AQA PSYCHOLOGY PAPER 2 EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS WITH COMPLETE SOLUTIONS VERIFIED
LATEST UPDATE
Who was Wundt?
The 'father of psychology'
What did Wundt do?
Opened first lab in Leipzig, used introspection to study consciousness
What is introspection?
A method where subjects analyse their own thoughts and feelings in relation to a stimulus (studies
sensation and perception) using a standardised procedure
What are the limitations of introspection?
Subjective, unfalsifiable
How did Wundt attempt to make introspection scientific?
He used standardised procedures in a controlled environment
What features make something a science? (5)
Hypothesis testing, Objectivity, Replicability, Falsifiability, Empirical
Which approaches take the most scientific (nomothetic) approach to psychology?
,Behaviourist, Cognitive, Biological
Which approaches take the least scientific approach to psychology?
Humanistic, Psychodynamic
What are the assumptions of the behaviourist approach? (3)
All behaviour is learnt, Animals and humans learn in the same way, We a born a blank slate
How would you describe the research methods used by the behaviourist approach?
Use experimental method, with animals as subjects, looking for quantifiable behaviour
Who proposed classical conditioning as a way of learning?
Pavlov
How was Classical conditioning first identified?
Pavlov's dogs study - salivating at the sound of a bell that indicated food was coming.
Describe the process of classical conditioning (you don't have to use an example).
Unconditioned Stimulus à Unconditioned Response (usually a pre existing reflex, but can be a previously
learnt behaviour), Neutral Stimulus à No response, US + NS à UR (repeated pairing of these means
eventually the NS becomes...), Conditioned Stimulus à Conditioned Response
What is generalisation in Classical conditioning?
When stimuli similar to the original CS produce the same response
What is extinction in classical conditioning?
Where the CR stops being produced by the CS
,Who proposed operant conditioning as a way of learning?
Skinner
How would you explain the difference between classical and operant conditioning?
Classical conditioning is learning by association, operant conditioning is learning by reinforcement
List the three types of reinforcement key to explaining operant conditioning.
Positive reinforcement, Negative reinforcement, Punishment
Outline positive reinforcement in operant conditioning.
Behaviour is more likely to be repeated as a result of reward
Outline negative reinforcement in operant conditioning.
Behaviour is more likely to be repeated as a result of removing a negative stimulus
Outline punishment in operant conditioning.
Behaviour is less likely to be repeated as a result of addition of a negative stimulus
What element of psychopathology have we explained with the behaviourist approach?
Phobias
What is the strength of the behaviourist approach?
Lots of experimental evidence à scientific credibility, Application to treatment of phobias and
modification of problematic behaviour (dealing with offending)
What are the problems with the behaviourist approach?
, Generalising from animal studies, Ethical issues associated with animal research, Reductionist &
Deterministic
Which side of the nature nurture debate is the behaviourist approach on?
Nurture
What is the name given to psychologists who subscribe to the behaviourist approach?
Empiricists
What is the learning approach developed by Bandura called?
Social learning theory
What are the assumptions of Social Learning theory?
The same as the behaviourist approach + addition of the importance of role models
Describe the key idea behind SLT.
We learn a lot of behaviour through role models using cognitive mediational processes.
Explain the role of modelling and where our role models come from in SLT.
We observe and imitate a role model, this requires us to identify with that role model. This is more likely
if they are the same gender as ourselves, considered attractive, or are of higher social status.
Describe vicarious reinforcement in SLT.
We learn by seeing others rewarded for a behaviour and then imitate those behaviours that are
rewarded.
What are the 4 mediational processes in SLT?
ANSWERS WITH COMPLETE SOLUTIONS VERIFIED
LATEST UPDATE
Who was Wundt?
The 'father of psychology'
What did Wundt do?
Opened first lab in Leipzig, used introspection to study consciousness
What is introspection?
A method where subjects analyse their own thoughts and feelings in relation to a stimulus (studies
sensation and perception) using a standardised procedure
What are the limitations of introspection?
Subjective, unfalsifiable
How did Wundt attempt to make introspection scientific?
He used standardised procedures in a controlled environment
What features make something a science? (5)
Hypothesis testing, Objectivity, Replicability, Falsifiability, Empirical
Which approaches take the most scientific (nomothetic) approach to psychology?
,Behaviourist, Cognitive, Biological
Which approaches take the least scientific approach to psychology?
Humanistic, Psychodynamic
What are the assumptions of the behaviourist approach? (3)
All behaviour is learnt, Animals and humans learn in the same way, We a born a blank slate
How would you describe the research methods used by the behaviourist approach?
Use experimental method, with animals as subjects, looking for quantifiable behaviour
Who proposed classical conditioning as a way of learning?
Pavlov
How was Classical conditioning first identified?
Pavlov's dogs study - salivating at the sound of a bell that indicated food was coming.
Describe the process of classical conditioning (you don't have to use an example).
Unconditioned Stimulus à Unconditioned Response (usually a pre existing reflex, but can be a previously
learnt behaviour), Neutral Stimulus à No response, US + NS à UR (repeated pairing of these means
eventually the NS becomes...), Conditioned Stimulus à Conditioned Response
What is generalisation in Classical conditioning?
When stimuli similar to the original CS produce the same response
What is extinction in classical conditioning?
Where the CR stops being produced by the CS
,Who proposed operant conditioning as a way of learning?
Skinner
How would you explain the difference between classical and operant conditioning?
Classical conditioning is learning by association, operant conditioning is learning by reinforcement
List the three types of reinforcement key to explaining operant conditioning.
Positive reinforcement, Negative reinforcement, Punishment
Outline positive reinforcement in operant conditioning.
Behaviour is more likely to be repeated as a result of reward
Outline negative reinforcement in operant conditioning.
Behaviour is more likely to be repeated as a result of removing a negative stimulus
Outline punishment in operant conditioning.
Behaviour is less likely to be repeated as a result of addition of a negative stimulus
What element of psychopathology have we explained with the behaviourist approach?
Phobias
What is the strength of the behaviourist approach?
Lots of experimental evidence à scientific credibility, Application to treatment of phobias and
modification of problematic behaviour (dealing with offending)
What are the problems with the behaviourist approach?
, Generalising from animal studies, Ethical issues associated with animal research, Reductionist &
Deterministic
Which side of the nature nurture debate is the behaviourist approach on?
Nurture
What is the name given to psychologists who subscribe to the behaviourist approach?
Empiricists
What is the learning approach developed by Bandura called?
Social learning theory
What are the assumptions of Social Learning theory?
The same as the behaviourist approach + addition of the importance of role models
Describe the key idea behind SLT.
We learn a lot of behaviour through role models using cognitive mediational processes.
Explain the role of modelling and where our role models come from in SLT.
We observe and imitate a role model, this requires us to identify with that role model. This is more likely
if they are the same gender as ourselves, considered attractive, or are of higher social status.
Describe vicarious reinforcement in SLT.
We learn by seeing others rewarded for a behaviour and then imitate those behaviours that are
rewarded.
What are the 4 mediational processes in SLT?
