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28 Dec 2025
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Comprehensive AQA A-Level Psychology AO3 PEELs for Paper 1
Poppy
@poppy_vyjp
1 / 4
Memory and Eyewitness Testimony
Your memory isn't as reliable as you might think, especially when you're stressed or anxious. Retrieval failure happens when you can't access stored memories, often because the context has changed dramatically from when you first learned something.
Anxiety plays a massive role in how well you remember events. Moderate anxiety can actually help your memory, but high anxiety tends to make it worse. This is crucial for understanding eyewitness testimony - witnesses under extreme stress might not remember crimes accurately.
The weapon focus effect shows that when people see a weapon during a crime, they focus so intensely on it that they remember fewer details about everything else. However, research suggests this isn't just about anxiety - it's also about the weapon being unusual and grabbing attention.
The cognitive interview technique helps police get better information from witnesses by using memory cues and asking them to recall events from different perspectives. It's much more effective than standard questioning methods.
Key Point: Memory models like the multi-store model and working memory model explain how information moves through different storage systems, but real-life memory is far more complex than these simplified theories suggest.
Mental Health: OCD and Depression
Understanding mental illness involves looking at both biological explanations and cognitive treatments. For OCD , research shows genetic factors play a role - twin studies reveal 61% concordance rates for identical twins compared to 31% for non-identical twins.
Depression can be effectively treated with CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy), which focuses on changing negative thought patterns rather than dwelling on past traumas. Studies show that 86% of patients improve when CBT is combined with antidepressants, compared to 81% with drugs alone.
Phobias are often explained through behavioural theories - we learn to fear things through bad experiences or by watching others. Flooding and systematic desensitisation are two main treatments that work by gradually reducing the fear response.
Defining what's "abnormal" is tricky and depends on statistical infrequency, deviation from social norms, and failure to function. What's considered normal varies massively between cultures.
Remember: Mental health treatments work differently for different people, and biological and psychological approaches often work best when combined.
Social Influence and Conformity
You're constantly being influenced by others, often without realising it. Asch's conformity studies showed that people will go along with obviously wrong answers just to fit in with the group - this happens through normative social influence (wanting to be liked) and informational social influence (thinking others know better).
Milgram's obedience experiments revealed that ordinary people will follow authority figures' orders, even when they think they're hurting someone. This happens because we enter an agentic state where we see ourselves as just carrying out orders rather than being responsible for our actions.
Minority influence can create real social change, but it requires consistency and commitment over time. Moscovici's blue-green slide study demonstrated that a persistent minority can eventually sway the majority's opinion.
You can build resistance to social influence through education and understanding how these processes work. Having social support from even one other person dramatically reduces conformity pressure.
Think About It: Social change happens when minorities stay consistent with their message and gradually win over the majority - think about how attitudes towards environmental issues have shifted over recent decades.
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4.9/5
App Store
4.8/5
Google Play
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
Comprehensive AQA A-Level Psychology AO3 PEELs for Paper 1
Poppy
@poppy_vyjp
Ever wondered why you sometimes forget things you studied or how social pressure affects your decisions? This psychology guide covers the fascinating world of memory, mental health, social influence, and early relationships - all the stuff that shapes how your... Show more
Memory and Eyewitness Testimony
Your memory isn't as reliable as you might think, especially when you're stressed or anxious. Retrieval failure happens when you can't access stored memories, often because the context has changed dramatically from when you first learned something.
Anxiety plays a massive role in how well you remember events. Moderate anxiety can actually help your memory, but high anxiety tends to make it worse. This is crucial for understanding eyewitness testimony - witnesses under extreme stress might not remember crimes accurately.
The weapon focus effect shows that when people see a weapon during a crime, they focus so intensely on it that they remember fewer details about everything else. However, research suggests this isn't just about anxiety - it's also about the weapon being unusual and grabbing attention.
The cognitive interview technique helps police get better information from witnesses by using memory cues and asking them to recall events from different perspectives. It's much more effective than standard questioning methods.
Key Point: Memory models like the multi-store model and working memory model explain how information moves through different storage systems, but real-life memory is far more complex than these simplified theories suggest.
Sign up to see the contentIt's free!
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Mental Health: OCD and Depression
Understanding mental illness involves looking at both biological explanations and cognitive treatments. For OCD , research shows genetic factors play a role - twin studies reveal 61% concordance rates for identical twins compared to 31% for non-identical twins.
Depression can be effectively treated with CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy), which focuses on changing negative thought patterns rather than dwelling on past traumas. Studies show that 86% of patients improve when CBT is combined with antidepressants, compared to 81% with drugs alone.
Phobias are often explained through behavioural theories - we learn to fear things through bad experiences or by watching others. Flooding and systematic desensitisation are two main treatments that work by gradually reducing the fear response.
Defining what's "abnormal" is tricky and depends on statistical infrequency, deviation from social norms, and failure to function. What's considered normal varies massively between cultures.
Remember: Mental health treatments work differently for different people, and biological and psychological approaches often work best when combined.
Sign up to see the contentIt's free!
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Social Influence and Conformity
You're constantly being influenced by others, often without realising it. Asch's conformity studies showed that people will go along with obviously wrong answers just to fit in with the group - this happens through normative social influence (wanting to be liked) and informational social influence (thinking others know better).
Milgram's obedience experiments revealed that ordinary people will follow authority figures' orders, even when they think they're hurting someone. This happens because we enter an agentic state where we see ourselves as just carrying out orders rather than being responsible for our actions.
Minority influence can create real social change, but it requires consistency and commitment over time. Moscovici's blue-green slide study demonstrated that a persistent minority can eventually sway the majority's opinion.
You can build resistance to social influence through education and understanding how these processes work. Having social support from even one other person dramatically reduces conformity pressure.
Think About It: Social change happens when minorities stay consistent with their message and gradually win over the majority - think about how attitudes towards environmental issues have shifted over recent decades.
Sign up to see the contentIt's free!
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
We thought you’d never ask...
What is the Knowunity AI companion?
Our AI Companion is a student-focused AI tool that offers more than just answers. Built on millions of Knowunity resources, it provides relevant information, personalised study plans, quizzes, and content directly in the chat, adapting to your individual learning journey.
Where can I download the Knowunity app?
You can download the app from Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
Is Knowunity really free of charge?
That's right! Enjoy free access to study content, connect with fellow students, and get instant help – all at your fingertips.
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Most popular content: Cognitive Explanations for Depression
Most popular content in Psychology
Most popular content
Can't find what you're looking for? Explore other subjects.
Students love us — and so will you.
4.9/5
App Store
4.8/5
Google Play
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user