AQA A LEVEL PSYCHOLOGY PAPER 2
Give one reason why schema's are useful? - ANSWhen 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? - ANSschemas 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? - ANSDisplacement 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) - ANSThe 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) - ANSThe 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) - ANSSkinner 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) - ANSBoth 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) - ANSHowever, 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) - ANSBoth 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) - ANSthe 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? - ANSThe
somatic nervous system facilitates communication between the central nervous system and the
outside world, whereas the autonomic nervous system plays an important role in maintaining
internal processes like body temperature.
Label the picture of the diagram to show which neuron went where - ANSA = Sensory
B = Relay
C = Motor
Explain why neurons travel in one direction during synaptic transmission? - ANSConsequently,
the information can only travel in this direction because the neurotransmitters are released from
the vesicles at the end of the pre-synaptic neuron and bind to sites at the start of the
post-synaptic neuron. This would make it impossible for information to flow in any other
direction.
relate fight or flight to why it would be unhelpful for someone taking a driving test - ANSWhen
entering a stressful situation, like a driving test, the amydala activates. The amygdala sends a
distress signal to the hypothalamus,which then communicates with the body through the
sympathetic nervous system. If a short term response is needed the SAM pathway is activated.
Give one reason why schema's are useful? - ANSWhen 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? - ANSschemas 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? - ANSDisplacement 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) - ANSThe 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) - ANSThe 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) - ANSSkinner 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) - ANSBoth 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) - ANSHowever, 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) - ANSBoth 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) - ANSthe 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? - ANSThe
somatic nervous system facilitates communication between the central nervous system and the
outside world, whereas the autonomic nervous system plays an important role in maintaining
internal processes like body temperature.
Label the picture of the diagram to show which neuron went where - ANSA = Sensory
B = Relay
C = Motor
Explain why neurons travel in one direction during synaptic transmission? - ANSConsequently,
the information can only travel in this direction because the neurotransmitters are released from
the vesicles at the end of the pre-synaptic neuron and bind to sites at the start of the
post-synaptic neuron. This would make it impossible for information to flow in any other
direction.
relate fight or flight to why it would be unhelpful for someone taking a driving test - ANSWhen
entering a stressful situation, like a driving test, the amydala activates. The amygdala sends a
distress signal to the hypothalamus,which then communicates with the body through the
sympathetic nervous system. If a short term response is needed the SAM pathway is activated.
