AQA A-LEVEL PSYCHOLOGY: PAPER 1 EXAM
LATEST 2025 WITH ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT VERIFIED ANSWERS ALREADY
GRADED A+ 100% GUARANTEED PASS!
STATISTICAL INFREQUENCY
abnormality is defined as those behaviours that are extremely rare, i.e. any
behaviour that is found in very few people is regarded as abnormal.
e.g. IQ - statistically unusual if below 70. diagnosed w/ intellectual disability
disorder
DEVIATION FROM SOCIAL NORMS
behaviour that is different from the accepted standards of behaviour in a
community or society
abnormality based on social context
,example: antisocial personality disorder (formerly psychopathy) - failure to
conform to lawful and culturally normal behaviour. psychopaths are abnormal
because they deviate from social norms/standards.
STRENGTH OF STATISTICAL INFREQUENCY: REAL LIFE APPLICATION
all assessment of patients w/ mental disorders includes comparison to statistical
norms.
thus a useful part of clinical assessment.
LIMITATION OF STATISTICAL INFREQUENCY: UNUSUAL ≠ BAD
IQ scores of >130 are also statistically abnormal, but people with this are not
diagnosed w/ a disorder like those who have IQ<70.
limitation because this means it should never be used alone to make a diagnosis
LIMITATION OF STATISTICAL INFREQUENCY: NOT EVERYONE BENEFITS FROM A
LABEL
if someone is happy and fulfilled, there is no benefit from being labelled as
abnormal - could cause a negative view of self and others.
LIMITATION OF DEVIATION FROM SOCIAL NORMS: CULTURALLY RELATIVE
,different cultures label people differently - creates problems for people from one
culture living w/i another culture
creates cultural bias in assessment
LIMITATION OF DEVIATION FROM SOCIAL NORMS: HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES
too much reliance on this method of assessment and lead to systematic abuse of
human rights, for example diagnosing people with conditions for trying to escape
slavery or being attracted to working-class people - diagnoses used for control.
FAILURE TO FUNCTION ADEQUATELY
occurs when someone is unable to cope with ordinary demands of day-to-day
living.
no longer conforming to interpersonal rules, experience personal distress, behave
irrationally or dangerously.
DEVIATION FROM IDEAL MENTAL HEALTH
occurs when someone does not meet a set of criteria for good mental health. can
overlap w/ failure to function adequately
JAHODA (1958)
, Six conditions of ideal mental health:
(1) positive self attitude
(2) self actualisation - realising your potential, being fulfilled.
(3) resistance to stress
(4) personal autonomy - making your own decisions, being in control.
(5) accurate perception of reality
(6) adaption to the environment.
STRENGTH OF FAILURE TO FUNCTION ADEQUATELY: RECOGNISES PATIENT'S
PERSPECTIVE
allows patient to discuss how they struggle to cope w/ everyday pressures -
captures experience of those who need help
LIMITATION OF FAILURE TO FUNCTION ADEQUATELY: SAME AS DEVIATION FROM
SOCIAL NORMS
hard to say when someone is really failing to function, or if they just deviate from
social norms. e.e people who live alternative lifestyles. treating this as failures of
adequate functioning limits freedom.
LIMITATION OF FAILURE TO FUNCTION ADEQUATELY: SUBJECTIVE
someone has to judge distress - patients may feel distressed but may not be
viewed as suffering.
LATEST 2025 WITH ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT VERIFIED ANSWERS ALREADY
GRADED A+ 100% GUARANTEED PASS!
STATISTICAL INFREQUENCY
abnormality is defined as those behaviours that are extremely rare, i.e. any
behaviour that is found in very few people is regarded as abnormal.
e.g. IQ - statistically unusual if below 70. diagnosed w/ intellectual disability
disorder
DEVIATION FROM SOCIAL NORMS
behaviour that is different from the accepted standards of behaviour in a
community or society
abnormality based on social context
,example: antisocial personality disorder (formerly psychopathy) - failure to
conform to lawful and culturally normal behaviour. psychopaths are abnormal
because they deviate from social norms/standards.
STRENGTH OF STATISTICAL INFREQUENCY: REAL LIFE APPLICATION
all assessment of patients w/ mental disorders includes comparison to statistical
norms.
thus a useful part of clinical assessment.
LIMITATION OF STATISTICAL INFREQUENCY: UNUSUAL ≠ BAD
IQ scores of >130 are also statistically abnormal, but people with this are not
diagnosed w/ a disorder like those who have IQ<70.
limitation because this means it should never be used alone to make a diagnosis
LIMITATION OF STATISTICAL INFREQUENCY: NOT EVERYONE BENEFITS FROM A
LABEL
if someone is happy and fulfilled, there is no benefit from being labelled as
abnormal - could cause a negative view of self and others.
LIMITATION OF DEVIATION FROM SOCIAL NORMS: CULTURALLY RELATIVE
,different cultures label people differently - creates problems for people from one
culture living w/i another culture
creates cultural bias in assessment
LIMITATION OF DEVIATION FROM SOCIAL NORMS: HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES
too much reliance on this method of assessment and lead to systematic abuse of
human rights, for example diagnosing people with conditions for trying to escape
slavery or being attracted to working-class people - diagnoses used for control.
FAILURE TO FUNCTION ADEQUATELY
occurs when someone is unable to cope with ordinary demands of day-to-day
living.
no longer conforming to interpersonal rules, experience personal distress, behave
irrationally or dangerously.
DEVIATION FROM IDEAL MENTAL HEALTH
occurs when someone does not meet a set of criteria for good mental health. can
overlap w/ failure to function adequately
JAHODA (1958)
, Six conditions of ideal mental health:
(1) positive self attitude
(2) self actualisation - realising your potential, being fulfilled.
(3) resistance to stress
(4) personal autonomy - making your own decisions, being in control.
(5) accurate perception of reality
(6) adaption to the environment.
STRENGTH OF FAILURE TO FUNCTION ADEQUATELY: RECOGNISES PATIENT'S
PERSPECTIVE
allows patient to discuss how they struggle to cope w/ everyday pressures -
captures experience of those who need help
LIMITATION OF FAILURE TO FUNCTION ADEQUATELY: SAME AS DEVIATION FROM
SOCIAL NORMS
hard to say when someone is really failing to function, or if they just deviate from
social norms. e.e people who live alternative lifestyles. treating this as failures of
adequate functioning limits freedom.
LIMITATION OF FAILURE TO FUNCTION ADEQUATELY: SUBJECTIVE
someone has to judge distress - patients may feel distressed but may not be
viewed as suffering.
