AQA A-LEVEL PSYCHOLOGY: PAPER 1
Aqa A-Level Psychology: Paper 1 Exam
Containing 334 Questions with Certified
Solutions 2024-2025.
STATISTICAL INFREQUENCY - Answer: abnormality is defined as those behaviors’
that are extremely rare, i.e. any behavior that is found in very few people is
regarded as abnormal.
1
, AQA A-LEVEL PSYCHOLOGY: PAPER 1
e.g. IQ - statistically unusual if below 70. diagnosed w/ intellectual disability
disorder
DEVIATION FROM SOCIAL NORMS - Answer: behavior that is different from the
accepted standards of behavior in a community or society
abnormality based on social context
example: antisocial personality disorder (formerly psychopathy) - failure to
conform to lawful and culturally normal behavior. psychopaths are abnormal
because they deviate from social norms/standards.
STRENGTH OF STATISTICAL INFREQUENCY: REAL LIFE APPLICATION - 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 - 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
2
, AQA A-LEVEL PSYCHOLOGY: PAPER 1
LIMITATION OF STATISTICAL INFREQUENCY: NOT EVERYONE BENEFITS FROM A
LABEL - 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 -
Answer: different cultures label people differently - creates problems for people
from one culture living w/i another culture
creates cultural bias in assessment
LIMITATION OF DEVIATION FROM SOCIAL NORMS: HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES -
Answer: too much reliance on this method of assessment and lead to systematic
abuse of human rights, for example diagnosing people with conditions for trying
to escape slavery or being attracted to working-class people - diagnoses used for
control.
FAILURE TO FUNCTION ADEQUATELY - Answer: occurs when someone is unable to
cope with ordinary demands of day-to-day living.
no longer conforming to interpersonal rules, experience personal distress, behave
irrationally or dangerously.
DEVIATION FROM IDEAL MENTAL HEALTH - Answer: occurs when someone does
not meet a set of criteria for good mental health. can overlap w/ failure to
function adequately
3
, AQA A-LEVEL PSYCHOLOGY: PAPER 1
JAHODA (1958) - Answer: Six conditions of ideal mental health:
(1) positive self attitude
(2) self actualisation - realising your potential, being fulfilled.
(3) resistance to stress
(4) personal autonomy - making your own decisions, being in control.
(5) accurate perception of reality
(6) adaption to the environment.
STRENGTH OF FAILURE TO FUNCTION ADEQUATELY: RECOGNISES PATIENT'S
PERSPECTIVE - Answer: allows patient to discuss how they struggle to cope w/
everyday pressures - captures experience of those who need help
LIMITATION OF FAILURE TO FUNCTION ADEQUATELY: SAME AS DEVIATION FROM
SOCIAL NORMS - Answer: hard to say when someone is really failing to function,
or if they just deviate from social norms. e.e people who live alternative lifestyles.
treating this as failures of adequate functioning limits freedom.
LIMITATION OF FAILURE TO FUNCTION ADEQUATELY: SUBJECTIVE - Answer:
someone has to judge distress - patients may feel distressed but may not be
viewed as suffering.
STRENGTH OF DEVIATION FROM IDEAL MENTAL HEALTH: COMPREHENSIVE -
Answer: broad criteria of mental health covers most reasons why someone may
seek help.
4
Aqa A-Level Psychology: Paper 1 Exam
Containing 334 Questions with Certified
Solutions 2024-2025.
STATISTICAL INFREQUENCY - Answer: abnormality is defined as those behaviors’
that are extremely rare, i.e. any behavior that is found in very few people is
regarded as abnormal.
1
, AQA A-LEVEL PSYCHOLOGY: PAPER 1
e.g. IQ - statistically unusual if below 70. diagnosed w/ intellectual disability
disorder
DEVIATION FROM SOCIAL NORMS - Answer: behavior that is different from the
accepted standards of behavior in a community or society
abnormality based on social context
example: antisocial personality disorder (formerly psychopathy) - failure to
conform to lawful and culturally normal behavior. psychopaths are abnormal
because they deviate from social norms/standards.
STRENGTH OF STATISTICAL INFREQUENCY: REAL LIFE APPLICATION - 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 - 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
2
, AQA A-LEVEL PSYCHOLOGY: PAPER 1
LIMITATION OF STATISTICAL INFREQUENCY: NOT EVERYONE BENEFITS FROM A
LABEL - 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 -
Answer: different cultures label people differently - creates problems for people
from one culture living w/i another culture
creates cultural bias in assessment
LIMITATION OF DEVIATION FROM SOCIAL NORMS: HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES -
Answer: too much reliance on this method of assessment and lead to systematic
abuse of human rights, for example diagnosing people with conditions for trying
to escape slavery or being attracted to working-class people - diagnoses used for
control.
FAILURE TO FUNCTION ADEQUATELY - Answer: occurs when someone is unable to
cope with ordinary demands of day-to-day living.
no longer conforming to interpersonal rules, experience personal distress, behave
irrationally or dangerously.
DEVIATION FROM IDEAL MENTAL HEALTH - Answer: occurs when someone does
not meet a set of criteria for good mental health. can overlap w/ failure to
function adequately
3
, AQA A-LEVEL PSYCHOLOGY: PAPER 1
JAHODA (1958) - Answer: Six conditions of ideal mental health:
(1) positive self attitude
(2) self actualisation - realising your potential, being fulfilled.
(3) resistance to stress
(4) personal autonomy - making your own decisions, being in control.
(5) accurate perception of reality
(6) adaption to the environment.
STRENGTH OF FAILURE TO FUNCTION ADEQUATELY: RECOGNISES PATIENT'S
PERSPECTIVE - Answer: allows patient to discuss how they struggle to cope w/
everyday pressures - captures experience of those who need help
LIMITATION OF FAILURE TO FUNCTION ADEQUATELY: SAME AS DEVIATION FROM
SOCIAL NORMS - Answer: hard to say when someone is really failing to function,
or if they just deviate from social norms. e.e people who live alternative lifestyles.
treating this as failures of adequate functioning limits freedom.
LIMITATION OF FAILURE TO FUNCTION ADEQUATELY: SUBJECTIVE - Answer:
someone has to judge distress - patients may feel distressed but may not be
viewed as suffering.
STRENGTH OF DEVIATION FROM IDEAL MENTAL HEALTH: COMPREHENSIVE -
Answer: broad criteria of mental health covers most reasons why someone may
seek help.
4
