PSYA4 Essay Plan Pack - PHOBIAS
This section carries 24 marks. You should spend 35 mins writing. You may be asked a long essay question (8+16) or shorter essay questions (2 x 4+8).
Division of Specification
Overview
Question
a) Outline clinical characteristics of phobic
disorders (8 marks)
b) Explain issues associated with the
classification and/or diagnosis of phobic
disorders (16 marks)


Clinical Characteristics of Phobic Disorders
Issues surrounding the classification and diagnosis on phobic disorders, including reliability & validity.
AO1
AO2
Para 1:
PEEL 1:
PEEL 2:
Para 2:
PEEL 3:
PEEL 4:
Discuss issues surrounding the classification and
diagnosis of phobic disorders (8+16 marks)
Para 1:
PEEL 1:
PEEL 2:
Para 2:
PEEL 3:
PEEL 4:
a) Outline clinical characteristics of phobic
disorders (4 marks)
b) Explain issues associated with the
classification and/or diagnosis of phobic
disorders (10 marks)
Note: If questions like this are asked, there will be an
additional mini essay from another section of the
specification.
Division of Specification
Explanations
Discuss biological explanations for phobic disorders
(8+16 marks).
Para 1:
PEEL 1:
PEEL 2:
Para 2:
PEEL 3:
PEEL 4:


Biological explanations of phobic disorders, for example, genetics and biochemistry.
Psychological explanations of phobic disorders, for example, behavioural, cognitive, psychodynamic and
socio-cultural.
Para 1:
PEEL 1:
PEEL 2:
Para 2:
PEEL 3:
PEEL 4:
Describe two or more psychological explanations of
phobic disorders (8+16 marks).
Para 1:
PEEL 1:
PEEL 2:
Para 2:
PEEL 3:
PEEL 4:
a) Outline and evaluate one or more biological
explanations for phobic disorders (4+8 marks).
b) Discuss one or more psychological
explanations for phobic disorders (4+8 marks).
Para 1:
PEEL 1:
PEEL 2:
………………………………………………………………………………………. ………………………………………………………………………………………
Para 1:
PEEL 1:
PEEL 2:
a) Outline one psychological explanation and
one biological explanation for phobic
disorders (8 marks).
b) Evaluate explanations for phobic disorders (16
marks).
Para 1:
PEEL 1:
PEEL 2:
Para 2:
PEEL 3:
PEEL 4:
a) Outline one or more biological explanations of
phobic disorders and one or more
psychological explanations of phobic disorders
(8 marks)
b) Evaluate biological and psychological
explanations of phobic disorders (16 marks).
Para 1:
PEEL 1:
PEEL 2:
Para 2:
PEEL 3:
PEEL 4:
a) Outline at least one biological explanation of
phobic disorders and at least one
Para 1:
PEEL 1:
psychological explanation of phobic disorders
(8 marks).
b) Consider whether psychological or biological
approaches provide a better explanation of
phobic disorders (16 marks).
a) Outline clinical characteristics of phobic
disorders (4 marks)
b) Outline one psychological explanation of
phobic disorders (4 marks)
c) Evaluate psychological explanations of phobic
disorders (16 marks)
PEEL 2:
Para 2:
PEEL 3:
PEEL 4:
Para 1:
PEEL 1:
PEEL 2:
Para 2:
PEEL 3:
PEEL 4:
Division of Specification
Therapies
Discuss biological therapies for phobic disorders (8+16
marks).

Biological therapies for phobic disorders including their evaluation in terms of appropriateness and
effectiveness.
 Psychological therapies for phobic disorders, for example behavioural, psychodynamic and cognitive
behavioural, including their evaluation in terms of appropriateness and effectiveness.
Para 1:
PEEL 1:
PEEL 2:
Para 2:
PEEL 3:
PEEL 4:
Outline and evaluate two or more psychological
therapies for phobic disorders (8-16 marks).
Para 1:
PEEL 1:
PEEL 2:
Para 2:
PEEL 3:
PEEL 4:
a) Outline at least one biological therapy for
phobic disorders and at least one
psychological therapy for phobic disorders (8
marks).
Para 1:
PEEL 1:
PEEL 2:
b) Evaluate biological and psychological
therapies for phobic disorders in terms of
appropriateness and effectiveness (16 marks).
‘There are two key factors that help in evaluating
therapies – whether they are effective and whether
they are appropriate.’
Outline and evaluate two or more therapies used in
the treatment of phobic disorders (8+16 marks).
Para 2:
PEEL 3:
PEEL 4:
Para 1:
PEEL 1:
PEEL 2:
Para 2:
PEEL 3:
PEEL 4:
a) Outline clinical characteristics of phobic
disorders (4 marks).
b) Briefly describe one psychological therapy for
phobic disorders (4 marks).
c) Evaluate psychological therapies for phobic
disorders (16 marks).
Para 1:
PEEL 1:
PEEL 2:
Para 2:
PEEL 3:
PEEL 4:
a) Outline and evaluate one or more biological
therapies for phobic disorders (4 + 8 marks).
b) Outline and evaluate one or more
psychological therapies for phobic disorders
(4+8 marks).
Para 1:
PEEL 1:
………………………………………………………………………………………
Para 1:
PEEL 2:
…………………………………………………………………………………….
PEEL 1:
PEEL 2: