PAST PAPERS: APPROACHES IN PSYCHOLOGY: AQA A-LEVEL PSYCHOLOGY RESOURCES

PSYCHOLOGY AQA A-LEVEL UNIT 2: 7182/2

Full model answers for all of these questions are available here

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THE SYLLABUS

ORIGINS OF PSYCHOLOGY

• Wundt, introspection and the emergence of Psychology as a science

LEARNING APPROACHES

• Classical conditioning and Pavlov’s research
• Operant conditioning, types of reinforcement and Skinner’s research
• Social learning theory including imitation, identification, modelling, vicarious reinforcement, the role of mediational processes and Bandura’s research
• Evaluation of Learning Approaches

THE COGNITIVE APPROACH

• The study of internal mental processes
• The role of schema
• The use of theoretical and computer models to explain and make inferences about mental processes
• Evaluation of Cognitive Approach
• The emergence of cognitive neuroscience

THE BIOLOGICAL APPROACH

• Evolution and behaviour
• Genotype and phenotype, genetic basis of behaviour
• The influence of genes, biological structures and neurochemistry on behaviour
• Evaluation of Biological Approach

THE PSYCHODYNAMIC APPROACH

• The structure of personality: id, ego and superego
• The role of the unconscious
• Defence mechanisms including repression, denial and displacement
• Psychosexual stages
• Evaluation of Psychodynamic Approach

HUMANISTIC PSYCHOLOGY

• Free will, self-actualisation and Maslow’s hierarchy of needs
• Focus on the self, congruence, the role of conditions of worth
• The influence on counselling psychology
• Evaluation of Humanistic Approach

COMPARISON OF APPROACHES

• Biological, behavioural, cognitive, psychodynamic, humanistic

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SPECIMEN PAPER 1 (AQA A-level Psychology revision guide)

Which one of the following statements is false? Shade one box only.

A           Repression can lead to unpleasant memories causing distress

B           Repression causes people to have difficulty accessing unpleasant memories

C           Repression involves people choosing to forget unpleasant memories

D           Repression involves unpleasant memories being kept from conscious awareness

[1 mark]

 

Which one of the following statements is false? Shade one box only.

A           The Id is responsible for pleasure-seeking behaviour

B           The Id is responsible for unreasonable behaviour

C           The Superego is responsible for bad behaviour

D           The Superego is responsible for guilty feelings

[1 mark]

 

Read the item and then answer the question that follows.

In a laboratory study of problem-solving, cognitive psychologists asked participants to solve problems presented in different colours of ink. They found that it took longer to solve problems presented in green ink, than it did to solve problems presented in other colours. They inferred that the mental processing of problems is made more difficult when a problem is presented in green ink.

Explain what is meant by ‘inference’ in relation to this study.

[2 marks]

 

Read the item and then answer the question that follows.

Dominic is unhappy and lacks confidence. He also thinks he is not very good-looking and not very clever. He goes to a counselling therapist for help. The therapist suggests that Dominic lacks congruence.

Outline what is meant by ‘congruence’. Explain one way in which Dominic might achieve ‘congruence’.

[4 marks]

 

Discuss the contribution of behaviourist psychologists such as Pavlov and Skinner to our understanding of human behaviour.

[16 marks]

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SPECIMEN PAPER 2 (A-level Psychology resources)

A phenotype is the result of the combined effect of ….

Shade one box only.

A           neurotransmitters and environment.

B           inheritance and environment.

C           genetic makeup and neurotransmitters.

D           genotype and evolution.

[1 mark]

 

Which one of the following statements about evolution is false?

Shade one box only.

A           Evolution involves adapting to the environment.

B           Evolution involves breeding of those best able to survive.

C           Evolution involves common genetic material between species.

D           Evolution involves changes in behaviour from one generation to the next.

[1 mark]

 

Read the item and then answer the question that follows.

Bradley has just started to play snooker and is keen to play well. He watches carefully when his partner takes a difficult shot then tries to copy the same shot. He thinks about how his partner was holding the snooker cue and whether he can do the same.

Social learning theorists refer to the role of mediational processes in learning. Referring to Bradley’s experiences, explain the role of mediational processes in learning.

[4 marks]

 

Describe Wundt’s role in the development of psychology.

[6 marks]

 

Briefly explain one strength and one limitation of the cognitive approach in psychology.

[4 marks]

 

Outline the psychodynamic approach in psychology. Discuss one or more differences between the psychodynamic approach and the humanistic approach.

[8 marks]

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SPECIMEN PAPER 3 (AQA A-level Psychology resources)

Which one of the columns in Figure 1, A, B, C or D shows the correct arrangement of levels in Maslow’s hierarchy of needs? Shade one box only.

 

Column A

Column B

Column C

Column D

[1 mark]

 

Which of the following sentences best describes Wundt’s method of introspection? Shade one box only.

Introspection involves …

A           performing mental calculations.

B           reporting present experience.

C           describing events from the past.

D           outlining hopes for the future.

[1 mark]

 

Tim used to run a family business. About two years ago, the business got into financial difficulties. Tim’s bank demanded repayment of a loan. Tim lost the business and is very angry.

Two defence mechanisms are denial and displacement.

Outline what is meant by denial and displacement and suggest how each could be involved in Tim coping with his situation.

[4 marks]

 

Briefly evaluate defence mechanisms as a way of explaining human behaviour and experience.

[4 marks]

 

Outline what is meant by cognitive neuroscience and describe one practical application of cognitive neuroscience.

[6 marks]

 

Outline Pavlov’s research into classical conditioning and describe how classical conditioning might explain a child’s fear of school.

[8 marks]

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2017 (A-level Psychology notes)

A recent study showed that Alzheimer’s disease may be partly inherited.

John’s father suffered from Alzheimer’s disease. John is keen to get genetically tested to see if he will develop Alzheimer’s disease.

Explain why John’s genotype will not reveal whether he will suffer from Alzheimer’s disease.

[4 marks]

 

Describe the structure of the personality according to the psychodynamic approach.

[4 marks]

 

Tatiana’s parents are concerned about her mobile phone use. She is an anxious child and has low self-esteem. Tatiana only feels good about herself when she receives messages or positive comments on social media. She feels safe when she has her phone and socially isolated without it.

Tatiana’s parents worry that her dependence on her mobile phone is starting to affect her well-being and achievement at school.

Outline and evaluate the humanistic approach. Refer to Tatiana’s behaviour in your answer.

[16 marks]

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2018 (AQA A-level Psychology notes)

Which of the following statements about the cognitive approach is FALSE?

Shade one box only.

A           Inferences about internal mental processes are made on the basis of behaviour.

B           Internal mental processes are studied scientifically.

C           Mental processes are studied directly by making inferences.

D           Theoretical and computer models are used to help explain mental processes.

[1 mark]

 

We use schema when we process information from the world around us.

Explain one reason why using schema might be useful when processing information from the world around us, and explain one reason why using schema might not be useful when processing information from the world around us.

[4 marks]

 

Jed was given a detention meaning that he would miss the football match after school. Jed felt extremely angry. Later that day, Jed was called in to the Head of Year’s office for kicking his locker at break time.

Identify and explain the defence mechanism Jed was displaying.

[3 marks]

 

Outline the behaviourist approach. Compare the behaviourist approach with the biological approach.

[16 marks]

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2019 (A-level Psychology revision notes)

According to the biological approach, which of the following statements is TRUE?

Shade one circle only.

[1 mark]

A           Environment may influence the expression of the genotype.

B           Genotype is just the expression of the environment.

C           Outside influences cannot affect the expression of the genotype.

D           Phenotype is only the expression of the genotype

 

According to operant conditioning, which of the following statements is TRUE?

Shade one circle only.

[1 mark]

A           Negative reinforcement and positive reinforcement decrease the likelihood that a behaviour will be repeated.

B           Negative reinforcement and positive reinforcement increase the likelihood that a behaviour will be repeated.

C           Negative reinforcement and punishment decrease the likelihood that a behaviour will be repeated.

D           Negative reinforcement and punishment increase the likelihood that a behaviour will be repeated.

 

Briefly describe one role of the unconscious according to the psychodynamic approach. [2 marks]

 

A television advert for a new cleaning spray, called ‘Tiger’, shows an England rugby player vigorously scrubbing a stain on the carpet.

The rugby player gets exhausted and gives up. A small boy says, ‘Only Tiger power will get that out’ and hands the rugby player a bottle of Tiger. The rugby player draws tiger stripes on his own face, roars and the little boy laughs.

The rugby player easily wipes the stain from the carpet using Tiger. The boy claps and the advert ends with the text, ‘Anyone can battle stains with a Tiger on their side.’

Explain how the Tiger advert might influence viewers’ mediational processes. [6 marks]

 

The company paid the rugby player a lot of money to be in the advert. Use your knowledge of social learning theory to explain why the company wanted to use a famous rugby player in the advert. [2 marks]

 

There was an overall increase in sales of Tiger following the advertisement campaign. Interestingly, the increase in sales was greater for male customers than for female customers.

See Table 1 below. Table 1 Sales figures before and after the Tiger advert

Calculate the percentage increase in sales of Tiger to male customers. Give your answer to two significant figures. Show your workings. [3 marks]

 

Using your knowledge of social learning theory, suggest how the advert could be modified to increase the sales of Tiger to female customers. [1 mark]

 

Outline and evaluate Wundt’s role in the emergence of psychology as a science. [8 marks]

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2020 (AQA A-level Psychology revision notes)

What is the correct arrangement of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs from bottom to top of the hierarchy?

Shade one circle only.

[1 mark]

A           Physiological, Safety, Love/belongingness, Esteem, Self-actualisation.

B           Physiological, Safety, Love/belongingness, Self-actualisation, Esteem.

C           Safety, Physiological, Love/belongingness, Esteem, Self-actualisation.

D           Safety, Physiological, Love/belongingness, Self-actualisation, Esteem.

 

Which of the following shows the correct order of the psychosexual stages of development as proposed by the psychodynamic approach?

Shade one circle only.

[1 mark]

A           Oral, Anal, Genital, Latency, Phallic.

B           Oral, Anal, Phallic, Genital, Latency.

C           Oral, Anal, Phallic, Latency, Genital.

D           Oral, Genital, Anal, Phallic, Latency.

 

Describe the role of defence mechanisms according to the psychodynamic approach.

[2 marks]

 

Briefly explain one strength and one limitation of the psychodynamic approach.

[4 marks]

 

Alison is a Psychology teacher who is keen to reduce plastic waste in her school. She puts a sticker showing an ocean full of plastic waste on each plastic bottle of water sold in the canteen.

Alison asks canteen staff to increase the price of bottled water by 20 pence and offer free refills of water to any student taking in their own bottle.

Finally, Alison sets up a bottle return desk, where students can get 20 pence back for any plastic bottle they hand in for recycling.

Describe and evaluate operant conditioning as a way of explaining people’s behaviour. Refer to Alison’s approach to reducing plastic waste in your answer.

[16 marks]

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2021 (How to revise for A-level Psychology)

Outline the way in which Pavlov studied classical conditioning.

[4 marks]

 

Some critics have said that Pavlov’s studies may lack ecological validity.

What is meant by the term ecological validity?

[2 marks]

 

Jemima and Lily are identical twins. Lily complains to Jemima, “I don’t understand it. If we have the same genes, how come you have clearer skin than me and are much better at netball?”

Jemima laughs and replies, “Lily, we may be identical twins, but we are not identical people.”

Using your knowledge of genotype and phenotype, explain Lily’s and Jemima’s comments.

[4 marks]

 

Lily and Jemima have a pet rat, which usually hides in a corner when they try to take it out of its cage. They have tried different ways to stop the rat hiding, but so far without success.

Use your knowledge of two types of reinforcement to suggest how Lily and Jemima could train their rat to come to the cage door when they open it.

[6 marks]

 

Compare the humanistic approach with the psychodynamic approach.

[8 marks]

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2022 (Psychology A-level revision)

Describe psychosexual stages as outlined in the psychodynamic approach.

[6 marks]

 

At a local school, teachers took part in Active Lifestyle Week to encourage students to become more active. The week involved daily staff netball matches during breaktimes and a step count challenge.

Two of the teachers were talking at the end of the week. Miss Honey said, “That was such a great week! I felt proud to win the staff step count challenge and receive the medal in assembly and demonstrate the joy of sport. My students loved watching us compete, I really think it will inspire them to be more active themselves!”

Mrs Wilson replied, “It’s alright for you, you’re young and the students like you. My students were so embarrassed to see me tripping over in netball. I think I may have put them off sport forever!”

Apart from mediational processes, use your knowledge of social learning theory to explain Miss Honey’s and Mrs Wilson’s comments.

[6 marks]

 

Whether or not students learn to be more active could depend on mediational processes.

Explain how mediational processes might be involved in the students becoming more active.

[4 marks]

 

Discuss self-actualisation and/or conditions of worth in explaining human behaviour.

[8 marks]