1. A2 Revision lessons

2. Bluffers Guide to evaluation
Supporting/challenging evidence
Can you relate an issue or debate?
If its biological theory-> reductionism/determinism/nature
If its behaviourist-> nurture
Does it have practical applications
Can you evaluate any of the research methods used in the supporting research?
Can you make a comparison with another theory/approach?
Only write 2 PEELS but make them blooming good! Explain, expand, elaborate, extend, and then … link

3. Important
The following are topics that have not come up in the last two years as larger questions or essays and some have not come up at all. But… Please note- This by no way means that these will definitely come up and other topics will not come up so please draw caution with this list influencing your revision.

4. Social Social Roles Milgram variations Resistance to SI
Minority Influence
Social Change

5. Memory Nature of memory Multi store Long term memory Anxiety
Post event discussion

6. Attachment Multiple attachments and the Role of father
Ainsworth’s strange situation
Maternal Deprivation
Influence of early attachment on later att
Shaffer’s stages of attachment

7. Psychopathology Stat infrequency Deviation from social norms
Bio explanations for OCD
Bio treatments OCD
Behavioural explanations
Cognitive explanations

8. Biopsych
Endocrine Lateralisation - research Localisation - research Infradian Ultradian Plasticity- research Functional recovery- research

9. Approaches Origins and emergence of Psych as a science
Social learning theory
including imitation, identification, modelling, vicarious reinforcement, the role of mediational processes and Bandura’s research
Biological approach
the influence of genes, biological structures and neurochemistry on behaviour. Genotype and phenotype, genetic basis of behaviour, evolution and behaviour.
Cognitive approach
the study of internal mental processes, the role of schema, the use of theoretical and computer models to explain and make inferences about mental processes. The emergence of cognitive neuroscience.
Psychodynamic

10. Issues and Debates Nature vs Nurture Idiographic Nomothetic
Gender Bias
Culture Bias

11. Gender Sex role stereotypes Biological explanations Psychodynamic
Social Learning

12. SZ Positive and negative symptoms Classification and diagnosis
Cognitive Explanations
Cognitive Treatments
Family therapy
Token economies
Interactionist app to explaining AND treating

13. Forensics Defining crime Measuring crime Biological explanations
Psychodynamic explanations
Differential association

15. Research methods
Design a study

16. Some ways of establishing validity involve the use of a statistical test.
Outline how these researchers could have used a statistical test to establish concurrent validity of the mathematical reasoning ability test.
(4)

17. First step say what concurrent is in this context - Concurrent validity would involve correlating the results on the maths test with results for the same group of people on an established maths reasoning test: Then see how significant the correlation is by using: • A Spearman’s rho (maths scores are at least ordinal) or Pearson’s r test should be used for the two sets of test results • if the mathematical ability test is valid then there should be a significant positive correlation between the two sets of test scores at the 0.05 level.

18. Essay planning-what is the question asking? What would you include?
Outline and evaluate the authoritarian personality as a dispositional explanation for obedience. (16 marks)
Discuss what psychological research has shown about working memory. In your answer, refer to theory and/or evidence. [16 marks]
Discuss the effects of institutionalisation. Refer to the studies of Romanian orphans in your answer. [16 marks]
Discuss biological approach to explaining obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) (16 marks

19. Model essays
Can you identify which is the A01 and A03? Do you think the balance looks right (6+10)?
Can you annotate the paragraphs to identify PEEL?
Are the evaluation paragraphs signposted clearly – is it obvious whether the point is a strength or limitation?
Could you convert this back into a snap plan?

20. Bowlby

22. memory

23. Social influence

24. Minority influence
an individual, or a small group change the behaviour and/or attitudes of a larger group.
It is the opposite of conformity.
Minority influence usually results in internalisation (a permanent change) because it is likely to result from informational social influence, and therefore represents a true conversion.
In order to be successful, a minority needs to have certain qualities, including: consistency, flexibility, commitment
In addition, minorities are also more likely to be influential if they are seen to be acting from principle, not out of selfinterest, if they are similar to the majority in terms of class, age, and gender, and if they advocate views that are consistent with current social trends

25. Minority influence research
Who conducted a study into importance of consistency in minority influence?
What was the procedure?
What were the results?
What were the conclusions?
What are the strengths and limitations of this research?

29. Social influence processes-> impact social change

30. https://www. brainscape

32. Approaches
Imagine you had an approaches Q such as… Outline the psychodynamic approach and compare it with at least 1 other approach. (16 marks) In this Q does it mean what you compare it against can change throughout OR do you have to stick to the same approach for each comparison? Read both examples of evaluative paragraphs – silently to yourself. Compare them – why is one poor and the a top band paragraph?

33. Poor paragraph but why?
The psychodynamic approach is unfalsifiable because the approach only test the unconscious. The unconscious includes things than can be observed directly and therefore it is not a science. Whereas the Behaviourist approach tests claims that are objective such as operant conditioning, like skinners rat’s pressing a button in order to be rewarded for food, this is why it is considered a science. This means the psychodynamic approach is not valid or reliable as a science.

34. Top band paragraph - but why?
One difference between the psychodynamic approach and the behaviourist approach is the extent to which it is considered a science. The psychodynamic approach is considered a pseudoscience as it is not possible to falsify many of the claims that are made. For example is it not possible to falsify the existence of the Oedipus complex due to its unconscious origin, if a boy develops negative feelings towards his father the theory or verified but if he doesn’t the theory would suggest the feelings have simply been repressed into the unconscious and thus still verified. Whereas the Behaviourist approach which only researches observable phenomena such as the stimulus – response association in classical conditioning can be operationalised in such as way that we can at least attempt to prove it wrong. Therefore according to critics, such as Popper, the Psychodynamic approach is an inferior theory due to the unfalsifiable nature of the claims made by the approach thus limiting it’s credibility.

35. Approaches
Comparison essays

40. biorhythms

43. Synaptic transmission

46. What do you need to do?
Some people are very confident on bio-psych others not so much. So your choice…
Work with me (synaptic transmission, Bio -Rhythms).
Stay but work on Questions of your choice I will try to give feedback if time.
Work in another psych-room on questions and pop back at the end for some feedback.
Don’t forget psych205 has questions for every unit in the revision resources section

47. Revision: Biopsych Synaptic transmission and Rhythms…

48. Can you name all three types and label in as much detail as possible
Can you name all three types and label in as much detail as possible. Ignore the boxes.

49. Synaptic vesicles
Pre-synaptic nerve ending (axon terminal)
Synaptic nerve ending
Neurotransmitters
Receptor sites
Synaptic Cleft

50. What is happening at each frame?

51. The neurotransmitters bind to and activates receptor sites
The neurotransmitters bind to and activates receptor sites. The activation results in either a excitatory or inhibitory effect.
The transmission stops when the neurotransmitter is taken-up again by the pre-synaptic neuron (or broken by enzymes). The effects are therefore determined by how quickly re-uptake occurs.
As the action potential reaches the end of the nerve axon it causes vesicles to release neurotransmitters that are chemical messengers.
The vesicles bond with the nerve membrane and neurotransmitters are released into the synaptic cleft. This is called Exocytosis

52. In summary…excitatory & inhibitory neurotransmitters
The ‘on switches’
They cause excitation of post synaptic neurons
Makes the mind ‘busy’
Neurotransmitter examples: Noradrenaline, acetylcholine
Inhibitory
The ‘off switches’
They cause inhibition of post synaptic neurons
Makes the mind ‘calm’
Neurotransmitter examples: GABA, serotonin

53. Will the post synaptic neuron fire?
One post synaptic neuron is connected to many other presynaptic neurons at the same time.
Each presynaptic neuron may be transmitting a different neurotransmitter. In this example (green, blue & black) are excitatory. The red is inhibitory.
What do you think the ‘net’ result would be on the postsynaptic neuron. To fire or not?
Excitatory post synaptic potential
Inhibitory post synaptic potential
The net result of the calculation is referred to as spatial summation

54. Researchers tested synaptic transmission in slices of rat brain
Researchers tested synaptic transmission in slices of rat brain. They stimulated different combinations of presynaptic neurons, and found that an action potential was sometimes produced, but not always. Use your knowledge of excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters to explain this finding (4 marks)
If the researchers stimulated several neurons which all caused an EPSP in the post-synaptic neuron then spatial summation would mean that an action potential is produced. On the other hand, if they stimulated a combination of neurons some of which caused IPSP’s then the post synaptic neuron may not fire.

55. Biological Rhythms
This will cover all 3 Rhythms and the role of Endogenous pacemakers / Exogenous Zeitgebers.

56. Lets find the holes in your Knowledge
Circadian
Infradian
Ultradian
Length?
Example/s
Key features of the example including the role of the endogenous pacemakers/ exogenous zeitgebers
Research 1
Research or evaluation point 2

57. Sleep drive strongest 1-3 pm
Describe the Circadian Rhythm of the average person. Can you guestimate when the following happens…
Strongest sleep drives.
Core body temperature at its highest
Core body temperature at its lowest
Small drop in body temp
When melatonin is released (at this time of the year)
Slight drop of body temp 2-4
Core Body temp Highest at 6PM
Sleep drive strongest 2-4 am
Core Body temp lowest 4:30
Pineal gland producing melatonin in hours of darkness – so will depends on time of year

58. Starting with the sun rising On BWB draw a flow chart/ diagram to explain the relationship between endogenous pacemakers and Exogenous zeitgebers.
This image might help too…

59. 1. The sun rises and thus Light (exogenous zeitgeber) is detected by cells in the eyes.
2. The SupraChiasmaticNucleus (SCN) the main endogenous pacemaker is located in the hypothalamus, just above the optic chiasm/nerve so it can receive information about light directly.
3. The SCN passes the information of light exposure to the pineal gland
4. The pineal gland will then stop the production of the hormone melatonin
5. Which in turn will stop the sleep drive to promote wakefulness.
6. When the sun sets the exogenous zeitgeber of lack of light is detected by the cells in the eyes.
7. This information travels to the SCN which in turn ‘tells’ the Pineal gland to increase melatonin production which lowers brain activity and leads to drowsiness.
Of course, even if there was NO light whatsoever – the SCN would STILL have a rhythm because it produces protein. When it reaches a certain level of protein production it passes a message to the pineal gland & melatonin will still be released or inhibited!
BUT…

60. Which hormone? Which hormone? What is happening here?
(fluid-filled sac that contains an immature egg)
What is happening here?
What is happening here? ? ? ? ? ?

62. Circadian
Infradian
Ultradian
Length?
24 hours
Longer than 24
Less than 24 hours
Example/s
Sleep-wake cycle
Menstrual Cycle
Sleep cycles
Key features of the example including the role of the endogenous pacemakers/ exogenous zeitgebers
Strongest sleep drive + core body temp 2-4am
Light info (EZ) to SCN (EP
SCN to Pineal
Melatonin regulated by pineal = drowsiness/ alertness
Cycle 28 days
Oestrogen (EP) Egg released 14 days
Days 1-5 = menstrual flow
Progesterone (EP) 14 – 28 thickening of uterus wall
EX – Light and Pheromones
4 stages + REM
1+2 = Alpha
3+4 = Delta
REM = dream sleep, brain wave activity similar to awake
mins
Apx 4 x a night
Research 1
Siffre – Cave = 25 Hrs
Reinberg – Cave – Light
Dement + Kleitman
REM + dreaming, every 90 mins
Research or evaluation point 2
Morgan – Hamsters. SCN implanted from mutant Hamster
McClintock and Stern = Lip Sweat study.
Dement / Borbely – REM Deprivation – more deprived more tried to enter.

63. Possible snap plan AO1: Infradian Rhythms AO3: Research
AO3: Further research
Define >24 hours
Menstrual cycle
Reinberg
Infradian rhythm influenced by exogenous zeitgeber
McClintock & Stern
Infradian Rhythm influenced by pheromones
AO1: Ultradian Rhythms
AO3: Issues with research
Define < 24 hours (cycle occurs more than once every 24 hours)
The sleep cycle
Dement and Kleitman
REM every 90 mins, report dreaming in REM.
Borbely – REM Deprivation
Highly controlled
However, artificial
Lack of ecological validity
I&D Biological Reductionism

64. Exam practice Have a go at the following exam questions.
1. Explain what is meant by the terms infradian rhythm and ultradian rhythm (2 marks)
2. Give one example of an infradian rhythm and one example of an ultradian rhythm (2 marks)
3. Outline one research study that has investigated infradian rhythms (4 marks)

65. Possible answers – note down any changes to your answers
1. Explain what is meant by the terms infradian rhythm and ultradian rhythm (2 marks)
Infradian and Ultradian Rhythms are both biological Rhythms. Infradian Rhythm is a term that refers to cycles that occur longer than 24 hours. Ultradian Rhythms is a term that means they occur less than 24 hours.
Remember even for 2 mark questions, be savvy and use the terms that’s in the question to really show you are answering it! Here we're making sure we are explaining what is ‘meant by the terms’ by throwing it back in our answer.

66. Possible answer
2. Give one example of an infradian rhythm and one example of an ultradian rhythm (2 marks)
One example of an infradian rhythm is the female menstrual cycle because it occurs monthly. An example of an ultradian rhythm is the cycle of sleep because it occurs less than 24 hours and one cycle lasts approximately 90 minutes.