TMA05 D120 Encountering Psychology in
Context Part A Open University Complete
Solutions Actual Exam 2026/2027 | Complete
Exam-Style Questions with Detailed Rationales |
Pass Guaranteed – A+ Graded
SECTION 1: Foundations of Social Psychology
(10-12 Questions)
Q1: According to the situationist perspective, which factor is considered the most
powerful influence on an individual's behaviour?
A. Stable personality traits developed in childhood
B. The immediate social environment and situational context
C. Genetic predispositions and biological temperament
D. Long-term personal history and life experiences
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct because the situationist perspective emphasises that the immediate
social environment (the situation) often has a more powerful influence on behaviour
than stable personality traits or personal history. This matches D120 TMA05 Part A
content on social psychology foundations.
Q2: The fundamental attribution error describes the tendency to:
,A. Overestimate situational factors and underestimate dispositional factors when
explaining one's own behaviour
B. Overestimate dispositional factors and underestimate situational factors when
explaining the behaviour of others
C. Attribute success to internal factors and failure to external factors
D. Assume that group behaviour is determined by shared personality traits
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct because the fundamental attribution error describes the tendency to
overestimate the influence of personal/dispositional factors and underestimate the
influence of situational factors when explaining the behaviour of others. This is a core
concept in D120 social psychology.
Q3: In Kurt Lewin's formula B = f(P, E), what does the 'E' represent?
A. Emotional state of the individual
B. The environment or situational context
C. Evolutionary pressures on behaviour
D. Educational background of the person
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct because according to Kurt Lewin, behaviour is a function of the
person (P) and their environment (E). The 'E' represents the environment or situational
context, which is central to the situationist perspective in D120 content.
,Q4: The concept of construal in social psychology refers to:
A. The objective reality of social situations as measured by external observers
B. How an individual subjectively interprets, perceives, and understands the social world
C. The construction of social norms through group consensus
D. The process of building psychological tests to measure social attitudes
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct because construal refers to how an individual interprets, perceives,
and understands the social world—not objective reality but their subjective construction
of it, which drives their behaviour. This matches D120 TMA05 Part A content.
Q5: In Milgram's obedience experiments, which of the following factors was found to
INCREASE obedience rates?
A. The victim being in the same room as the participant
B. The presence of dissenting peers who refused to continue
C. The authority figure being perceived as legitimate and close by
D. The participant being able to see the victim clearly
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Correct because three factors that influenced obedience in Milgram's
experiments were: proximity of the victim (closer = less obedience), proximity and
legitimacy of the authority figure (closer/more legitimate = more obedience), and the
, presence of dissenting peers (presence = less obedience). The authority figure being
perceived as legitimate and close by increased obedience.
Q6: The Stanford Prison Experiment (Zimbardo) primarily aimed to demonstrate:
A. That prisoners are naturally more aggressive than guards
B. How assigned social roles and situational power can lead to pathological behaviour
and dehumanisation
C. That personality traits determine who becomes a guard versus a prisoner
D. The effectiveness of prison rehabilitation programmes
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct because the Stanford Prison Experiment aimed to demonstrate how
the power of a situation, specifically assigned social roles of "prisoner" and "guard,"
could lead to pathological behaviour and the dehumanisation of others. This illustrates
the situationist perspective central to D120 content.
Q7: According to Festinger's theory of cognitive dissonance, what motivates individuals
to change their attitudes or behaviours?
A. The desire for social approval and group acceptance
B. The psychological discomfort experienced when holding conflicting cognitions or
behaving inconsistently with beliefs
C. The need to maintain a positive self-image through social comparison
D. The biological drive to reduce stress hormones in the body
Context Part A Open University Complete
Solutions Actual Exam 2026/2027 | Complete
Exam-Style Questions with Detailed Rationales |
Pass Guaranteed – A+ Graded
SECTION 1: Foundations of Social Psychology
(10-12 Questions)
Q1: According to the situationist perspective, which factor is considered the most
powerful influence on an individual's behaviour?
A. Stable personality traits developed in childhood
B. The immediate social environment and situational context
C. Genetic predispositions and biological temperament
D. Long-term personal history and life experiences
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct because the situationist perspective emphasises that the immediate
social environment (the situation) often has a more powerful influence on behaviour
than stable personality traits or personal history. This matches D120 TMA05 Part A
content on social psychology foundations.
Q2: The fundamental attribution error describes the tendency to:
,A. Overestimate situational factors and underestimate dispositional factors when
explaining one's own behaviour
B. Overestimate dispositional factors and underestimate situational factors when
explaining the behaviour of others
C. Attribute success to internal factors and failure to external factors
D. Assume that group behaviour is determined by shared personality traits
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct because the fundamental attribution error describes the tendency to
overestimate the influence of personal/dispositional factors and underestimate the
influence of situational factors when explaining the behaviour of others. This is a core
concept in D120 social psychology.
Q3: In Kurt Lewin's formula B = f(P, E), what does the 'E' represent?
A. Emotional state of the individual
B. The environment or situational context
C. Evolutionary pressures on behaviour
D. Educational background of the person
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct because according to Kurt Lewin, behaviour is a function of the
person (P) and their environment (E). The 'E' represents the environment or situational
context, which is central to the situationist perspective in D120 content.
,Q4: The concept of construal in social psychology refers to:
A. The objective reality of social situations as measured by external observers
B. How an individual subjectively interprets, perceives, and understands the social world
C. The construction of social norms through group consensus
D. The process of building psychological tests to measure social attitudes
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct because construal refers to how an individual interprets, perceives,
and understands the social world—not objective reality but their subjective construction
of it, which drives their behaviour. This matches D120 TMA05 Part A content.
Q5: In Milgram's obedience experiments, which of the following factors was found to
INCREASE obedience rates?
A. The victim being in the same room as the participant
B. The presence of dissenting peers who refused to continue
C. The authority figure being perceived as legitimate and close by
D. The participant being able to see the victim clearly
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Correct because three factors that influenced obedience in Milgram's
experiments were: proximity of the victim (closer = less obedience), proximity and
legitimacy of the authority figure (closer/more legitimate = more obedience), and the
, presence of dissenting peers (presence = less obedience). The authority figure being
perceived as legitimate and close by increased obedience.
Q6: The Stanford Prison Experiment (Zimbardo) primarily aimed to demonstrate:
A. That prisoners are naturally more aggressive than guards
B. How assigned social roles and situational power can lead to pathological behaviour
and dehumanisation
C. That personality traits determine who becomes a guard versus a prisoner
D. The effectiveness of prison rehabilitation programmes
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct because the Stanford Prison Experiment aimed to demonstrate how
the power of a situation, specifically assigned social roles of "prisoner" and "guard,"
could lead to pathological behaviour and the dehumanisation of others. This illustrates
the situationist perspective central to D120 content.
Q7: According to Festinger's theory of cognitive dissonance, what motivates individuals
to change their attitudes or behaviours?
A. The desire for social approval and group acceptance
B. The psychological discomfort experienced when holding conflicting cognitions or
behaving inconsistently with beliefs
C. The need to maintain a positive self-image through social comparison
D. The biological drive to reduce stress hormones in the body
