Paper 1 Guidance (AQA A Level Psychology): Revision Note

What is examined in AQA A Level Psychology Paper 1?

• This paper focuses on introductory topics in psychology, which include:

  • social influence

  • memory

  • attachment

  • clinical psychology and mental health

• The paper's duration is 2 hours

• Paper 1 is worth a total of 96 marks

• Paper 1 represents 33.3% of the A Level

• Paper 1 is made up of four sections

Section A: Social Influence

• Section A consists of the following types of questions:

  • multiple-choice questions

  • short answer questions

  • extended writing questions

• As well as social influence, this section may include questions on research methods, practical research skills, and/or mathematical skills

• This section requires students to draw together their skills, knowledge and understanding from across the full course of study

• You must answer all questions in this section

• Section A is worth 24 marks in total

Key studies

• Ensure that you know all of the social influence research studies listed below that are named in the specification:

  • Asch's (1951, 1955) study of conformity and variables affecting conformity

  • Milgram's (1963) study of obedience and variables affecting obedience

Key concepts and theories

• You will also need to know the following social influence concepts and theories that are named in the specification:

  • Types of conformity

  • Explanations for conformity

  • Explanations for obedience

  • Explanations of resistance to social influence

  • Minority influence

Section B: Memory

• Section B consists of the following types of questions:

  • multiple-choice questions

  • short answer questions

  • extended writing questions

• As well as memory, this section may include questions on research methods, practical research skills, and/or mathematical skills

• This section requires students to draw together their skills, knowledge and understanding from across the full course of study

• You must answer all questions in this section

• Section B is worth 24 marks in total

Key concepts and theories

• Ensure that you know all of the memory concepts and theories listed below that are named in the specification:

  • The multi-store model of memory

  • The working memory model

  • Explanations for forgetting

  • Factors affecting eyewitness testimony

Section C: Attachment

• Section C consists of the following types of questions:

  • multiple-choice questions

  • short answer questions

  • extended writing questions

• As well as attachment, this section may include questions on research methods, practical research skills, and/or mathematical skills

• This section requires students to draw together their skills, knowledge and understanding from across the full course of study

• You must answer all questions in this section

• Section C is worth 24 marks in total

Key studies

• Ensure that you know all of the attachment research studies listed below that are named in the specification:

  • Animal studies of attachment: Lorenz (1935) and Harlow (1958)

  • Ainsworth's (1971) Strange Situation

  • van Ijzendoorn's (1988) meta-analysis of cultural variations in attachment

Key concepts and theories

• You will also need to know the following attachment concepts and theories that are named in the specification:

  • The learning theory of attachment

  • Bowlby's monotropic theory of attachment

  • Bowlby's theory of maternal deprivation

  • The effects of institutionalisation: the English & Romanian Adoptees Project

  • The influence of early attachment on childhood and adult relationships

Section D: Clinical Psychology and Mental Health

• Section D consists of the following types of questions:

  • multiple-choice questions

  • short answer questions

  • extended writing questions

• As well as psychopathology, this section may include questions on research methods, practical research skills, and/or mathematical skills

• This section requires students to draw together their skills, knowledge and understanding from across the full course of study

• You must answer all questions in this section

• Section D is worth 24 marks in total

Key concepts and theories

• Ensure that you know all of the psychopathology concepts and theories listed below that are named in the specification:

  • Definitions in the field of mental health

  • The characteristics of phobias, depression and OCD

  • The behavioural approach to explaining and treating phobias

  • The cognitive approach to explaining and treating depression

  • The biological approach to explaining and treating OCD