Study Guides

This study guide provides a comprehensive analysis of Addictive Behaviours for the WJEC A-Level Psychology specification. It delves into the biological, psychological, and social explanations for addiction, equipping students with the detailed knowledge and critical evaluation skills required to achieve top marks.

A deep dive into the classic 1997 Baron-Cohen et al. study, which pioneered the 'Reading the Mind in the Eyes' test. This guide explains how the study provided crucial evidence for Theory of Mind deficits in adults with high-functioning autism and Asperger syndrome, a cornerstone of the OCR A-Level Psychology specification.

Raine et al. (1997) is a cornerstone of the biological approach, using PET scans to explore the brains of murderers. This guide breaks down the complex procedure, findings, and crucial evaluation points you need to impress examiners and secure top marks.

This study guide provides a comprehensive overview of Psychosurgery for WJEC A-Level Psychology, tracing its controversial history from the 'ice-pick' lobotomy to modern, precise Deep Brain Stimulation. It is designed to equip candidates with the specific knowledge and evaluation skills needed to achieve top marks.

Bocchiaro et al. (2012) reveals the surprising power of situational pressures in making ordinary people obey unjust authority. This study challenges our assumptions about our own moral courage and provides a crucial, modern counterpoint to Milgram's classic work, making it a favourite for examiners testing the Social Area.

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.

Chaney et al. (2004) provides crucial evidence for the power of Operant Conditioning in a real-world health setting. This study demonstrates how simple, fun-based incentives can significantly improve medical adherence in young children, offering a practical solution to a serious clinical problem and serving as a key contemporary study for OCR A-Level Psychology.

Environmental Psychology explores the critical two-way relationship between our surroundings and our behaviour. This guide provides the essential OCR A-Level knowledge on how stressors like noise, the design of spaces, and even the view from a window can profoundly affect our minds and actions, equipping you with the specific studies and evaluation points needed to secure top marks.

This guide dissects the critical 'double obligation' dilemma in psychological research, balancing scientific progress against participant welfare. It provides a comprehensive breakdown of the BPS Code of Ethics, equipping WJEC A-Level candidates with the analytical tools needed to master AO2 application and AO3 evaluation.

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.

Freud's (1909) case study of Little Hans is a landmark in psychology, offering a detailed psychodynamic explanation for phobias. This guide breaks down the complex theory, key events, and evaluation points you need to secure top marks in your OCR A-Level exam.

This study provides a fascinating glimpse into the minds of psychopathic offenders, revealing how their language choices reflect a detached, instrumental, and primal worldview. For an A-Level student, mastering this study is key to demonstrating an understanding of how modern analytical techniques can be applied to the complex area of individual differences.

This guide provides a comprehensive, exam-focused breakdown of Edexcel A-Level Health Psychology. It dissects the core biological and psychological mechanisms of stress and addiction, equipping candidates with the specific terminology, evaluation points, and application skills needed to achieve top marks in Paper 3."

This guide provides a comprehensive overview of the history of mental health for OCR A-Level Psychology. It traces the evolution of explanations for mental illness, from ancient humoral theory to the modern medical model, equipping students with the critical knowledge needed to evaluate diagnostic reliability and validity in their 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.

Mastering observational methods is crucial for OCR A-Level Psychology, as it forms a cornerstone of the research methods paper. This guide provides the precise language, design principles, and evaluation points needed to secure top marks in 'Design a Study' questions.

Piliavin et al.\'s (1969) groundbreaking subway study challenged the famous \'diffusion of responsibility\' theory, revealing that in a real-life emergency, people help far more than expected. This guide breaks down why this study is crucial for your exam, focusing on the Arousal: Cost-Reward Model and the specific statistics you need to earn top marks."

Latané's (1981) Social Impact Theory offers a mathematical formula, I = f(SIN), to predict the level of social influence based on the Strength, Immediacy, and Number of sources. This guide breaks down the core principles, key studies, and evaluation points candidates need to secure top marks in the Edexcel A-Level exam.

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.

Master the WJEC A-Level Psychology topic of Stress, from the intricate biological dance of the HPA axis to the life-saving insights of stress management. This guide provides the precise knowledge, key studies, and exam technique needed to deconstruct complex questions and secure top marks."

Synaptic transmission is the fundamental process by which neurons communicate, converting electrical signals into chemical messages that cross the synapse. Mastering this electrochemical cascade is crucial for understanding how the entire nervous system functions, from simple reflexes to complex behaviours, and is a cornerstone of the Edexcel A-Level Psychology specification.

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.