AQA Psychology A-Level Paper 2 with
questions and well verified answers actual
exam!!! 2026
Wilhelm Wundt - ANSWER -- First Psychologist
- First Lab in Germany
- Experimental Conditions
- Structuralism and Introspection
Introspection - ANSWER -Person Gains knowledge about their mental state by examining
their conscious thoughts and feelings
Empiricism - ANSWER -Knowledge is derived from sensory experience, characterised by
the use of the scientific method
Evaluation of Wundt - ANSWER -- methods were unreliable as it relied on non-
observable
- Introspection is not accurate because people are often unaware of are behaviours
Evaluation of the Scientific Approach - ANSWER -- its objective and systematic
- Rely on determinism
- Self corrective
- Create non-naturalistic environments
,- Human behaviour is not always observable to the rules of science
Scientific Method - ANSWER -The investigative methods that are:
- Objective
- Systematic
- Reliable
Classical Conditioning - ANSWER -Pavlov - When a neutral stimulus is consistently paired
with an unconditional stimulus so that it takes on the properties on the stimulus and is able to
produced a conditioned response
Classical Conditioning steps - ANSWER -UCS -> UCR
NS -> No Response
UCS+NS -> UCR
CS -> CR
Features of CC - ANSWER -- If time interval is too great between conditioning it does not
work
- CR will become extinct in the absence of the UCS after a while
- If extinct and paired again they pair more quickly (Spontaneous Recovery)
- Stimulus generalisation, CR is created to things similar to CS
Operant Conditioning - ANSWER -Skinner - Learning through reinforcement or
punishment, a behaviour is more likely if followed by a desirable concequence
Positive Reinforcement - ANSWER -Behaviour Produces a response that is desirable
Negative Reinforcement - ANSWER -Doing something to stop unpleasant response
Reinforcement - ANSWER -Strengthening a response
,Punishment - ANSWER -An unpleasant consequence following a behaviour
Features of Classical Conditioning - ANSWER -- Scheduling reinforcement makes it
stronger
- Punishment
Evaluation of Classical Conditioning - ANSWER -- Applications in treatment of phobias
- Animal Research cannot be generalised to humans because they have different needs to
learn
Evaluation of Operant Conditioning - ANSWER -- Use of experimental method
- Animal Research cannot be generalised to humans
Modelling - ANSWER -Individuals learn behaviour be observing others
Imitation - ANSWER -Copying a models behaviour
Identification - ANSWER -Individual adopts attitudes and behaviours of a model because
they want to be like them
Vicarious Reinforcement - ANSWER -Individuals learn about the likely consequences by
observing a model's experiences and adjust their behaviour to obtain the same experience
The Role of the meditational Processes - ANSWER -Observer forms a mental
representation pf the behaviour displayed of the model and the probable consequences it will
also happen to them
Evaluation of Social Learning Theory - ANSWER -- Applications in human behaviour
- research support (Bandura)
- Problems with causality, it may not be observing but rather people already have this a try to
find people similar
, - Approach disregards other potential influences like gender
Bandura Procedures - ANSWER -Children were exposed to aggressive or non aggressive
models interacting with a bobo doll
Bandura Findings - ANSWER -Children who had aggressive models were aggressive to the
doll
Children who had non-aggressive models were not aggressive to the doll
Cognitive - ANSWER -Refers to mental processes such as perception, memory and
reasoning
Schema - ANSWER -A cognitive framework that helps us organise and interpret
information
Why are Schemas useful? - ANSWER -They help us make sense of new information by
filling in gaps
Theoretical Models - ANSWER -Pictorial representations of cognitive processes based on
research evidence
Computer Model - ANSWER -Computer analogy of input process storage output to
represent the human cognitive
Cognitive Neuroscience - ANSWER -non-invasive imaging techniques such as PET and
fMRI scans to help psychologists understand how the brain works
PET - ANSWER -Positron emission tomography
fMRI - ANSWER -Functional Magnetic Resonance imaging
Evaluation of the Cognitive Approach - ANSWER -- Applications in social cognition,
dysfunctional behaviour
- Scientific
questions and well verified answers actual
exam!!! 2026
Wilhelm Wundt - ANSWER -- First Psychologist
- First Lab in Germany
- Experimental Conditions
- Structuralism and Introspection
Introspection - ANSWER -Person Gains knowledge about their mental state by examining
their conscious thoughts and feelings
Empiricism - ANSWER -Knowledge is derived from sensory experience, characterised by
the use of the scientific method
Evaluation of Wundt - ANSWER -- methods were unreliable as it relied on non-
observable
- Introspection is not accurate because people are often unaware of are behaviours
Evaluation of the Scientific Approach - ANSWER -- its objective and systematic
- Rely on determinism
- Self corrective
- Create non-naturalistic environments
,- Human behaviour is not always observable to the rules of science
Scientific Method - ANSWER -The investigative methods that are:
- Objective
- Systematic
- Reliable
Classical Conditioning - ANSWER -Pavlov - When a neutral stimulus is consistently paired
with an unconditional stimulus so that it takes on the properties on the stimulus and is able to
produced a conditioned response
Classical Conditioning steps - ANSWER -UCS -> UCR
NS -> No Response
UCS+NS -> UCR
CS -> CR
Features of CC - ANSWER -- If time interval is too great between conditioning it does not
work
- CR will become extinct in the absence of the UCS after a while
- If extinct and paired again they pair more quickly (Spontaneous Recovery)
- Stimulus generalisation, CR is created to things similar to CS
Operant Conditioning - ANSWER -Skinner - Learning through reinforcement or
punishment, a behaviour is more likely if followed by a desirable concequence
Positive Reinforcement - ANSWER -Behaviour Produces a response that is desirable
Negative Reinforcement - ANSWER -Doing something to stop unpleasant response
Reinforcement - ANSWER -Strengthening a response
,Punishment - ANSWER -An unpleasant consequence following a behaviour
Features of Classical Conditioning - ANSWER -- Scheduling reinforcement makes it
stronger
- Punishment
Evaluation of Classical Conditioning - ANSWER -- Applications in treatment of phobias
- Animal Research cannot be generalised to humans because they have different needs to
learn
Evaluation of Operant Conditioning - ANSWER -- Use of experimental method
- Animal Research cannot be generalised to humans
Modelling - ANSWER -Individuals learn behaviour be observing others
Imitation - ANSWER -Copying a models behaviour
Identification - ANSWER -Individual adopts attitudes and behaviours of a model because
they want to be like them
Vicarious Reinforcement - ANSWER -Individuals learn about the likely consequences by
observing a model's experiences and adjust their behaviour to obtain the same experience
The Role of the meditational Processes - ANSWER -Observer forms a mental
representation pf the behaviour displayed of the model and the probable consequences it will
also happen to them
Evaluation of Social Learning Theory - ANSWER -- Applications in human behaviour
- research support (Bandura)
- Problems with causality, it may not be observing but rather people already have this a try to
find people similar
, - Approach disregards other potential influences like gender
Bandura Procedures - ANSWER -Children were exposed to aggressive or non aggressive
models interacting with a bobo doll
Bandura Findings - ANSWER -Children who had aggressive models were aggressive to the
doll
Children who had non-aggressive models were not aggressive to the doll
Cognitive - ANSWER -Refers to mental processes such as perception, memory and
reasoning
Schema - ANSWER -A cognitive framework that helps us organise and interpret
information
Why are Schemas useful? - ANSWER -They help us make sense of new information by
filling in gaps
Theoretical Models - ANSWER -Pictorial representations of cognitive processes based on
research evidence
Computer Model - ANSWER -Computer analogy of input process storage output to
represent the human cognitive
Cognitive Neuroscience - ANSWER -non-invasive imaging techniques such as PET and
fMRI scans to help psychologists understand how the brain works
PET - ANSWER -Positron emission tomography
fMRI - ANSWER -Functional Magnetic Resonance imaging
Evaluation of the Cognitive Approach - ANSWER -- Applications in social cognition,
dysfunctional behaviour
- Scientific
