AQA Psychology A Level
AQA Psychology A Level PAPER 1 (Questions
And Verified Answers) 2025 Updated
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.
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.
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
,AQA Psychology A Level
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
,AQA Psychology A Level
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.
, AQA Psychology A Level
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
AQA Psychology A Level PAPER 1 (Questions
And Verified Answers) 2025 Updated
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.
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.
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
,AQA Psychology A Level
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
,AQA Psychology A Level
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.
, AQA Psychology A Level
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
