What are the six Eduqas Component 3 behaviours?

Addictive behaviour, autistic spectrum behaviour, bullying behaviour, criminal behaviour, schizophrenia and stress. You study three of the six. For each you learn how different approaches explain its causes and at least one method of modifying or treating it, and you apply this to novel scenarios.

How is each behaviour structured?

For each behaviour you explain its causes using the approaches (typically a biological explanation plus a psychological one such as learning or cognitive) and describe at least one method of modifying or treating it, then evaluate both. The recurring lesson is that behaviours are multi-causal, so combined treatments that address several causes tend to work best.

How are the behaviours examined?

On Component 3 (Psychology: Implications in the Real World), a 2-hour-15-minute paper worth 100 marks and 33.3 percent. There is a structured question on each of your three chosen behaviours plus one controversy question. Questions ask you to describe and evaluate explanations and treatments and to apply them to real situations.

Which approaches explain the behaviours?

Mostly the biological approach (genetics, neurochemistry, brain structure), the learning/behaviourist approach (conditioning and social learning) and the cognitive approach (faulty thinking and processing), with the positive approach contributing to wellbeing and resilience. Component 3 is where the Component 1 approaches are applied to real behaviours and their treatment.

How should I revise the behaviours?

Learn each chosen behaviour as cause plus cure: two explanations (one biological, one psychological) and at least one treatment or method of modification, each with a strength and a weakness. Prepare to apply them to an unfamiliar scenario, and remember to reach a judgement that often favours a combined, multi-cause approach.

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Eduqas A-Level Psychology: the six behaviours (Component 3) overview

A complete Eduqas A-Level Psychology guide to the six behaviours in Component 3, from which you study three: addictive behaviour, autistic spectrum behaviour, bullying behaviour, criminal behaviour, schizophrenia and stress. Covers how the approaches explain each, the methods of modifying or treating each, and how the behaviours are examined on Implications in the Real World.

Generated by Claude Opus 4.813 min readEduqas-A290-Component-3Updated 2026-06-02

Reviewed by: AI editorial process; not yet individually human-reviewed

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What the behaviours demand
The six behaviours
Check your knowledge

What the behaviours demand

Component 3 (Psychology: Implications in the Real World) asks you to apply psychology to real behaviours. You study three of six behaviours, and for each you must explain its causes using the approaches and describe a method of modifying or treating it, then evaluate and apply. This guide maps the six behaviours and how they are examined, with matching dot-point pages for practice.

The six behaviours

Addictive behaviour: Dependence, tolerance and withdrawal; explained biologically (genetics, dopamine), by learning (reinforcement, cue conditioning) and cognitively; modified by drugs, aversion therapy, CBT and combined programmes.
Autistic spectrum behaviour: A neurodevelopmental difference; explained biologically (genetics, brain development) and cognitively (theory of mind, weak central coherence); supported by behavioural and educational methods, individualised and strengths-based.
Bullying behaviour: Repeated aggression with a power imbalance (including cyberbullying); explained by evolution, social learning and individual differences; reduced by whole-school programmes and bystander interventions.
Criminal behaviour: Explained biologically (genetics, prefrontal dysfunction as in Raine), by learning and cognitively; modified by anger management, restorative justice and rehabilitation, contrasted with imprisonment.
Schizophrenia: Positive and negative symptoms; explained biologically (the dopamine hypothesis, genetics) and psychologically (cognitive, family); treated with antipsychotic drugs and CBT for psychosis.
Stress: The acute (sympathomedullary, adrenaline) and chronic (HPA, cortisol) responses; sources include life changes, daily hassles and work; managed by drugs and by psychological methods (stress inoculation, biofeedback).

Check your knowledge

Name the three features that define addiction. (3 marks)
State the cognitive explanation of autistic spectrum behaviour. (1 mark)
Name the brain neurotransmitter central to the dopamine hypothesis of schizophrenia. (1 mark)
State the hormone released by the HPA axis in chronic stress. (1 mark)

Sources & how we know this

Eduqas GCE A Level in Psychology (A290) specification — Eduqas (2015)