AQA Psychology A-Level Paper 2
questions with explained answers 2025.
Wilhelm Wundt - ANSWER: - First Psychologist
- First Lab in Germany
- Experimental Conditions
- Structuralism and Introspection
Introspection - ANSWER: Person Gains knowledge about their mental state by
examining their conscious thoughts and feelings
Empiricism - ANSWER: Knowledge is derived from sensory experience, characterised
by the use of the scientific method
Scientific Method - ANSWER: The investigative methods that are:
- Objective
- Systematic
- Reliable
Evaluation of Wundt - ANSWER: - methods were unreliable as it relied on non-
observable
- Introspection is not accurate because people are often unaware of are behaviours
Evaluation of the Scientific Approach - ANSWER: - its objective and systematic
- Rely on determinism
- Self corrective
- Create non-naturalistic environments
- Human behaviour is not always observable to the rules of science
,Classical Conditioning - ANSWER: Pavlov - When a neutral stimulus is consistently
paired with an unconditional stimulus so that it takes on the properties on the stimulus
and is able to produced a conditioned response
Classical Conditioning steps - ANSWER: UCS -> UCR
NS -> No Response
UCS+NS -> UCR
CS -> CR
Features of CC - ANSWER: - If time interval is too great between conditioning it does
not work
- CR will become extinct in the absence of the UCS after a while
- If extinct and paired again they pair more quickly (Spontaneous Recovery)
- Stimulus generalisation, CR is created to things similar to CS
Operant Conditioning - ANSWER: Skinner - Learning through reinforcement or
punishment, a behaviour is more likely if followed by a desirable concequence
Positive Reinforcement - ANSWER: Behaviour Produces a response that is desirable
Negative Reinforcement - ANSWER: Doing something to stop unpleasant response
Reinforcement - ANSWER: Strengthening a response
Punishment - ANSWER: An unpleasant consequence following a behaviour
Features of Classical Conditioning - ANSWER: - Scheduling reinforcement makes it
stronger
- Punishment
Evaluation of Classical Conditioning - ANSWER: - Applications in treatment of phobias
- Animal Research cannot be generalised to humans because they have different needs
to learn
Evaluation of Operant Conditioning - ANSWER: - Use of experimental method
- Animal Research cannot be generalised to humans
Modelling - ANSWER: Individuals learn behaviour be observing others
,Imitation - ANSWER: Copying a models behaviour
Identification - ANSWER: Individual adopts attitudes and behaviours of a model
because they want to be like them
Vicarious Reinforcement - ANSWER: Individuals learn about the likely consequences by
observing a model's experiences and adjust their behaviour to obtain the same
experience
The Role of the meditational Processes - ANSWER: Observer forms a mental
representation pf the behaviour displayed of the model and the probable consequences
it will also happen to them
Evaluation of Social Learning Theory - ANSWER: - Applications in human behaviour
- research support (Bandura)
- Problems with causality, it may not be observing but rather people already have this a
try to find people similar
- Approach disregards other potential influences like gender
Bandura Procedures - ANSWER: Children were exposed to aggressive or non
aggressive models interacting with a bobo doll
Bandura Findings - ANSWER: Children who had aggressive models were aggressive to
the doll
Children who had non-aggressive models were not aggressive to the doll
Cognitive - ANSWER: Refers to mental processes such as perception, memory and
reasoning
Schema - ANSWER: A cognitive framework that helps us organise and interpret
information
Why are Schemas useful? - ANSWER: They help us make sense of new information by
filling in gaps
Theoretical Models - ANSWER: Pictorial representations of cognitive processes based
on research evidence
Computer Model - ANSWER: Computer analogy of input process storage output to
represent the human cognitive
, Cognitive Neuroscience - ANSWER: non-invasive imaging techniques such as PET and
fMRI scans to help psychologists understand how the brain works
PET - ANSWER: Positron emission tomography
fMRI - ANSWER: Functional Magnetic Resonance imaging
Evaluation of the Cognitive Approach - ANSWER: - Applications in social cognition,
dysfunctional behaviour
- Scientific
- Computer models are to simplistic for a human mind, and at the same time suggest
that we never forget or never make mistakes
- ignores emotion and motivation (tells us how not why)
- Lack ecological validity
Biological Approach - ANSWER: Views humans as biological organisms and provides
biological explanations for all psychological functioning
Genes - ANSWER: A part of the chromosome that carries genetic information
Genotype - ANSWER: The genetic make-up of an individual
Phenotype - ANSWER: The observable characteristics of an individual
Evolution - ANSWER: Change is genetic make-up of a population over time
NeuroChemistry - ANSWER: How chemical and neural processes associate with the
nervous system
Nervous System - ANSWER: Central Nervous System (brain and spinal cord) and the
Peripheral Nervous System (somatic and autonomous systems)
carries impulses around the body
The Brain - ANSWER: Co-ordinates the functioning of the body
Frontal Lobes - ANSWER: Functions like speech, though and learning
questions with explained answers 2025.
Wilhelm Wundt - ANSWER: - First Psychologist
- First Lab in Germany
- Experimental Conditions
- Structuralism and Introspection
Introspection - ANSWER: Person Gains knowledge about their mental state by
examining their conscious thoughts and feelings
Empiricism - ANSWER: Knowledge is derived from sensory experience, characterised
by the use of the scientific method
Scientific Method - ANSWER: The investigative methods that are:
- Objective
- Systematic
- Reliable
Evaluation of Wundt - ANSWER: - methods were unreliable as it relied on non-
observable
- Introspection is not accurate because people are often unaware of are behaviours
Evaluation of the Scientific Approach - ANSWER: - its objective and systematic
- Rely on determinism
- Self corrective
- Create non-naturalistic environments
- Human behaviour is not always observable to the rules of science
,Classical Conditioning - ANSWER: Pavlov - When a neutral stimulus is consistently
paired with an unconditional stimulus so that it takes on the properties on the stimulus
and is able to produced a conditioned response
Classical Conditioning steps - ANSWER: UCS -> UCR
NS -> No Response
UCS+NS -> UCR
CS -> CR
Features of CC - ANSWER: - If time interval is too great between conditioning it does
not work
- CR will become extinct in the absence of the UCS after a while
- If extinct and paired again they pair more quickly (Spontaneous Recovery)
- Stimulus generalisation, CR is created to things similar to CS
Operant Conditioning - ANSWER: Skinner - Learning through reinforcement or
punishment, a behaviour is more likely if followed by a desirable concequence
Positive Reinforcement - ANSWER: Behaviour Produces a response that is desirable
Negative Reinforcement - ANSWER: Doing something to stop unpleasant response
Reinforcement - ANSWER: Strengthening a response
Punishment - ANSWER: An unpleasant consequence following a behaviour
Features of Classical Conditioning - ANSWER: - Scheduling reinforcement makes it
stronger
- Punishment
Evaluation of Classical Conditioning - ANSWER: - Applications in treatment of phobias
- Animal Research cannot be generalised to humans because they have different needs
to learn
Evaluation of Operant Conditioning - ANSWER: - Use of experimental method
- Animal Research cannot be generalised to humans
Modelling - ANSWER: Individuals learn behaviour be observing others
,Imitation - ANSWER: Copying a models behaviour
Identification - ANSWER: Individual adopts attitudes and behaviours of a model
because they want to be like them
Vicarious Reinforcement - ANSWER: Individuals learn about the likely consequences by
observing a model's experiences and adjust their behaviour to obtain the same
experience
The Role of the meditational Processes - ANSWER: Observer forms a mental
representation pf the behaviour displayed of the model and the probable consequences
it will also happen to them
Evaluation of Social Learning Theory - ANSWER: - Applications in human behaviour
- research support (Bandura)
- Problems with causality, it may not be observing but rather people already have this a
try to find people similar
- Approach disregards other potential influences like gender
Bandura Procedures - ANSWER: Children were exposed to aggressive or non
aggressive models interacting with a bobo doll
Bandura Findings - ANSWER: Children who had aggressive models were aggressive to
the doll
Children who had non-aggressive models were not aggressive to the doll
Cognitive - ANSWER: Refers to mental processes such as perception, memory and
reasoning
Schema - ANSWER: A cognitive framework that helps us organise and interpret
information
Why are Schemas useful? - ANSWER: They help us make sense of new information by
filling in gaps
Theoretical Models - ANSWER: Pictorial representations of cognitive processes based
on research evidence
Computer Model - ANSWER: Computer analogy of input process storage output to
represent the human cognitive
, Cognitive Neuroscience - ANSWER: non-invasive imaging techniques such as PET and
fMRI scans to help psychologists understand how the brain works
PET - ANSWER: Positron emission tomography
fMRI - ANSWER: Functional Magnetic Resonance imaging
Evaluation of the Cognitive Approach - ANSWER: - Applications in social cognition,
dysfunctional behaviour
- Scientific
- Computer models are to simplistic for a human mind, and at the same time suggest
that we never forget or never make mistakes
- ignores emotion and motivation (tells us how not why)
- Lack ecological validity
Biological Approach - ANSWER: Views humans as biological organisms and provides
biological explanations for all psychological functioning
Genes - ANSWER: A part of the chromosome that carries genetic information
Genotype - ANSWER: The genetic make-up of an individual
Phenotype - ANSWER: The observable characteristics of an individual
Evolution - ANSWER: Change is genetic make-up of a population over time
NeuroChemistry - ANSWER: How chemical and neural processes associate with the
nervous system
Nervous System - ANSWER: Central Nervous System (brain and spinal cord) and the
Peripheral Nervous System (somatic and autonomous systems)
carries impulses around the body
The Brain - ANSWER: Co-ordinates the functioning of the body
Frontal Lobes - ANSWER: Functions like speech, though and learning
