Official June 2024 AQA AS PSYCHOLOGY
7181/2 Paper 2 Psychology in context
Merged Question Paper + Mark Scheme
Synaptic transmission - ANS-The process by which nerve impulses are carried across the small gap, the
synapse, between one neuron and another. The nerve impulse is an electrical signal which is carried
by chemicals called neurotransmitters.
Systematic desensitization - ANS-A behavioural therapy for treating anxiety disorders, eg a phobia of
dogs, in which the sufferer learns relaxation techniques and then faces a progressive hierarchy of
exposure to the objects and situations that cause anxiety.
Thematic Analysis - ANS-A method of qualitative research linked to content analysis, which involves
analysing text in a variety of media to identify the patterns within it. A coding system may be needed
sort the data and to help to identify patterns.
Vicarious reinforcement - ANS-This term refers to an aspect of social learning theory. A reinforcement,
such as reward, makes a behaviour more likely to happen again. When it is vicarious, the person
learns by observing the consequences of another person's behaviour, eg a younger sister observing an
older sister being rewarded for a particular behaviour is more likely to repeat that behaviour herself.
Violation of expectation research - ANS-Baillargeon pioneered this kind of research in studying the
cognitive development of young infants. The studies tested cognitive development in terms of what
the infant would expect to happen in familiar situations. For example, a hinged screen would be
expected to come to rest on a rigid cube behind it and not to squash it. Infants of five months old
looked longer when the screen appeared to flatten the cube because it 'violated their expectation',
showing that they had learned that objects typically stop when they meet obstacles.
Zone of proximal development (ZPD) - ANS-This term is used in Vygotsky's theory of cognitive
development. It refers to cognitive tasks that are just beyond what a child can do unaided but could
be achieved with the help of a more experienced person. Tasks in a child's ZPD should be the focus of
learning.
Official June 2024 AQA AS PSYCHOLOGY
7181/2 Paper 2 Psychology in context
Merged Question Paper + Mark Scheme
, Official June 2024 AQA AS PSYCHOLOGY
7181/2 Paper 2 Psychology in context
Merged Question Paper + Mark Scheme
Gating - ANS-This term refers to the process of limiting or filtering the personal information we
disclose during social interactions. In virtual relationships within social media, or emails and blogs,
individuals may be less selective about what to reveal than they would in face-to-face interactions. In
other words there may be an absence of gating.
General Adaptation Syndrome - ANS-This was proposed by Sely to describe a three-stage sequence of
physiological changes which occur when people or animals are subjected to prolonged stress. The
stages are called the alarm reaction, the stage of resistance and the stage of exhaustion.
Hemispheric lateralisation - ANS-This term refers to the fact that the left and right halves, or
hemispheres, of the brain have centres that are specifically associated with different brain activities,
eg speech centres on the left and the ability to make sense of 3D arrangements on the right.
Hostile attribution bias - ANS-A tendency to perceive hostile intent on the part of others, even when it
is really lacking. The term is used in the context of offending behaviour and aggression. It offers a
cognitive explanation of aggression. The idea is that people may interpret, perhaps wrongly, the
behaviour of others as being hostile towards them, and so react aggressively believing they are
responding to provocation.
Interactional Synchrony - ANS-A term used to describe, for example, contacts between a child and a
care-giver where they 'take turns' in smiling, 'cooing', making eye contact etc. Contacts like these help
in a child's social development and the formation of attachments with important figures such as the
mother.
7181/2 Paper 2 Psychology in context
Merged Question Paper + Mark Scheme
Synaptic transmission - ANS-The process by which nerve impulses are carried across the small gap, the
synapse, between one neuron and another. The nerve impulse is an electrical signal which is carried
by chemicals called neurotransmitters.
Systematic desensitization - ANS-A behavioural therapy for treating anxiety disorders, eg a phobia of
dogs, in which the sufferer learns relaxation techniques and then faces a progressive hierarchy of
exposure to the objects and situations that cause anxiety.
Thematic Analysis - ANS-A method of qualitative research linked to content analysis, which involves
analysing text in a variety of media to identify the patterns within it. A coding system may be needed
sort the data and to help to identify patterns.
Vicarious reinforcement - ANS-This term refers to an aspect of social learning theory. A reinforcement,
such as reward, makes a behaviour more likely to happen again. When it is vicarious, the person
learns by observing the consequences of another person's behaviour, eg a younger sister observing an
older sister being rewarded for a particular behaviour is more likely to repeat that behaviour herself.
Violation of expectation research - ANS-Baillargeon pioneered this kind of research in studying the
cognitive development of young infants. The studies tested cognitive development in terms of what
the infant would expect to happen in familiar situations. For example, a hinged screen would be
expected to come to rest on a rigid cube behind it and not to squash it. Infants of five months old
looked longer when the screen appeared to flatten the cube because it 'violated their expectation',
showing that they had learned that objects typically stop when they meet obstacles.
Zone of proximal development (ZPD) - ANS-This term is used in Vygotsky's theory of cognitive
development. It refers to cognitive tasks that are just beyond what a child can do unaided but could
be achieved with the help of a more experienced person. Tasks in a child's ZPD should be the focus of
learning.
Official June 2024 AQA AS PSYCHOLOGY
7181/2 Paper 2 Psychology in context
Merged Question Paper + Mark Scheme
, Official June 2024 AQA AS PSYCHOLOGY
7181/2 Paper 2 Psychology in context
Merged Question Paper + Mark Scheme
Gating - ANS-This term refers to the process of limiting or filtering the personal information we
disclose during social interactions. In virtual relationships within social media, or emails and blogs,
individuals may be less selective about what to reveal than they would in face-to-face interactions. In
other words there may be an absence of gating.
General Adaptation Syndrome - ANS-This was proposed by Sely to describe a three-stage sequence of
physiological changes which occur when people or animals are subjected to prolonged stress. The
stages are called the alarm reaction, the stage of resistance and the stage of exhaustion.
Hemispheric lateralisation - ANS-This term refers to the fact that the left and right halves, or
hemispheres, of the brain have centres that are specifically associated with different brain activities,
eg speech centres on the left and the ability to make sense of 3D arrangements on the right.
Hostile attribution bias - ANS-A tendency to perceive hostile intent on the part of others, even when it
is really lacking. The term is used in the context of offending behaviour and aggression. It offers a
cognitive explanation of aggression. The idea is that people may interpret, perhaps wrongly, the
behaviour of others as being hostile towards them, and so react aggressively believing they are
responding to provocation.
Interactional Synchrony - ANS-A term used to describe, for example, contacts between a child and a
care-giver where they 'take turns' in smiling, 'cooing', making eye contact etc. Contacts like these help
in a child's social development and the formation of attachments with important figures such as the
mother.
