Question 1

What is the difference between clinical and health psychology?

Accepted Answer

Clinical psychology focuses on diagnosing and treating mental health disorders like depression and schizophrenia, using models such as the biological and cognitive approaches. Health psychology, on the other hand, examines how psychological factors influence physical health behaviours, such as smoking, diet, and exercise, and develops interventions to promote wellbeing. While clinical psychology deals with pathology, health psychology is more about prevention and health promotion in non-clinical populations.

Question 2

How do I evaluate treatments for schizophrenia in an exam?

Accepted Answer

To evaluate treatments like antipsychotic drugs or CBT, consider effectiveness (e.g., symptom reduction rates from studies like Lieberman et al. for drugs), side effects (e.g., tardive dyskinesia), ethical issues (e.g., informed consent in severe cases), and patient adherence. Also compare with alternatives: drugs are quick but have side effects, while CBT addresses cognitive distortions but requires motivation. Use specific research to support each point.

Question 3

What is the theory of planned behaviour?

Accepted Answer

The theory of planned behaviour (Ajzen) suggests that behavioural intention is the best predictor of actual behaviour. Intention is influenced by three factors: attitude towards the behaviour (positive/negative evaluation), subjective norms (perceived social pressure), and perceived behavioural control (ease/difficulty of performing the behaviour). It's widely used in health psychology to design interventions, e.g., promoting exercise by changing attitudes and increasing perceived control.

Question 4

How does crowding affect behaviour?

Accepted Answer

Crowding, the subjective feeling of being cramped, can lead to stress, reduced task performance, and social withdrawal. Studies like those by Calhoun (1962) on rats showed pathological behaviours under high density. In humans, crowding in prisons or urban areas is linked to increased aggression and health problems. However, cultural differences exist; for example, people in high-density cities may adapt by developing norms to reduce interaction.

Question 5

What are the main factors affecting eyewitness testimony accuracy?

Accepted Answer

Key factors include: 1) leading questions (Loftus & Palmer showed how wording like 'smashed' vs 'hit' alters speed estimates), 2) post-event information (misinformation effect), 3) weapon focus (attention narrows to weapon, reducing recall of other details), 4) anxiety (Yerkes-Dodson law: moderate anxiety improves recall, but high anxiety impairs it), and 5) age (children and elderly are more suggestible).

Question 6

How do I revise applied psychology effectively?

Accepted Answer

Create summary tables for each area (clinical, health, forensic, environmental) covering key theories, studies, evaluations, and applications. Practice applying concepts to novel scenarios, e.g., 'How would you design a health campaign to reduce binge drinking using the health belief model?' Use past paper questions to practice evaluation skills, focusing on strengths, limitations, and comparisons. Also, create flashcards for key studies and their findings.

Applied psychology (Component 03)

Topic Overview

Key Concepts

What You Need to Demonstrate

Marking Points

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Frequently Asked Questions

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Related Topics in OCR A-Level Psychology

Data recording, analysis and presentation

E2E stub topic

How science works

Planning and conducting research

How to Revise Applied psychology (Component 03) — OCR A-Level Psychology

Examiner Tips for Applied psychology (Component 03)

Common Mistakes in Applied psychology (Component 03)

Key Marking Points