PSYCHOLOGY COMPONENT 1
2016 - Briefly explain the cognitive assumption of the computer analogy (2)
o Take in information, store and retrieve.
o Hardware-mind.
o Software- cognitive processes.
o Multi- Store Model.
2017 - Evaluate one strength and one weakness of the cognitive approach. (8)
o Scientific nature of the approach, e.g. use of brain scans.
o Focus on the individual.
o Rejection of biological factors, e.g. role of genes.
o Determinist, e.g. schemas.
o Usefulness, e.g. therapy.
o Mediational processes/mental processes in explaining behaviour.
o Successful applications, e.g. social cognition.
o Comparison to machines /lack of consideration for emotions and social factors.
2019 - Apply the assumptions of the cognitive approach to explain human behaviour. (10)
o Any human behaviour can be credited (e.g. addictive behaviours, autistic spectrum behaviours,
bullying behaviours, criminal behaviours, schizophrenia and stress).
o More than one human behaviour can be credited.
o Computer analogy; process of perception, attention and memory.
o Schemas; information from past experiences forming a behaviour.
o Internal mental processes; rational and irrational thinking in behaviour, role of introspection.
o Discussion on role of free will and determinism in explaining human behaviour.
o Credit can be given for application of assumptions to relationship formation.
2020 – Using examples from psychology, outline two assumptions of the cognitive approach. (8)
o Computer analogy; input, processes e.g. thinking, attention etc., storage, output. Examples of
computer analogy e.g. multistore model.
o Internal mental processes; attention, perception, thinking, memory, language. Examples of research
into these processes.
o Schemas; role of long-term memory, cultural/environmental influences, stereotyping. Examples of
schemas and/or research into schemas.
2021 - Using an example from psychology, describe the cognitive assumption of ‘schemas’. [4]
o Description of a schema.
o Role of stereotyping.
o Role of past experiences.
o Role of the environmental factors e.g. influence of family and peers.
o Example of schemas e.g. Bartlett
2021 - Describe the main components of either cognitive behavioural therapy OR rational emotive
behaviour therapy. [10]
o Cognitive behavioural therapy
Assumptions of the therapy e.g. faulty thinking, cognitive distortions, negative cognitive triad.
Combination of cognitive and behavioural techniques.
Use of dysfunctional thought diary.
Setting and completion of homework tasks.
Role of the therapist.
o Rational emotive behaviour therapy
Main assumption of the therapy e.g., basic irrational assumptions.
ABC model with the addition of D and E.
, Disputing (logical, empirical and pragmatic).
Mustabatory thinking.
Role of the therapist e.g., unconditional positive regard.
2022 - Evaluate two ethical considerations of either cognitive behavioural therapy OR rational emotive
behaviour therapy. [8]
o Cognitive behavioural therapy
Alloy and Abramsom (1979); a depressive realist's outlook is an advantage to them therefore
trying to 'cure' their depressive emotions is unethical.
Psychological harm - CBT may try to change a person's thinking to benefit society rather than
the individual which can damage self-esteem.
Psychological harm - patient blame may make the client feel they are responsible for their
disorder.
There may be a power imbalance between the client and the therapist.
CBT is ethical because clients have the right to withdraw if they wish.
CBT is ethical because it tries to cure the cause of a disorder rather than the symptoms which
can lead to less psychological harm for the individual.
Any other appropriate content.
o Rational emotive behaviour therapy
Psychological harm - patient blame may make the client may feel they are responsible for their
disorder.
REBT is ethical because clients have the right to withdraw if they wish and the therapy can be
taken at their own pace.
REBT is more ethical than CBT because it encourages unconditional self-acceptance rather than
self-rating, which can lead to less psychological harm for the individual.
Can be unethical due to the therapist harshness of questioning client's beliefs.
The competence of the therapist can have an effect on the success of therapy.
Any other appropriate content.
2021 - ‘The cognitive approach is better than the behaviourist approach.’ With reference to the
statement, compare and contrast the cognitive and behaviourist approaches. [10]
o Effectiveness of therapy e.g. length of treatment, long term effects, treatment of
o underlying cause and/or symptoms.
o Ethical issues of therapy e.g. client responsibility, role of the therapist, levels of
o anxiety, pace of the therapy for the patient, issues of valid consent.
o Methods of investigation e.g. scientific nature, reliability issues, validity issues.
o Research to support or refute the approach.
o Acknowledgement of internal processes.
o Use of non-human animals in research
2018 - Compare and contrast the biological approach and the cognitive approach. (10)
o Application of assumptions to real life.
o Inability to measure emotions/behaviours.
o The scientific nature of the approaches.
o Reductionist issues.
o Validity of methodologies used by both approaches (laboratory experiments, controlled
observations).
o Deterministic view held by both approaches.
o Usefulness (e.g. success of therapeutic applications).
o Relevance to today’s society.
o Nature/nurture debate.
o Comparison of therapies.
o Judgement on the overall comparison of both approaches.
o Any other appropriate analysis.
, 2019 - Lucy and Michael are having a discussion about the biological approach. Lucy is impressed by the
biological approach but Michael disagrees. Explain one strength that Lucy might use and one weakness
that Michael might use in their discussion. (10)
o Therapy; success rates, relapse, treating symptoms rather than cause, length of treatment.
o Scientific approach with measurable and observable results.
o Methods used; laboratory experiments, brain scans.
o Application to the real world.
o Issues and debates; reductionism, determinism, nature over nurture, individual differences.
o Ethics of the biological approach.
2021 - Using an example from psychology, describe the biological assumption of ‘localisation of brain
function’ (4)
o Description of what localisation of brain function is.
o Naming of the four lobes.
o Description of the function of each lobe.
o Example of function localisation e.g. language.
2016 - Explain why a psychologist following the biological approach would consider drug therapy OR
psychosurgery as a suitable therapy (5)
o Application of knowledge linked to the approach and therapy is relevant.
o DRUG THERAPY –
Physiological cause needing physiological treatment.
Based on medical model.
Issues with neurotransmitter levels.
Drug therapy acting as agonist or antagonists to readjust balance.
Examples of different drug treatments for different disorders.
Effectiveness of therapy.
Any other suitable explanation.
o PSYCHOSURGERY -
Physiological cause needing physiological treatment.
Based on medical model.
Localisation of brain function.
Destroying or removing part of brain responsible for psychopathological behaviour.
Examples of different types of psychosurgery linked to specific brain functions.
Effectiveness of therapy.
Any other suitable explanation.
2017 - Describe the main components of drug therapy OR psychosurgery (10)
o Drug Therapy
Use of antipsychotics (typical and atypical).
Use of antidepressants (e.g. SSRI’s, SNRI NASSA’s, Tricyclics, MAOI’s).
Use of anti-anxiety drugs (e.g. BZ’s, BB’s).
Role in treating specific mental disorders, (e.g. schizophrenia, depression, stress).
History of drug therapy (e.g. typical, atypical, targeting serotonin).
o Psychosurgery
Various procedures (e.g. prefrontal lobotomy, transorbital, DBS).
Neurosurgery for mental disorders.
Medical model – mental illness treated in the same way as physical illness.
Role in treating specific mental disorders, (e.g. OCD, depression). History of psychosurgery (e.g.
trepanning).
2022 - Outline the main components of either drug therapy OR psychosurgery. [10]
o Drug Therapy
History of the therapy.
Link between the assumptions of the approach and drug therapy.
Role of neurotransmitters in drug therapy.
2016 - Briefly explain the cognitive assumption of the computer analogy (2)
o Take in information, store and retrieve.
o Hardware-mind.
o Software- cognitive processes.
o Multi- Store Model.
2017 - Evaluate one strength and one weakness of the cognitive approach. (8)
o Scientific nature of the approach, e.g. use of brain scans.
o Focus on the individual.
o Rejection of biological factors, e.g. role of genes.
o Determinist, e.g. schemas.
o Usefulness, e.g. therapy.
o Mediational processes/mental processes in explaining behaviour.
o Successful applications, e.g. social cognition.
o Comparison to machines /lack of consideration for emotions and social factors.
2019 - Apply the assumptions of the cognitive approach to explain human behaviour. (10)
o Any human behaviour can be credited (e.g. addictive behaviours, autistic spectrum behaviours,
bullying behaviours, criminal behaviours, schizophrenia and stress).
o More than one human behaviour can be credited.
o Computer analogy; process of perception, attention and memory.
o Schemas; information from past experiences forming a behaviour.
o Internal mental processes; rational and irrational thinking in behaviour, role of introspection.
o Discussion on role of free will and determinism in explaining human behaviour.
o Credit can be given for application of assumptions to relationship formation.
2020 – Using examples from psychology, outline two assumptions of the cognitive approach. (8)
o Computer analogy; input, processes e.g. thinking, attention etc., storage, output. Examples of
computer analogy e.g. multistore model.
o Internal mental processes; attention, perception, thinking, memory, language. Examples of research
into these processes.
o Schemas; role of long-term memory, cultural/environmental influences, stereotyping. Examples of
schemas and/or research into schemas.
2021 - Using an example from psychology, describe the cognitive assumption of ‘schemas’. [4]
o Description of a schema.
o Role of stereotyping.
o Role of past experiences.
o Role of the environmental factors e.g. influence of family and peers.
o Example of schemas e.g. Bartlett
2021 - Describe the main components of either cognitive behavioural therapy OR rational emotive
behaviour therapy. [10]
o Cognitive behavioural therapy
Assumptions of the therapy e.g. faulty thinking, cognitive distortions, negative cognitive triad.
Combination of cognitive and behavioural techniques.
Use of dysfunctional thought diary.
Setting and completion of homework tasks.
Role of the therapist.
o Rational emotive behaviour therapy
Main assumption of the therapy e.g., basic irrational assumptions.
ABC model with the addition of D and E.
, Disputing (logical, empirical and pragmatic).
Mustabatory thinking.
Role of the therapist e.g., unconditional positive regard.
2022 - Evaluate two ethical considerations of either cognitive behavioural therapy OR rational emotive
behaviour therapy. [8]
o Cognitive behavioural therapy
Alloy and Abramsom (1979); a depressive realist's outlook is an advantage to them therefore
trying to 'cure' their depressive emotions is unethical.
Psychological harm - CBT may try to change a person's thinking to benefit society rather than
the individual which can damage self-esteem.
Psychological harm - patient blame may make the client feel they are responsible for their
disorder.
There may be a power imbalance between the client and the therapist.
CBT is ethical because clients have the right to withdraw if they wish.
CBT is ethical because it tries to cure the cause of a disorder rather than the symptoms which
can lead to less psychological harm for the individual.
Any other appropriate content.
o Rational emotive behaviour therapy
Psychological harm - patient blame may make the client may feel they are responsible for their
disorder.
REBT is ethical because clients have the right to withdraw if they wish and the therapy can be
taken at their own pace.
REBT is more ethical than CBT because it encourages unconditional self-acceptance rather than
self-rating, which can lead to less psychological harm for the individual.
Can be unethical due to the therapist harshness of questioning client's beliefs.
The competence of the therapist can have an effect on the success of therapy.
Any other appropriate content.
2021 - ‘The cognitive approach is better than the behaviourist approach.’ With reference to the
statement, compare and contrast the cognitive and behaviourist approaches. [10]
o Effectiveness of therapy e.g. length of treatment, long term effects, treatment of
o underlying cause and/or symptoms.
o Ethical issues of therapy e.g. client responsibility, role of the therapist, levels of
o anxiety, pace of the therapy for the patient, issues of valid consent.
o Methods of investigation e.g. scientific nature, reliability issues, validity issues.
o Research to support or refute the approach.
o Acknowledgement of internal processes.
o Use of non-human animals in research
2018 - Compare and contrast the biological approach and the cognitive approach. (10)
o Application of assumptions to real life.
o Inability to measure emotions/behaviours.
o The scientific nature of the approaches.
o Reductionist issues.
o Validity of methodologies used by both approaches (laboratory experiments, controlled
observations).
o Deterministic view held by both approaches.
o Usefulness (e.g. success of therapeutic applications).
o Relevance to today’s society.
o Nature/nurture debate.
o Comparison of therapies.
o Judgement on the overall comparison of both approaches.
o Any other appropriate analysis.
, 2019 - Lucy and Michael are having a discussion about the biological approach. Lucy is impressed by the
biological approach but Michael disagrees. Explain one strength that Lucy might use and one weakness
that Michael might use in their discussion. (10)
o Therapy; success rates, relapse, treating symptoms rather than cause, length of treatment.
o Scientific approach with measurable and observable results.
o Methods used; laboratory experiments, brain scans.
o Application to the real world.
o Issues and debates; reductionism, determinism, nature over nurture, individual differences.
o Ethics of the biological approach.
2021 - Using an example from psychology, describe the biological assumption of ‘localisation of brain
function’ (4)
o Description of what localisation of brain function is.
o Naming of the four lobes.
o Description of the function of each lobe.
o Example of function localisation e.g. language.
2016 - Explain why a psychologist following the biological approach would consider drug therapy OR
psychosurgery as a suitable therapy (5)
o Application of knowledge linked to the approach and therapy is relevant.
o DRUG THERAPY –
Physiological cause needing physiological treatment.
Based on medical model.
Issues with neurotransmitter levels.
Drug therapy acting as agonist or antagonists to readjust balance.
Examples of different drug treatments for different disorders.
Effectiveness of therapy.
Any other suitable explanation.
o PSYCHOSURGERY -
Physiological cause needing physiological treatment.
Based on medical model.
Localisation of brain function.
Destroying or removing part of brain responsible for psychopathological behaviour.
Examples of different types of psychosurgery linked to specific brain functions.
Effectiveness of therapy.
Any other suitable explanation.
2017 - Describe the main components of drug therapy OR psychosurgery (10)
o Drug Therapy
Use of antipsychotics (typical and atypical).
Use of antidepressants (e.g. SSRI’s, SNRI NASSA’s, Tricyclics, MAOI’s).
Use of anti-anxiety drugs (e.g. BZ’s, BB’s).
Role in treating specific mental disorders, (e.g. schizophrenia, depression, stress).
History of drug therapy (e.g. typical, atypical, targeting serotonin).
o Psychosurgery
Various procedures (e.g. prefrontal lobotomy, transorbital, DBS).
Neurosurgery for mental disorders.
Medical model – mental illness treated in the same way as physical illness.
Role in treating specific mental disorders, (e.g. OCD, depression). History of psychosurgery (e.g.
trepanning).
2022 - Outline the main components of either drug therapy OR psychosurgery. [10]
o Drug Therapy
History of the therapy.
Link between the assumptions of the approach and drug therapy.
Role of neurotransmitters in drug therapy.
