AQA A-level psychology topic checklist

A-level Psychology checklist

Paper 1


1. Psychopathology
flashcards PMT Exam papers
1.1 definitions of abnormality
1.2 phobias
1.3 treatments of phobias
1.4 OCD
1.5 OCD – biological explanations
1.6 OCD – biological treatments
1.7 Depression
1.8 Depression – cognitive explanations
1.9 Depression – cognitive treatments


2. Memory
2.1 Introduction to memory
2.2 Capacity, Duration, Coding
2.3 Multi-store model
2.4 Types of Long Term Memory
2.5 Working Memory model
2.6 Interference theory of forgetting
2.7 retrieval failure theory of forgetting
2.8 Eye witness testimony
2.9 Anxiety & Eye witness testimony
2.10 the cognitive interview


3. Attachment
3.1 Introduction to attachment
3.2 attachment figures

, 3.3 Schaffer’s stages of attachment
3.4 Animal studies in attachment
3.5 Learning theory explanation
3.6 Bowlby’s monotropic explanation
3.7 Ainsworth’s strange situation
3.8 Cultural variations
3.9 Maternal deprivation
3.10 the effects of institutionalisation
3.11 influence of early attachments


4. Social influence
4.1 Types & explanations for conformity
4.2 Asch – the line judgement task
4.3 Zimbardo – conformity to social roles
4.4 Milgram – obedience
4.5 Milgram – situational variables
4.6 Social psychological factors
4.7 Dispositional explanations
4.8 Resistance to social influence
4.9 Minority influence
4.10 Social change



Paper 2


1. Approaches in Psychology
1.1 The origins of psychology
1.2 The learning approach
1.3 The cognitive approach
1.4 The psychodynamic approach
1.5 The biological approach
1.6 The humanistic approach


2. Bio Psychology