This document is an exam for the Advanced Level Examination in Psychology from June 2011 administered by AQA. It provides instructions for the exam, notifying students that it is 1 hour and 30 minutes long. It informs students that they must choose 3 of the 12 topics provided and answer all the questions for those topics. The topics include biological rhythms and sleep, perception, relationships, aggression, eating behavior, gender, intelligence and learning, and cognition and development. For each topic selected, students answer multiple questions worth various point values totaling 25 marks for each topic.

1. General Certificate of Education
Advanced Level Examination
June 2011
Psychology (Specification A) PSYA3
Unit 3 Topics in Psychology
Friday 17 June 2011 1.30 pm to 3.00 pm
For this paper you must have:
 an AQA 16-page answer book.
Time allowed
 1 hour 30 minutes
Instructions
 Use black ink or black ball-point pen.
 Write the information required on the front of your answer book. The Examining Body for this
paper is AQA. The Paper Reference is PSYA3.
 Choose three topics. Answer all questions on the topics you choose. Where appropriate, refer to
theories and/or studies, approaches, issues and debates in your answer.
 Do all rough work in your answer book. Cross through any work you do not want to be marked.
Information
 The marks for questions are shown in brackets.
 The maximum mark for this paper is 75.
 You will be marked on your ability to:
– use good English
– organise information clearly
– use specialist vocabulary where appropriate.
G/T66815/Jun11/PSYA3 6/6/6/ PSYA3

2. 2
Choose three topics.
Answer all questions on the topics you choose.
Each topic carries 25 marks.
Where appropriate, refer to theories and/or studies, approaches, issues and debates in your answer.
Topic: Biological Rhythms and Sleep
0 1 Outline the nature of sleep. (9 marks)
0 2 Consider the consequences of disrupting biological rhythms. (16 marks)
Topic: Perception
0 3 Describe and evaluate Bruce and Young’s theory of face recognition.
(9 marks + 16 marks)
Topic: Relationships
0 4 Discuss the influence of childhood and/or adolescent experiences on adult relationships.
(9 marks + 16 marks)
Topic: Aggression
0 5 Discuss the role of neural and/or hormonal mechanisms in aggression.
(9 marks + 16 marks)
G/T66815/Jun11/PSYA3

3. 3
Topic: Eating Behaviour
0 6 Outline one psychological explanation of one eating disorder. (5 marks)
0 7 Outline and evaluate evolutionary explanations of food preference. (4 marks + 16 marks)
Topic: Gender
0 8 Discuss one or more explanations for psychological androgyny. (5 marks + 8 marks)
0 9 Outline and evaluate cross-cultural studies of gender role. (4 marks + 8 marks)
Topic: Intelligence and Learning
1 0 Discuss evolutionary factors involved in the development of human intelligence.
(9 marks + 16 marks)
Topic: Cognition and Development
1 1 Discuss the role of the mirror neuron system in social cognition. (5 marks + 8 marks)
1 2 Outline and evaluate one theory of moral understanding (eg Kohlberg, Eisenberg).
(4 marks + 8 marks)
END OF QUESTIONS
G/T66815/Jun11/PSYA3

4. 4
There are no questions printed on this page
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G/T66815/Jun11/PSYA3