PSYCHOLOGY A-LEVEL PAPER 1 AQA PROCTORED EXAM
UPDATED 2025 WITH 200+ QUESTIONS AND MOST
CORRECT ANSWERS GRADED A+//
STATISTICAL INFREQUENCY VERIFIED ANSWER 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 VERIFIED ANSWER
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.
STRENGTH OF STATISTICAL INFREQUENCY: REAL LIFE
APPLICATION VERIFIED 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
VERIFIED 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
LIMITATION OF STATISTICAL INFREQUENCY: NOT EVERYONE
BENEFITS FROM A LABEL VERIFIED 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 VERIFIED 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 VERIFIED 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 VERIFIED 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 VERIFIED
ANSWER occurs when someone does not meet a set of criteria for good
mental health. can overlap w/ failure to function adequately
JAHODA (1958) VERIFIED 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 VERIFIED 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 VERIFIED 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 VERIFIED 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 VERIFIED ANSWER broad criteria of mental
health covers most reasons why someone may seek help.
LIMITATION OF DEVIATION FROM IDEAL MENTAL HEALTH:
CULTURALLY RELATIVE VERIFIED ANSWER 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 VERIFIED ANSWER very
few people actually attain all of the criteria at all times ∴ most people
would be viewed as abnormal.
CHARACTERISTICS OF PHOBIAS VERIFIED ANSWER
behavioural
- panic
UPDATED 2025 WITH 200+ QUESTIONS AND MOST
CORRECT ANSWERS GRADED A+//
STATISTICAL INFREQUENCY VERIFIED ANSWER 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 VERIFIED ANSWER
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.
STRENGTH OF STATISTICAL INFREQUENCY: REAL LIFE
APPLICATION VERIFIED 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
VERIFIED 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
LIMITATION OF STATISTICAL INFREQUENCY: NOT EVERYONE
BENEFITS FROM A LABEL VERIFIED 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 VERIFIED 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 VERIFIED 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 VERIFIED 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 VERIFIED
ANSWER occurs when someone does not meet a set of criteria for good
mental health. can overlap w/ failure to function adequately
JAHODA (1958) VERIFIED 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 VERIFIED 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 VERIFIED 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 VERIFIED 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 VERIFIED ANSWER broad criteria of mental
health covers most reasons why someone may seek help.
LIMITATION OF DEVIATION FROM IDEAL MENTAL HEALTH:
CULTURALLY RELATIVE VERIFIED ANSWER 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 VERIFIED ANSWER very
few people actually attain all of the criteria at all times ∴ most people
would be viewed as abnormal.
CHARACTERISTICS OF PHOBIAS VERIFIED ANSWER
behavioural
- panic
