AQA A LEVEL PSYCHOLOGY PAPER 2
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS
Give20one20reason20why20schema's20are20useful?20-20ans-
When20we're20in20unknown20situations20schemas20help20us20know20how20to20behave.20So20w
hen20we20do20not20know20what20to20do20our20schema20fills20in20the20gaps20for20us20and20allow20
us20to20process20situations20better.
Give20one20reason20why20schema's20are20not20useful?20-20ans-
schemas20may20exclude20information20which20doesn't20conform20to20our20prior20expectation
s.20As20a20result,20we20may20form20stereotypes20which20are20difficult20to20shift,20even20if20new,
disputing20information20is20presented.20This20means20we20may20not20be20processing20the20w
orld20around20us20accurately20and20may20misjudge20or20represent20a20person20or20situation.
Discuss20the20defense20mechanism20shown20by20Jed?20-20ans-
Displacement20is20when20we20redirect20our20hostile20feelings20onto20something20else20becau
se20it20is20not20appropriate20to20express20their20feeling20towards20the20person20or20object20in20
question.20Jed20can't20take20his20frustration20out20on20his20teacher,20who20issued20the20detent
ion20and20he20displaced20his20feelings20by20kicking20the20locker.
Outline20the20key20features20of20the20behaviourist20approach.20Compare20to20the20biological20
approach,20
(A0120Behaviourist)20-20ans-
The20behaviourist20approach20suggests20that20the20basic20processes20that20govern20learnin
g20in20all20species20are20the20same.20We20learn20through20two20concepts:20operant20condition
ing20and20classical20conditioning.
Outline20the20key20features20of20the20behaviourist20approach.20Compare20to20the20biological20
approach,20(classical20conditioning)20-20ans-
The20idea20of20classical20conditioning20was20developed20by20Pavlov20who20found20that20we20l
earn20through20association.20He20found20that20it20was20possible20to20condition20dogs20to20ass
ociate20the20sound20of20a20bell20with20food.20This20resulted20in20the20dogs20producing20a20saliv
ation20response20at20the20sound20of20a20bell20even20when20no20food20was20present.20Pavlov20
demonstrated20that20repeated20exposure20to20an20event20leads20to20a20learned20and20uncont
rollable20behaviour.
Outline20the20key20features20of20the20behaviourist20approach.20Compare20to20the20biological20
approach,20(operant20conditioning)20-20ans-
,Skinner20suggested20behaviour20resulted20from20learning20through20the20consequences20of2
0our20actions.20He20conducted20research20into20operant20conditioning20theory20using20rats,20
and20found20that20three20types20of20consequences20will20affect20behaviour:20positive20reinfor
cement20involves20rewarding20a20behaviour,20which20increases20it20being20repeated;20negati
ve20reinforcement20involves20removing20an20unpleasant20outcome20to20increase20it20being20r
epeated;20punishment20involves20adding20an20unpleasant20outcome,reducing20the20behavio
ur.
Outline20the20key20features20of20the20behaviourist20approach.20Compare20to20the20biological20
approach,20(similarity20to20biological)20-20ans-
Both20the20behaviourist20approach20and20biological20approach20share20a20similarity20in20bein
g20determinist.20Both20ignore20the20influence20that20the20person20can20have20and20whether20t
hey20have20free20will20and20can20make20their20own20choices20in20these20decisions.
Outline20the20key20features20of20the20behaviourist20approach.20Compare20to20the20biological20
approach,20(difference)20-20ans-
However,20they20differ20in20that20the20behaviourist20approach20is20environmentally20determin
ist20while20the20biological20approach20is20biologically20determinist.20Stating20that20behaviour2
0is20the20product20of20internal20biological20factors20(e.g.20genes,20hormones,20neurotransmitt
ers,20etc.)20while20behaviourists20argue20that20behaviour20is20determined20by20the20environm
ent20and20is20a20product20of20stimulus-response20associations
Outline20the20key20features20of20the20behaviourist20approach.20Compare20to20the20biological20
approach20(similarity)20-20ans-
Both20approaches20take20a20nomothetic20approach20when20studying20human20behaviour.20B
oth20investigate20behaviour20to20try20to20create20universal20laws20that20apply20to20all20human20
beings.20Biologists20argue20that20this20is20possible20because20human20beings20share20similar
20physiologies,20and20behaviourists20argue20that20this20is20possible20because20all20behaviour
20is20the20result20of20learning20and20stimulus-
response20associations.20Therefore,20the20aim20of20generating20universal20laws20that20apply2
0to20all20humans20is20another20similarity20between20the20behaviourist20and20biological20appro
aches.
Outline20the20key20features20of20the20behaviourist20approach.20Compare20to20the20biological20
approach20(nature20+20nurture)20-20ans-
the20behaviourist20approach20and20biological20approach20are20different20in20their20position20o
n20the20nature-
nurture20debate.20Behaviourist20views20rest20firmly20on20the20nurture20side20of20the20debate,20
and20that20human20beings20are20blank20slates20and20that20all20behaviour20is20learned.20Biolog
ical20psychologists20argue20a20nature-
based20view20of20behaviour.20They20posit20that20behaviour20is20the20result20of20innate20biologi
cal20factors20(e.g.20genes,20hormones,20neurotransmitters.20etc.)20and20is,20therefore,20the20
product20of20nature20and20not20nurture.20Therefore,20despite20their20similarities20in20terms20of
20determinism20and20their20approach20to20investigation, 20the20behaviourist20and20biological20
approaches20are20radically20different20in20terms20of20their20position20on20the20nature-
nurture20debate.
, Name20a20difference20between20somatic20nervous20system20and20autonomic20nervous20syst
em?20-20ans-
The20somatic20nervous20system20facilitates20communication20between20the20central20nervo
us20system20and20the20outside20world,20whereas20the20autonomic20nervous20system20plays20
an20important20role20in20maintaining20internal20processes20like20body20temperature.
Label20the20picture20of20the20diagram20to20show20which20neuron20went20where20-20ans-
A20=20Sensory
B20=20Relay20
20C20=20Motor
Explain20why20neurons20travel20in20one20direction20during20synaptic20transmission?20-20ans-
Consequently,20the20information20can20only20travel20in20this20direction20because20the20neurot
ransmitters20are20released20from20the20vesicles20at20the20end20of20the20pre-
synaptic20neuron20and20bind20to20sites20at20the20start20of20the20post-
synaptic20neuron.20This20would20make20it20impossible20for20information20to20flow20in20any20oth
er20direction.
relate20fight20or20flight20to20why20it20would20be20unhelpful20for20someone20taking20a20driving20te
st20-20ans-
When20entering20a20stressful20situation,20like20a20driving20test,20the20amydala20activates.20Th
e20amygdala20sends20a20distress20signal20to20the20hypothalamus,which20then20communicate
s20with20the20body20through20the20sympathetic20nervous20system.20If20a20short20term20respon
se20is20needed20the20SAM20pathway20is20activated.20The20SNS20stimulates20the20adrenal20m
edulla20which20secretes20adrenaline20into20the20bloodstream.20This20causes20physiological20
changes20to20prepare20the20body20for20fight20or20flight,20like20increased20heart20rate,20During20
a20driving20test20this20will20help20them20remain20calm20and20follow20instructions.
Using20psychological20research20and20your20knowledge20on20exogenous20zeitgebers,20disc
uss20how20Julia20can20get20her20baby20to20sleep20during20the20night20-20ans-
Exogenous20zeitgebers20are20external20environmental20stimuli20that20help20train20our20body20
clock20into20a20sleep/
wake20patterns.20The20largest20exogenous20zeitgeber20is20light.20As20Julia20is20awake20all20ni
ght20her20natural20sleep20pattern.20
There20are20receptors20in20the20SCN20that20are20sensitive20to20light.20So20to20change20her20sle
ep20wake20cycle20Julia20could20ensure20the20baby20is20exposed20to20a20good20level20of20daylig
ht20during20the20daytime.
Using20psychological20research20and20your20knowledge20on20exogenous20zeitgebers,20disc
uss20how20Julia20can20get20her20baby20to20sleep20during20the20night20-20ans-
There20has20been20research20support20on20the20influence20of20light20on20the20sleep20wake20cy
cle.20For20example,20Campbell20and20Murphy20found20that20people's20sleep20schedules20cou
ld20be20distorted20by20up20to20320hours20when20light20was20shone20on20the20back20of20their20kne
es.
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS
Give20one20reason20why20schema's20are20useful?20-20ans-
When20we're20in20unknown20situations20schemas20help20us20know20how20to20behave.20So20w
hen20we20do20not20know20what20to20do20our20schema20fills20in20the20gaps20for20us20and20allow20
us20to20process20situations20better.
Give20one20reason20why20schema's20are20not20useful?20-20ans-
schemas20may20exclude20information20which20doesn't20conform20to20our20prior20expectation
s.20As20a20result,20we20may20form20stereotypes20which20are20difficult20to20shift,20even20if20new,
disputing20information20is20presented.20This20means20we20may20not20be20processing20the20w
orld20around20us20accurately20and20may20misjudge20or20represent20a20person20or20situation.
Discuss20the20defense20mechanism20shown20by20Jed?20-20ans-
Displacement20is20when20we20redirect20our20hostile20feelings20onto20something20else20becau
se20it20is20not20appropriate20to20express20their20feeling20towards20the20person20or20object20in20
question.20Jed20can't20take20his20frustration20out20on20his20teacher,20who20issued20the20detent
ion20and20he20displaced20his20feelings20by20kicking20the20locker.
Outline20the20key20features20of20the20behaviourist20approach.20Compare20to20the20biological20
approach,20
(A0120Behaviourist)20-20ans-
The20behaviourist20approach20suggests20that20the20basic20processes20that20govern20learnin
g20in20all20species20are20the20same.20We20learn20through20two20concepts:20operant20condition
ing20and20classical20conditioning.
Outline20the20key20features20of20the20behaviourist20approach.20Compare20to20the20biological20
approach,20(classical20conditioning)20-20ans-
The20idea20of20classical20conditioning20was20developed20by20Pavlov20who20found20that20we20l
earn20through20association.20He20found20that20it20was20possible20to20condition20dogs20to20ass
ociate20the20sound20of20a20bell20with20food.20This20resulted20in20the20dogs20producing20a20saliv
ation20response20at20the20sound20of20a20bell20even20when20no20food20was20present.20Pavlov20
demonstrated20that20repeated20exposure20to20an20event20leads20to20a20learned20and20uncont
rollable20behaviour.
Outline20the20key20features20of20the20behaviourist20approach.20Compare20to20the20biological20
approach,20(operant20conditioning)20-20ans-
,Skinner20suggested20behaviour20resulted20from20learning20through20the20consequences20of2
0our20actions.20He20conducted20research20into20operant20conditioning20theory20using20rats,20
and20found20that20three20types20of20consequences20will20affect20behaviour:20positive20reinfor
cement20involves20rewarding20a20behaviour,20which20increases20it20being20repeated;20negati
ve20reinforcement20involves20removing20an20unpleasant20outcome20to20increase20it20being20r
epeated;20punishment20involves20adding20an20unpleasant20outcome,reducing20the20behavio
ur.
Outline20the20key20features20of20the20behaviourist20approach.20Compare20to20the20biological20
approach,20(similarity20to20biological)20-20ans-
Both20the20behaviourist20approach20and20biological20approach20share20a20similarity20in20bein
g20determinist.20Both20ignore20the20influence20that20the20person20can20have20and20whether20t
hey20have20free20will20and20can20make20their20own20choices20in20these20decisions.
Outline20the20key20features20of20the20behaviourist20approach.20Compare20to20the20biological20
approach,20(difference)20-20ans-
However,20they20differ20in20that20the20behaviourist20approach20is20environmentally20determin
ist20while20the20biological20approach20is20biologically20determinist.20Stating20that20behaviour2
0is20the20product20of20internal20biological20factors20(e.g.20genes,20hormones,20neurotransmitt
ers,20etc.)20while20behaviourists20argue20that20behaviour20is20determined20by20the20environm
ent20and20is20a20product20of20stimulus-response20associations
Outline20the20key20features20of20the20behaviourist20approach.20Compare20to20the20biological20
approach20(similarity)20-20ans-
Both20approaches20take20a20nomothetic20approach20when20studying20human20behaviour.20B
oth20investigate20behaviour20to20try20to20create20universal20laws20that20apply20to20all20human20
beings.20Biologists20argue20that20this20is20possible20because20human20beings20share20similar
20physiologies,20and20behaviourists20argue20that20this20is20possible20because20all20behaviour
20is20the20result20of20learning20and20stimulus-
response20associations.20Therefore,20the20aim20of20generating20universal20laws20that20apply2
0to20all20humans20is20another20similarity20between20the20behaviourist20and20biological20appro
aches.
Outline20the20key20features20of20the20behaviourist20approach.20Compare20to20the20biological20
approach20(nature20+20nurture)20-20ans-
the20behaviourist20approach20and20biological20approach20are20different20in20their20position20o
n20the20nature-
nurture20debate.20Behaviourist20views20rest20firmly20on20the20nurture20side20of20the20debate,20
and20that20human20beings20are20blank20slates20and20that20all20behaviour20is20learned.20Biolog
ical20psychologists20argue20a20nature-
based20view20of20behaviour.20They20posit20that20behaviour20is20the20result20of20innate20biologi
cal20factors20(e.g.20genes,20hormones,20neurotransmitters.20etc.)20and20is,20therefore,20the20
product20of20nature20and20not20nurture.20Therefore,20despite20their20similarities20in20terms20of
20determinism20and20their20approach20to20investigation, 20the20behaviourist20and20biological20
approaches20are20radically20different20in20terms20of20their20position20on20the20nature-
nurture20debate.
, Name20a20difference20between20somatic20nervous20system20and20autonomic20nervous20syst
em?20-20ans-
The20somatic20nervous20system20facilitates20communication20between20the20central20nervo
us20system20and20the20outside20world,20whereas20the20autonomic20nervous20system20plays20
an20important20role20in20maintaining20internal20processes20like20body20temperature.
Label20the20picture20of20the20diagram20to20show20which20neuron20went20where20-20ans-
A20=20Sensory
B20=20Relay20
20C20=20Motor
Explain20why20neurons20travel20in20one20direction20during20synaptic20transmission?20-20ans-
Consequently,20the20information20can20only20travel20in20this20direction20because20the20neurot
ransmitters20are20released20from20the20vesicles20at20the20end20of20the20pre-
synaptic20neuron20and20bind20to20sites20at20the20start20of20the20post-
synaptic20neuron.20This20would20make20it20impossible20for20information20to20flow20in20any20oth
er20direction.
relate20fight20or20flight20to20why20it20would20be20unhelpful20for20someone20taking20a20driving20te
st20-20ans-
When20entering20a20stressful20situation,20like20a20driving20test,20the20amydala20activates.20Th
e20amygdala20sends20a20distress20signal20to20the20hypothalamus,which20then20communicate
s20with20the20body20through20the20sympathetic20nervous20system.20If20a20short20term20respon
se20is20needed20the20SAM20pathway20is20activated.20The20SNS20stimulates20the20adrenal20m
edulla20which20secretes20adrenaline20into20the20bloodstream.20This20causes20physiological20
changes20to20prepare20the20body20for20fight20or20flight,20like20increased20heart20rate,20During20
a20driving20test20this20will20help20them20remain20calm20and20follow20instructions.
Using20psychological20research20and20your20knowledge20on20exogenous20zeitgebers,20disc
uss20how20Julia20can20get20her20baby20to20sleep20during20the20night20-20ans-
Exogenous20zeitgebers20are20external20environmental20stimuli20that20help20train20our20body20
clock20into20a20sleep/
wake20patterns.20The20largest20exogenous20zeitgeber20is20light.20As20Julia20is20awake20all20ni
ght20her20natural20sleep20pattern.20
There20are20receptors20in20the20SCN20that20are20sensitive20to20light.20So20to20change20her20sle
ep20wake20cycle20Julia20could20ensure20the20baby20is20exposed20to20a20good20level20of20daylig
ht20during20the20daytime.
Using20psychological20research20and20your20knowledge20on20exogenous20zeitgebers,20disc
uss20how20Julia20can20get20her20baby20to20sleep20during20the20night20-20ans-
There20has20been20research20support20on20the20influence20of20light20on20the20sleep20wake20cy
cle.20For20example,20Campbell20and20Murphy20found20that20people's20sleep20schedules20cou
ld20be20distorted20by20up20to20320hours20when20light20was20shone20on20the20back20of20their20kne
es.
