Edexcel A-Level Psychology answers, written to the spec

Social Psychology

Assessed in Paper 1

Understanding how social environment and presence of others influence individual behaviour.

Specification terms elid matches

• Agency theory
• Agentic state
• Autonomous state
• Moral strain
• Social Impact Theory (Latane)
• Obedience
• Prejudice
• Social Identity Theory
• Realistic conflict theory
• In-group
• Out-group
• Authoritarian personality
• Locus of control
• Situational factors

Named studies and theories

• Sherif et al. (1954/1961)
• Burger (2009)
• Reicher and Haslam (2006)
• Cohrs et al. (2012)

Cognitive Psychology

Assessed in Paper 1

Exploring internal mental processes such as memory and forgetting.

Specification terms elid matches

• Multi-store model of memory
• Sensory register
• Short-term memory (STM)
• Long-term memory (LTM)
• Working Memory Model
• Central executive
• Phonological loop
• Visuo-spatial sketchpad
• Episodic buffer
• Reconstructive memory
• Schema
• Episodic memory
• Semantic memory
• Amnesia

Named studies and theories

• Baddeley (1966b)
• Steyvers and Hemmer (2012)
• Schmolck et al. (2002)
• Sebastian and Hernandez

Biological Psychology

Assessed in Paper 1

Investigating how biological structures, genetics, and neurochemistry influence behaviour.

Specification terms elid matches

• Central nervous system
• Brain structure
• Prefrontal cortex
• Amygdala
• Neurotransmitters
• Synaptic transmission
• Dopamine
• Serotonin
• Hormones
• Testosterone
• Cortisol
• Evolution
• Natural selection
• Genetics

Named studies and theories

• Raine et al. (1997)
• Brendgen et al. (2005)
• Gottesman and Shields (1966)
• Cadoret et al. (1995)

Learning Theories

Assessed in Paper 1

Examining how behaviour is acquired and modified through conditioning and social learning.

Specification terms elid matches

• Classical conditioning
• Unconditioned stimulus
• Conditioned stimulus
• Operant conditioning
• Positive reinforcement
• Negative reinforcement
• Punishment
• Social Learning Theory (SLT)
• Observation
• Imitation
• Modeling
• Vicarious reinforcement
• Phobias
• Systematic desensitisation

Named studies and theories

• Watson and Rayner (1920)
• Capafons et al. (1998)
• Becker et al. (2002)
• Bastian et al. (2011)

Clinical Psychology

Assessed in Paper 2

Focusing on the diagnosis, explanation, and treatment of mental health disorders like schizophrenia and depression.

Specification terms elid matches

• Diagnosis
• DSM
• ICD
• Schizophrenia
• Unipolar depression
• Anorexia nervosa
• Biological treatments
• Drug therapy
• Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)
• Psychological treatments
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
• Family therapy
• Psychoanalysis

Named studies and theories

• Rosenhan (1973)
• Carlsson et al. (2000)
• Williams et al. (2013)
• Bradshaw (1998)
• Brown et al. (1986)

Criminological Psychology

Assessed in Paper 2

Applying psychological theories to understand and address criminal behaviour.

Specification terms elid matches

• Eyewitness testimony
• Post-event information
• Weapon focus
• Cognitive interview
• Jury decision making
• Defendant characteristics
• Pre-trial publicity
• Biological explanations of crime
• Brain injury
• XYY syndrome
• Social learning explanations
• Labeling theory
• Self-fulfilling prophecy
• Anger management

Named studies and theories

• Loftus and Palmer (1974)
• Howells et al. (2005)
• Bradbury and Williams (2013)
• Ruva et al. (2007)

Child Psychology

Assessed in Paper 2

Studying the psychological development of children from birth through adolescence.

Specification terms elid matches

• Attachment
• Deprivation
• Privation
• Daycare
• Autism
• Cross-cultural research
• Strange situation
• Internal working model
• Evolutionary perspective of attachment
• Cognitive development
• Theory of mind
• Piaget's theory
• Vygotsky's theory
• Zone of proximal development

Named studies and theories

• Bowlby (1944)
• Cassibba et al. (2013)
• Li et al. (2013)
• Van Ijzendoorn and Kroonenberg (1988)

Health Psychology

Assessed in Paper 2

Exploring the psychological, behavioural, and cultural factors that contribute to physical health and illness.

Specification terms elid matches

• Stress
• Addiction
• Coping mechanisms
• Physiological responses
• General Adaptation Syndrome
• Life events
• Daily hassles
• Social support
• Cognitive behavioural therapy

Named studies and theories

• Brady (1958)
• Vink et al. (2005)
• Kiecolt

Psychological Skills

Assessed in Paper 3

Developing and applying research methods and data analysis skills in psychology.

Specification terms elid matches

• Research methods
• Experimental design
• Independent measures
• Repeated measures
• Matched pairs
• Sampling methods
• Quantitative data
• Qualitative data
• Descriptive statistics
• Inferential statistics
• Hypothesis testing
• Levels of measurement
• Validity
• Reliability