Cambridge International AS & A Level
PSYCHOLOGY 9990/31
Paper 3 Specialist Options: Theory May/June 2023
1 hour 30 minutes
You must answer on the enclosed answer booklet.
* 1 3 7 2 6 6 2 1 0 1 *
You will need: Answer booklet (enclosed)
INSTRUCTIONS
● Answer four questions in total:
Answer questions from two options.
For each chosen option, answer all questions.
● Follow the instructions on the front cover of the answer booklet. If you need additional answer paper,
ask the invigilator for a continuation booklet.
INFORMATION
● The total mark for this paper is 60.
● The number of marks for each question or part question is shown in brackets [ ].
This document has 4 pages. Any blank pages are indicated.
DC (EF) 313197/1
© UCLES 2023 [Turn over
, 2
Psychology and abnormality
Answer all questions.
1 (a) Explain what is meant by ‘pyromania’. [2]
(b) Describe the study by Glover (2011) that used covert sensitisation as a treatment for
kleptomania. [4]
(c) Explain one strength and one weakness of the study by Glover. [6]
2 (a) Describe explanations of depression. [8]
(b) Evaluate explanations of depression, including a discussion about reductionism versus
holism. [10]
Psychology and consumer behaviour
Answer all questions.
3 (a) Identify two shopper movement patterns from the study by Gil et al. (2009). [2]
(b) Dayan and Bar‑Hillel (2011) conducted a laboratory study and a field study on primacy,
recency and menu item position.
Outline any two results from these studies by Dayan and Bar‑Hillel. [4]
(c) Discuss the validity of these studies by Dayan and Bar‑Hillel. [6]
4 (a) Describe what psychologists have discovered about retail/leisure environment design (retail
store architecture, leisure environments, store interior layout). [8]
(b) Evaluate what psychologists have discovered about retail/leisure environment design (retail
store architecture, leisure environments, store interior layout), including a discussion about
generalisability. [10]
© UCLES 2023 9990/31/M/J/23
, 3
Psychology and health
Answer all questions.
5 (a) Practitioners may make type I or type II errors in diagnosis.
Outline one of these types of error, including an example in your answer. [2]
(b) Describe the procedure of the study by Robinson and West (1992) on disclosure of information
to a practitioner. [4]
(c) Explain two weaknesses of the study by Robinson and West. [6]
6 (a) Describe what psychologists have discovered about the management of stress. [8]
(b) Evaluate what psychologists have discovered about the management of stress, including a
discussion of experiments. [10]
Psychology and organisations
Answer all questions.
7 (a) Outline how a token economy can be used to reduce accidents at work. [2]
(b) Describe the study by Oldham and Brass (1979) on open plan offices. [4]
(c) Explain one strength and one weakness of the study by Oldham and Brass. [6]
8 (a) Describe what psychologists have discovered about measuring job satisfaction. [8]
(b) Evaluate what psychologists have discovered about measuring job satisfaction, including a
discussion about psychometrics. [10]
© UCLES 2023 9990/31/M/J/23
PSYCHOLOGY 9990/31
Paper 3 Specialist Options: Theory May/June 2023
1 hour 30 minutes
You must answer on the enclosed answer booklet.
* 1 3 7 2 6 6 2 1 0 1 *
You will need: Answer booklet (enclosed)
INSTRUCTIONS
● Answer four questions in total:
Answer questions from two options.
For each chosen option, answer all questions.
● Follow the instructions on the front cover of the answer booklet. If you need additional answer paper,
ask the invigilator for a continuation booklet.
INFORMATION
● The total mark for this paper is 60.
● The number of marks for each question or part question is shown in brackets [ ].
This document has 4 pages. Any blank pages are indicated.
DC (EF) 313197/1
© UCLES 2023 [Turn over
, 2
Psychology and abnormality
Answer all questions.
1 (a) Explain what is meant by ‘pyromania’. [2]
(b) Describe the study by Glover (2011) that used covert sensitisation as a treatment for
kleptomania. [4]
(c) Explain one strength and one weakness of the study by Glover. [6]
2 (a) Describe explanations of depression. [8]
(b) Evaluate explanations of depression, including a discussion about reductionism versus
holism. [10]
Psychology and consumer behaviour
Answer all questions.
3 (a) Identify two shopper movement patterns from the study by Gil et al. (2009). [2]
(b) Dayan and Bar‑Hillel (2011) conducted a laboratory study and a field study on primacy,
recency and menu item position.
Outline any two results from these studies by Dayan and Bar‑Hillel. [4]
(c) Discuss the validity of these studies by Dayan and Bar‑Hillel. [6]
4 (a) Describe what psychologists have discovered about retail/leisure environment design (retail
store architecture, leisure environments, store interior layout). [8]
(b) Evaluate what psychologists have discovered about retail/leisure environment design (retail
store architecture, leisure environments, store interior layout), including a discussion about
generalisability. [10]
© UCLES 2023 9990/31/M/J/23
, 3
Psychology and health
Answer all questions.
5 (a) Practitioners may make type I or type II errors in diagnosis.
Outline one of these types of error, including an example in your answer. [2]
(b) Describe the procedure of the study by Robinson and West (1992) on disclosure of information
to a practitioner. [4]
(c) Explain two weaknesses of the study by Robinson and West. [6]
6 (a) Describe what psychologists have discovered about the management of stress. [8]
(b) Evaluate what psychologists have discovered about the management of stress, including a
discussion of experiments. [10]
Psychology and organisations
Answer all questions.
7 (a) Outline how a token economy can be used to reduce accidents at work. [2]
(b) Describe the study by Oldham and Brass (1979) on open plan offices. [4]
(c) Explain one strength and one weakness of the study by Oldham and Brass. [6]
8 (a) Describe what psychologists have discovered about measuring job satisfaction. [8]
(b) Evaluate what psychologists have discovered about measuring job satisfaction, including a
discussion about psychometrics. [10]
© UCLES 2023 9990/31/M/J/23
