plumiPsychopathology: AQA A‑Level Psychology questions
Every AQA A-Level Psychology exam question on 4.1.4 Psychopathology, 2020–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.
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![June 2025 Paper 1, question 20: Outline Ellis’ ABC model of depression. [4 marks]](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/71821-jun25-20-qp.webp)
![June 2025 Paper 1, question 21: Discuss the neural explanation for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and the use of drug therapy to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder. [16 marks] You may us](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/71821-jun25-21-qp.webp)
![June 2024 Paper 1, question 14: Which two of the following are emotional characteristics of obsessive-compulsive disorder? Shade two boxes only. [2 marks] A Hypervigilance B Insight into exces](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/71821-jun24-14-qp.webp)
![June 2024 Paper 1, question 16: Discuss the cognitive approach to explaining depression. [16 marks] You may use this space to plan your answer.](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/71821-jun24-16-qp.webp)
![June 2024 AS Paper 2, question 10: Describe and evaluate the behavioural approach to the treatment of phobias. [12 marks] You may use this space to plan your answer.](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/71812-jun24-10-qp.webp)
![June 2023 Paper 1, question 11: Briefly outline the deviation from ideal mental health definition of abnormality. Refer to Dave in your answer. [4 marks]](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/71821-jun23-11-qp.webp)
![June 2023 Paper 1, question 12: Another way of defining abnormality is failure to function adequately. Evaluate the failure to function adequately definition of abnormality. [5 marks]](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/71821-jun23-12-qp.webp)
![June 2023 AS Paper 2, question 05: Which of the following is not a cognitive characteristic of phobias? Shade one box only. [1 mark] A Distorted perceptions B Irrational beliefs C Selective atten](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/71812-jun23-05-qp.webp)
Q06.1
The whole paper ↗![June 2023 AS Paper 2, question 06.1: Referring to the statements in Figure 1 above, briefly outline two definitions of abnormality. [4 marks] 1 2](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/71812-jun23-06-1-qp.webp)
Q06.2
The whole paper ↗![June 2023 AS Paper 2, question 06.2: Briefly evaluate one definition of abnormality. [3 marks]](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/71812-jun23-06-2-qp.webp)
![June 2023 AS Paper 2, question 07: Describe one biological explanation for obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). [4 marks]](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/71812-jun23-07-qp.webp)
![June 2023 AS Paper 2, question 08: Describe and evaluate cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) as a treatment for depression. [8 marks]](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/71812-jun23-08-qp.webp)
![June 2022 Paper 1, question 13: Describe the statistical infrequency and failure to function adequately definitions of abnormality. [6 marks]](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/71821-jun22-13-qp.webp)
![June 2022 Paper 1, question 14: Outline one limitation of systematic desensitisation as a treatment for phobias. [3 marks]](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/71821-jun22-14-qp.webp)
![June 2022 Paper 1, question 18: Discuss the genetic explanation for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). [8 marks]](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/71821-jun22-18-qp.webp)
All 35 questions on Psychopathology, as a list
- June 2025, Paper 1, Q19 (4 marks): There are four definitions of abnormality. Which of the four definitions of abnormality would be best applied to the examples A, B, C and D below? Write a diffe
- June 2025, Paper 1, Q20 (4 marks): Outline Ellis’ ABC model of depression. [4 marks]
- June 2025, Paper 1, Q21 (16 marks): Discuss the neural explanation for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and the use of drug therapy to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder. [16 marks] You may us
- June 2024, Paper 1, Q14 (2 marks): Which two of the following are emotional characteristics of obsessive-compulsive disorder? Shade two boxes only. [2 marks] A Hypervigilance B Insight into exces
- June 2024, Paper 1, Q15 (6 marks): Ken visited his friend, Jules, who has a large dog called Prince. Prince ran in from the garden, jumped at Ken and knocked him down, breaking his arm. Ken now h
- June 2024, Paper 1, Q16 (16 marks): Discuss the cognitive approach to explaining depression. [16 marks] You may use this space to plan your answer.
- June 2024, AS Paper 2, Q07 (2 marks): People with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) show certain behavioural characteristics. Which two of the following behaviours are characteristically shown by
- June 2024, AS Paper 2, Q09 (6 marks): Tyler is 10 years old and has a phobia of the dentist. When Tyler was 4 years old, he had a tooth removed, which caused him a lot of pain. Tyler is so scared th
- June 2024, AS Paper 2, Q10 (12 marks): Describe and evaluate the behavioural approach to the treatment of phobias. [12 marks] You may use this space to plan your answer.
- June 2023, Paper 1, Q11 (4 marks): Briefly outline the deviation from ideal mental health definition of abnormality. Refer to Dave in your answer. [4 marks]
- June 2023, Paper 1, Q12 (5 marks): Another way of defining abnormality is failure to function adequately. Evaluate the failure to function adequately definition of abnormality. [5 marks]
- June 2023, Paper 1, Q16 (8 marks): One of the diaries included the following extract: ‘Managed to drag myself out of the house yesterday but wished I hadn’t. Went to the shop but dropped my chang
- June 2023, AS Paper 2, Q05 (1 mark): Which of the following is not a cognitive characteristic of phobias? Shade one box only. [1 mark] A Distorted perceptions B Irrational beliefs C Selective atten
- June 2023, AS Paper 2, Q06.1 (4 marks): Referring to the statements in Figure 1 above, briefly outline two definitions of abnormality. [4 marks] 1 2
- June 2023, AS Paper 2, Q06.2 (3 marks): Briefly evaluate one definition of abnormality. [3 marks]
- June 2023, AS Paper 2, Q07 (4 marks): Describe one biological explanation for obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). [4 marks]
- June 2023, AS Paper 2, Q08 (8 marks): Describe and evaluate cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) as a treatment for depression. [8 marks]
- June 2022, Paper 1, Q13 (6 marks): Describe the statistical infrequency and failure to function adequately definitions of abnormality. [6 marks]
- June 2022, Paper 1, Q14 (3 marks): Outline one limitation of systematic desensitisation as a treatment for phobias. [3 marks]
- June 2022, Paper 1, Q18 (8 marks): Discuss the genetic explanation for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). [8 marks]
- June 2022, AS Paper 2, Q07.1 (4 marks): Give two behavioural characteristics of phobias that would be seen in someone who has a phobia of dogs. Refer to Rita in your answer. [4 marks]
- June 2022, AS Paper 2, Q07.2 (4 marks): Explain how the therapist could use systematic desensitisation to treat Rita’s phobia of dogs. [4 marks]
- June 2022, AS Paper 2, Q08 (4 marks): Describe one cognitive explanation of depression. [4 marks]
- June 2022, AS Paper 2, Q09 (12 marks): Outline and evaluate statistical infrequency and deviation from ideal mental health as definitions of abnormality. [12 marks] You may use this space to plan you
- November 2021, Paper 1, Q15 (2 marks): Identify two behavioural characteristics of depression. [2 marks]
- November 2021, Paper 1, Q16 (2 marks): Briefly outline one way that a cognitive psychologist might treat depression by challenging irrational thoughts. [2 marks]
- November 2021, Paper 1, Q17 (4 marks): Describe the biological approach to treating obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). [4 marks]
- November 2021, Paper 1, Q18 (16 marks): Discuss statistical infrequency and deviation from social norms as definitions of abnormality. [16 marks] You may use this space to plan your answer.
- November 2020, Paper 1, Q14 (4 marks): Briefly evaluate the deviation from the ideal mental health definition of abnormality. [4 marks]
- November 2020, Paper 1, Q15 (4 marks): Outline two cognitive characteristics of obsessive-compulsive disorder. [4 marks]
- November 2020, Paper 1, Q16 (16 marks): Discuss the two-process model of phobias. Refer to Max’s phobia of the sea in your answer. [16 marks] You may use this space to plan your answer.
- November 2020, AS Paper 2, Q07 (4 marks): Outline two characteristics of obsessive-compulsive disorder. Refer to Sami in your answer. [4 marks]
- November 2020, AS Paper 2, Q09 (4 marks): Stan has a phobia of lifts. He was stuck for three hours in a broken lift when he was young. He feels sick when he sees a lift and now he cannot use escalators
- November 2020, AS Paper 2, Q10 (2 marks): Briefly outline flooding as a treatment for phobias. [2 marks]
- November 2020, AS Paper 2, Q11 (12 marks): Outline and evaluate the biological approach to explaining and/or treating obsessive-compulsive disorder. [12 marks] You may use this space to plan your answer.
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