ExpertHard9 marksExtended Response
AQA GCSE · Question 19 · Cognition and Behaviour
Read the following information.
Mason and Kyle had a trial for the school football team but were not selected to play.
Mason: "I'm such a loser. I never get chosen for anything. There is no point going to training. The coach obviously doesn't like me. There's always going to be someone more talented than me, it's so unfair."
Kyle: "I am disappointed too but everyone gets rejected sometimes. The coach says I need to improve my fitness level so I am going to start running twice a week. Perhaps I will be selected next time.”
Use your knowledge of both negative schemas as an explanation for depression and Dweck's Mindset theory of learning to explain why these two students responded in different ways.
Briefly evaluate both negative schemas as an explanation for depression and Dweck's Mindset theory.
Read the following information.
Mason and Kyle had a trial for the school football team but were not selected to play.
Mason: "I'm such a loser. I never get chosen for anything. There is no point going to training. The coach obviously doesn't like me. There's always going to be someone more talented than me, it's so unfair."
Kyle: "I am disappointed too but everyone gets rejected sometimes. The coach says I need to improve my fitness level so I am going to start running twice a week. Perhaps I will be selected next time.”
Use your knowledge of both negative schemas as an explanation for depression and Dweck's Mindset theory of learning to explain why these two students responded in different ways.
Briefly evaluate both negative schemas as an explanation for depression and Dweck's Mindset theory.
How to approach this question
This question has two parts: application and evaluation.
1. **Application (approx. 5 marks):**
* Address Mason first. Link his statements to the concepts of negative schemas and the negative triad (negative view of self, world, future). Use quotes from his response as evidence.
* Address Kyle next. Link his statements to Dweck's theory, specifically the 'growth mindset'. Explain how he views the setback as an opportunity for improvement through effort. Use quotes as evidence.
* Explicitly contrast the two boys' responses using the language of the theories (e.g., 'In contrast, Kyle's growth mindset...').
2. **Evaluation (approx. 4 marks):**
* Provide one evaluation point for the negative schema theory. This could be a strength (e.g., practical application in CBT) or a weakness (e.g., correlation vs. causation - do negative thoughts cause depression or vice versa?).
* Provide one evaluation point for Dweck's Mindset theory. This could be a strength (e.g., supported by research, practical application in schools) or a weakness (e.g., oversimplifies learning, may lead to 'blaming the victim').
* Ensure your evaluation points are explained clearly.
Full Answer
**Application:**
Mason's response can be explained by Beck's theory of depression, specifically the concept of negative schemas and the negative triad. His comment "I'm such a loser" reflects a negative view of the self. "I never get chosen for anything" shows a negative view of the world/experiences. "There's always going to be someone more talented" suggests a negative view of the future. These thoughts are automatic and stem from a negative self-schema, leading to feelings of hopelessness and inaction, which are symptoms of depression.
Kyle's response can be explained by Dweck's Mindset theory. He displays a growth mindset. He sees the rejection not as a final judgement on his ability, but as a challenge to be overcome through effort. He believes he can improve his fitness ("I am going to start running twice a week") and that this effort may lead to future success ("Perhaps I will be selected next time"). This contrasts with Mason, who seems to have a fixed mindset, believing his talent is innate and unchangeable ("someone more talented"), making effort seem pointless.
**Evaluation:**
A strength of Beck's cognitive explanation for depression (negative schemas) is that it has led to effective treatments. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), which aims to identify and challenge negative thoughts and schemas, is a leading therapy for depression, suggesting the underlying theory has validity.
A weakness of Dweck's Mindset theory is that it may oversimplify the complex nature of learning and success. While mindset is important, it can place too much emphasis on individual effort, potentially ignoring the significant impact of external factors like socioeconomic background, quality of teaching, and available resources on a student's achievement.
This synoptic question requires you to connect two different psychological theories to a single scenario. Mason's reaction is a textbook example of Beck's cognitive triad: a negative view of himself ('loser'), his experiences ('never get chosen'), and his future ('always going to be someone more talented'). This pattern of thinking is central to the cognitive explanation of depression. Kyle's reaction exemplifies a growth mindset. He attributes the failure to a specific, controllable factor (fitness) and creates a plan for improvement, showing he believes his abilities can be developed. This mindset fosters resilience. The evaluation then requires you to critically assess each theory. Beck's theory is praised for its practical application in CBT, a highly effective therapy. Dweck's theory, while popular in education, is sometimes criticised for potentially over-emphasising individual mindset and downplaying systemic barriers to success.
Common mistakes
Only applying one theory. Describing the theories without applying them to Mason and Kyle. Forgetting the evaluation part of the question. In the evaluation, describing the theories again instead of critiquing them.
Practice the full AQA GCSE Psychology Paper 1
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