AQA PSYCHOLOGY A-LEVEL PAPER 2 MARKING SCHEME 2026
| 7182/2 | Approaches, Biopsychology & Research Methods |
MS | Pass Guaranteed - A+ Graded
Section A: Approaches in Psychology (Q1-20)
Q1. A psychology student is studying the origins of psychology as a science. Which
psychologist established the first psychology laboratory in Leipzig in 1879 and used
introspection to study conscious experience?
A. John Watson
B. Sigmund Freud
C. Wilhelm Wundt
D. B.F. Skinner
C. Wilhelm Wundt [CORRECT]
Rationale: Wilhelm Wundt established the first psychology laboratory in 1879 and
developed structuralism using introspection. Watson founded behaviorism, Freud
developed psychoanalysis, and Skinner pioneered operant conditioning.
Correct Answer: C
Q2. Which comparison correctly identifies a key difference between the behaviorist
and humanistic approaches?
A. Behaviorism emphasizes free will; humanistic psychology emphasizes determinism
B. Behaviorism focuses on observable behavior; humanistic psychology focuses on
self-actualization and free will
C. Behaviorism uses introspection; humanistic psychology uses scientific
measurement only
D. Behaviorism and humanistic psychology both reject the concept of personal
agency
B. Behaviorism focuses on observable behavior; humanistic psychology focuses on
self-actualization and free will [CORRECT]
,Rationale: Behaviorism is deterministic and studies observable behavior, while
humanistic psychology (Maslow/Rogers) emphasizes free will, personal growth, and
self-actualization. Option A reverses the approaches, and both approaches differ
fundamentally on agency.
Correct Answer: B
Q3. A child learns to fear the dentist after a painful extraction. Now the child cries
whenever seeing the dentist's white coat. In classical conditioning terms, the white
coat has become:
A. An unconditioned stimulus
B. A conditioned stimulus
C. An unconditioned response
D. A conditioned response
B. A conditioned stimulus [CORRECT]
Rationale: The white coat was initially neutral but became a conditioned stimulus (CS)
after association with the unconditioned stimulus (pain). The fear response is the
conditioned response (CR), not the stimulus itself.
Correct Answer: B
Q4. A teacher gives a student extra credit for completing homework on time.
According to operant conditioning, this is an example of:
A. Positive punishment
B. Negative reinforcement
C. Positive reinforcement
D. Extinction
C. Positive reinforcement [CORRECT]
Rationale: Positive reinforcement involves adding a desirable stimulus (extra credit)
to increase behavior frequency. Punishment decreases behavior, negative
,reinforcement removes an aversive stimulus, and extinction involves withholding
reinforcement.
Correct Answer: C
Q5. In Bandura's social learning theory, which mediational process refers to the
observer's physical and cognitive ability to reproduce the modeled behavior?
A. Attention
B. Retention
C. Reproduction
D. Motivation
C. Reproduction [CORRECT]
Rationale: Reproduction is the mediational process concerning the observer's
capability to replicate the modeled behavior. Attention involves observing, retention
involves memory storage, and motivation involves incentive and anticipated
consequences.
Correct Answer: C
Q6. The cognitive approach often uses the computer as an analogy for human
information processing. In this analogy, the brain is compared to:
A. The software
B. The hardware
C. The user interface
D. The internet connection
B. The hardware [CORRECT]
Rationale: The cognitive approach uses the computer analogy where the brain
represents the hardware and mental processes (mind) represent the software. This
illustrates how information is inputted, processed, stored, and outputted.
, Correct Answer: B
Q7. Which comparison correctly contrasts the biological and psychodynamic
approaches regarding the nature-nurture debate?
A. The biological approach emphasizes nurture; the psychodynamic approach
emphasizes nature
B. Both approaches exclusively emphasize nurture
C. The biological approach emphasizes nature (genetics, neurochemistry, evolution);
the psychodynamic approach emphasizes nurture (early experiences, upbringing)
D. Both approaches reject the nature-nurture distinction entirely
C. The biological approach emphasizes nature (genetics, neurochemistry, evolution);
the psychodynamic approach emphasizes nurture (early experiences, upbringing)
[CORRECT]
Rationale: The biological approach is strongly nativist (genetics, neurotransmitters,
evolution), whereas Freud's psychodynamic approach emphasizes early childhood
experiences and environmental nurture in psychosexual development.
Correct Answer: C
Q8. A student who fails an exam insists the test was unfair rather than acknowledging
insufficient preparation. According to Freud, this defense mechanism is:
A. Repression
B. Displacement
C. Rationalization
D. Projection
C. Rationalization [CORRECT]
Rationale: Rationalization involves creating logical explanations to justify behavior
and avoid the true reason (failure due to lack of preparation). Repression pushes
| 7182/2 | Approaches, Biopsychology & Research Methods |
MS | Pass Guaranteed - A+ Graded
Section A: Approaches in Psychology (Q1-20)
Q1. A psychology student is studying the origins of psychology as a science. Which
psychologist established the first psychology laboratory in Leipzig in 1879 and used
introspection to study conscious experience?
A. John Watson
B. Sigmund Freud
C. Wilhelm Wundt
D. B.F. Skinner
C. Wilhelm Wundt [CORRECT]
Rationale: Wilhelm Wundt established the first psychology laboratory in 1879 and
developed structuralism using introspection. Watson founded behaviorism, Freud
developed psychoanalysis, and Skinner pioneered operant conditioning.
Correct Answer: C
Q2. Which comparison correctly identifies a key difference between the behaviorist
and humanistic approaches?
A. Behaviorism emphasizes free will; humanistic psychology emphasizes determinism
B. Behaviorism focuses on observable behavior; humanistic psychology focuses on
self-actualization and free will
C. Behaviorism uses introspection; humanistic psychology uses scientific
measurement only
D. Behaviorism and humanistic psychology both reject the concept of personal
agency
B. Behaviorism focuses on observable behavior; humanistic psychology focuses on
self-actualization and free will [CORRECT]
,Rationale: Behaviorism is deterministic and studies observable behavior, while
humanistic psychology (Maslow/Rogers) emphasizes free will, personal growth, and
self-actualization. Option A reverses the approaches, and both approaches differ
fundamentally on agency.
Correct Answer: B
Q3. A child learns to fear the dentist after a painful extraction. Now the child cries
whenever seeing the dentist's white coat. In classical conditioning terms, the white
coat has become:
A. An unconditioned stimulus
B. A conditioned stimulus
C. An unconditioned response
D. A conditioned response
B. A conditioned stimulus [CORRECT]
Rationale: The white coat was initially neutral but became a conditioned stimulus (CS)
after association with the unconditioned stimulus (pain). The fear response is the
conditioned response (CR), not the stimulus itself.
Correct Answer: B
Q4. A teacher gives a student extra credit for completing homework on time.
According to operant conditioning, this is an example of:
A. Positive punishment
B. Negative reinforcement
C. Positive reinforcement
D. Extinction
C. Positive reinforcement [CORRECT]
Rationale: Positive reinforcement involves adding a desirable stimulus (extra credit)
to increase behavior frequency. Punishment decreases behavior, negative
,reinforcement removes an aversive stimulus, and extinction involves withholding
reinforcement.
Correct Answer: C
Q5. In Bandura's social learning theory, which mediational process refers to the
observer's physical and cognitive ability to reproduce the modeled behavior?
A. Attention
B. Retention
C. Reproduction
D. Motivation
C. Reproduction [CORRECT]
Rationale: Reproduction is the mediational process concerning the observer's
capability to replicate the modeled behavior. Attention involves observing, retention
involves memory storage, and motivation involves incentive and anticipated
consequences.
Correct Answer: C
Q6. The cognitive approach often uses the computer as an analogy for human
information processing. In this analogy, the brain is compared to:
A. The software
B. The hardware
C. The user interface
D. The internet connection
B. The hardware [CORRECT]
Rationale: The cognitive approach uses the computer analogy where the brain
represents the hardware and mental processes (mind) represent the software. This
illustrates how information is inputted, processed, stored, and outputted.
, Correct Answer: B
Q7. Which comparison correctly contrasts the biological and psychodynamic
approaches regarding the nature-nurture debate?
A. The biological approach emphasizes nurture; the psychodynamic approach
emphasizes nature
B. Both approaches exclusively emphasize nurture
C. The biological approach emphasizes nature (genetics, neurochemistry, evolution);
the psychodynamic approach emphasizes nurture (early experiences, upbringing)
D. Both approaches reject the nature-nurture distinction entirely
C. The biological approach emphasizes nature (genetics, neurochemistry, evolution);
the psychodynamic approach emphasizes nurture (early experiences, upbringing)
[CORRECT]
Rationale: The biological approach is strongly nativist (genetics, neurotransmitters,
evolution), whereas Freud's psychodynamic approach emphasizes early childhood
experiences and environmental nurture in psychosexual development.
Correct Answer: C
Q8. A student who fails an exam insists the test was unfair rather than acknowledging
insufficient preparation. According to Freud, this defense mechanism is:
A. Repression
B. Displacement
C. Rationalization
D. Projection
C. Rationalization [CORRECT]
Rationale: Rationalization involves creating logical explanations to justify behavior
and avoid the true reason (failure due to lack of preparation). Repression pushes
