AQA A LEVEL PSYCHOLOGY PAPER 2 Exam
Newest 2026 Complete Questions With 100%
Correct Answers
Give one reason why schema's are useful? - ANSWER -When we're in unknown
situations schemas help us know how to behave. So when we do not know what to do our
schema fills in the gaps for us and allow us to process situations better.
Give one reason why schema's are not useful? - ANSWER -schemas may exclude
information which doesn't conform to our prior expectations. As a result, we may form
stereotypes which are difficult to shift, even if new,disputing information is presented. This
means we may not be processing the world around us accurately and may misjudge or
represent a person or situation.
Discuss the defense mechanism shown by Jed? - ANSWER -Displacement is when we
redirect our hostile feelings onto something else because it is not appropriate to express their
feeling towards the person or object in question. Jed can't take his frustration out on his
teacher, who issued the detention and he displaced his feelings by kicking the locker.
Outline the key features of the behaviourist approach. Compare to the biological approach,
(A01 Behaviourist) - ANSWER -The behaviourist approach suggests that the basic
processes that govern learning in all species are the same. We learn through two concepts:
operant conditioning and classical conditioning.
Outline the key features of the behaviourist approach. Compare to the biological approach,
(classical conditioning) - ANSWER -The idea of classical conditioning was developed by
Pavlov who found that we learn through association. He found that it was possible to condition
dogs to associate the sound of a bell with food. This resulted in the dogs producing a salivation
response at the sound of a bell even when no food was present. Pavlov demonstrated that
repeated exposure to an event leads to a learned and uncontrollable behaviour.
, Outline the key features of the behaviourist approach. Compare to the biological approach,
(operant conditioning) - ANSWER -Skinner suggested behaviour resulted from learning
through the consequences of our actions. He conducted research into operant conditioning
theory using rats, and found that three types of consequences will affect behaviour: positive
reinforcement involves rewarding a behaviour, which increases it being repeated; negative
reinforcement involves removing an unpleasant outcome to increase it being repeated;
punishment involves adding an unpleasant outcome,reducing the behaviour.
Outline the key features of the behaviourist approach. Compare to the biological approach,
(similarity to biological) - ANSWER -Both the behaviourist approach and biological
approach share a similarity in being determinist. Both ignore the influence that the person can
have and whether they have free will and can make their own choices in these decisions.
Outline the key features of the behaviourist approach. Compare to the biological approach,
(difference) - ANSWER -However, they differ in that the behaviourist approach is
environmentally determinist while the biological approach is biologically determinist. Stating
that behaviour is the product of internal biological factors (e.g. genes, hormones,
neurotransmitters, etc.) while behaviourists argue that behaviour is determined by the
environment and is a product of stimulus-response associations
Outline the key features of the behaviourist approach. Compare to the biological approach
(similarity) - ANSWER -Both approaches take a nomothetic approach when studying
human behaviour. Both investigate behaviour to try to create universal laws that apply to all
human beings. Biologists argue that this is possible because human beings share similar
physiologies, and behaviourists argue that this is possible because all behaviour is the result of
learning and stimulus-response associations. Therefore, the aim of generating universal laws
that apply to all humans is another similarity between the behaviourist and biological
approaches.
Outline the key features of the behaviourist approach. Compare to the biological approach
(nature + nurture) - ANSWER -the behaviourist approach and biological approach are
different in their position on the nature-nurture debate. Behaviourist views rest firmly on the
nurture side of the debate, and that human beings are blank slates and that all behaviour is
learned. Biological psychologists argue a nature-based view of behaviour. They posit that
behaviour is the result of innate biological factors (e.g. genes, hormones, neurotransmitters.
etc.) and is, therefore, the product of nature and not nurture. Therefore, despite their
similarities in terms of determinism and their approach to investigation, the behaviourist and
biological approaches are radically different in terms of their position on the nature-nurture
debate.
Name a difference between somatic nervous system and autonomic nervous system? -
ANSWER -The somatic nervous system facilitates communication between the central
Newest 2026 Complete Questions With 100%
Correct Answers
Give one reason why schema's are useful? - ANSWER -When we're in unknown
situations schemas help us know how to behave. So when we do not know what to do our
schema fills in the gaps for us and allow us to process situations better.
Give one reason why schema's are not useful? - ANSWER -schemas may exclude
information which doesn't conform to our prior expectations. As a result, we may form
stereotypes which are difficult to shift, even if new,disputing information is presented. This
means we may not be processing the world around us accurately and may misjudge or
represent a person or situation.
Discuss the defense mechanism shown by Jed? - ANSWER -Displacement is when we
redirect our hostile feelings onto something else because it is not appropriate to express their
feeling towards the person or object in question. Jed can't take his frustration out on his
teacher, who issued the detention and he displaced his feelings by kicking the locker.
Outline the key features of the behaviourist approach. Compare to the biological approach,
(A01 Behaviourist) - ANSWER -The behaviourist approach suggests that the basic
processes that govern learning in all species are the same. We learn through two concepts:
operant conditioning and classical conditioning.
Outline the key features of the behaviourist approach. Compare to the biological approach,
(classical conditioning) - ANSWER -The idea of classical conditioning was developed by
Pavlov who found that we learn through association. He found that it was possible to condition
dogs to associate the sound of a bell with food. This resulted in the dogs producing a salivation
response at the sound of a bell even when no food was present. Pavlov demonstrated that
repeated exposure to an event leads to a learned and uncontrollable behaviour.
, Outline the key features of the behaviourist approach. Compare to the biological approach,
(operant conditioning) - ANSWER -Skinner suggested behaviour resulted from learning
through the consequences of our actions. He conducted research into operant conditioning
theory using rats, and found that three types of consequences will affect behaviour: positive
reinforcement involves rewarding a behaviour, which increases it being repeated; negative
reinforcement involves removing an unpleasant outcome to increase it being repeated;
punishment involves adding an unpleasant outcome,reducing the behaviour.
Outline the key features of the behaviourist approach. Compare to the biological approach,
(similarity to biological) - ANSWER -Both the behaviourist approach and biological
approach share a similarity in being determinist. Both ignore the influence that the person can
have and whether they have free will and can make their own choices in these decisions.
Outline the key features of the behaviourist approach. Compare to the biological approach,
(difference) - ANSWER -However, they differ in that the behaviourist approach is
environmentally determinist while the biological approach is biologically determinist. Stating
that behaviour is the product of internal biological factors (e.g. genes, hormones,
neurotransmitters, etc.) while behaviourists argue that behaviour is determined by the
environment and is a product of stimulus-response associations
Outline the key features of the behaviourist approach. Compare to the biological approach
(similarity) - ANSWER -Both approaches take a nomothetic approach when studying
human behaviour. Both investigate behaviour to try to create universal laws that apply to all
human beings. Biologists argue that this is possible because human beings share similar
physiologies, and behaviourists argue that this is possible because all behaviour is the result of
learning and stimulus-response associations. Therefore, the aim of generating universal laws
that apply to all humans is another similarity between the behaviourist and biological
approaches.
Outline the key features of the behaviourist approach. Compare to the biological approach
(nature + nurture) - ANSWER -the behaviourist approach and biological approach are
different in their position on the nature-nurture debate. Behaviourist views rest firmly on the
nurture side of the debate, and that human beings are blank slates and that all behaviour is
learned. Biological psychologists argue a nature-based view of behaviour. They posit that
behaviour is the result of innate biological factors (e.g. genes, hormones, neurotransmitters.
etc.) and is, therefore, the product of nature and not nurture. Therefore, despite their
similarities in terms of determinism and their approach to investigation, the behaviourist and
biological approaches are radically different in terms of their position on the nature-nurture
debate.
Name a difference between somatic nervous system and autonomic nervous system? -
ANSWER -The somatic nervous system facilitates communication between the central
