AQA A-Level Psychology 2026 Mock Exams
and Exam Preparation – AQA A-Level
Psychology 7182 Full Official Name Practice
Exam 2026/2027 Practice Questions & Study
Guide | Complete Exam-Style Questions with
Correct Detailed Answers & Rationales
(Reliable Answers) | Latest Updated Version |
Instant Download PDf
Section 1: Social Influence
Question 1
A student initially agrees with a group because they believe the
group possesses information that they do not. Which
explanation of conformity is most directly involved?
A. Normative social influence
B. Informational social influence
C. Legitimacy of authority
D. Locus of control
Answer: B. Informational social influence
,Informational social influence occurs when an individual accepts
the behaviour or judgement of others because they believe
other people have useful or more accurate information. It is
particularly likely when a situation is ambiguous, difficult or
unfamiliar. Normative social influence, by contrast, involves
conforming because of the desire to be accepted or avoid
rejection.
Question 2
In Asch's conformity research, which change would most
directly increase the likelihood of conformity according to the
relevant situational variables?
A. Reducing the group to one other person
B. Increasing task difficulty
C. Introducing complete anonymity
D. Removing the unanimous majority while keeping group size
constant
Answer: B. Increasing task difficulty
Asch found that conformity increased when the task was more
difficult because participants were less confident in their own
judgements. This provides support for the role of informational
social influence. Group size and unanimity are also important
,variables, but removing unanimity generally reduces conformity
rather than increasing it.
Question 3
A person obeys an instruction from someone wearing a police
uniform because they perceive the person as having legitimate
authority. Which explanation is most relevant?
A. Agentic state
B. Legitimacy of authority
C. Internalisation
D. Minority influence
Answer: B. Legitimacy of authority
Legitimacy of authority refers to the perception that another
person has a socially accepted right to exercise authority.
Uniforms, status symbols and institutional roles can
communicate this legitimacy. Agentic state concerns the shift
from seeing oneself as responsible for one's actions to seeing
oneself as acting on behalf of an authority figure.
Question 4
Which finding from Milgram's research is most directly
associated with the situational variable of proximity?
, A. Obedience increased when participants were more distant
from the learner
B. Obedience increased when the experimenter was physically
closer to the participant
C. Obedience decreased when the experimenter gave verbal
instructions
D. Obedience was unaffected by the location of the study
Answer: B. Obedience increased when the experimenter was
physically closer to the participant
Milgram demonstrated that obedience was affected by
situational factors, including proximity. When the experimenter
was physically less immediate, obedience fell. Proximity matters
because the psychological pressure exerted by an authority
figure can be reduced when that authority is physically distant
or less directly involved.
Question 5
Which characteristic is most closely associated with an
individual who has a high internal locus of control?
A. Believing outcomes are primarily controlled by powerful
others
B. Believing chance determines most important outcomes
and Exam Preparation – AQA A-Level
Psychology 7182 Full Official Name Practice
Exam 2026/2027 Practice Questions & Study
Guide | Complete Exam-Style Questions with
Correct Detailed Answers & Rationales
(Reliable Answers) | Latest Updated Version |
Instant Download PDf
Section 1: Social Influence
Question 1
A student initially agrees with a group because they believe the
group possesses information that they do not. Which
explanation of conformity is most directly involved?
A. Normative social influence
B. Informational social influence
C. Legitimacy of authority
D. Locus of control
Answer: B. Informational social influence
,Informational social influence occurs when an individual accepts
the behaviour or judgement of others because they believe
other people have useful or more accurate information. It is
particularly likely when a situation is ambiguous, difficult or
unfamiliar. Normative social influence, by contrast, involves
conforming because of the desire to be accepted or avoid
rejection.
Question 2
In Asch's conformity research, which change would most
directly increase the likelihood of conformity according to the
relevant situational variables?
A. Reducing the group to one other person
B. Increasing task difficulty
C. Introducing complete anonymity
D. Removing the unanimous majority while keeping group size
constant
Answer: B. Increasing task difficulty
Asch found that conformity increased when the task was more
difficult because participants were less confident in their own
judgements. This provides support for the role of informational
social influence. Group size and unanimity are also important
,variables, but removing unanimity generally reduces conformity
rather than increasing it.
Question 3
A person obeys an instruction from someone wearing a police
uniform because they perceive the person as having legitimate
authority. Which explanation is most relevant?
A. Agentic state
B. Legitimacy of authority
C. Internalisation
D. Minority influence
Answer: B. Legitimacy of authority
Legitimacy of authority refers to the perception that another
person has a socially accepted right to exercise authority.
Uniforms, status symbols and institutional roles can
communicate this legitimacy. Agentic state concerns the shift
from seeing oneself as responsible for one's actions to seeing
oneself as acting on behalf of an authority figure.
Question 4
Which finding from Milgram's research is most directly
associated with the situational variable of proximity?
, A. Obedience increased when participants were more distant
from the learner
B. Obedience increased when the experimenter was physically
closer to the participant
C. Obedience decreased when the experimenter gave verbal
instructions
D. Obedience was unaffected by the location of the study
Answer: B. Obedience increased when the experimenter was
physically closer to the participant
Milgram demonstrated that obedience was affected by
situational factors, including proximity. When the experimenter
was physically less immediate, obedience fell. Proximity matters
because the psychological pressure exerted by an authority
figure can be reduced when that authority is physically distant
or less directly involved.
Question 5
Which characteristic is most closely associated with an
individual who has a high internal locus of control?
A. Believing outcomes are primarily controlled by powerful
others
B. Believing chance determines most important outcomes
