AQA A-LEVEL PSYCHOLOGY: PAPER 1 GRADE A+ SOLUTIONS

AQA A-LEVEL PSYCHOLOGY: PAPER 1
GRADE A+ SOLUTIONS

STATISTICAL INFREQUENCY
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
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.
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STRENGTH OF STATISTICAL INFREQUENCY: REAL LIFE APPLICATION
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

,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
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
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
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
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
occurs when someone does not meet a set of criteria for good mental
health. can overlap w/ failure to function adequately
JAHODA (1958)
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
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
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
someone has to judge distress - patients may feel distressed but may
not be viewed as suffering.
STRENGTH OF DEVIATION FROM IDEAL MENTAL HEALTH: COMPREHENSIVE
broad criteria of mental health covers most reasons why someone may
seek help.
LIMITATION OF DEVIATION FROM IDEAL MENTAL HEALTH: CULTURALLY RELATIVE
Johoda's classification may be specific to western norms. emphasis on
self-actualisation may be seen as self-indulgence on collectivist
cultures.
LIMITATION OF DEVIATION FROM IDEAL MENTAL HEALTH: UNREALISTICALLY
HIGH STANDARD
very few people actually attain all of the criteria at all times ∴
most people would be viewed as abnormal.
CHARACTERISTICS OF PHOBIAS
behavioural
- panic
- avoidance of phobic stimulus

emotional
- anxiety/fear
- unreasonable responses

cognitive
- selective attention twd phobic stimulus (difficult to focus
elsewhere)
- irratoinal beliefs
CHARACTERISTICS OF DEPRESSION
behavioural
- low activity levels
- disruption to sleep/eating

emotional
- low mood
- anger

cognitive
- poor concentration
- absolutist thinking
CHARACTERISTICS OF OCD
behavioural
- compulsions

, - avoidance

emotional
- anxiety/distress
- guilt/disgust

cognitive
- obsessive thoughts
- insight into excessive anxiety (awareness that thoughts are
irrational - hyper-vigilant of obsession)
TWO-PROCESS MODEL
a theory that explains the two processes that lead to the development
of phobias - they begin through classical conditioning and are
maintained through operant conditioning.
ACQUISITION OF PHOBIA THRO' CLASSICAL CONDITIONING
e.g. bitten (UCS) → fear (UCR)

dog (NS) associated w/ UCS. dog previously elicited no response.

NS becomes CS producing fear (now the CR)
LITTLE ALBERT
subject in John Watson's experiment, proved classical conditioning
principles, especially the generalization of fear.

whenever Albert played w/ a white rat (NS), loud bang (UCS) was heard
causing fear (UCR). when rat was paired w/ bang several times, it
became associated until rat (CS) caused fear (CR).

Albert generalised the fear - was scared of other white furry objects.
MAINTENANCE OF PHOBIA THROUGH OPERANT CONDITIONING
negative reinforcement: phobic avoids phobic stimulus to escape
anxiety response. this reduction in fear negatively reinforces
avoidance behaviour and phobia is maintained.
STRENGTH OF TWO-PROCESS MODEL: GOOD EXPLANATIONARY POWER
important applications for therapy - if patient is prevented from
practising avoidance behaviour phobic behaviour decreases.
LIMITATION OF TWO-PROCESS MODEL: ALTERNATIVE EXPLANATIONS
in conditions such as agoraphobia, avoidance is linked w/ feelings of
safety. this explains why some agoraphobics are able to leave the
house with others, just not alone.

problem for two-process model → suggests avoidance is motivated by
anxiety reduction
LIMITATION OF TWO-PROCESS MODEL: INCOMPLETE EXPLANATION