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 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 demands
C. Genetic predispositions inherited from parents
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 an individual's
behaviour than their stable personality traits or personal history. This matches D120
TMA05 Part A content on the foundational debate between dispositionism and
situationism.
,Q2: The fundamental attribution error describes a 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. Accurately attribute behaviour to a balanced combination of personal and situational
causes
D. Attribute behaviour solely to unconscious motivations and childhood experiences
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 matches
D120 TMA05 Part A content on attribution theory.
Q3: In the context of social psychology, "construal" refers to:
A. The objective reality of a social situation as measured by external observers
B. How an individual subjectively interprets, perceives, and understands the social world
C. The statistical analysis of group behaviour patterns in social settings
D. The biological basis of social perception in the brain
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 on the role
of subjective interpretation in social psychology.
Q4: According to Kurt Lewin's field theory, behaviour is best understood as:
A. A function of unconscious drives and childhood experiences
B. A function of the person and their environment: B = f(P, E)
C. Determined entirely by observable stimulus-response associations
D. The product of genetic programming and evolutionary adaptation
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct because Kurt Lewin proposed that behaviour is a function of the
person and their environment, expressed as B = f(P, E). This matches D120 TMA05 Part
A content on the interactionist approach to understanding behaviour.
Q5: In Milgram's obedience experiments, which factor was found to decrease obedience
rates?
A. Increasing the proximity between the experimenter and the participant
B. Removing dissenting peers from the room
C. Increasing the proximity between the participant and the victim
D. Enhancing the perceived legitimacy of the authority figure
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Correct because three factors that influenced obedience in Milgram's
experiments were: proximity of the victim, proximity and legitimacy of the authority
, figure, and the presence of dissenting peers. Increasing the proximity between the
participant and the victim decreased obedience, as participants found it harder to
administer shocks when they could see or hear the victim more clearly. This matches
D120 TMA05 Part A content on situational determinants of obedience.
Q6: The Stanford Prison Experiment (Zimbardo) primarily aimed to demonstrate:
A. The effectiveness of punishment in modifying prisoner behaviour
B. How assigned social roles and situational power can lead to pathological behaviour
and dehumanisation
C. The biological differences between individuals who become guards and those who
become prisoners
D. The benefits of strict institutional rules for maintaining social order
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 matches
D120 TMA05 Part A content on the power of situations and social roles.
Q7: Cognitive dissonance, as described by Festinger, refers to:
A. The conflict between two individuals with opposing viewpoints in a group setting
B. The psychological discomfort experienced when holding conflicting cognitions or
when behaviour is inconsistent with beliefs
C. The neurological interference that occurs during divided attention tasks
D. The social tension created by competing group norms within an organisation
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 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 demands
C. Genetic predispositions inherited from parents
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 an individual's
behaviour than their stable personality traits or personal history. This matches D120
TMA05 Part A content on the foundational debate between dispositionism and
situationism.
,Q2: The fundamental attribution error describes a 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. Accurately attribute behaviour to a balanced combination of personal and situational
causes
D. Attribute behaviour solely to unconscious motivations and childhood experiences
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 matches
D120 TMA05 Part A content on attribution theory.
Q3: In the context of social psychology, "construal" refers to:
A. The objective reality of a social situation as measured by external observers
B. How an individual subjectively interprets, perceives, and understands the social world
C. The statistical analysis of group behaviour patterns in social settings
D. The biological basis of social perception in the brain
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 on the role
of subjective interpretation in social psychology.
Q4: According to Kurt Lewin's field theory, behaviour is best understood as:
A. A function of unconscious drives and childhood experiences
B. A function of the person and their environment: B = f(P, E)
C. Determined entirely by observable stimulus-response associations
D. The product of genetic programming and evolutionary adaptation
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct because Kurt Lewin proposed that behaviour is a function of the
person and their environment, expressed as B = f(P, E). This matches D120 TMA05 Part
A content on the interactionist approach to understanding behaviour.
Q5: In Milgram's obedience experiments, which factor was found to decrease obedience
rates?
A. Increasing the proximity between the experimenter and the participant
B. Removing dissenting peers from the room
C. Increasing the proximity between the participant and the victim
D. Enhancing the perceived legitimacy of the authority figure
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Correct because three factors that influenced obedience in Milgram's
experiments were: proximity of the victim, proximity and legitimacy of the authority
, figure, and the presence of dissenting peers. Increasing the proximity between the
participant and the victim decreased obedience, as participants found it harder to
administer shocks when they could see or hear the victim more clearly. This matches
D120 TMA05 Part A content on situational determinants of obedience.
Q6: The Stanford Prison Experiment (Zimbardo) primarily aimed to demonstrate:
A. The effectiveness of punishment in modifying prisoner behaviour
B. How assigned social roles and situational power can lead to pathological behaviour
and dehumanisation
C. The biological differences between individuals who become guards and those who
become prisoners
D. The benefits of strict institutional rules for maintaining social order
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 matches
D120 TMA05 Part A content on the power of situations and social roles.
Q7: Cognitive dissonance, as described by Festinger, refers to:
A. The conflict between two individuals with opposing viewpoints in a group setting
B. The psychological discomfort experienced when holding conflicting cognitions or
when behaviour is inconsistent with beliefs
C. The neurological interference that occurs during divided attention tasks
D. The social tension created by competing group norms within an organisation
