OxfordAQA IGCSE Psychology: Communication and Mental Health — Practice Questions

These are original questions written for Marlbridge, for revision and practice on this content. They are not reproduced past-paper questions, and they do not replicate the exam’s exact structure, question count or mark tariffs — examination boards hold copyright in their own papers. Use these alongside the official past papers available free from your board.

Related: Communication and Mental Health revision notes, Communication study guide, Mental Health study guide

These questions cover 3.2.1 Communication and 3.2.3 Mental health from Paper 2 of OxfordAQA International GCSE Psychology (9218).

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Section A — Communication

1. Outline the difference between Piaget’s theory and the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis of the relationship between language and thought. [4]

2. Describe Von Frisch’s bee study. [4]

3. Identify two functions of animal communication and one property of human communication that is not found in animal communication. [3]

4. Leila and her friend are talking in a café. Leila notices that her friend has crossed her arms and keeps looking away while Leila speaks. Using your knowledge of non-verbal communication, explain what this might show. [4]

5. Explain one piece of evidence that non-verbal behaviour is innate and one piece of evidence that it is learned. [4]

Section B — Mental health

6. Explain two reasons why the recorded incidence of significant mental health problems may change over time. [4]

7. Outline one effect of a significant mental health problem on the individual and one effect on society. [2]

8. Distinguish between an obsession and a compulsion, giving an example of each. [4]

9. Describe and evaluate the biological explanation of obsessive-compulsive disorder. [6]

10. Explain how dual representation theory accounts for flashbacks in post-traumatic stress disorder. [4]

11. A psychologist is treating a patient with PTSD who avoids driving after a car crash. Explain how prolonged exposure therapy could be used to treat the patient. [4]

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Answers

1. Piaget argued that language depends on thought [1]: children develop concepts first, for example object permanence, and then acquire words for them [1]. The Sapir-Whorf hypothesis argues the opposite — thinking depends on language [1], so the words a language provides shape what its speakers notice, think and remember [1].

2. Von Frisch observed honeybees returning to the hive after finding food [1]. A bee performed a round dance if the food was close and a waggle dance if it was further away [1]. The angle of the waggle dance showed the direction of the food relative to the sun [1], and the length of the waggling showed the distance [1]; other bees then flew to the food.

3. Any two functions: survival, reproduction, territory, food [1] [1]. One property: humans can plan ahead and discuss future events (or talk about the past, or about things that are not present) [1].

4. Crossed arms are a closed posture [1], which can signal defensiveness, disagreement or lack of interest [1]. Looking away reduces eye contact, which normally signals attention and regulates the flow of conversation [1], so the friend may be uncomfortable or not engaged with what Leila is saying [1].

5. Innate: newborn babies (neonates) show facial expressions before they could have learned them, or people born blind produce the same basic expressions as sighted people without having seen them [1] [1]. Learned: Yuki’s study of emoticons found that Japanese participants relied more on the eyes and American participants on the mouth when interpreting emotion, showing culture shapes how expressions are read [1] [1].

6. Any two, 2 marks each: increased recognition and less stigma — more people understand mental health problems and are willing to seek help, so more cases are diagnosed [1] [1]; challenges of modern living such as isolation may increase the real number of people with problems [1] [1]; cultural variations in beliefs — whether behaviour is seen as a mental health problem varies between cultures and over time, which changes what is reported [1] [1].

7. Individual, any one: damage to relationships; difficulty coping with day-to-day life; negative impact on physical wellbeing [1]. Society, any one: need for more social care; increased crime rates; costs to the economy, such as lost working days [1].

8. An obsession is a persistent, unwanted, intrusive thought, image or urge that causes anxiety [1], for example a fear of being contaminated by germs [1]. A compulsion is a repetitive behaviour or mental act carried out to reduce that anxiety [1], for example repeatedly washing the hands [1].

9. Description (up to 3): OCD may be genetic — it runs in families and concordance is higher in identical than non-identical twins [1]; it is linked to low levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin [1]; and unusual activity in frontal brain circuits may make it hard to stop worrying thoughts [1]. Evaluation (up to 3): drugs that increase serotonin reduce symptoms for many patients, supporting the neurochemical explanation [1]; however, identical twin concordance is not 100%, so genes cannot be the whole explanation and environmental factors must play a part [1]; the explanation also ignores faulty thinking, which the cognitive explanation and the success of CBT suggest is important [1].

10. Dual representation theory says a trauma is stored in two memory systems [1]: a verbal, contextual memory that can be deliberately recalled and described, and a sensory, situational memory of the raw sights, sounds and feelings [1]. In PTSD the sensory memory is very strong but poorly linked to the contextual memory [1], so when a reminder triggers it, it is re-experienced automatically as a flashback that feels as if it is happening now [1].

11. The therapist first explains how avoidance keeps PTSD going [1]. In imaginal exposure, the patient repeatedly recounts the crash in detail in the session until the memory becomes less distressing [1]. In in-vivo exposure, the patient gradually approaches what they avoid — for example sitting in a parked car, then short drives as a passenger, then driving [1]. Because avoidance stops, the patient learns the situation is safe and the anxiety reduces [1].

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Frequently asked questions

Which paper are communication and mental health on? Paper 2, Social context and behaviour: 2 hours, 100 marks, 50% of the International GCSE. Communication is Section A and mental health Section C, each worth 25 marks.

Which studies do I need for mental health? Kearns’s study of cognitive behaviour therapy for OCD, and a study of prolonged exposure therapy for PTSD; know the method, results and one strength and limitation of each.

Do I need to learn the ICD criteria word for word? No, but you should describe the main characteristics and diagnostic criteria the specification names for OCD and PTSD.

Where marks are usually lost

• Describing Von Frisch’s dances without stating that they show direction and distance.
• Reversing Piaget and Sapir-Whorf.
• Describing the biological explanation of OCD without evaluating it when the question says “evaluate”.
• Naming prolonged exposure therapy without applying it to the scenario given.