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A Level
Psychology
AQA
Top Grade AO2/AO3 - Cognition & Development

Top Grade AO2/AO3 - Cognition & Development

Psychology: AQA A Level, topic 11.1.18

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Previous topic11.1.17 Issues in Social Neuroscience Next topic11.1.19 End of Topic Test - Cognition & Development 1

Psychology: AQA A Level contents

1 Social Influence
- 1.1 Social Influence
  1.1.1 Conformity
  1.1.2 Jenness' Conformity Study
  1.1.3 Asch (1951)
  1.1.4 Sherif (1935)
  1.1.5 Conformity to Social Roles
  1.1.6 End of Topic Test - Conformity
  1.1.7 Obedience
  1.1.8 Analysing Milgram's Experiment
  1.1.9 Agentic State & Legitimate Authority
  1.1.10 Variables of Obedience
  1.1.11 Resistance to Social Influence
  1.1.12 Minority Influence & Social Change
  1.1.13 Minority Influence & Social Impact Theory
  1.1.14 End of Topic Test - Social Influences
  1.1.15 Exam-Style Question - Conformity
  1.1.16 Top Grade AO2/AO3 - Social Influence
2 Memory
- 2.1 Memory
  2.1.1 Multi-Store Model of Memory
  2.1.2 Short-Term vs Long-Term Memory
  2.1.3 Support for the Multi-Store Model of Memory
  2.1.4 Duration Studies
  2.1.5 Capacity Studies
  2.1.6 Coding Studies
  2.1.7 The Working Memory Model
  2.1.8 The Working Memory Model 2
  2.1.9 Support for the Working Memory Model
  2.1.10 Explanations for Forgetting
  2.1.11 Studies on Interference
  2.1.12 Cue-Dependent Forgetting
  2.1.13 Eyewitness Testimony - Loftus & Palmer
  2.1.14 Eyewitness Testimony - Loftus
  2.1.15 Eyewitness Testimony - Post-Event Discussion
  2.1.16 Eyewitness Testimony - Age & Anxiety
  2.1.17 Cognitive Interview
  2.1.18 Cognitive Interview - Geiselman & Fisher
  2.1.19 End of Topic Test - Memory
  2.1.20 Exam-Style Question - Memory
3 Attachment
- 3.1 Attachment
  3.1.1 The Concept of Attachment
  3.1.2 Animal Studies of Attachment
  3.1.3 Explanations of Attachment
  3.1.4 Attachment Types - Strange Situation
  3.1.5 Cultural Differences in Attachment
  3.1.6 Disruption of Attachment
  3.1.7 Disruption of Attachment - Privation
  3.1.8 Overcoming the Effects of Disruption
  3.1.9 The Effects of Institutionalisation
  3.1.10 Early Attachment
  3.1.11 Critical Period of Attachment
  3.1.12 End of Topic Test - Attachment
  3.1.13 Exam-Style Question - Attachment
  3.1.14 Top Grade AO2/AO3 - Attachment
4 Clinical Psychology & Mental Health
- 4.1 Clinical Psychology & Mental Health
  4.1.1 Deviation from Social Norms
  4.1.2 Deviation from Social Norms 2
  4.1.3 Phobias, Depression & OCD
  4.1.4 Phobias: Behavioural Approach
  4.1.5 Evaluation of Behavioural Explanations of Phobias
  4.1.6 Depression: Cognitive Approach
  4.1.7 OCD: Biological Approach
  4.1.8 Evidence for the Biological Approach
  4.1.9 End of Topic Test - Psychopathy
  4.1.10 Exam-Style Question - Phobias
  4.1.11 Top Grade AO2/AO3 - Psychopathology
  4.1.12 Diagnostic Misconceptions - Phobia vs Fear
  4.1.13 Diagnostic Misconceptions - Depression & Self-Harm
  4.1.14 Diagnostic Misconceptions - Desensitisation
5 Approaches in Psychology
- 5.1 Approaches in Psychology
  5.1.1 The Behaviourist Approach - Classical Conditioning
  5.1.2 Pavlov's Experiment
  5.1.3 Little Albert Study
  5.1.4 The Behaviourist Approach - Operant Conditioning
  5.1.5 Social Learning Theory
  5.1.6 The Cognitive Approach 1
  5.1.7 The Cognitive Approach 2
  5.1.8 The Biological Approach
  5.1.9 The Biological Approach 2
  5.1.10 Gottesman (1991) - Twin Studies
  5.1.11 Brain Scanning
  5.1.12 Structure of Personality & Little Hans
  5.1.13 The Psychodynamic Approach (A2 only)
  5.1.14 Humanistic Psychology (A2 only)
  5.1.15 Aronoff (1957) (A2 Only)
  5.1.16 End of Topic Test - Approaches
- 5.2 Comparison of Approaches (A2 only)
  5.2.1 Psychodynamic Approach
  5.2.2 Cognitive Approach
  5.2.3 Biological Approach
  5.2.4 Behavioural Approach
  5.2.5 End of Topic Test - Comparison of Approaches
6 Biopsychology
- 6.1 Biopsychology
  6.1.1 Nervous System Divisions
  6.1.2 Neuron Structure & Function
  6.1.3 Neurotransmitters
  6.1.4 Endocrine System Function
  6.1.5 Fight or Flight Response
  6.1.6 The Brain (A2 only)
  6.1.7 Localisation of Brain Function (A2 only)
  6.1.8 Studying the Brain (A2 only)
  6.1.9 CIMT (A2 Only) & Postmortem
  6.1.10 Top Grade AO2/AO3 - Biopsychology
  6.1.11 Diagnostic Misconceptions - Plasticity & Recovery
  6.1.12 Diagnostic Misconceptions - Endogenous Pacemakers
  6.1.13 End of Topic Test - Biopsychology
7 Research Methods
8 Issues & Debates in Psychology (A2 only)
- 8.1 Issues & Debates in Psychology (A2 only)
  8.1.1 Culture Bias
  8.1.2 Sub-Culture Bias
  8.1.3 Gender Bias
  8.1.4 Ethnocentrism
  8.1.5 Cross Cultural Research
  8.1.6 Free Will & Determinism
  8.1.7 Comparison of Free Will & Determinism
  8.1.8 Reductionism & Holism
  8.1.9 Reductionist & Holistic Approaches
  8.1.10 Nature-Nurture Debate
  8.1.11 Interactionist Approach
  8.1.12 Nature-Nurture Methods
  8.1.13 Nature-Nurture Approaches
  8.1.14 Idiographic & Nomothetic Approaches
  8.1.15 Socially Sensitive Research
  8.1.16 End of Topic Test - Issues and Debates
9 Option 1: Relationships (A2 only)
10 Option 1: Gender (A2 only)
- 10.1 Gender (A2 only)
  10.1.1 Biological Sex
  10.1.2 The Role of Hormones in Biological Sex
  10.1.3 Biological Explanations of Gender Development
  10.1.4 Gender Identities & BSRI
  10.1.5 Kohlberg’s Theory of Gender Constancy
  10.1.6 Evaluation of Kohlberg's Theory
  10.1.7 Gender Schema Theory
  10.1.8 Social Approach to Gender Development
  10.1.9 Criticisms of Social Theory
  10.1.10 Media Influence on Gender Development
  10.1.11 Gender Incongruence
  10.1.12 End of Topic Test - Gender
11 Option 1: Cognition & Development (A2 only)
- 11.1 Cognition & Development (A2 only)
  11.1.1 Piaget’s Theory of Cognitive Development 1
  11.1.2 Piaget's Theory of Cognitive Development 2
  11.1.3 Schema Accommodation Assimilation & Equilibration
  11.1.4 Piaget & Inhelder’s Three Mountains Task (1956)
  11.1.5 Conservation & Class Inclusion
  11.1.6 Evaluation of Piaget
  11.1.7 Vygotsky
  11.1.8 Evaluation of Vygotsky
  11.1.9 Baillargeon
  11.1.10 Baillargeon's studies
  11.1.11 Evaluation of Baillargeon
  11.1.12 Sense of Self & Theory of Mind
  11.1.13 Baron-Cohen Studies
  11.1.14 Selman’s Five Levels of Perspective Taking
  11.1.15 Biological Basis of Social Cognition
  11.1.16 Evaluation of Biological Basis of Social Cognition
  11.1.17 Issues in Social Neuroscience
  11.1.18 Top Grade AO2/AO3 - Cognition & Development
  11.1.19 End of Topic Test - Cognition & Development 1
  11.1.20 End of Topic Test - Cognition & Development 2
  11.1.21 End of Topic Test - Cognition 3
12 Option 2: Schizophrenia (A2 only)
- 12.1 Schizophrenia: Diagnosis (A2 only)
  12.1.1 Symptoms of Schizophrenia
  12.1.2 Issues in Diagnosis
  12.1.3 Pinto (2017) & Copeland (1971)
  12.1.4 End of Topic Test - Schizophrenia
- 12.2 Schizophrenia: Treatment (A2 only)
  12.2.1 Family-Based Psychological Explanations
  12.2.2 Evaluation of Family-Based Explanations
  12.2.3 Cognitive Explanations
  12.2.4 Drug Therapies
  12.2.5 Evaluation of Drug Therapies
  12.2.6 Biological Explanations for Schizophrenia
  12.2.7 Dopamine Hypothesis
  12.2.8 Psychological Therapies 1
  12.2.9 Psychological Therapies 2
  12.2.10 Interactionist Approach - Diathesis-Stress Model
  12.2.11 Interactionist Approach - Triggers & Treatment
  12.2.12 Evaluation of the Interactionist Approach
  12.2.13 Evaluation of Psychological Therapies
  12.2.14 Diagnostic Misconceptions - CBT & CBTp
  12.2.15 End of Topic Test - Treatments 1
  12.2.16 End of Topic Test - Treatments 2
13 Option 2: Eating Behaviour (A2 only)
- 13.1 Eating Behaviour (A2 only)
  13.1.1 Explanations for Food Preferences
  13.1.2 Birch et al (1987) & Lowe et al (2004)
  13.1.3 Control of Eating Behaviours
  13.1.4 Control of Eating Behaviour: Leptin
  13.1.5 Biological Explanations for Anorexia Nervosa
  13.1.6 Psychological Explanations: Family Systems Theory
  13.1.7 Psychological Explanations: Social Learning Theory
  13.1.8 Psychological Explanations: Cognitive Theory
  13.1.9 Biological Explanations for Obesity
  13.1.10 Biological Explanations: Studies
  13.1.11 Psychological Explanations
  13.1.12 Psychological Explanations: Studies
  13.1.13 End of Topic Test - Eating Behaviour
14 Option 2: Stress (A2 only)
- 14.1 Stress (A2 only)
  14.1.1 Physiology of Stress
  14.1.2 Role of Stress in Illness
  14.1.3 Role of Stress in Illness: Studies
  14.1.4 Social Readjustment Rating Scales
  14.1.5 Hassles & Uplifts Scales
  14.1.6 Stress, Workload & Control
  14.1.7 Stress Level Studies
  14.1.8 Physiological Measures of Stress
  14.1.9 Individual Differences
  14.1.10 Stress & Gender
  14.1.11 Drug Therapy & Biofeedback for Stress
  14.1.12 Stress Inoculation Therapy
  14.1.13 Social Support & Stress
  14.1.14 End of Topic Test - Stress 1
  14.1.15 End of Topic Test - Stress 2
15 Option 3: Aggression (A2 only)
- 15.1 Aggression: Physiological (A2 only)
  15.1.1 Neural Mechanisms
  15.1.2 Serotonin
  15.1.3 Hormonal Mechanisms
  15.1.4 Genetic Factors
  15.1.5 Genetic Factors 2
  15.1.6 Ethological Explanation
  15.1.7 Innate Releasing Mechanisms & Fixed Action Pattern
  15.1.8 Evolutionary Explanations
  15.1.9 Buss et al (1992) - Sex Differences in Jealousy
  15.1.10 Evaluation of Evolutionary Explanations
  15.1.11 End of Topic Test - Aggression: Physiological 1
  15.1.12 End of Topic Test - Aggression: Physiological 2
- 15.2 Aggression: Social Psychological (A2 only)
  15.2.1 Social Psychological Explanation
  15.2.2 Buss (1963) - Frustration/Aggression
  15.2.3 Social Psychological Explanation 2
  15.2.4 Social Learning Theory (SLT) 1
  15.2.5 Social Learning Theory (SLT) 2
  15.2.6 Limitations of Social Learning Theory (SLT)
  15.2.7 Deindividuation
  15.2.8 Deindividuation 2
  15.2.9 Deindividuation - Diener et al (1976)
  15.2.10 End of Topic Test - Aggression: Social Psychology
  15.2.11 Institutional Aggression: Prisons
  15.2.12 Evaluation of Dispositional & Situational
  15.2.13 Influence of Computer Games
  15.2.14 Influence of Television
  15.2.15 Evaluation of Studies on Media
  15.2.16 Desensitisation & Disinhibition
  15.2.17 Cognitive Priming
  15.2.18 End of Topic Test - Aggression: Social Psychology
16 Option 3: Forensic Psychology (A2 only)
- 16.1 Forensic Psychology (A2 only)
  16.1.1 Defining Crime
  16.1.2 Measuring Crime
  16.1.3 Offender Profiling
  16.1.4 Evaluation of Offender Profiling
  16.1.5 John Duffy Case Study
  16.1.6 Biological Explanations 1
  16.1.7 Biological Explanations 2
  16.1.8 Evaluation- Biological Explanations
  16.1.9 Cognitive Explanations
  16.1.10 Moral Reasoning
  16.1.11 Differential Association Theory
  16.1.12 Custodial Sentencing
  16.1.13 Effects of Prison
  16.1.14 Evaluation of the Effects of Prison
  16.1.15 Behavioural Treatments & Therapies
  16.1.16 Effectiveness of Behavioural Treatments
  16.1.17 Restorative Justice
  16.1.18 End of Topic Test - Forensic 1
  16.1.19 End of Topic Test - Forensic 2
17 Option 3: Addiction (A2 only)
- 17.1 Addiction (A2 only)
  17.1.1 Definition
  17.1.2 Brain Neurochemistry Explanation
  17.1.3 Learning Theory Explanation
  17.1.4 Evaluation of a Learning Theory
  17.1.5 Cognitive Bias
  17.1.6 Griffiths on Cognitive Bias
  17.1.7 Evaluation of Cognitive Theory (A2 only)
  17.1.8 Gambling Addiction & Learning Theory
  17.1.9 Social Influences on Addiction 1
  17.1.10 Social Influences on Addiction 2
  17.1.11 Personal Influences on Addiction
  17.1.12 Genetic Explanations of Addiction
  17.1.13 End of Topic Test - Addiction 1
  17.1.14 End of Topic Test - Addiction 2
- 17.2 Treating Addiction (A2 only)
  17.2.1 Drug Therapy
  17.2.2 Behavioural Interventions
  17.2.3 Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
  17.2.4 Six Stage Model of Behaviour Change
  17.2.5 End of Topic Test - Treating

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