Psychology AQA Paper 2 AO3

Question 1

Approaches- Learning Approach (Behaviorism) AO3

Answer 1

Behaviorism has increased our understanding of the causes of phobias and attachment.

Question 2

Approaches- Learning Approach (Behaviorism) AO3

Answer 2

It has also given rise to therapies such as systematic desensitization and token economy.

Question 3

Approaches- Learning Approach (Behaviorism) AO3

Answer 3

Behaviorism has experimental support: Pavlov showed that classical conditioning leads to learning by association. Watson and Rayner showed that phobias could be learned through classical conditioning in the “little Albert” experiment.

Question 4

Approaches- Learning Approach (Behaviorism) AO3

Answer 4

It has practical applications. For example, systematic desensitization based on classical conditioning is used in the treatment of phobias. Classical and operant conditioning has also been used to explain attachment.

Question 5

Approaches- Learning Approach (SLT) AO3

Answer 5

Social learning theory is supported by research by Bandura et al. (1961) and Badura and Walters (1963); however, these were laboratory experiments, and the task did not reflect the way the participants behaved in their normal life.

At this young age, parents would guide their understanding of the situation and moderate their behavior. This was not the case in the studies, as the children were on their own. The children were aggressive towards a doll that they know does not feel pain and could not retaliate; their behavior might be different towards another child.

Furthermore, the children were in an unfamiliar environment; they might have thought that they were expected to behave like the model (demand characteristics).
The participants were young children, older children, and adults who might not have imitated the aggressive behavior as they had more developed moral values.

Question 6

Approaches- Learning Approach (SLT) AO3

Answer 6

The theory does not explain why the boys imitated the physically aggressive behavior more than the girls. Other factors must be involved, such as biological factors like testosterone.

Question 7

Approaches- Learning Approach (SLT) AO3

Answer 7

SLT can explain the difference in behavior between different cultures as if a behavior is not displayed and it cannot be imitated. This can explain why groups such as the Amish are non-violent.

Question 8

Approaches- Cognitive Approach AO3

Answer 8

The study of memory has led to the development of cognitive interviews, which has decreased the inaccuracy of eyewitness memory; this should lead to a decrease in wrongful convictions.

Question 9

Approaches- Cognitive Approach AO3

Answer 9

It also helped us understand the causes of depression, and the approach also proposes a therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, which has shown to be effective for a range of mental disorders and, unlike drugs, has no side effects.

Question 10

Approaches- Cognitive Approach AO3

Answer 10

The cognitive approach uses a very scientific method, mainly lab experiments. These are controlled and replicable, so the results are reliable; however, they lack ecological validity because of the artificiality of the tasks and environment, so they might not reflect the way people process information in their everyday life.

Question 11

Approaches- Cognitive Approach AO3

Answer 11

By highlighting the importance of cognitive processing, the cognitive approach is able to offer an explanation for mental disorders such as depression, where Beck argues that it is the negative schemas we hold about the self, the world, and the future which lead to depression rather than external events.
However, it does not take into account the genetic factors which seem to be involved in mental disorders such as schizophrenia. Furthermore, this approach has led to cognitive behavioral therapy, which is an effective way to deal with depression and, unlike drugs, has no side effects.

Question 12

Approaches- Psychodynamic Approach AO3

Answer 12

The psychodynamic approach has given rise to one of the first “talking cures, “psychoanalysis, on which many psychological therapies are now based. Psychoanalysis is rarely used now in its original form, but it is still used in a shorter version in some cases.

Question 13

Approaches- Psychodynamic Approach AO3

Answer 13

This approach can be used to explain mental disorders such as depression and schizophrenia, although these explanations are rarely used by mainstream psychology. One of the very influential concepts put forward by Freud is the lasting importance of childhood on later life and development.

Question 14

Approaches- Psychodynamic Approach AO3

Answer 14

The concepts of Id, ego and superego are very abstract and difficult to test experimentally, so the evidence is obtained from case studies (Little Hans and Anna O). However, the sample used in these case studies is mainly Austrian, so it lacks population validity.

Question 15

Approaches- Psychodynamic Approach AO3

Answer 15

The theory is not falsifiable; if people behave in the way predicted by the theory, it is viewed as support; if they don’t, it is argued that they are using defense mechanisms.

Question 16

Approaches- Humanistic Approach AO3

Answer 16

Based on this approach, client-centered therapy aims to increase clients’ self-worth and decrease the incongruence between the self-concept and the ideal self.

It is a non-directive therapy in which the client is encouraged to discover their own solutions to their difficulties in an atmosphere that is supportive and non-judgemental and that provides unconditional positive regard.

Question 17

Approaches- Humanistic Approach AO3

Answer 17

It focuses on the present rather than dwelling on the past, unlike psychoanalysis. This therapy is widely used, e.g., in health, education, and industry.

Question 18

Approaches- Humanistic Approach AO3

Answer 18

It has given rise to a new way of looking at people’s needs; for example, Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is widely used in health and social work as a framework for assessing clients’ needs.

Question 19

Approaches- Humanistic Approach AO3

Answer 19

The approach uses non-scientific research methods. As its aim is to understand people’s subjectivity, it uses methods that yield qualitative data, such as unstructured interviews or participant observations. These are difficult/ impossible to replicate, and the interpretation of the data is influenced by researcher bias.

Question 20

Biopsychology- Localization of Function AO3

Answer 20

Petersen et al (1988) found that Wernicke’s area was active when performing listening tasks, and Broca’s area was active when undertaking reading tasks. This supports the idea that different areas of the brain have specific functions.

Question 20

Biopsychology- Localization of Function AO3

Answer 20

The case of Phineas Gage (1848) supports localisation of function. Gage suffered an accident when a large metal pole was forced up through his head following an industrial accident, removing most of his left frontal lobe. Amazingly, he survived, his personality changed- he became short-tempered and rude. This suggests that mood regulation may be the responsibility of the frontal lobe.

Question 20

Biopsychology- Plasticity and Functional Recovery AO3

Answer 20

Research in this area has led to a useful practical application. As the brain’s spontaneous recovery slows down in the time after a trauma, this suggests that therapy will be needed to help continue the process. This has led to success in the field of neurorehabilitation.

Question 21

Biopsychology- Localization of Function AO3

Answer 21

Dougherty et al (2002) found that a third of OCD sufferers who had part of the cingulate gyrus removed from their brain showed improvement in symptoms following the procedure. This, and similar studies of neurosurgery, shows that particular areas of the brain may be responsible for specific behaviours.

Question 22

Biopsychology- Plasticity and Functional Recovery AO3

Answer 22

Bezzola et al (2012) found that when given 40 hours of golf training, participants aged 40-60 showed evidence of changes to the neural representation of movement in the motor cortex. This supports neural plasticity, and that it can happen at potentially any age.

Question 23

Biopsychology- Plasticity and Functional Recovery AO3

Answer 23

A final strength of research examining plasticity and functional recovery is the application of the findings to the field of neurorehabilitation. Understanding the processes of plasticity and functional recovery led to the development of neurorehabilitation which uses motor therapy and electrical stimulation of the brain to counter the negative effects and deficits in motor and cognitive functions following accidents, injuries and/or strokes. This demonstrates the positive application of research in this area to help improve the cognitive functions of people suffering from injuries.

Question 24

Biopsychology- Plasticity and Functional Recovery AO3

Answer 24

While there is evidence for functional recovery, it is possible that this ability can deteriorate with age. Elbert et al. concluded that the capacity for neural reorganisation is much greater in children than in adults, meaning that neural regeneration is less effective in older brains. This may explain why adults find change more demanding than do young people. Therefore, we must consider individual differences when assessing the likelihood of functional recovery in the brain after trauma.

Question 25

Biopsychology- Sleep Wake Cycle (Endogenous Pacemakers & Exogenous Zeitgebers) AO3

Answer 25

Research is limited by always thinking of endogenous pacemakers and exogenous zeitgebers as separate. Perhaps their effects should be thought of as combined hence studied holistically.

Question 26

Biopsychology- Sleep Wake Cycle (Endogenous Pacemakers & Exogenous Zeitgebers) AO3

Answer 26

A limitation is that SCN research obscures other body clocks in our bodies.there are many organs which have body clocks known as peripheral oscillators which have an effect on the sleep/wake cycle.

Question 27

Biopsychology- Sleep Wake Cycle (Endogenous Pacemakers & Exogenous Zeitgebers) AO3

Answer 27

There is support for the effect of light on sleep/wake cycle Siffre’s study. Siffre in 1962 did a study where he entered a cave and had no natural light. He entered the cave in mid July and came out in mid September but thought it was mid August. This shows that light helps maintain our 24 hour circadian rhythms.

Question 28

Biopsychology- Brain Scan (Ways of studying the brain) AO3

Answer 28

Possible strengths of FMRI- non-invasive, high spatial resolution, is able to image brain in action.

Question 29

Biopsychology- Brain Scan (Ways of studying the brain) AO3

Answer 29

Strengths of EEG- used for clinical diagnosis for conditions such as tumors, epilepsy, high temporal resolution- a single millisecond, non-invasive .

Question 30

Biopsychology- Brain Scan (Ways of studying the brain) AO3

Answer 30

Limitations of FMRI- not a direct measure so is not truly quantitative measure, poor temporal resolution- 5 sec lag, expensive.

Question 31

Biopsychology- Fight or Flight response AO3

Answer 31

The fight flight response has been criticized for being incomplete. gray (1988) proposes that animals also ‘freeze’ before fleeing or fighting so as to gather information on what is the best reaction to the situation whilst they are hyper-vigilant.

Question 32

Biopsychology- Fight or Flight response AO3

Answer 32

Research suggests it suffers from beta bias, the fight or flight response doesn’t apply to women too. Taylor et al (2000) did research that found that women stressful times protect themselves by caring and nurturing for their young (tending) or by forming alliances with others (befriending).

Question 33

Biopsychology- Fight or Flight response AO3

Answer 33

The fight or flight response has a negative impact on health in these modern times. The fight or flight has been seen to be adaptive for the stressful situations of the past that required energetic responses such as encountering animal predators. However for modern day stressors e.g exam stress these energetic responses are not required. Modern day stressors tend to repeatedly activate the fight of flight which can result in serious health conditions e.g increased blood pressure leading to heart disease.