AQA A-Level Psychology
Paper 2 Exam 2025/2026
100% VERIFIED FOR A
GUARANTEED PASS
Psychology - ANSWER-the scientific study of behaviour
and mental processes
Science - ANSWER-The means of acquiring knowledge
through systematic and objective investigation
Introspection by Wundt - ANSWER-A systematic method
used to study the mind by breaking up conscious
awareness into basic structures of thoughts, images and
sensations
Emergence of psychology - ANSWER-Watson questioned
the subjectiveness of introspection - variety between
person to person made it hard to establish general
principles
,Behaviourist approach - ANSWER-A way of explaining
behaviour in terms of what is observable and in terms of
learning
Classical conditioning - ANSWER-Learning by association
Operant conditioning - ANSWER-Learning where
behaviour is shaped and maintained by consequences
Reinforcement - ANSWER-A consequence of behaviour
that increases the likelihood of that behaviour being
repeated
Genetic basis of behaviour - ANSWER-MZ twins have
100% concordance rate whilst DZ twins have a 50%
concordance rate (same as ordinary siblings)
Biological approach - limit - ANSWER-Deterministic view
of behaviour - sees human behaviour as innate,
implications on the legal system
Biological approach - application - ANSWER-Used to treat
depression using psychoactive drugs (SSRI'S) and
therefore live a relatively normal life
Biological approach - research support - ANSWER-Study
of depression, MZ twins had 49% concordance rate, DZ
twins had 17% concordance rate, ordinary siblings had 9%
concordance rate
Psychodynamic approach - ANSWER-A perspective that
describes the different forces, most of which are
,unconscious, that operate on the mind and direct human
behaviour and experience.
The unconscious - ANSWER-The part of the mind that we
are unaware of but still directs much of our behaviour
Assumptions of behaviourist approach - ANSWER--
assumes everything about human behaviour is learnt
through experience (classical or operant conditioning)
- relies on lab experiments
- animals have same basic processes that govern learning
and so can be replaced as experimental subjects
Pavlov's research - ANSWER-Pavlov presented a bell
(NS) with food (UCS), which caused the dog to salivate
(UCR). Eventually, the dog associated the sound of the
bell and food so the sound of the bell (CS) would cause
the dog to salivate (CR) - demonatrating the learning of
innate reflex behaviours in animals
Skinner's research - ANSWER-He suggested that learning
is an active process whereby humans and animals
operate on their environment eg, the skinner box
Positive reinforcement - ANSWER-Rewards when a
certain desirable behaviour is performed
Negative reinforcement - ANSWER-When an animal or
human avoids something unpleasant
, Punishment - ANSWER-An unpleasant consequence of
behaviour
Behaviourist approach - limit - ANSWER-Doesn't take into
account any biological aspects and so is deterministic
Behaviourist approach - application - ANSWER-Treatment
to phobias through systematic desensitisation through
classical conditioning
Behaviourist approach - research support - ANSWER-
Influential in the development of psychology as a scientific
discipline
Social learning theory - ANSWER-A way of explaining
behaviour that includes both direct and indirect
reinforcement
Genetic basis of behaviour - ANSWER-MZ twins have
100% concordance rate whilst DZ twins have a 50%
concordance rate (same as ordinary siblings)
Biological approach - limit - ANSWER-Deterministic view
of behaviour - sees human behaviour as innate,
implications on the legal system
Biological approach - application - ANSWER-Used to treat
depression using psychoactive drugs (SSRI'S) and
therefore live a relatively normal life
Biological approach - research support - ANSWER-Study
of depression, MZ twins had 49% concordance rate, DZ
Paper 2 Exam 2025/2026
100% VERIFIED FOR A
GUARANTEED PASS
Psychology - ANSWER-the scientific study of behaviour
and mental processes
Science - ANSWER-The means of acquiring knowledge
through systematic and objective investigation
Introspection by Wundt - ANSWER-A systematic method
used to study the mind by breaking up conscious
awareness into basic structures of thoughts, images and
sensations
Emergence of psychology - ANSWER-Watson questioned
the subjectiveness of introspection - variety between
person to person made it hard to establish general
principles
,Behaviourist approach - ANSWER-A way of explaining
behaviour in terms of what is observable and in terms of
learning
Classical conditioning - ANSWER-Learning by association
Operant conditioning - ANSWER-Learning where
behaviour is shaped and maintained by consequences
Reinforcement - ANSWER-A consequence of behaviour
that increases the likelihood of that behaviour being
repeated
Genetic basis of behaviour - ANSWER-MZ twins have
100% concordance rate whilst DZ twins have a 50%
concordance rate (same as ordinary siblings)
Biological approach - limit - ANSWER-Deterministic view
of behaviour - sees human behaviour as innate,
implications on the legal system
Biological approach - application - ANSWER-Used to treat
depression using psychoactive drugs (SSRI'S) and
therefore live a relatively normal life
Biological approach - research support - ANSWER-Study
of depression, MZ twins had 49% concordance rate, DZ
twins had 17% concordance rate, ordinary siblings had 9%
concordance rate
Psychodynamic approach - ANSWER-A perspective that
describes the different forces, most of which are
,unconscious, that operate on the mind and direct human
behaviour and experience.
The unconscious - ANSWER-The part of the mind that we
are unaware of but still directs much of our behaviour
Assumptions of behaviourist approach - ANSWER--
assumes everything about human behaviour is learnt
through experience (classical or operant conditioning)
- relies on lab experiments
- animals have same basic processes that govern learning
and so can be replaced as experimental subjects
Pavlov's research - ANSWER-Pavlov presented a bell
(NS) with food (UCS), which caused the dog to salivate
(UCR). Eventually, the dog associated the sound of the
bell and food so the sound of the bell (CS) would cause
the dog to salivate (CR) - demonatrating the learning of
innate reflex behaviours in animals
Skinner's research - ANSWER-He suggested that learning
is an active process whereby humans and animals
operate on their environment eg, the skinner box
Positive reinforcement - ANSWER-Rewards when a
certain desirable behaviour is performed
Negative reinforcement - ANSWER-When an animal or
human avoids something unpleasant
, Punishment - ANSWER-An unpleasant consequence of
behaviour
Behaviourist approach - limit - ANSWER-Doesn't take into
account any biological aspects and so is deterministic
Behaviourist approach - application - ANSWER-Treatment
to phobias through systematic desensitisation through
classical conditioning
Behaviourist approach - research support - ANSWER-
Influential in the development of psychology as a scientific
discipline
Social learning theory - ANSWER-A way of explaining
behaviour that includes both direct and indirect
reinforcement
Genetic basis of behaviour - ANSWER-MZ twins have
100% concordance rate whilst DZ twins have a 50%
concordance rate (same as ordinary siblings)
Biological approach - limit - ANSWER-Deterministic view
of behaviour - sees human behaviour as innate,
implications on the legal system
Biological approach - application - ANSWER-Used to treat
depression using psychoactive drugs (SSRI'S) and
therefore live a relatively normal life
Biological approach - research support - ANSWER-Study
of depression, MZ twins had 49% concordance rate, DZ
