100% satisfaction guarantee Immediately available after payment Both online and in PDF No strings attached 4.2 TrustPilot
logo-home
Summary

Summary All essay plans for AQA A-level Psychology (one document)

Rating
-
Sold
-
Pages
106
Uploaded on
08-10-2025
Written in
2025/2026

- Detailed essay plans for all topics (Memory, Social Influence, Attachment, Psychopathology, Biopsychology, Approaches in Psychology, Issues and Debates, Relationships, Aggression and Schizophrenia) - Clearly separates A01 and A03 - Outlines supporting and refuting evaluation points - Provides up-to-date statistics - Outlines psychologist's studies as evidence

Show more Read less
Institution
AQA
Module
All















Whoops! We can’t load your doc right now. Try again or contact support.

Document information

Uploaded on
October 8, 2025
Number of pages
106
Written in
2025/2026
Type
Summary

Content preview

​ sychologist names =​​Red​
P
​Statistics =​​Purple​
​Examples =​​Green​
​Important terminology/ information =​​Orange​


​Contents page​
​Memory​

​1)​ ​Discuss the multi-store model of memory. Refer to research evidence in your answer (16)​


​2)​ ​Discuss research on duration (8)​



​3)​ ​Discuss research on coding (8)​



​4)​ ​Discuss research on capacity (8)​



​5)​ ​Describe and evaluate types of long‐term memory. (16)​


​6)​ D
​ iscuss what psychological research has shown about working memory. In your answer, refer to theory and/or​
​evidence. (16)​



​7)​ ​Describe and evaluate how interference leads to forgetting. (16)​



​8)​ ​Describe and evaluate how retrieval failure due to the absence of cues leads to forgetting. (16)​


​9)​ D
​ iscuss research into the effects of misleading information on the accuracy of eyewitness testimony. (16​
​marks)​



​10)​ ​Outline and evaluate research into the effects of anxiety on the accuracy of eyewitness testimony. (16)​



​11)​ ​Discuss the use of the cognitive interview as a means of improving the accuracy of eyewitness testimony. (16)​




​Social Influence​

​12)​ ​Discuss explanations of conformity (16)​

, ​13)​ ​Discuss factors that can affect conformity. Refer to variations of Asch’s experiment in your answer. (16)​



​14)​ ​Outline and evaluate research into conformity to social roles, with reference to Zimbardo. (16)​


​15)​ ​Discuss research into obedience as investigated by Milgram (situational variables) (16)​



​16)​ ​Discuss agentic state and legitimacy of authority as a (situational) explanation of obedience (16)​



​17)​ ​Outline and evaluate the authoritarian personality as a dispositional explanation for obedience. (16)​



​18)​ ​Outline and evaluate two explanations of resistance to social influence. (16)​



​19)​ ​Outline and evaluate research into minority influence. (16)​



​20)​ ​Outline and evaluate the role of social influence processes in social change. (16)​




​Attachment​

​21)​ ​With reference to reciprocity and interactional synchrony, discuss infant-caregiver interactions. (16)​



​22)​ ​Discuss the stages of attachment identified by Schaffer (& Emerson - not mentioned in the specification) (16)​



​23)​ ​Outline and evaluate the role of the father in the development of attachment. (16)​



​24)​ ​Outline and evaluate animal studies of attachment. (16 marks)​



​25)​ ​Outline and evaluate the learning theory as an explanation of attachment. (16)​



​26)​ ​Outline and evaluate Bowlby’s monotropic explanation of attachment. (16)​



​27)​ ​Outline and evaluate Bowlby’s maternal explanation of attachment. (16)​



​28)​ ​Discuss the strange situation as a way of assessing types of attachment. (16)​



​29)​ ​Outline and evaluate research into cultural variations in attachment. (16)​

, ​30)​ ​Outline and evaluate research into the effects of institutionalisation. (16)​



​31)​ ​Outline and evaluate research into the influence of early attachment on childhood and adult relationships. (16)​




​Psychopathology​

​32)​ ​Characteristics of phobia​



​33)​ ​Characteristics of depression​



​34)​ ​Characteristics of OCD​



​35)​ ​Outline and evaluate two or more definitions of abnormality. (16)​



​36)​ ​Outline and evaluate the behavioural approach to explaining phobias. (16)​



​37)​ ​Outline and evaluate the behavioural approach to treating phobias. (16)​



​38)​ ​Outline and evaluate the cognitive approach to explaining depression. (16)​



​39)​ ​Outline and evaluate the cognitive approach to treating depression. (16)​



​40)​ ​Discuss the biological approach to explaining OCD. (16)​



​41)​ ​Outline and evaluate the biological approach to treating OCD. (16)​




​Biopsychology​

​42)​ ​Discuss research into localisation of the brain (16)​


​43)​ ​Discuss research into hemispheric lateralisation of the brain (16)​


​44)​ ​Discuss research into plasticity of the brain, including functional recovery (16)​



​45)​ ​Discuss ways of studying the brain (16)​

, ​46)​ ​Discuss research into circadian rhythms (16)​



​47)​ ​Discuss research into ultradian and infradian rhythms (16)​



​48)​ ​Discuss research into endogenous pacemakers and exogenous zeitgebers (16)​




​Approaches in psychology​

​49)​ ​Outline and evaluate the behaviourist approach (16)​



​50)​ ​Outline and evaluate social learning theory (16)​



​51)​ ​Outline and evaluate the cognitive approach (16)​



​52)​ ​Outline and evaluate the biological approach (16)​



​53)​ ​Outline and evaluate the psychodynamic approach (16)​



​54)​ ​Outline and evaluate the humanistic approach (16)​




​Issues and Debates​

​55)​ ​Discuss how gender bias has been presented in psychology (16)​


​56)​ ​Discuss how cultural bias has been presented in psychology (16)​


​57)​ ​Discuss free will and determinism in psychology (16)​


​58)​ ​Discuss the nature-nurture debate in psychology (16)​


​59)​ ​Discuss holism and reductionism in psychology (16)​


​60)​ ​Discuss idiographic and nomothetic approaches in psychology (16)​

, ​61)​ ​Discuss ethical implications in psychology. Refer to psychological research you have studied (16)​




​Relationships​

​62)​ ​Describe and evaluate the evolutionary explanation for partner preferences (16)​


​63)​ ​Describe and evaluate physical attraction being a factor of attraction (16)​


​64)​ ​Describe and evaluate self-disclosure being a factor of attraction (16)​


​65)​ ​Describe and evaluate filter theory as a factor of attraction (16)​


​66)​ ​Describe and evaluate the social exchange theory (16)​


​67)​ ​Describe and evaluate the equity theory (16)​


​68)​ ​Describe and evaluate the Rusbult’s Investment Model (16)​


​69)​ ​Describe and evaluate Duck’s Phase Model (16)​


​70)​ ​Discuss what psychological research has told us about virtual relationships in social media (16)​


​71)​ ​Discuss what gating in virtual relationships in social media (8)​


​72)​ ​Discuss what psychological research has told us about parasocial relationships (16)​




​Aggression​

​73)​ ​Outline and evaluate the role of neural and/or hormonal mechanisms in aggression. (16)​



​74)​ ​Discuss the role of genetic factors in aggression. (16)​



​75)​ ​Outline and evaluate the ethological explanation of aggression (16)​



​76)​ ​Outline and evaluate evolutionary explanations of aggression. (16)​

, ​77)​ ​Describe and evaluate the frustration-aggression hypothesis of human aggression (16)​



​78)​ ​Describe and evaluate the social learning theory of human aggression (16)​



​79)​ ​Describe and evaluate the de-individuation of human aggression (16)​



​80)​ ​Discuss explanations of institutional aggression (16)​



​81)​ ​Discuss media influences on aggression, refer to computer games (16)​



​82)​ ​Discuss desensitisation, disinhibition and cognitive priming as explanations of media influences (16)​




​Schizophrenia​

​83)​ ​Outline the clinical characteristics of schizophrenia​


​84)​ O
​ utline and evaluate issues surrounding the classification and diagnosis of schizophrenia, including reliability​
​and validity (16)​


​85)​ O
​ utline and evaluate biological explanations for schizophrenia: genetics, the dopamine hypothesis and neural​
​correlates (16)​


​86)​ O
​ utline and evaluate psychological explanations for schizophrenia: family dysfunction and cognitive​
​explanations, including dysfunctional thought processing (16)​


​87)​ ​Outline and evaluate drug therapies for treating schizophrenia: typical and atypical antipsychotics (16)​


​88)​ ​Outline and evaluate psychological therapies for schizophrenia (16)​


​89)​ ​Outline and evaluate token economies used in the management of schizophrenia (16)​


​90)​ O
​ utline and evaluate the importance of an interactionist approach in explaining and treating schizophrenia​
​(16)​




​Paper 1 contents​

, ​Memory​




​1)​ ​Discuss the multi-store model of memory. Refer to research evidence in your answer (16)​

​A01​ ​ ulti store​
M -​ ​ ​ tkinson and Shiffrin​​proposed the multi-store model​
A
​model​ ​-​ ​The model describes how information flows through the memory system​

​Sensory register​ -​ ​ ​ ll stimuli from the environment pass through the sensory register​
A
​-​ ​It recieves information from all our senses, the sensory register has a huge capacity​
​-​ ​Information will only pass from the sensory register to the short-term memory store if​
​we pay attention​

S​ hort term​ -​ ​ ​ as a​​capacity of 7+/-2​​(Miller)​
H
​memory​ ​-​ ​STM is​​acoustically encoded​​(Baddeley)​
​-​ ​Duration of 18-30 seconds​​(Peterson & Peterson)​
​-​ ​Limited capacity store as it can only contain a certain number of things before forgetting​
​-​ ​Maintenance rehearsal​​occurs when we repeat new information​​to ourselves​
​-​ ​Prolonged maintenance rehearsal​​allows information​​to pass into LTM​

L​ ong term​ -​ ​ ​ escribed as​​semantically encoded​
D
​memory​ ​-​ ​Theoretically unlimited capacity​
​-​ ​Very long duration (​​48 years​​, shown by​​Bahrick​​)​
​-​ ​In order to remember, retrieval must occur - information is transferred back into STM​
​-​ ​Continue to pass through​​maintenance loop​​afterwards​

​A03​ S​ upporting​ ​-​ ​ SM acknowledges the qualitative differences between STM and LTM by representing​
M
​studies​ ​separate stores.​

, -​ ​ S​ TM is stored acoustically whereas LTM is encoded semantically.​
​-​ ​MSM portrays an accurate view of the differences between the two types of memory​
​and is supported by​​Baddeley, Bahrick and Miller​​.​

L​ acks ecological​ ​-​ ​ espite the research support from​​Baddeley and Peterson​​,​​much of its use in​
D
​validity​ ​generalising to everyday life is questionable.​
​-​ ​Baddeley and Peterson & Peterson​​use letters/ lists​​of words, some of which had no​
​meaning.​
​-​ ​In real life we use all sorts of things to aid our memory so MSM a might not be valid​
​model of how memory working our everyday life​

​ esearch​
R -​ ​ ​ enry Molaison​​underwent surgery for epilepsy.​
H
​supporting​ ​-​ ​A part of his brain called the hippocampus was removed from both sides of his brain, we​
​differences​ ​understand that this is critical for memory function.​
​between STM​ ​-​ ​He could not form any long-term memories but could perform well on tests in​
​and LTM -​​Henry​ ​immediate memory.​
​Molaison​ ​-​ ​Thus demonstrating there are 2 qualitatively different areas of STM and LTM and​
​supports MSM.​

​ SM is an​
M ​-​ ​ ccording to MSM, the more you rehearse something, the more likely it is to transfer to​
A
​inadequate​ ​LTM (prolonged rehearsal).​
​explanation for​ ​-​ ​However,​​Craik and Watkins​​found that the type of​​rehearsal is more important than​
​how LTM works​ ​the amount.​
​-​​Craik and​ ​-​ ​They suggest​​elaborative rehearsal​​(linking information​​to your existing knowledge),​
​Watkins​ ​instead of​​prolonged rehearsal​​, is needed to transfer​​STM into LTM.​
​-​ ​This means the model fails to adequately explain how long term storage works and it​
​might be a complete explanation of memory.​




​2)​ ​Discuss research on duration (8)​

​A01​ ​ eterson and​
P -​ ​ ​ 4 undergraduates​
2
​Peterson​​- STM​ ​-​ ​Found that the increasing retention intervals​​(from​​3-18 seconds)​​decreased the​
​accuracy of recall of consonants​
​-​ ​They were given nonsense triagrams and told to count backwards to prevent mental​
​rehearsal​
-​ ​ ​After 3 seconds, recall was 80%, after 18 seconds about 3%​​Peterson and Peterson's​
​-​ ​Findings suggest that​​STM duration may be 18 seconds​​unless we repeat the​
​information over and over (verbal rehearsal)​

​A03​ ​High control​ ​-​ ​ eterson & Peterson's study of artificial trigrams can be standardised to establish a​
P
​comparison between the groups and therefore cause and effect.​

​ eaningless​
M -​ ​ ​ ecalling consonant syllables does not reflect most everyday memory activities.​
R
​stimuli​ ​-​ ​Therefore, the study lacks external validity.​
​-​ ​However, we sometimes remember meaningless material such as phone numbers.​

​A01​ ​Bahrick​​- LTM​ -​ ​ S​ tudied 392 American ppts​
​-​ ​Using high school yearbooks, recall of names were tested​
​-​ ​There were two conditions:​
​-​ ​Photo-recognition test of photos using the high school year book​
​-​ ​Free call test where ppts recalled all the names of their graduating class​
-​ ​ ​Ppts tested within​​15 years of graduation were 90%​​accurate in photo recognition​
​-​ ​After​​45 years, recall declined to about 70% for photo​​recognition​
​-​ ​Free recall was less accurate than recognition,​​60%​​after 15 years dropping to 30% after​
​48 years​
​-​ ​This shows that LTM may last up to a lifetime for some material​

​A03​ ​High external​ ​-​ ​They investigated meaningful memories (e.g. names and faces).​
£19.99
Get access to the full document:

100% satisfaction guarantee
Immediately available after payment
Both online and in PDF
No strings attached

Get to know the seller
Seller avatar
Studypsychsocio
4.7
(3)

Get to know the seller

Seller avatar
Studypsychsocio Exeter University
View profile
Follow You need to be logged in order to follow users or courses
Sold
2
Member since
2 months
Number of followers
0
Documents
12
Last sold
1 month ago
Studypsychsocio

Selling A* grade revision resources for A-level Psychology & Sociology

4.7

3 reviews

5
2
4
1
3
0
2
0
1
0

Recently viewed by you

Why students choose Stuvia

Created by fellow students, verified by reviews

Quality you can trust: written by students who passed their exams and reviewed by others who've used these revision notes.

Didn't get what you expected? Choose another document

No problem! You can straightaway pick a different document that better suits what you're after.

Pay as you like, start learning straight away

No subscription, no commitments. Pay the way you're used to via credit card and download your PDF document instantly.

Student with book image

“Bought, downloaded, and smashed it. It really can be that simple.”

Alisha Student

Frequently asked questions