psychology paper 2 mocks

Question 1

the cognitive approach

Answer 1

how our mental processes (eg. thoughts, perception attention) affect behaviour

Question 2

what does the cognitive approach argue/ investigate ?

Answer 2

internal mental processes can and should be studied scientifically

studies memory, perception and thinking

Question 3

schema

Answer 3

a mental framework of beliefs and expectations that influence cognitive processing

they are developed from experience

Question 4

what schemas are babies born with?

Answer 4

simple motor schemas

for inane behaviours such as sucking and grasping

Question 5

what do schemas allow us to do?

Answer 5

enable us to process lots of information quickly which stop us from becoming overwhelmed by emotional stimuli

they may also distort our interpretations of sensory information leading to perceptual errors

Question 6

what does the information processing approach suggest?

Answer 6

information flows through the cognitive system in a sequence of stages
these include the input, storage, and retrieval

Question 7

what is the information processing approach based on?

Answer 7

the way that computers function

but a computer would involve actually programming a computer to see if instructions produce a similar output
this has be used in the development of ai

Question 8

strength of the cognitive approach (P1)

Answer 8

uses objective methods

cognitive psychologist use highly controlled methods of study do researchers are able to infer contain processes at work

this involves the use of lab studies

this means that studies have creditable scientific basis

Question 9

strength of the cognitive study (p2)

Answer 9

pratical application

most dominant approach on psychology today and has been applied to a wide range of practical theories and contexts
also used in the treatment of depression and eyewitness testimony

Question 10

limitation of the cognitive approach

Answer 10

machine reductionism

ignores the influence of human emotion and motivation
eg. anxiety on eyewitness testimony

weakens the validity

Question 11

what happens if the effect on the postsynaptic neutron is inhibitory?

Answer 11

postsynaptic neurone is less likely to fire

eg seritionin

Question 12

what happens if an postsynaptic neutron is exhibitory?

Answer 12

more likely to fire eg adrenaline

Question 13

OCD

Answer 13

a condition characterised by obsessions and/ or compulsive behaviour.

obsession are cognitive whereas compulsions are behavioural

Question 14

genetic explanations

Answer 14

lewis observed that in patines with OCD 37% had parents, 21% had siblings with oct. this suggests that ocd runs in families creating genetic vulnerability

diathesis stress model - certain genes leave some people more likely to develop a mental disorder, environmental factors can also be an influence

Question 15

candidate genes

Answer 15

genes which create vulnerability for ocd

some are involved in the development of the serotonin system
eg. 5HT1-D beta serotonin across synapses

Question 16

ocd is polygenetic

Answer 16

caused by a combination of genetic variations that together significantly increase vulnerability

taylor found up to 230 genes may be involved in ocd
associated with serition and dopamine

Question 17

different types of ocd

Answer 17

ocd is caused by different groups in different people

evidence to suggest that different types of ocd may be the result of particular genetic variations eg hoarding disorder

Question 18

neural explanations

Answer 18

genes associated with ocd are like to affect the levels o key neurotransmitters as well as structures of the brain

Question 19

the role of serotonin

Answer 19

regulates mood

low levels = low mood
ocd can be explained by having low levels of serotonin

neurotransmitters relay information from one neurone to another

Question 20

decision making systems

Answer 20

may be associated with abnormal functioning of the lateral of the frontal lobes

parahippocampal gyrus associated with processing unpleasant emotions, functions abnormally in ocd

Question 21

strength for ocd (genetic explanations)

Answer 21

strong evidence base

twin studies 68% of dental twins shared the same ocd gene and 31% of non identical twins shared the gene

a person with a family member diagnosed with ocd is around four times more likely to develop ocd

Question 22

limitation for ocd (genetic risk explanation)

Answer 22

environmental risk factors

cromer et al found that over half had experienced a traumatic event

Question 23

strength of neural explanations

Answer 23

supporting evidence

antidepressants that work on serotonin are effective at reducing OCD systems

suggesting biologia factors may also be responsible for ocd

Question 24

limitation of neural explanations

Answer 24

serotonin - ocd link may not be unique to ocd

many people also experience clinical depression - co-morbidity

Question 25

extraneous variable

Answer 25

any variable other then the independent variable that may affect the depended variable if its not controlled

nuisance variables that do not vary systematically with the iv

Question 26

behaviourist approach assumptions

Answer 26

interested in studying behaviour that can be observed

all behaviour is learned

two forms of learning: classical and operant conditioning

Question 27

classical conditioning

Answer 27

pavlov’s dogs

classical condition is learned through association

neutral stimulus (bell) became a conditioned stimulus

Question 28

operant conditioning

Answer 28

skinner’s rats

behaviour is shaped by consequences

positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement and punishment

Question 29

counter balancing

Answer 29

an attempt to control for the effects of order in a repeated measure design

half the ppts experience the conditions in one order and the other half in the opposite order

Question 30

what are the two elements in cbt?

Answer 30

cognitive element - assessment and the therapist clarifies the clients problems, they identify goals and plan how to achieve them
i identify any negative or irrational thoughts

behaviour element - working to change negative/ irrational thoughts

Question 31

becks cognitive therapy

Answer 31

identify automatic thoughts about the world, the self and the future

challenges the thoughts

tests reality of negative beliefs

patient are set homework

Question 32

ellis’s rebt therapy

Answer 32

vicarious argument - is there actual evidence to support the belief

Question 33

behavioural activation

Answer 33

decrease avoidance and isolation using activities that boost mood eg exercise