Study Guides

This study guide provides a comprehensive overview of two key psychological treatments for schizophrenia: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Family Therapy. It is designed to equip AQA A-Level Psychology students with the detailed knowledge and evaluation skills needed to excel in Paper 3, focusing on practical application and examiner expectations.

Forgetting is not simply a failure of memory — it is a window into how memory systems are organised, accessed, and disrupted. This topic requires candidates to master two distinct theoretical frameworks — Interference Theory and Retrieval Failure Theory — and to deploy precise knowledge of landmark studies to earn AO1, AO2, and AO3 marks. With AO3 weighted at 40%, the ability to evaluate research methodology critically and apply theory to novel scenarios is what separates the top-band candidates from the rest.

This study guide delves into the critical factors that influence the accuracy of eyewitness testimony (EWT), a cornerstone of forensic psychology. Understanding how memory can be distorted by leading questions, post-event discussion, and anxiety is not just academically fascinating but vital for appreciating the complexities of the criminal justice system and is a frequent high-mark topic in AQA A-Level exams.

This guide dissects the fundamental AQA A-Level Psychology debate between Idiographic and Nomothetic approaches. Understanding this is crucial for Paper 2, as it tests your ability to evaluate the scientific nature of psychology and appreciate the trade-off between in-depth individual insight and broad, generalisable laws."

Inferential statistics are the bedrock of psychological research, allowing us to move from sample data to general conclusions about human behaviour. Mastering this topic is non-negotiable for A-Level Psychology, as it provides the tools to determine if research findings are statistically significant or merely a fluke, a skill that unlocks the highest marks in the Research Methods paper."

The Interactionist Approach offers a sophisticated and holistic explanation for schizophrenia, moving beyond simplistic nature-nurture debates. It argues that a biological vulnerability (diathesis) only leads to schizophrenia when triggered by environmental or biological stressors, a framework crucial for understanding both the causes and modern treatments of the disorder."

Sperry's 1968 split-brain research offered a groundbreaking glimpse into the independent functions of the brain's two hemispheres. By studying patients who had their corpus callosum severed, he revealed how language is lateralised to the left hemisphere and visuo-spatial skills to the right, a foundational concept for understanding brain organisation and earning marks in the AQA exam.

This study guide delves into the fundamental building blocks of the nervous system: neurons and the process of synaptic transmission. Understanding this electrochemical process is non-negotiable for A-Level Psychology candidates, as it underpins all behaviour, from simple reflexes to complex cognitive processes. Mastery here provides the foundation for understanding topics across the specification, including aggression, addiction, and schizophrenia.

This study guide explores the psychological mechanisms behind social change, focusing on how minorities can influence majorities. It is a crucial topic for AQA A-Level Psychology, as it explains how societal shifts, from the suffragettes to modern environmentalism, actually happen, providing you with the key theories and research to excel in your exam.

The Multi-Store Model of Memory (MSM), proposed by Atkinson and Shiffrin in 1968, is a foundational theory in cognitive psychology. It provides a simple, linear framework for how information is processed from our senses into our permanent memory, making it a crucial topic for understanding how memory works and a frequent subject of exam questions.

Dive into the mind of Freud with this essential AQA A-Level Psychology guide to the Psychodynamic Approach. Uncover the secrets of the unconscious, the dynamics of the Id, Ego, and Superego, and learn exactly what examiners want to see for top marks in AO1 description and AO3 evaluation.