AQA Psychology Paper 2 with questions and
verified answers 2026
Who was Wundt? - correct answer-The 'father of psychology'
What did Wundt do? - correct answer-Opened first lab in Leipzig, used
introspection to study consciousness
W Freud outlined defence mechanisms used by the Ego to cope with
the demands of the conflict caused by the Id/superego or traumatic
events. Which three do you need to know? - correct answer-
Repression, Denial, Displacement
Outline the defence mechanism of repression proposed by Freud. -
correct answer-The ego prevents distressing thoughts from entering
the conscious mind
Outline the defence mechanism of denial proposed by Freud. - correct
answer-A threatening event or unwanted reality is ignored/blocked
from conscious awareness
,Outline the defence mechanism of displacement proposed by Freud. -
correct answer-A negative impulse is directed onto something else
What are the 5 stages of psychosexual development outlined by Freud?
- correct answer-Oral, Anal, Phallic, Latent, Gential
At what age does each stage of psychosexual development take place?
- correct answer-Oral - 0-1 year, Anal - 1-2 years, Phallic - 3-5 years,
Latent - 6 years until puberty, Genital - puberty onwards
Where is the focus of libido at each psychosexual stage of
development? - correct answer-Oral - mouth and sucking behaviours,
Anal - anal/bladder control, Phallic - genital differences, Latent -
repression of sexual urges, Genital - awakening or sexual urges directed
toward intercoursehat is introspection? - correct answer-A method
where subjects analyse their own thoughts and feelings in relation to a
stimulus (studies sensation and perception) using a standardised
procedure
What are the limitations of introspection? - correct answer-Subjective,
unfalsifiable
How did Wundt attempt to make introspection scientific? - correct
answer-He used standardised procedures in a controlled environment
,What features make something a science? (5) - correct answer-
Hypothesis testing, Objectivity, Replicability, Falsifiability, Empirical
Which approaches take the most scientific (nomothetic) approach to
psychology? - correct answer-Behaviourist, Cognitive, Biological
Which approaches take the least scientific approach to psychology? -
correct answer-Humanistic, Psychodynamic
What are the assumptions of the behaviourist approach? (3) - correct
answer-All behaviour is learnt, Animals and humans learn in the same
way, We a born a blank slate
How would you describe the research methods used by the
behaviourist approach? - correct answer-Use experimental method,
with animals as subjects, looking for quantifiable behaviour
Who proposed classical conditioning as a way of learning? - correct
answer-Pavlov
How was Classical conditioning first identified? - correct answer-
Pavlov's dogs study - salivating at the sound of a bell that indicated
food was coming.
, Describe the process of classical conditioning (you don't have to use an
example). - correct answer-Unconditioned Stimulus à Unconditioned
Response (usually a pre existing reflex, but can be a previously learnt
behaviour), Neutral Stimulus à No response, US + NS à UR (repeated
pairing of these means eventually the NS becomes...), Conditioned
Stimulus à Conditioned Response
What is generalisation in Classical conditioning? - correct answer-When
stimuli similar to the original CS produce the same response
What is extinction in classical conditioning? - correct answer-Where the
CR stops being produced by the CS
Who proposed operant conditioning as a way of learning? - correct
answer-Skinner
How would you explain the difference between classical and operant
conditioning? - correct answer-Classical conditioning is learning by
association, operant conditioning is learning by reinforcement
List the three types of reinforcement key to explaining operant
conditioning. - correct answer-Positive reinforcement, Negative
reinforcement, Punishment
Outline positive reinforcement in operant conditioning. - correct
answer-Behaviour is more likely to be repeated as a result of reward
verified answers 2026
Who was Wundt? - correct answer-The 'father of psychology'
What did Wundt do? - correct answer-Opened first lab in Leipzig, used
introspection to study consciousness
W Freud outlined defence mechanisms used by the Ego to cope with
the demands of the conflict caused by the Id/superego or traumatic
events. Which three do you need to know? - correct answer-
Repression, Denial, Displacement
Outline the defence mechanism of repression proposed by Freud. -
correct answer-The ego prevents distressing thoughts from entering
the conscious mind
Outline the defence mechanism of denial proposed by Freud. - correct
answer-A threatening event or unwanted reality is ignored/blocked
from conscious awareness
,Outline the defence mechanism of displacement proposed by Freud. -
correct answer-A negative impulse is directed onto something else
What are the 5 stages of psychosexual development outlined by Freud?
- correct answer-Oral, Anal, Phallic, Latent, Gential
At what age does each stage of psychosexual development take place?
- correct answer-Oral - 0-1 year, Anal - 1-2 years, Phallic - 3-5 years,
Latent - 6 years until puberty, Genital - puberty onwards
Where is the focus of libido at each psychosexual stage of
development? - correct answer-Oral - mouth and sucking behaviours,
Anal - anal/bladder control, Phallic - genital differences, Latent -
repression of sexual urges, Genital - awakening or sexual urges directed
toward intercoursehat is introspection? - correct answer-A method
where subjects analyse their own thoughts and feelings in relation to a
stimulus (studies sensation and perception) using a standardised
procedure
What are the limitations of introspection? - correct answer-Subjective,
unfalsifiable
How did Wundt attempt to make introspection scientific? - correct
answer-He used standardised procedures in a controlled environment
,What features make something a science? (5) - correct answer-
Hypothesis testing, Objectivity, Replicability, Falsifiability, Empirical
Which approaches take the most scientific (nomothetic) approach to
psychology? - correct answer-Behaviourist, Cognitive, Biological
Which approaches take the least scientific approach to psychology? -
correct answer-Humanistic, Psychodynamic
What are the assumptions of the behaviourist approach? (3) - correct
answer-All behaviour is learnt, Animals and humans learn in the same
way, We a born a blank slate
How would you describe the research methods used by the
behaviourist approach? - correct answer-Use experimental method,
with animals as subjects, looking for quantifiable behaviour
Who proposed classical conditioning as a way of learning? - correct
answer-Pavlov
How was Classical conditioning first identified? - correct answer-
Pavlov's dogs study - salivating at the sound of a bell that indicated
food was coming.
, Describe the process of classical conditioning (you don't have to use an
example). - correct answer-Unconditioned Stimulus à Unconditioned
Response (usually a pre existing reflex, but can be a previously learnt
behaviour), Neutral Stimulus à No response, US + NS à UR (repeated
pairing of these means eventually the NS becomes...), Conditioned
Stimulus à Conditioned Response
What is generalisation in Classical conditioning? - correct answer-When
stimuli similar to the original CS produce the same response
What is extinction in classical conditioning? - correct answer-Where the
CR stops being produced by the CS
Who proposed operant conditioning as a way of learning? - correct
answer-Skinner
How would you explain the difference between classical and operant
conditioning? - correct answer-Classical conditioning is learning by
association, operant conditioning is learning by reinforcement
List the three types of reinforcement key to explaining operant
conditioning. - correct answer-Positive reinforcement, Negative
reinforcement, Punishment
Outline positive reinforcement in operant conditioning. - correct
answer-Behaviour is more likely to be repeated as a result of reward
