Practise Edexcel IAL Psychology questions on conditioning, social learning and child development, applying theories and evaluating evidence from studies.
Katya has a fear of wasps. She was stung by a wasp as a child.
Define the term 'unconditioned stimulus' (UCS) as it is used in classical conditioning.
AO1 (1 mark)
Credit one mark for an accurate definition.
For example:
- An unconditioned stimulus is the natural stimulus that causes a
reflexive response (1).
Look for other reasonable marking points.
(1)
State the neutral stimulus (NS) that had no original effect on Katya's behaviour.
\begin{tabular}[t]{l}
AO2 (1 mark)
Credit one mark for an accurate statement in relation to scenario.
For example:
\begin{itemize}
\item[-] The neutral stimulus was the wasp (1).
\end{itemize}
Look for other reasonable marking points.
Generic answers score 0 marks
\end{tabular}
(1)
Give the conditioned response (CR) that Katya shows.
\begin{tabular}[t]{l}
AO2 (1 mark)
Credit one mark for an accurate statement in relation to scenario
For example:
\begin{itemize}
\item[-] Katya's conditioned response is being scared of wasps (1).
\end{itemize}
Look for other reasonable marking points.
Generic answers score 0 marks.
\end{tabular}
(1)
Compare classical conditioning and operant conditioning.
AO1 (3 marks), AO3 (3 marks)
Credit up to three marks for accurate identification of each comparison
(AO1)
Credit up to three marks for exemplification of each comparison (AO3)
For example:
- Both operant conditioning and classical conditioning can be
considered scientific (1) as both use animals in laboratory
conditions which are controlled (1).
- One difference is that classical conditioning deals with reflexive
behaviour whilst operant conditioning deals with voluntary
behaviour (1) so operant conditioning could be seen as a more
detailed explanation of how we learn as it looks at more complex
behaviours (1).
- Both can explain how people develop phobias (1) classical
conditioning through association and operant conditioning through
the use of reinforcements (1).
Look for other reasonable marking points.
(6)
Jasmine has learned how to clean her shoes after she paid attention to her sister cleaning shoes.
Describe 'attention' as it is used in social learning theory, using Jasmine as an example.
AO1 (1 mark), AO2 (1 mark)
Credit one mark for accurate definition (AO1).
Credit one mark for accurate description in relation to the scenario
(AO2).
For example:
- Attention is when a behaviour is demonstrated and we take notice
of/focus on/observe selected behaviour (1). Jasmine noticed her
sister, who is her role model due to being the same sex as
Jasmine, demonstrating cleaning shoes (1).
Look for other reasonable marking points.
(2)
Explain one weakness of social learning theory.
(2)
AO1 (1 mark), AO3 (1 mark)
Credit one mark for accurate identification of one weakness (AO1).
Credit one mark for justification/exemplification of one weakness (AO3).
For example:
- Charlton et al. (2000) opposes the fact that we learn violent
behaviour from role models on the television so the theory lacks
credibility (1), as they found that the introduction of television did
not increase anti-social behaviour in the majority of the
participants, so other factors may affect whether a behaviour is
learnt (1).
Look for other reasonable marking points.
(2)