Paper 1: 2019 Flashcards
Evaluate Loftus and Palmer’s (1974) research ‘Reconstruction of automobile destruction: an
example of the interaction between language and memory’. (10)
Credit could be given for:
* Use of the experimental method e.g. cause and effect, standardised procedures,
artificial environment, demand characteristics.
* Reliability and validity issues e.g. ecological validity, consistent use of video clips and
verbs.
* Sample used e.g. student sample, American participants.
* Use of the findings in society e.g. the Innocence Project, use of the Cognitive
Interview.
* Ethics of the research e.g. risk of harm due to the nature of the video clips, informed
consent.
* The points above can be strengths or weaknesses.
* Any other relevant evaluation.
Outline the positive assumption of focus on ‘the good life’ and one other positive assumption. (4+4) Focus on the good life:
Credit could be given for:
* Seligman’s three desirable lives; ‘the pleasant life’, ‘the good life’ and ‘the meaningful
life’.
* Development of strengths and virtues to achieve the meaningful life.
* Three elements of the good life; positive connections to others, positive individual
traits and life regulation qualities.
Outline the positive assumption of focus on ‘the good life’ and one other positive assumption. (4+4) Other positive assumption:
One other positive assumption:
* Authenticity of goodness and excellence; signature strengths, focus on mental health
instead of mental illness, traits that act as a buffer to mental illness.
* Acknowledgement of free will; ability to take charge of our own actions, Ed Diener’s
research on happiness and wellbeing.
Describe the methodology and procedures of Raine, Buchsbaum and La Casse’s (1997)
research ‘Brain abnormalities in murderers indicated by positron emission tomography’. (10) Methodology:
Methodology
* A quasi-experiment.
* Matched pairs design.
* IV = Not guilty by reason of insanity (NGRI) – Not manipulated by the experimenter
* DV = Activity of brain regions
* Experimental group: 41 participants; 39 men and 2 women; mean age 34.3; all
charged with either murder or manslaughter; all had been referred to the University
of California to obtain evidence using PET scanning for a NGRI defence or they
had been found guilty and were referred to obtain information that may reduce their
sentence. Reasons for referral included history of head injury or brain damage.
* Control group: 41 participants; 39 men and 2 women; mean age 31.7; formed by
matching each murderer with a normal subject of the same sex and age who was
tested using identical PET imaging procedures in the same laboratory; 6
schizophrenics were matched from the University of California from a large
psychiatric sample; participants were screened for health with a physical exam, a
psychiatric interview and their medical history was checked.
Describe the methodology and procedures of Raine, Buchsbaum and La Casse’s (1997)
research ‘Brain abnormalities in murderers indicated by positron emission tomography’. (10) Procedures:
Procedures
* Opportunity sample.
* PET scans were used to study the active brain.
* Ten minutes before the injection participants were given the chance to practice
trails of the continuous performance task (CPT).
* 30 seconds before the injection participants started the CPT.
* The radioactive tracer (fluorodeoxyglucose) was injected into the participant.
* After 32 minutes participants were given a PET scan.
* Ten horizontal slices (pictures) of the brain were taken.
Evaluate either systematic desensitisation OR aversion therapy (10)
Credit could be given for:
* Effectiveness of therapy e.g. length of treatment, long term effects, dropout rates.
* Ethical issues of therapy e.g. social control, levels of anxiety, pace of the therapy for
the patient, issues of valid consent.
* Use of scientific methods that can be observed and measured.
* Individual differences of patients.
* Research to support or refute the therapy.
Lucy and Michael are having a discussion about the biological approach. Lucy is impressed by
the biological approach but Michael disagrees.
Explain one strength that Lucy might use and one weakness that Michael might use in their
discussion. (5+5)
The following points can be either strengths or weaknesses:
* Therapy; success rates, relapse, treating symptoms rather than cause, length of
treatment.
* Scientific approach with measurable and observable results.
* Methods used; laboratory experiments, brain scans.
* Application to the real world.
* Issues and debates; reductionism, determinism, nature over nurture, individual
differences.
* Ethics of the biological approach.
Apply the assumptions of the cognitive approach to explain human behaviour. (10)
Credit could be given for:
* Any human behaviour can be credited (e.g. addictive behaviours, autistic spectrum
behaviours, bullying behaviours, criminal behaviours, schizophrenia and stress).
* More than one human behaviour can be credited.
* Computer analogy; process of perception, attention and memory.
* Schemas; information from past experiences forming a behaviour.
* Internal mental processes; rational and irrational thinking in behaviour, role of
introspection.
* Discussion on role of free will and determinism in explaining human behaviour.
* Credit can be given for application of assumptions to relationship formation.
Describe the main components of either mindfulness OR quality of life therapy. (10)
Mindfulness
* Control of own thoughts.
* Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction
(MBSR).
* Role of meditation and mindful
breathing.
* Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy
(MBCT).
* Mindfulness practice as a daily way of
life with no professional skills needed
to practice it.
* Research to illustrate the main
components of mindfulness
* Any other relevant component.
Evaluate Watson and Rayner’s (1920) research ‘Conditioned emotional reactions’ in relation to
social implications and ethical issues. (8)
Credit could be given for:
* Ethics of using vulnerable participants.
* Psychological harm from inducing a phobia.
* Informed consent from Little Albert’s mother.
* Benefits for therapy e.g. systematic desensitisation.
* Cost/benefit analysis of using one participant to benefit many.
* Any other appropriate ethical issue or social implication evaluated.
Since 2015, in the United Kingdom, fathers can share parental leave with mothers.
Discuss the debate of the mother as primary care-giver of an infant. (24)
Credit could be given for:
* Research by Bowlby on attachment.
* Freud’s theory of ‘cupboard love’.
* Research exploring this debate e.g. Guardian Article on nursery care by Richard
reeves (1999), New Statesman article on brain scans of fathers being hardwired to
be positive caregivers (July 2014).
* Impact of shared maternity and paternity leave on the child, mother and father.
* Role of the wider family e.g. grandparents.
* Role of alternative care with reference to political and economic benefits and costs
e.g. childminders and nursery providing care so that parents can contribute to the
economy by going back to work.
* Research into the role of the father and mother in childcare.
Credit could be given for:
* Analysis of the influence of the evidence on political decisions e.g. mothers feeling
inadequate for going back to work or not, fathers feeling isolated due to female
driven clubs for caregivers.
* Improving reliability e.g. the way in which this debate is investigated; self-reports
and observations.
* Cultural differences in childcare/view of the father’s role as ‘breadwinner’.
* Ethical implications of mother as the primary caregiver.
* Individual differences in childcare.
* NHS recommendations on breastfeeding.
* Biological theories for the mother being primary caregiver e.g. release of oxytocin
during childbirth.
* Conclusion to the debate. Overall agreement or disagreement with the quote.
