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Key questions in society

Edexcel IAL Psychology · WPS04 Clinical Psychology and Psychological Skills

Spec 9.2.1: you must discuss key questions for society using concepts, theories or research from Topics A to H (excluding F and G). Section D of the paper is an 8-mark key question with a scenario, marked for AO1 and AO2.

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What a key question is

A key question is a current issue that matters to society and that psychology can help explain. A good one is:

relevant today
explainable using psychological theory and research
open to arguments for and against
clearly important to society.

Examples from the component guide: Can increased violent video games account for increased aggression? How can explanations of prejudice help reduce stereotypes of mental health? Is day care for children under three good or bad for them? Should airlines offer treatment programmes for fear of flying? What would it mean for society if aggression were caused by nature rather than nurture?

How to answer (8 marks, AO1 + AO2)

1. Identify the question in the scenario.

2. AO1: describe relevant concepts, theories or studies accurately (for example SLT and Bandura for video games; Brendgen et al. (2005) for genes).

3. AO2: apply each point to the details of the scenario: who, what, where; explain how the theory accounts for what is described.

4. Use more than one approach where relevant (biological, learning, social).

The June 2025 examiners found AO1 was usually stronger than AO2, and some candidates copied the scenario instead of applying theory to it.

Worked plan: fear of flying

Question: Should airlines offer treatment programmes for fear of flying?

Classical conditioning explains how a frightening flight could create a phobia (Watson and Rayner, 1920).
Systematic desensitisation can extinguish the fear through a hierarchy and relaxation; Capafons et al. (1998) treated 20 fearful flyers with SD and found improvement on most measures, while controls did not improve.
Application: airlines could offer SD-based courses, including virtual reality exposure.
Context: link each point to the passengers in the scenario (for example, a passenger who panicked after turbulence).

Worked example

A news article reports that teenagers who play violent video games are more aggressive at school. Plan an answer to the key question 'Can violent video games account for increased aggression?'

AO1: SLT says behaviour is learned by observing models and vicarious reinforcement (Bandura); games reward violent acts.
AO2: the teenagers in the article see characters rewarded for aggression and may imitate them at school.
AO1: biological explanations (MAOA, brain structure) and twin studies (Brendgen et al., 2005) suggest some aggression is genetic.
AO2: so the link in the article may be correlational: aggressive teenagers may choose violent games.

Answer: Theories and studies applied to the article's details.

Key idea: Key questions: current, important social issues explained with theory and research from Topics A to H (not F and G). 8-mark answers need accurate AO1 and AO2 applied to the scenario, ideally from more than one approach.

Check yourself

Which is a feature of a good key question?
- It has one correct answer that can be calculated
- It is relevant to society today and can be explained by psychological research
- It is about a single study only
- It has no link to psychology
Show answer
It is relevant to society today and can be explained by psychological research. Relevance and psychological explanation.
In a key question answer, what earns AO2 marks?
- Copying out the scenario
- Listing studies without explanation
- Writing a conclusion only
- Applying theories and research to the details of the scenario
Show answer
Applying theories and research to the details of the scenario. AO2 is application.
Which topics can be used to answer key questions in WPS04?
- Topic H only
- Topics A to H, excluding F and G
- Topics F and G only
- Topic E only
Show answer
Topics A to H, excluding F and G. The synoptic sections exclude the optional Topics F and G.
How many marks is the WPS04 key question in Section D?
Show answer
8. Section D is one 8-mark question.
Which study would best support airlines offering fear-of-flying programmes?
- Capafons et al. (1998)
- Rosenhan (1973)
- Bartlett (1932)
- Suzuki et al. (2014)
Show answer
Capafons et al. (1998). Capafons et al. treated fearful flyers with systematic desensitisation.
Using psychology, explain one argument that day care for children under three could be harmful.
Show answer
Attachment research suggests long separations from the primary caregiver could disrupt the formation of a secure attachment, which may affect later social and emotional development.. Separation could disrupt attachment.

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Last updated 8 November 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.