This lesson was created using the latest AQA A-Level Specification (published June 2019) although content and activities may be useful for other specifications.
Key content covered in this Lesson:
Key questions
Key assumptions of the Biological Approach
The Brain vs. The Mind
The Genetic Basis of Behaviour
Twin Studies
Video: What identical twins separated at birth teach us about genetics
Genotype and Phenotype
Genotype
Phenotype
Activity: Apply it - Phenylketonuria (PKU)
Evolutionary and Behaviour
Exam practice: Application Question
Evaluation worksheet
Evaluation points
Exam practice: Comparison Essay with Mark Scheme
Example Comparison Paragraph
Plenary: Discussion question
To request lessons, provide feedback or if you have had any issues opening any resources of my resources, please feel free to contact jb_resources@outlook.com.
Reviews and feedback are always welcome.
Single PDF file which contains all the necessary theories and studies needed for Biological Psychology (Edexcel). Research methods are included. Each theory and studies are accompanied with relevant and detailed AO1 + AO3
Theories include:
Psychodynamic Theory (Freud)
The Role of Evolution and Natural Selection to explain human behaviour, including aggression
The Role of Hormones in Explaining Aggression
Brain functioning as an explanation for aggression
The Brain as an explanation for aggression
Effect of recreational drugs on synaptic transmission
Synaptic Transmission
Scanning Techniques
Studies include:
Brendgen (TWIN STUDY)
Heston (ADOPTION STUDY)
Raine et al.
Other studies are also mentioned for AO3
A comprehensive revision guide covering all aspects of the Biological Psychology A Level unit, suitable for the Edexcel A Level Psychology 2015 specification.
Contemporary study included: Brendgen.
Revision guides are also available for Cognitive, Social, Learning, Clinical and Criminal units.
Former A Level student: “I am so grateful for the hours and hours that you put into making those revision guides, because they were the most helpful thing to use, and you should sell them because they are far better than any textbook I have bought!”
Biological AS Psychology
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Biological AS Psychology Unit Bundle:
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/biological-as-psychology-13123475
Biological AS Psychology. These resources have been meticulously crafted, offering a differentiated and engaging approach that enables efficient progression through content.
Built to the highest standards and grounded in current research, the unit incorporates dual coding and retrieval practices at its core. A consistent color scheme is also utilized to enhance both your delivery and students’ comprehension.
Biological AS Psychology:
The Biological Approach Introduction
Canli et al 2000 CIE
Dement Kleitman Sleep Dreams CIE
Schachter Singer CIE
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Biological AS Psychology
This bundle was created using the latest AQA A-Level Specification (published June 2019) although content and activities may be useful for other specifications.
The three lessons included in this bundle are:
Endogenous Pacemakers and Exogenous Zeitgebers
Circadian Rhythms
Infradian and Ultradian Rhythms
Please refer to individual lessons for further details of included content.
**Chapters included: (why am I charging the price!!)
3.1.1 The role of the central nervous system (CNS) & neurotransmitters in human behaviour, including the structure & role of the neuron, the function of neurotransmitters & synaptic transmission.
The effect of recreational drugs on the transmission process in the central nervous system
3.1.2 The structure of the brain, different brain areas including the pre-frontal cortex & limbic system & brain functioning as an explanation of aggression as a human behaviour.
THE NEUROPSYCHOLOGY OF AGGRESSION - AGGRESSION IN THE BRAIN
THE IMPORTANCE OF HORMONES
THEORIES OF AGGRESSION
EXPLAINING AGGRESSION THROUGH EVOLUTION
Biological Rhythms: Endogenous Pacemakers & Exogenous Zeitgebers
SAD
Scanning techniques
WHY STUDY TWINS & ADOPTEES?
TWIN STUDIES
GOTTESMAN & SHIELDS (1966) - A TWIN STUDY: THE GENETIC CAUSE OF SCHIZOPHRENIA
THE DEBATE OVER GENETICS
3.3.1 Raine et al. (1997) Brain abnormalities in murderers indicated by positron emission tomography.
3.3.2 Brendgen et al. (2005) Examining genetic & environmental effects on social aggression: A study of 6-year-old twins.
FREUD’S PSYCHODYNAMIC THEORY - SECRETS OF THE UNCONSCIOUS MIND
DEFENCE MECHANISMS
PSYCHOSEXUAL THEORY OF DEVELOPMENT
INSTINCT THEORY OF AGGRESSION
WHAT IS SPEARMAN’S RHO?
3.3.3 McDermott (2008) Monoamine oxidase A gene (MAOA) predicts behavioural aggression following provocation.
Classical conditioning by Ivan Pavlov
The main features of operant conditioning, including types of reinforcement (positive & negative) & punishment (positive & negative) & properties of reinforcement (primary, secondary & schedules) including researching Skinner (1948) Superstition in the pigeon.
Freud’s psychosexual stages of development
HOW CAN WE TREAT PHOBIAS?
In Vivo vs In Vitro
FLOODING - A BEHAVIOURAL THERAPY FOR TREATING PHOBIAS
SYSTEMATIC DESENSITISATION - A BEHAVIOURAL THERAPY FOR TREATING PHOBIAS
PAVLOV (1927) - SALIVATION REFLEX IN DOGS
BANDURA (1961, 1963a, 1965) - THREE STUDIES INTO IMITATING AGGRESSION
BANDURA (1977) - SOCIAL LEARNING EXPLAINS LEARNING BY OBSERVATION
RESEARCH INTO SOCIAL LEARNING - The findings of studies
BECKER ET AL. (2002) - THE CONTEMPORARY STUDY: TELEVISION & EATING DISORDERS IN FIJI
WATSON & RAYNER (1928) - THE CLASSIC STUDY: LITTLE ALBERT
WHAT IS THE CHI-SQUARED TEST?
Capafons et al. (1998) Systematic desensitisation in the treatment of fear of flying
Contemporary study Option 1 - Prot (2014) Long-term Relations Among Prosocial-Media use, Empathy, & Prosocial Behaviour
and much more!!****
both practicals for biological and learning theories
To request lessons, provide feedback or if you have had any issues opening any resources of my resources, please feel free to contact me on jb_resources@outlook.com (responses are usually very prompt).
Key content included:
Key Questions
The Genetic Basis of Schizophrenia
Family Studies
Gottesman’s Research (1991)
Candidate Genes (Ripke et al., 2014)
The Dopamine Hypothesis
Hyperdopaminergia in the Subcortex
Hypodopaminergia in the Subcortex
Summarising The Dopamine Hypothesis
Neural Correlates of Negative Symptoms
Neural Correlates of Positive Symptoms
Evaluation worksheet
Evaluation points
Exam Practice: Essay Question with Mark Scheme
Plenary: Consolidation Question
This lesson was created using the latest AQA A-Level Specification (published June 2019) although content and activities may be useful for other specifications.
Key content covered in this Lesson:
Key Questions
The Biological Approach to Explaining OCD
Genetic Explanations of OCD
Family Studies
Candidate Genes
OCD is Polygenic
Different types of OCD
Neural Explanations of OCD
The Role of Serotonin
Decision-Making Systems
Activity: Concepts - Jack
Evaluation worksheet
Evaluation points
Exam Practice with Mark Scheme: 16 Mark Essay with Application
Activity: Planning worksheet
Plenary: Consolidation Question
To request lessons, provide feedback or if you have had any issues opening any resources of my resources, please feel free to contact jb_resources@outlook.com.
Reviews and feedback are always welcome.
This contains all 14 lessons in the Psychological Problems topic for AQA GCSE Psychology. It also contains a Homework booklet, a Starter booklet and the entire Development Workbooklet.
An introduction to mental health. How the incidence of significant mental health problems changes over time
Characteristics of mental health, eg positive engagement with society, effective coping with challenges.
Cultural variations in beliefs about mental health problems.
Increased challenges of modern living, eg isolation.
Increased recognition of the nature of mental health problems and lessening of social stigma.
Effects of significant mental health problems on individuals and society
Individual effects, eg damage to relationships, difficulties coping with day to day life, negative impact on physical wellbeing.
Social effects, eg need for more social care, increased crime rates, implications for the economy.
Characteristics of clinical depression. Differences between unipolar depression, bipolar depression and sadness.
The use of International Classification of Diseases in diagnosing unipolar depression: number and severity of symptoms including low mood, reduced energy levels, changes in sleep patterns and appetite levels, decrease in self-confidence.
Theories of depression. Interventions or therapies for depression
Biological explanation (influence of nature): imbalance of neurotransmitters, eg serotonin in the brain.
Psychological explanation (influence of nurture): negative schemas and attributions.
Use of antidepressant medications.
Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT).
How these improve mental health, reductionist and holistic perspectives. Wiles’ study of the effectiveness of CBT.
Characteristics of addiction. The difference between addiction/dependence and substance misuse/abuse.
The use of International Classification of Diseases in diagnosing addiction (dependence syndrome), including a strong desire to use substance(s) despite harmful consequences, difficulty in controlling use, a higher priority given to the substance(s) than to other activities or obligations.
Theories of addiction. Interventions or therapies for addiction
Biological explanation (influence of nature): hereditary factors/genetic vulnerability. Kaij’s twin study of alcohol abuse.
Psychological explanation (influence of nurture): Peer influence.
Aversion therapy.
Self-management programmes, eg self-help groups, 12 step recovery programmes.
How these improve mental health, reductionist and holistic perspectives.
This bundle was created using the latest AQA A-Level Specification (published June 2019) although content and activities may be useful for other specifications.
This bundle includes 8 complete lessons (.ppt) with activities:
Origins of Psychology
The Behaviourist Approach
Social Learning Theory
The Cognitive Approach
The Biological Approach
The Psychodynamic Approach
The Humanistic Approach
Comparison of Approaches
Please see individual lessons for further details of included content.
To request lessons, provide feedback or if you have had any issues opening any resources of my resources, please feel free to contact jb_resources@outlook.com.
Reviews and feedback are always welcome.
In this lesson, learners are introduced to the first biological explanation of offending - a historical approach looking at Lombroso’s atavistic form.
We start by looking at some images to judge whether we can identify criminals from appearance only. We then look into Lombroso’s theory, research and findings from his examination of skulls. Video, true or false, MCQs, evaluation task and discussion, PEEL paragraph practice, exam style question with indicative points, kahoot quiz and we finish with a box plenary.
Colourful, concise and engaging slides!
Thank you
Biological explanation - an historical approach (atavistic features)
This large pack of model answers covers the following topics from Biological Psychology, written by an Expert Examiner who has taught Psychology A Level for over 16 years. Many include notes on structure and highlight key terms. The set includes model answers for these questions:
Q: Evaluate the hormonal explanation of aggression 8m
Q: Evaluate the evolutionary explanation of aggression 8m
Q: Evaluate the role of the brain in aggression 8m
Q: Evaluate the use of correlation studies in biological psychology 8m
Q: Assess the usefulness of adoption studies in biological psychology 8m
Q: Evaluate Freud’s theory of aggression 8m
Q: Evaluate Raine 1997
Q: Evaluate Brendgen 2005
Q: Evaluate the role of the CNS and neurotransmitters in human behaviour (8m)
Q: Evaluate the use of PET scans in biological psychology 8m
Q: Evaluate the use of fMRI scans in biological psychology 8m
Q: Evaluate the use of CAT scans in biological psychology 8m
This is a revision guide for Biological Psychology which follows the Edexcel A Level Psychology Specification (2015).
These notes have been used by numerous students to support them with revision and include both A01 Knowledge Points as well as A03 Evaluation points, both in the form of bullet points and PEEL Paragraphs.
This has relevant content including:
The CNS
Neurons & Synaptic Transmission
Recreational Drugs
Brain Areas & Aggression
Evolution
Hormones
Freud’s Psychodynamic Approach
Individual Differences in Aggression
Developmental Issues in Aggression
Classic Study - Raine
Contemporary Study - Brendgen
Key Question (Aggression Nature Vs Nurture)
Issues & Debates
I hope I can support you and your students during their A Level studies with a visually pleasing revision guide and I wish you all the best of luck.
Full topic summary for revision for AQA Psychology - Includes wundt, cognitive, biological, behaviourist, social learning theory, psychodynamic and humanism approaches.
I give the students a copy of the student version (usually 2 slides to page) to complete and annotate while I go through the teacher version as a class. Sometimes I make them complete the slide independently first, to see what they know before going through the teacher version.
There is a similar resource but with loads of exam questions and advice for answering them throughout on this resource:
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/resource-12814124
This idea and the accompanying resources are designed to engage young people in discussion about the brain, how it controls behaviour and whether we are always fully responsible for our actions, using podcasts as a stimulus
This is a whole-class activity involving group work, self-directed learning and practical applications.
AS level psychology - Approaches AQA spec
Introduction and biological approach. Please let me know what you think!
Ive converted the smart board file to powerpoint, but it doesn't look at good. Hope this is useful for those without notebook software!
This is a brief and general introduction to the biological approach to psychology. It is intended to be used when teaching the Cambridge AS Psychology syllabus, but has the potential for wider usage.