AQA A2 Psychology PSYA3/PSYA4 Revision Thread 2016

I think its really likely this will come up. I've not seen the question come up since 2013. Same with the relationship between sexual selection and human reproductive behaviour.

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I think- ignoring Loopa predictions that what will come up will be:
Relationships- breakdown
Aggression- genetics
Gender- Kohlberg/dysphoria

I don't know about the others :/

Everyone predicting Kohlberg is scaring me. Still, I am adamantly not gonna revise him lawl so help me god

Was just wondering, with sexual selection and human reproductive behaviour, how do i explain the link between the two e.g. for long term mating prefernces.

You know for the biological section for Eating Behaviours / disorders it says "including neural and evolutionary explanations". So does that mean that they will come together or potentially separate??

Also, for Intelligence and learning, can someone check if my outline and the research that I will decide to include is relevant and sufficient


Outline: Classical conditioning is learning that occurs through the association of a neutral stimulus and a involuntary unconditioned stimulus. There are many features in classical conditioning, such as one- trial learning, where one pairing of UCS and a CS produces a conditioned response. There is also the importance of timing in the learning process. For example, forward conditioning where the CS is presented just before the UCS is much stronger than backward conditioning where the CS is presented after the UCS.In addition, generalisation is another feature, where by slightly varying the CS is produces a weaker forms of the CR. Lastly, there is extinction. This is when the CS is continually given without the presentation of the UCS, the CR grows weaker and then ceases. However, it can be brought back into the experimental situation after extinction has occurred, this is known as spontaneous recovery.

There has been research in laboratory settings that support this explanation.

Then for my research which will be the evaluation (A02) to support the explanation, I have the Pavlov study.
I also have other studies, but wanted to know if it would be relevant for classical conditioning in non-human animals:
Armstrong et al demonstrated one-trial learning in 3 day old mice. The mice were deprived of their mothers for 2 hours and then were conditioned to associate a certain odour when returned to their mothers and given access to suckling. The mice were then deprived of their mothers again and demonstrated a preference for the conditioned odour over other novel odours

And this study: Sahley et al exposed slugs just once to a highly attractive food odour of potato or a carrot and saturated solution of guanidine sulphate, a bitter tasting substance. The slugs subsequently displayed reduced pereference for the specific food odour , demonstrating one-trial learning in non-human animals - obviously I'll elaborate the support part when evaluating it.

I have for methodological evaluations like the cause most of these studies are conducted in lab settings, they cannot be generalised to real life settings due to the manipulation of variables.
I'm addition to that, I also have the issue of it being deterministic as it suggests that the environment determines behaviour and ignores the animals free will to act upon their environment

For IDA I practical applications such as training of dogs - but how would I expand this as an evaluation?
I also have the fact that it's reductionist and fails to take into account biological influences, such as biological preparedness - would that be relevant as an IDA??

Does anyone have any other relevant studies?? Would really appreciate the help

There are different sexual selection pressures between the genders which can be explained through the differences in gametes. Males have millions of sperm but they can never be sure of paternity but they have low cost in investment. Natural selection favours them to max their mating opportunities. Females have limited eggs and time and high investment but are sure of paternity. They are more choosy, seeking out males who are strong, healthy with resources.

There are two types of sexual selection that take place in relation to HRB: Intra-sexual selection (mles), intersexual (females).
Intra sexual selection occurs when males compete between other males for access to females so have evolved indicators such as strong jaw lines, triangular backs, broad shoulders, signs of strength and testosterone which women like. High levels of testosterone can caunse damage to the immune system so is only found in the strongest of males (handicap principle).

Intersexual selection, where women select males who offer the most in terms of passing on good genes, ablity to protect and with resources and status.

I think- ignoring Loopa predictions that what will come up will be:Relationships- breakdownAggression- genetics Gender- Kohlberg/dysphoriaI don't know about the others :/

Is there any point in actual writing about procedure of a study? does this even get marks

How would you link in short term and Long term mating? Also with the opening paragraph, i dont know if i'd include that, i kinda dont have time.. ?

Predictions on eating behaviour and aggression anyone??

You need to know both evolutionary explains such as mate choice division of Labour and then you need to know genew and hormonal

i've only gone over them, no there isn't enough content for there to be an essay on either one! circadian there is though and i would cry with joy if that came up

I think with long-term, a woman would want a partner who is secure, who won't leave her. Someone who is committed.

With short-term, I think you could talk about natural selection favouring men to maximise their mating opportunities, maybe.

I don't really know, I never considered those aspects