Process
Edexcel A-Level Psychology 9PS0
Social Psychology
Topic overviewAgency theory and social impact theoryMilgram's research into obedienceFactors affecting obedience and resistanceSocial identity theory and realistic conflict theoryFactors affecting prejudice and discriminationIndividual differences in obedience and prejudiceDevelopmental psychology in obedience and prejudiceDesigning questionnaires and interviewsTypes of interview and questionAlternate and null hypothesesSampling techniquesQuantitative and qualitative dataAnalysing quantitative dataThematic analysis of qualitative dataThe BPS code of ethics and conductRisk management in psychological researchClassic study: Sherif et al. (1954) Robbers CaveContemporary study: Burger (2009)Contemporary study: Reicher and Haslam (2006)Contemporary study: Cohrs et al. (2012)Key question in social psychologyDesigning the practical investigationAnalysing and reporting the practical investigationEthics and practical issues in social psychologyNature-nurture, social control and reducing prejudiceReductionism and comparing explanationsCulture, gender and social sensitivity
Cognitive Psychology
Topic overviewThe working memory modelThe multi-store model of memoryEpisodic and semantic long-term memoryReconstructive memory and schema theoryIndividual differences in memoryDevelopmental psychology in memoryLaboratory and field experimentsIndependent and dependent variablesExperimental and null hypothesesOne-tailed and two-tailed testsExperimental designsOperationalisation, extraneous and confounding variablesOrder effects and counterbalancingSituational and participant variablesObjectivity, reliability and validityDemand characteristics and experimenter effectsMeasures of central tendency and dispersionGraphical presentation of dataMann-Whitney U and WilcoxonSignificance, critical values and errorsCase studies of brain-damaged patientsClassic study: Baddeley (1966)Contemporary study: Schmolck et al. (2002)Contemporary study: Steyvers and Hemmer (2012)Contemporary study: Sebastián and Hernández-Gil (2012)Key question in cognitive psychologyPractical investigation in cognitive psychologyIssues and debates in cognitive psychology
Biological Psychology
Topic overviewThe central nervous system and neurotransmittersHow recreational drugs affect synaptic transmissionBrain structure and aggressionEvolution and natural selectionFreud's psychodynamic explanation of aggressionHormones and aggressionIndividual differences in biological psychologyDevelopmental psychology in biological psychologyCorrelational researchSpearman's rho, chi-squared and significanceHypotheses, variables and levels of measurementBrain-scanning techniquesTwin and adoption studiesClassic study: Raine et al. (1997)Contemporary study: Li et al. (2013) heroin usersContemporary study: Brendgen et al. (2005)Contemporary study: Van den Oever et al. (2008)Key question in biological psychologyPractical investigation in biological psychologyIssues and debates in biological psychology
Learning Theories
Topic overviewThe main features of classical conditioningPavlov's experiment with salivation in dogsThe main features of operant conditioningProperties and schedules of reinforcementBehaviour modification and shapingThe main features of social learning theoryThe four stages of social learningBandura's original Bobo doll experimentsBandura (1965) and vicarious reinforcementHow learning theories explain phobiasSystematic desensitisation and floodingIndividual differences in learning theoriesDevelopmental psychology in learning theoriesObservational research with humansAnimal research and its ethicsChi-squared and levels of measurementThematic analysis in learning researchThe scientific status of psychologyClassic study: Watson and Rayner (1920) Little AlbertContemporary study: Becker et al. (2002)Contemporary study: Bastian et al. (2011)Contemporary study: Capafons et al. (1998)Key question in learning theoriesPractical investigation in learning theoriesIssues and debates in learning theories
Clinical Psychology
Topic overviewDiagnosing mental disorders and the four DsThe DSM and ICD classification systemsSymptoms and features of schizophreniaExplanations of schizophreniaAnorexia nervosa: symptoms and explanationsObsessive-compulsive disorder: symptoms and explanationsUnipolar depression: symptoms and explanationsTreatments for schizophrenia and the second disorderIndividual differences in clinical psychologyDevelopmental psychology in clinical psychologyHCPC guidelines for clinical practitionersResearching mental healthCase studies in clinical psychologyInterviews in clinical psychologyChoosing an inferential testDescriptive statistics, levels of measurement and significanceThematic analysis and grounded theoryClassic study: Rosenhan (1973)Contemporary study: Carlsson et al. (2000)Contemporary study: Kroenke et al. (2008)Contemporary study: Williams et al. (2013)Contemporary study: Scott-Van Zeeland et al. (2013)Contemporary study: Guardia et al. (2012)Contemporary study: Masellis et al. (2003)Contemporary study: March et al. (2004) POTSKey question in clinical psychologyPractical investigation in clinical psychologyIssues and debates in clinical psychologyComparing the classic studies
Criminological PsychologyApplication
Topic overviewBiological explanations of crimeSocial explanations of crimeThe cognitive interview and ethical interviewingPsychological formulation and offence analysisCognitive-behavioural treatments for offendersBiological treatments for offendersFactors influencing eye-witness testimonyFactors influencing jury decision-makingIndividual differences in criminological psychologyDevelopmental psychology in criminological psychologyResearch methods in criminological psychologySample selection and techniquesReliability and validity in criminological researchObjectivity, credibility and ethics in criminological researchAnalysing data and evaluating practical researchEthical guidelines in criminological researchClassic study: Loftus and Palmer (1974)Contemporary study: Bradbury and Williams (2013)Contemporary study: Valentine and Mesout (2009)Contemporary study: Howells et al. (2005)Key question in criminological psychologyPractical investigation in criminological psychologyIssues and debates in criminological psychology
Child PsychologyApplication
Topic overviewBowlby's theory of attachmentAinsworth and the Strange SituationResearch into deprivationResearch into privationResearch into day careCross-cultural research into attachmentAutism: features, explanations and therapiesIndividual differences in child psychologyDevelopmental psychology in child psychologyObservation in child psychologyQuestionnaires and interviews in child psychologyIssues with self-report in child researchCross-cultural research methodsThe ethics of researching with childrenAnalysing data in child psychologyClassic study: van IJzendoorn and Kroonenberg (1988)Contemporary study: Cassibba et al. (2013)Contemporary study: Gagnon-Oosterwaal et al. (2012)Contemporary study: Li et al. (2013) child care timingKey question in child psychologyPractical investigation in child psychologyIssues and debates in child psychology
Health PsychologyApplication
Topic overviewAddiction, tolerance and dependencyWithdrawal and the effects of drug takingBiological explanations of drug addictionLearning explanations of drug addictionTreatments for alcohol addictionTreatments for heroin and nicotine addictionAnti-drug campaignsIndividual differences in health psychologyDevelopmental psychology in health psychologyUsing animals to study drugsResearch methods using humans to study drugsEthics of using human participants to study drugsCross-cultural research into drug misuseAnalysing data in health psychologyClassic study: Olds and Milner (1954)Contemporary study: Mundt et al. (2012)Contemporary study: Dixit et al. (2012)Contemporary study: Pengpid et al. (2012)Key question in health psychologyPractical investigation in health psychologyIssues and debates in health psychology
Criminological Psychology
- 23 subtopics
- 69 things to know
- Papers 2 and 3
- Paper 2 application, one option of three
What Criminological Psychology covers
One of the three Paper 2 applications, of which a student takes one. It covers biological and social explanations of offending, understanding the offender through interview and formulation, treatments, eye-witness testimony and jury decision-making, and the methods and ethics of research with offenders.
Where it is assessed
Papers 2 and 3
Applications of psychology, one option of three.
Check the Pearson Edexcel specification ↗The 23 subtopics
Each one has its own page.
- Biological explanations of crimeRecall questions on prefrontal brain injury, amygdala function, fear conditioning and empathy, XYY syndrome, personality, Raine's murderers, and how testosterone and evolutionary accounts explain gender differences in offending, with their weaknesses.Open →
- Social explanations of crimeRecall questions on labelling theory, the self-fulfilling prophecy and master status, differential association, and gender differences in offending: official statistics, gender-role socialisation, Heidensohn's control theory, the chivalry hypothesis and double deviance.Open →
- The cognitive interview and ethical interviewingRecall questions on the four components of the cognitive interview, the priorities of ethical interviewing, and the planning and preparation, engage and explain, account, closure and evaluate phases of the PEACE model.Open →
- Psychological formulation and offence analysisRecall questions on what a formulation is, how it explains the function of offending for the individual, and how it guides treatment.Open →
- Cognitive-behavioural treatments for offendersRecall questions on the aims, strengths and weaknesses of CBT for offenders, Ireland's anger management evaluation, triggers and distorted cognitions, the three stages of anger management, social skills training and assertiveness training.Open →
- Biological treatments for offendersRecall questions on diet and nutritional supplements, anti-androgen and hormone treatment, and the ethical objections to both.Open →
- Factors influencing eye-witness testimonyRecall questions on post-event information, leading questions, weapon focus, anxiety, and the reliability of identification.Open →
- Factors influencing jury decision-makingRecall questions on characteristics of the defendant, pre-trial publicity, and the research evidence on how juries reach verdicts.Open →
- Individual differences in criminological psychologyRecall questions on Eysenck's dimensions, why XYY is discredited, brain injury as an individual difference, and diathesis-stress.Open →
- Developmental psychology in criminological psychologyRecall questions on the self-fulfilling prophecy over a criminal career, Farrington's longitudinal study, risk factors, and adolescence-limited offending.Open →
- Research methods in criminological psychologyRecall questions on the laboratory and field methods used to assess eye-witness effectiveness, and their strengths and weaknesses.Open →
- Sample selection and techniquesRecall questions on random, stratified, volunteer and opportunity sampling, how each is carried out, and the strengths and weaknesses of each for representativeness.Open →
- Reliability and validity in criminological researchRecall questions on internal, external and inter-rater reliability, internal, external, ecological and population validity, the trade-off between reliability and validity, and how qualitative and quantitative methods differ on each.Open →
- Objectivity, credibility and ethics in criminological researchRecall questions on objectivity and subjectivity, credibility through replication, triangulation, peer review and transparent method, consent, withdrawal, confidentiality and deception with offenders and victims, social sensitivity, and the BPS code and HCPC principles.Open →
- Analysing data and evaluating practical researchRecall questions on when chi-squared, Spearman's rho, Mann-Whitney U and Wilcoxon suit criminological data, interpreting results against the aims, judging a practical's validity, reliability and objectivity, its weaknesses and improvements, and suitable practical exercises.Open →
- Ethical guidelines in criminological researchRecall questions on the BPS Code of Ethics and Conduct (2009) and risk management in research, the HCPC principles for assessment, formulation and intervention, and when each set of guidelines applies.Open →
- Classic study: Loftus and Palmer (1974)Recall questions on the two experiments, the five verbs, the speed estimates, the broken glass finding, and the conclusion about post-event information.Open →
- Contemporary study: Bradbury and Williams (2013)Recall questions on jury racial composition, the archival method, the association with conviction, and the implications for jury selection.Open →
- Contemporary study: Valentine and Mesout (2009)Recall questions on the London Dungeon procedure, the anxiety measures, the 75 against 17 per cent identification rates, and the conclusion.Open →
- Contemporary study: Howells et al. (2005)Recall questions on the brief anger management programmes, the null result, the role of treatment readiness, and what it implies for services.Open →
- Key question in criminological psychologyRecall questions on choosing a key issue such as eye-witness reliability or rehabilitation, and applying research to answer it.Open →
- Practical investigation in criminological psychologyRecall questions on designing an ethical study of recall or attitudes, operationalising accuracy, and the analysis to report.Open →
- Issues and debates in criminological psychologyRecall questions on ethics with vulnerable participants, social control, reductionism, nature and nurture, and social sensitivity.Open →
What you need to know
Answer each one before you reveal it.
Your recallNot started
Key term
What four key questions does psychological formulation typically address?
Study
How might discussions with other witnesses introduce post-event information?
Evaluation
In what way might defendant gender influence jury perceptions?
Evaluation
What type of behaviour do field experiments on eyewitness testimony aim to observe?
Evaluation
What does reliability mean in the context of criminological psychology research?
Evaluation
Why might a study using only male prisoners have limited population validity?
Evaluation
Why might obtaining informed consent be particularly difficult in criminological research?
Key term
Why is risk management a required component of psychological research under BPS guidelines?
Key term
What does the HCPC provide guidance on regarding psychological assessment?
Key term
How does the nature-nurture debate apply to explanations of crime?
Key term
What did early research suggest about XYY syndrome and criminality, and why is this view now considered problematic?
Key term
Why is identifying protective factors important in formulation?
Evaluation
If an offender's criminal behaviour stems from hostile attribution bias, which type of treatment would be most appropriate and why?
Key term
How is modelling used in social skills training for offenders?
Evaluation
What is the misinformation effect?
Study
How is the independent variable handled in field experiments on eyewitness testimony?
Key term
What is the first step in stratified sampling?
Evaluation
Why is opportunity sampling unlikely to produce a representative sample?
Evaluation
Why does transparent methodology enhance the credibility of criminological research?
Evaluation
What types of procedural flaws might weaken the quality or generalisability of research findings?
Key term
What does labelling theory propose about the cause of crime?
Key term
Who is most associated with the concept of the self-fulfilling prophecy in relation to deviance?
Key term
What are the four main components of the cognitive interview technique?
Key term
What three priorities characterise ethical interviewing techniques?
Who and when
What did Gesch et al. (2002) find when young offenders were given nutritional supplements?
Key term
How does anti-androgen treatment aim to reduce offending?
Key term
How does a defendant's physical attractiveness typically influence jury verdicts?
Key term
How can personality explain why some individuals offend and others in the same circumstances do not?
Key term
What is XYY syndrome and why was it once linked to offending?
Key term
How does the self-fulfilling prophecy explain development into a criminal career?
Who and when
What did Farrington's Cambridge Study in Delinquent Development follow?
Key term
What does objectivity mean in criminological research?
Key term
What does data analysis in practical research fundamentally involve?
Numbers
How many participants took part in the first experiment of Loftus and Palmer (1974)?
Key term
What were the five verbs used in the critical question of Loftus and Palmer's first experiment?
Who and when
What did Bradbury and Williams (2013) investigate?
Who and when
What kind of data did Bradbury and Williams (2013) analyse?
Who and when
What did Valentine and Mesout (2009) investigate?
Key term
How were participants divided in Valentine and Mesout (2009)?
Who and when
What did Howells et al. (2005) evaluate?
Numbers
Roughly how many offenders took part in Howells et al. (2005)?
Key term
Give one key question of relevance to society that criminological psychology can address.
Key term
Why is the reliability of eye-witness testimony a socially important question?
Key term
What kind of practical research exercise is appropriate for criminological psychology?
Key term
What would be the independent variable in a study of leading questions and recall?
Key term
Why is ethics a central debate in criminological psychology?
Key term
Explain how brain injury to the prefrontal cortex affects emotional regulation.
Key term
What is meant by a 'master status' in labelling theory?
Process
What three stages make up anger management programmes for offenders?
Key term
What occurs during the 'Planning and preparation' phase of the PEACE model?
Key term
What underlying principle forms the basis of cognitive-behavioural treatments for offenders?
Key term
Name one drug used to lower testosterone in the treatment of sexual offenders.
Key term
What is eye-witness testimony?
Key term
What is the attractiveness-leniency bias in jury decision-making?
Key term
Give one reason the XYY explanation of offending is now discredited.
Key term
Name four childhood risk factors Farrington found predicted later offending.
Key term
What type of environment is used in laboratory experiments to assess eyewitness effectiveness?
Key term
Define random sampling.
Key term
How does subjectivity threaten objectivity in criminological research?
Key term
When discussing results from a practical investigation, what must findings be interpreted in relation to?
Key term
Which organisation published the Code of Ethics and Conduct in 2009 that provides ethical guidelines for psychologists conducting research?
Numbers
How many participants took part in the second experiment of Loftus and Palmer (1974)?
Key term
What was the headline finding of Bradbury and Williams (2013)?
Who and when
In Valentine and Mesout (2009), what identification task did participants complete?
Key term
How long were the anger management programmes in the Howells (2005) study?
Key term
Which body of research is most directly applied to the eye-witness question?
Key term
In a practical study of leading questions and recall, what would be the dependent variable?
Key term
How does the issue of social control arise in criminological psychology?
Take Criminological Psychology further
The same content, four other ways.
Questions from this topic
Each one with the model answer underneath.
- 1
Explain how brain injury to the prefrontal cortex affects emotional regulation.
Model answer
Damage to the prefrontal cortex impairs emotional regulation, meaning individuals struggle to manage their emotional responses appropriately, contributing to anti-social behaviour.
- 2
What is the amygdala and what is its primary function?
Model answer
The amygdala is a brain structure involved in processing emotions, particularly fear and aggression.
- 3
How does reduced amygdala functioning affect fear conditioning?
Model answer
Reduced amygdala functioning leads to reduced fear conditioning, meaning individuals do not develop normal fear responses to threatening or dangerous situations.
- 4
Why might someone with reduced amygdala activity show lower empathy for victims?
Model answer
Reduced amygdala functioning is associated with lower empathy for victims because the amygdala is involved in processing emotional responses, including recognising distress in others.
- 5
How does impaired amygdala function relate to learning from punishment?
Model answer
Reduced amygdala functioning leads to failure to learn from punishment because individuals do not experience the normal fear response that would deter future anti-social behaviour.
- 6
What is XYY syndrome?
Model answer
XYY syndrome is a chromosomal abnormality where males have an extra Y chromosome, resulting in a 47,XYY karyotype.
What is inside Levo
Six ways to work the same material.
Criminological Psychology revision questions
- What does Criminological Psychology cover in Edexcel A-Level Psychology?
- 23 subtopics: biological explanations of crime, social explanations of crime, the cognitive interview and ethical interviewing, psychological formulation and offence analysis, cognitive-behavioural treatments for offenders, biological treatments for offenders, factors influencing eye-witness testimony, factors influencing jury decision-making, individual differences in criminological psychology, developmental psychology in criminological psychology, research methods in criminological psychology, sample selection and techniques, reliability and validity in criminological research, objectivity, credibility and ethics in criminological research, analysing data and evaluating practical research, ethical guidelines in criminological research, classic study: loftus and palmer (1974), contemporary study: bradbury and williams (2013), contemporary study: valentine and mesout (2009), contemporary study: howells et al. (2005), key question in criminological psychology, practical investigation in criminological psychology and issues and debates in criminological psychology. Each one has its own page with questions and model answers.
- How is Criminological Psychology organised?
- By the Edexcel 9PS0 specification, subtopic by subtopic, so it matches the order you are taught it in.
Every question in Criminological Psychology, on a schedule.
Attempt a question from memory, write the correct version, then attempt it again. Levo records the jump between your first attempt and your last, and brings each question back on the day you are due to forget it.
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