psychology paper 2

Question 1

plan a 16 marker for origins of psychology

Answer 1

A01: define standardised procedures and structuralism
A01: stages of psychology and the approaches
A03: strength of Wundt’s methods being well controlled
A03: limitation of Wundt’s work not considered scientific today

Question 2

plan a 16 marker for the emergence of psychology as a science

Answer 2

A01: emergence of the behaviourists
A01: emergence of the cognitive/ biological approach
A03: strength of modern psychology being scientific
A03: limitation of psychology as objective methods isn’t used by all approaches

Question 3

plan a 16 marker for the psychodynamic approach

Answer 3

A01: describe the role of the unconscious according to fraud
A01: describe t he personality with defence mechanisms and the psychosexual stages according to fraud.
A03: strength of psychodynamic introducing the idea of psychotherapy + however doesn’t always work, more serious mental disorders
A03: strength of fraud’s theory able to explain human behaviour
A03: limitation as most is untestable

Question 4

plan a 16 marker for the behaviourist approach

Answer 4

A01: basic assumptions
A01: explain classical and operant conditioning
A03: strength of the well controlled research + however may be over simplified
A03: strength due to real world application of conditioning
A03: limitation as not all behaviour based on conditioning

Question 5

plan a 16 marker for the humanistic approach

Answer 5

A01: describe Maslow’s hierarchy of needs
A01: explain free will and rogers self congruence and conditions of worth
A03: strength as it rejects reductionism + however reductionism may be more scientific
A03: strength of optimism
A03: limitation as it may be culturally biased

Question 6

plan a 16 marker for the cognitive approach

Answer 6

A01: describe assumptions and the role of schemas
A01: explain theoretical computer models and cognitive neuroscience
A03: strength of use of scientific methods + however relies on inference of mental processes
A03: strength of its practical application
A03: limitation as its based on machine reductionism

Question 7

plan a 16 marker for the social learning theory

Answer 7

A01: explain the assumptions and mediational processes with vicarious reinforcement
A01: define identification and banduras research
A03: strength of recognising cognitive factors + bandura’s theory about biological factors is supported
A03: limitation as its based on lab studies
A03: strength of real world application

Question 8

plan a 16 marker for the biological approach

Answer 8

A01: explain the assumptions and neurochemical basis of behaviour
A01: define genetics basis of behaviour and genotype/ phenotype
A03: strength of real world application + however drugs doesn’t work for everyone
A03: strength of scientific methods for investigation
A03: limitation as its determinist

Question 9

plan an 8 marker on the nervous system

Answer 9

A01: fully describe with its functions and systems
AO1: describe the central and peripheral nervous systems

Question 10

plan an 8 marker on the endocrine system

Answer 10

A01: describe glands and hormones
A01: explain the process of fight or flight

Question 11

plan an 8 marker on the structure of neurons

Answer 11

A01: explain neurons in general
A01: describe the different neurons in detail

Question 12

plan an 8 marker on synaptic transmission

Answer 12

A01: describe the chemical transmission and neurotransmitters
A01: explain excitation and inhibition and summation

Question 13

plan a 16 marker for the localisation of function in the brain

Answer 13

AO1: talk about the localisation vs holistic theory and the different hemispheres
A01: describe all the different lobes of the brain and their functions
A03: support from brain scans + however challenged by removal of cortex of rats.
A03: limitation of language restricted to Broca’s and Wernicke’s area
A03: strength that damage in brain linked to mental disorders

Question 14

plan a 16 marker for hemispheric lateralisation and split brain research

Answer 14

A01: describe localisation/ lateralisation and left and right hemispheres
A01: describe what split brain is and Sperry’s research
A03: strength of hemispheric lateralisation suggesting even connected brains the 2 hemispheres process information differently + split brain research shows that split brainers preform better in some tasks
A03: limitation of hemispheric lateralisation suggesting LH and RH are identified wrong
A03: limitation of split brain research is Sperry’s research may have had confounding variables

Question 15

plan a 16 marker for plasticity and functional recovery of the brain after trauma

Answer 15

A01: describe plasticity and Maguire et Al’s findings
A01: describe functional recovery and support of structural changes in brain
A03: limitation due to plasticity negative behavioural consequences
A03: strength of brain plasticity being a lifelong ability
A03: strength of functional recovery real world application

Question 16

compare EEG and ERP as ways of studying the brain

Answer 16

A01: describe EEG and ERP
A03: limitation of ERP is there may be extraneous variables and lack of standardisation however strength of EEG real world usefulness with 2 examples
A03: limitation of EEG is its too generalised and cant pin point however ERP are more specific and have good temporal resolution

Question 17

compare FMRI and post mortem examinations

Answer 17

A01: describe FMRI and post mortem examination
A03: limitation of post mortem is ethical issues of consent but strength of FMRI doesn’t rely on radiation and non invasive with high spatial resolution
A03: limitation of FMRI is expensive with poor temporal resolution however post mortem vital for key foundation for understanding in the brain

Question 18

plan a 16 marker for circadian rhythms

Answer 18

A01: describe in detail circadian rhythms
A01: explain siffre’s study
A03: real life application in understanding consequences when rhythm is disrupted
A03: knuttson’s link of shift work to ill health

Question 19

describe ultradian rhythms

Answer 19

A01: describe ultradian rhythms and sleep stages

Question 20

plan a 16 marker for infradian rhythms

Answer 20

A01: describe infradian rhythms and the monthly cycles, menstrual cycle and McClintock et AL’s study
A01: describe seasonal affective disorder
A03: strength of menstrual synchrony explained by natural selection + however validity of evolutionary perspective has been questioned

Question 21

plan a 16 marker for endogenous pacemakers

Answer 21

A01: describe the super chiasmatic nucleus and pineal gland
A01: explain the research of ralph et al and DeCarsey et al
A03: ethical issues as animals were harmed
A03: generalisability to humans
A03: reductionist ignoring other factors besides SCN

Question 22

plan a 16 marker for exogenous zeitgebers

Answer 22

A01: describe entrainment and factor of light with Campbell and murphy’s study
A01: explain social cues and jet lag research
A03: more than one internal clock not just SCN, called peripheral oscillators
A03: endogenous pacemakers cant be studied in isolation