Making AO2 Work: How to Apply Psychology Using Stranger Things
If you're studying AQA A Level Psychology, you've probably heard your teacher talk about AO2 marks — the ones you get for application. These are the marks that test how well you can apply your knowledge of psychological theory to real-world scenarios, not just explain it in the abstract.
Getting good at AO2 is one of the best ways to stand out — and also where a lot of students lose easy marks. So let’s break it down… with the help of Stranger Things.
What Is AO2?
AO2 marks are about using your psychology, not just knowing it. In exam questions, this often looks like a short scenario involving a character, and your job is to explain their behaviour using the appropriate theory or concept from the spec.
Think of AO2 like this:
AO1 = "What is the theory?"
AO2 = "How does it explain this specific situation?"
AO2 Example Question: Stranger Things Edition
Let’s say the exam gives you the following:
6-mark application question
Max is a new student at Hawkins High. At first, she’s reluctant to join any groups, but she eventually becomes close friends with Eleven, Mike, Lucas and Dustin. She soon starts to adopt their behaviours and way of speaking. Use your knowledge of social influence to explain Max’s behaviour. (6 marks)
How to Answer It
This is a typical AO2 social influence question — and it gives you the chance to bring in concepts like conformity, identification, and even normative social influence.
Here’s an example of how a strong answer might go:
Max’s behaviour can be explained by identification, a type of conformity where someone adopts the behaviour and attitudes of a group because they want to be accepted or feel part of it.
At first, Max is unsure about joining a group, but once she becomes friends with the others, she begins to act like them and speak like them. This suggests she is conforming to the group’s norms to strengthen her social bonds.
This behaviour could also be driven by normative social influence, where individuals conform to be liked and avoid rejection. Max may want to be accepted by her new friends at Hawkins, which is why she mirrors their behaviour.
What Makes This a Good AO2 Answer?
It uses specific information from the scenario (Max’s behaviour, her desire to fit in).
It links this back to theory from the spec (types of conformity and social influence).
It keeps the explanation focused on the example — no drifting into general AO1-only territory.
Final Tips for AO2 Success
Highlight key words in the scenario: What behaviours are they showing? What might they be feeling?
Match the concept to the behaviour: Don't just mention a theory — explain how it fits.
Stay focused on the example: Every sentence should tie back to the scenario in the question.
At Tutor Savvy, we love helping students turn their understanding into exam marks. AO2 doesn’t have to be scary — and with the right approach (and the right TV shows), it can even be fun.
Want to practise more AO2 questions like this? Join one of our AQA Psychology sessions — we’ll help you build real confidence in application skills.