Edexcel A-Level Psychology A2 Unit 3 Applications of Psychology Questions

Practise Unit 3 Psychology questions on development, crime and health, applying theories and evidence to scenarios while evaluating explanations and interventions.

Syllabus
First assessment 2026
Course
Psychology XPS01/YPS01
Level
A2

Exam points

  • apply attachment, cognitive and social-development theories to explain children’s behaviour
  • apply explanations of offending, eyewitness memory, jury decisions and offender treatment to cases
  • explain stress through physiology, appraisal and individual differences, then compare coping or therapies
  • design and improve cross-cultural, observational or applied research using data and ethical controls
  • evaluate named studies and interventions through validity, reliability, usefulness and balanced conclusions

Question 1

[Maximum number: 8]

Evaluate the 44 Juvenile Thieves study carried out by Bowlby (1944).

Question 2

[Maximum number: 8]

Evaluate whether antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) can explain crime and anti-social behaviour.

Question 3

[Maximum number: 5]

Question (a)

(a)

Describe the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis in relation to stress.

[ 2 ]

Question (b)

(b)

Justify whether the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis is a valid explanation of stress.

[ 3 ]

Question 4

[Maximum number: 6]

Samad and Amna investigated attachment in infants aged one to two years old using Ainsworth's strange situation procedure. The sample comprised of 20 families where both parents were in full-time employment.
Table 1 shows results for the observed reunion behaviour.

Table 1

Table 1

Question (a)

(a)

Give one conclusion that could be made from this investigation. (1)

[ 1 ]

Question (b)

(b)

Ainsworth suggested the 'caregiver sensitivity' hypothesis as an explanation for different attachment types.
Define what is meant by 'caregiver sensitivity'. (1)

[ 1 ]

Question (c)

(c)

Describe the research methodology used by Samad and Amna in their investigation. (2)
6

[ 2 ]

Question (d)

(d)

The strange situation procedure has been used cross-culturally.
Explain one reason why cross-cultural research is carried out when studying children.

[ 2 ]
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