices in institutions and to participate in more informed solutions for contemporary problems—thereby preparing them in case they pursue a career in a helping profession after high school.

Global Competencies in Psychology

Critical thinking in psychology is an integral part of the discipline as it forms the basis of the ongoing study of human behaviour. It requires learners to constantly question, test, and re-evaluate principles of psychology in an ever-changing world. Critical thinking is essential to analyze the strengths and limitations of conclusions, and to weigh the validity and reliability of general principles of human behaviour while also respecting individual differences.

When critical thinking as a competency is applied in psychology, learners

find and use diverse sources and methods to contextualize knowledge and reflect on their scope and ability to understand human behaviour and individual differences
apply concepts in research methodology to evaluate the reliability and validity of evidence while respecting that perceptions and biases filter our experiences of the world through an imperfect personal lens
apply criteria while seeking out and collating diverse sources of evidence to verify conclusions
understand that all perspectives in psychology are deeply rooted in time, place, and culture and that these perspectives place limits on the ability to explain human behaviour
apply flexible thinking to constantly reflect on and consider their own biases and the extent to which they affect choices and beliefs
ask effective, relevant, and clarifying questions that seek to confront problems more effectively
make informed decisions and judgments based on the available observations, information, or data
weigh methods, data, or conclusions according to criteria and make ethical recommendations

a person with a lightbulb signifying an original thought

Creativity in psychology involves the investigation and exploration of ideas and concepts through the innovative use of constructs and approaches. Due to the unobservable nature of much that psychology encompasses, creativity is essential in question posing, problem solving, and theorizing. Creativity is also expressed in the application of new knowledge or findings to foster positive change in our lives, organizations, and communities. Creativity in psychology asks learners to reconsider their ways of thinking and use problem solving to determine alternative iterations of their intuitions.

When creativity as a competency is applied in psychology, learners

take risks by being open to considering new ideas
approach their own and others’ perspectives and experiences of the world with curiosity and demonstrate a willingness to explore ideas by asking relevant questions
develop, nurture, and deploy a variety of strategies to improve research, refine assumptions, and solve problems inherent to the unobservable nature of psychology
draw connections between research designs and build on the ideas of others to contextualize their knowledge
plan research designs and then check, refine, or adapt their inquiry based on their results
test their assumptions of the world around them and understand, accept, and persevere through uncertainty or limitations to their inquiry
reflect on their processes and seek out and use feedback to refine their choices

Citizenship in psychology begins first with the recognition that each individual learner comprises a unique and worthy perspective among the broad community of learners. This comes with a responsibility to participate, inquire, and share results to broaden or deepen the reliability and validity of findings. Secondly, the members of this community of learners understand and respect their role in valuing diversity, promoting equity, and fostering inclusion in pursuit of a more just society by applying psychological principles to change lives, organizations, and communities in positive ways.

When citizenship as a competency is applied in psychology, learners

are encouraged to seek out and understand the complexity of issues as part of coming to understand their own perspectives
recognize the foundations underpinning discrimination, equity, and human rights in their world
explore the interconnectedness of self within communities and between communities in the social and natural world
seek out diverse communities with unique perspectives, beliefs, and viewpoints
seek to understand and empathize with perspectives that do not fit their own
connect with others in responsible, respectful, and inclusive ways, both in person and in digital contexts
realize their potential through the application of psychological principles to contribute to the betterment of others, organizations, and communities
work to find informed equitable solutions to support diversity, inclusivity, and human rights and foster a more just society
make ethical choices to promote a healthy world through the application of ethical psychological standards

Connection to self in psychology involves learning about individual behaviour as it applies to psychological principles. Through reflecting on their own way of being, learners gain a sense of control over their own lives and make decisions with selfawareness as they interact with their emotional, intellectual, physical, and social worlds.

When connection to self as a competency is applied in psychology, learners

recognize and contextualize their own personal strengths, gifts, challenges, and opportunities within a diverse world of individual differences in support of learning and well-being
examine biological, social, and cultural factors that shape identity
examine factors that affect their emotional regulation and acquire, select, and apply a range of strategies to support it
discover the type of learners they are as they reflect on their own experiences, informed by psychological principles
reflect on their choices, experiences, and the responses of others to grow
set and revise goals for their learning
develop hope and resilience as they learn about principles of development and maturation that can be purposefully shaped to achieve their future goals
understand and persevere through obstacles accepted as inherent to gaining knowledge and understanding
develop the readiness to adapt and change their conceptions of self and their understanding of others as they encounter new knowledge
understand and respect that humanity is ever-changing and embrace their role in lifelong well-being and well-becoming that requires constant re‑examination and renewal

Collaboration in psychology is essential to accommodate the fluid and dynamic nature of human behaviour. It involves an openness to adopting perspectives, to questioning beliefs, and a willingness to both consider and to express perspectives. This approach to knowledge in psychology encourages learners to consider and reconsider ideas to refine them with the collective goal of a more complete understanding of human behaviour.

When collaboration as a competency is applied in psychology, learners

collaborate with others to seek diverse perspectives to create a broader understanding of evidence and of factors that influence behaviour
work together to deepen understanding by building on each other’s ideas to create a more complete understanding of behaviour
co-construct and apply criteria through which they value and trust in the contributions of others
listen actively and ask questions through which the perspectives of others can be incorporated into new knowledge and understandings
form relationships with others through which they can work through individual differences and compromise or change perspectives to foster a fuller understanding of psychological principles
understand that knowledge in psychology is co-constructed in a collaborative community of learners seeking a deeper and more reliable understanding of psychological principles
value, honour, and respect the contributions of each individual and their perspectives as equitably contributing to the collective purpose or common goal of a more complete understanding of psychological principles

Communication in psychology requires a thoughtful understanding of the importance of clear and precise expression of ideas and concepts, as well as an effort to seek to understand others’ messages due to the dynamic communal nature of knowledge. It requires learners to carefully consider theirs and others’ word choices, non-verbal communication, as well as visual, graphical, and statistical representations of data and other context cues, to develop a deeper understanding of others and of the ideas, theories, or concepts they propose. Communication is essential to allow learners to challenge and expand their thinking about human behaviour.

When communication as a competency is applied in science, learners

express ideas and share information with an awareness of the importance of context cues and conventions (verbal and non-communication, passive voice, graphic and visual representation, etc.)
adjust communication with consideration of relevant audience in multiple ways, including tone, language choice, visuals, graphs, statistical tables, summaries, or conclusions
understand and appreciate the impact of their words and actions in forming identity, reinforcing and communicating ideas, group membership, relationships, or power differentials
consider both content and context of communication, including nonverbal expressions and theoretical backgrounds or approaches to enhance understanding when receiving and interpreting messages
seek to understand others through active listening, careful observation, and questioning
recognize that understanding can be impacted and influenced by individual, linguistic, experiential, and cultural lenses
understand that meaning is rooted in the relationship between thought, experience, and language
develop a more complete and well-rounded understanding of psychological principles and deepen relationships through communication and dialogue, both in person and in digital contexts
appreciate how appropriate, effective communication strengthens community as well as a respect for psychology as a body of knowledge

Enduring Understandings

Psychology is a human science

Psychology asserts that the human mind can be studied scientifically through empirical evidence. New data can develop and refine models and theories drawing from multiple methods, perspectives, or sources to increase the credibility of research.

Psychology seeks to understand and explain behaviour.

Psychology uses multiple approaches to understand and explain behaviour. These include how biological, social, and cultural factors influence behavior and mental processes. These mental processes (like perception, memory, decision-making) guide behaviour and are also influenced by the social and cultural environment.

Psychology is interactive and multidimensional.

Due to the dynamic nature of human behaviour, psychology utilizes a holistic approach, drawing simultaneously from different perspectives and approaches to understand and explain behaviour. Each approach (i.e., biological, cognitive, or sociocultural) contributes valuable insights, but no single approach is sufficient. These interactive and multidimensional perspectives in psychology enable accurate descriptions of the dynamics of behaviour and allow for reliable and valid predictions for therapeutic interventions.

Psychology has a wide-ranging impact on the world.

Psychology encompasses many sub-fields and careers, each representing the application of psychological principles to different aspects of human life. Applying psychological principles can change our lives, organizations, and communities in positive ways in pursuit of the Mino-Pimatisiwin (The Good Life). Psychology can help address individual flourishing and improve communities dealing with issues like mental health, prejudice, and aggression.

Psychology requires critical thinking.

Psychology involves evaluating evidence, recognizing bias, and questioning assumptions. In this manner, all knowledge in psychology can be considered tentative and subject to the ever-changing and evolving nature of human behaviour. This includes how our perceptions and experience of the world as learners are filtered through a biased and imperfect personal lens. Psychological theories and findings are therefore not universally applicable across time and culture.

Economics and Resources

Learners build an understanding of the impact, the sharing, and the interdependence of resources and wealth in relation to individuals, communities, and nations, both past and present. They examine economic factors that affect decision-making, the use and distribution of resources, and the development of technologies, and they consider social and environmental implications.