AQA A LEVEL PSYCHOLOGY 2024
PAPER 2 2025/2026 LATEST EDITION
VERIFIED SOLUTIONS
Section A - ANS-Approaches
Case study:
Karishma has very low self esteem even though she achieved very high GSCE grades. She would like to
be lawyer. Although she is studying A Levels, she has delayed her application to university because she
does not think she will receive any others. She does not think she is clever enough to study law.
1. Describe the ego and superego according to the psychodynamic approach. (4) - ANS-According to the
psychodynamic approach the ego develops at the age of 2 and balances the desires of the impulsive id
and demands of the superego.
The super ego is formed at the age of 5 within the phallic stage of development.
It is our sense of what is right or wrong. It represents the morality and punishes the ego for anything
wrong through guilt.
2. Outline Wundts method of introspection. (4) - ANS-Wundt method of introspection involves
presenting a stimuli to participants and allowing them to explain their own thoughts/ feelings and
sensations about the stimuli.
This aims to produce objective data.
3. Outline one example of how neurochemistry influences behaviour. (3) - ANS-An example is dopamine.
Dopamine is a excitatory neurotransmitter which travels from presynaptic neurone to post synaptic
neurone through synapses.
, High levels of dopamine can cause impulsive behaviour and conditions such as OCD and schizophrenia.
4. Explain why a humanistic psychologist would suggest that Karishma is not displaying congruence. (2) -
ANS-Karishmas self concept is unmatched to her ideal self. Even though she has high grades, she has a
low self esteem which distorts her self concept of how intelligent she actually is.
5. Explain how a humanistic psychologist might help Karishma to achieve congruence. (3) - ANS-
Karishma can undergo client centred therapy developed by Roger's.
This therapy involves providing the unconditional positive regard the client did not get as they were
growing up.
The psychologist can provide genuineness, empathy and an unconditional positive regard to help build
her esteem.
6. Compare operant conditioning with social learning. (8) - ANS-Operant conditioning is the based on the
reinforcement of an action or how often a behaviour is repeated due to its outcome.
Positive reinforcement makes a behaviour more likely as the action is associated with a reward.
Negative reinforcement makes a behaviour more likely as the action is associated with reducing an
unwanted consequence.
Social Learning Theory assumes that people learn by observing behaviour and through conditioning.
This theory is based upon observation and imitation of role models.
There are live models such as teachers, parents and symbolic models such as celebrities.
These models often relate with the individual which is called identification.
Vicarious reinforcement shows that an individual observing a model being rewarded for a behaviour,
they are more likely to imitate expecting the same reward. Highlighting experiences are not required to
learn.
Section B - ANS-Biopsychology
7. Which of the following statements about the fight or flight response are FALSE?
Shade two boxes only
PAPER 2 2025/2026 LATEST EDITION
VERIFIED SOLUTIONS
Section A - ANS-Approaches
Case study:
Karishma has very low self esteem even though she achieved very high GSCE grades. She would like to
be lawyer. Although she is studying A Levels, she has delayed her application to university because she
does not think she will receive any others. She does not think she is clever enough to study law.
1. Describe the ego and superego according to the psychodynamic approach. (4) - ANS-According to the
psychodynamic approach the ego develops at the age of 2 and balances the desires of the impulsive id
and demands of the superego.
The super ego is formed at the age of 5 within the phallic stage of development.
It is our sense of what is right or wrong. It represents the morality and punishes the ego for anything
wrong through guilt.
2. Outline Wundts method of introspection. (4) - ANS-Wundt method of introspection involves
presenting a stimuli to participants and allowing them to explain their own thoughts/ feelings and
sensations about the stimuli.
This aims to produce objective data.
3. Outline one example of how neurochemistry influences behaviour. (3) - ANS-An example is dopamine.
Dopamine is a excitatory neurotransmitter which travels from presynaptic neurone to post synaptic
neurone through synapses.
, High levels of dopamine can cause impulsive behaviour and conditions such as OCD and schizophrenia.
4. Explain why a humanistic psychologist would suggest that Karishma is not displaying congruence. (2) -
ANS-Karishmas self concept is unmatched to her ideal self. Even though she has high grades, she has a
low self esteem which distorts her self concept of how intelligent she actually is.
5. Explain how a humanistic psychologist might help Karishma to achieve congruence. (3) - ANS-
Karishma can undergo client centred therapy developed by Roger's.
This therapy involves providing the unconditional positive regard the client did not get as they were
growing up.
The psychologist can provide genuineness, empathy and an unconditional positive regard to help build
her esteem.
6. Compare operant conditioning with social learning. (8) - ANS-Operant conditioning is the based on the
reinforcement of an action or how often a behaviour is repeated due to its outcome.
Positive reinforcement makes a behaviour more likely as the action is associated with a reward.
Negative reinforcement makes a behaviour more likely as the action is associated with reducing an
unwanted consequence.
Social Learning Theory assumes that people learn by observing behaviour and through conditioning.
This theory is based upon observation and imitation of role models.
There are live models such as teachers, parents and symbolic models such as celebrities.
These models often relate with the individual which is called identification.
Vicarious reinforcement shows that an individual observing a model being rewarded for a behaviour,
they are more likely to imitate expecting the same reward. Highlighting experiences are not required to
learn.
Section B - ANS-Biopsychology
7. Which of the following statements about the fight or flight response are FALSE?
Shade two boxes only
