AQA A-LEVEL PSYCHOLOGY: PAPER
1(Latest 2025/ 2026 Update) Questions
and 100% Correct Verified Answers [Grade
A] – University of California, Berkeley
BECK'S COGNITIVE THEORY OF DEPRESSION -correct answer theory assumes that
individuals with a tendency to be depressed think about the world differently than
non-depressed persons and that these individuals are more negative and believe that
bad things will happen to them due to their own personal shortcomings.
tend to have low self esteem and pessimistic perceptions, seem hopeless.
due to faulty info processing - attend to negative aspects and ignore positive ones.
NEGATIVE SELF SCHEMAS -correct answer negative information we hold about
ourselves based on negative past experiences that can lead to cognitive biases such
as interpreting all info about ourselves in a negative manner
NEGATIVE TRIAD (BECK) -correct answer negative view of self, future, and world
ELLIS' ABC MODEL -correct answer an explanation that sees depression occurring
through an (A)ctivating event such as failing a test, which triggers an irrational
(B)elief such as believing that we must always succeed. this leads to a (C)onsequence
- in this case depression.
, AQA A-LEVEL PSYCHOLOGY: PAPER
1(Latest 2025/ 2026 Update) Questions
and 100% Correct Verified Answers [Grade
A] – University of California, Berkeley
STRENGTH OF BECK: SUPPORTING EVIDENCE -correct answer Grazioli & Terry (2001)
assessed pregnant women for cognitive vulnerability to depression before and after
birth.
women judged to be high-risk were more likely to suffer from PND.
these congnitions can be seen before condition develops, suggesting Beck may be
right about faulty cognition leading to depression.
STRENGTH OF BECK: PRACTICAL APPLICATION TO THERAPY -correct answer Beck's
explanation forms basis for CBT which identifies and challenges elements of negative
triad.
strength of the explanation as it translates well into a therapy.
LIMITATION OF BECK: DOES NOT EXPLAIN ALL ASPECTS OF DEPRESSION -correct
answer some depressed patients are deeply angry and Beck cannot explain this. some
experience hallucinations, bizzare beliefs or the delusion that they are a zombie.
Beck's theory cannot always explain all cases of depression - just focuses on one
aspect of the disorder - reductionist
, AQA A-LEVEL PSYCHOLOGY: PAPER
1(Latest 2025/ 2026 Update) Questions
and 100% Correct Verified Answers [Grade
A] – University of California, Berkeley
LIMITATION OF ELLIS: PARTIAL EXPLANATION -correct answer reactive depression
follows activating event - but some forms arise for no apparent reason.
Ellis' explanation only applies to some kinds of depression
STATISTICAL INFREQUENCY -correct answer abnormality is defined as those
behaviours that are extremely rare, i.e. any behaviour that is found in very few people
is regarded as abnormal.
e.g. IQ - statistically unusual if below 70. diagnosed w/ intellectual disability disorder
DEVIATION FROM SOCIAL NORMS -correct answer behaviour that is different from
the accepted standards of behaviour in a community or society
abnormality based on social context
example: antisocial personality disorder (formerly psychopathy) - failure to conform
to lawful and culturally normal behaviour. psychopaths are abnormal because they
deviate from social norms/standards.
, AQA A-LEVEL PSYCHOLOGY: PAPER
1(Latest 2025/ 2026 Update) Questions
and 100% Correct Verified Answers [Grade
A] – University of California, Berkeley
STRENGTH OF STATISTICAL INFREQUENCY: REAL LIFE APPLICATION -correct answer
all assessment of patients w/ mental disorders includes comparison to statistical
norms.
thus a useful part of clinical assessment.
LIMITATION OF STATISTICAL INFREQUENCY: UNUSUAL ≠ BAD -correct answer IQ
scores of >130 are also statistically abnormal, but people with this are not diagnosed
w/ a disorder like those who have IQ<70.
limitation because this means it should never be used alone to make a diagnosis
LIMITATION OF STATISTICAL INFREQUENCY: NOT EVERYONE BENEFITS FROM A
LABEL -correct answer if someone is happy and fulfilled, there is no benefit from
being labelled as abnormal - could cause a negative view of self and others.
LIMITATION OF DEVIATION FROM SOCIAL NORMS: CULTURALLY RELATIVE -correct
answer different cultures label people differently - creates problems for people from
one culture living w/i another culture
creates cultural bias in assessment
1(Latest 2025/ 2026 Update) Questions
and 100% Correct Verified Answers [Grade
A] – University of California, Berkeley
BECK'S COGNITIVE THEORY OF DEPRESSION -correct answer theory assumes that
individuals with a tendency to be depressed think about the world differently than
non-depressed persons and that these individuals are more negative and believe that
bad things will happen to them due to their own personal shortcomings.
tend to have low self esteem and pessimistic perceptions, seem hopeless.
due to faulty info processing - attend to negative aspects and ignore positive ones.
NEGATIVE SELF SCHEMAS -correct answer negative information we hold about
ourselves based on negative past experiences that can lead to cognitive biases such
as interpreting all info about ourselves in a negative manner
NEGATIVE TRIAD (BECK) -correct answer negative view of self, future, and world
ELLIS' ABC MODEL -correct answer an explanation that sees depression occurring
through an (A)ctivating event such as failing a test, which triggers an irrational
(B)elief such as believing that we must always succeed. this leads to a (C)onsequence
- in this case depression.
, AQA A-LEVEL PSYCHOLOGY: PAPER
1(Latest 2025/ 2026 Update) Questions
and 100% Correct Verified Answers [Grade
A] – University of California, Berkeley
STRENGTH OF BECK: SUPPORTING EVIDENCE -correct answer Grazioli & Terry (2001)
assessed pregnant women for cognitive vulnerability to depression before and after
birth.
women judged to be high-risk were more likely to suffer from PND.
these congnitions can be seen before condition develops, suggesting Beck may be
right about faulty cognition leading to depression.
STRENGTH OF BECK: PRACTICAL APPLICATION TO THERAPY -correct answer Beck's
explanation forms basis for CBT which identifies and challenges elements of negative
triad.
strength of the explanation as it translates well into a therapy.
LIMITATION OF BECK: DOES NOT EXPLAIN ALL ASPECTS OF DEPRESSION -correct
answer some depressed patients are deeply angry and Beck cannot explain this. some
experience hallucinations, bizzare beliefs or the delusion that they are a zombie.
Beck's theory cannot always explain all cases of depression - just focuses on one
aspect of the disorder - reductionist
, AQA A-LEVEL PSYCHOLOGY: PAPER
1(Latest 2025/ 2026 Update) Questions
and 100% Correct Verified Answers [Grade
A] – University of California, Berkeley
LIMITATION OF ELLIS: PARTIAL EXPLANATION -correct answer reactive depression
follows activating event - but some forms arise for no apparent reason.
Ellis' explanation only applies to some kinds of depression
STATISTICAL INFREQUENCY -correct answer abnormality is defined as those
behaviours that are extremely rare, i.e. any behaviour that is found in very few people
is regarded as abnormal.
e.g. IQ - statistically unusual if below 70. diagnosed w/ intellectual disability disorder
DEVIATION FROM SOCIAL NORMS -correct answer behaviour that is different from
the accepted standards of behaviour in a community or society
abnormality based on social context
example: antisocial personality disorder (formerly psychopathy) - failure to conform
to lawful and culturally normal behaviour. psychopaths are abnormal because they
deviate from social norms/standards.
, AQA A-LEVEL PSYCHOLOGY: PAPER
1(Latest 2025/ 2026 Update) Questions
and 100% Correct Verified Answers [Grade
A] – University of California, Berkeley
STRENGTH OF STATISTICAL INFREQUENCY: REAL LIFE APPLICATION -correct answer
all assessment of patients w/ mental disorders includes comparison to statistical
norms.
thus a useful part of clinical assessment.
LIMITATION OF STATISTICAL INFREQUENCY: UNUSUAL ≠ BAD -correct answer IQ
scores of >130 are also statistically abnormal, but people with this are not diagnosed
w/ a disorder like those who have IQ<70.
limitation because this means it should never be used alone to make a diagnosis
LIMITATION OF STATISTICAL INFREQUENCY: NOT EVERYONE BENEFITS FROM A
LABEL -correct answer if someone is happy and fulfilled, there is no benefit from
being labelled as abnormal - could cause a negative view of self and others.
LIMITATION OF DEVIATION FROM SOCIAL NORMS: CULTURALLY RELATIVE -correct
answer different cultures label people differently - creates problems for people from
one culture living w/i another culture
creates cultural bias in assessment
