Examination Guidelines and Structure

The Stanford Prison Experiment, conducted by Philip Zimbardo, demonstrated how situational factors can influence behaviour, leading to conformity and even cruelty. The study investigated the psychological effects of power, authority, and social roles.

The Big Five personality traits are Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism. These traits are used to describe personality in a comprehensive and stable way.

Social psychology explores how individuals think, feel, and behave in social situations. It focuses on how we influence and are influenced by others, as well as how we perceive and understand our social world.

The tendency for people to perform better on tasks when they are in the presence of others, is referred to as social facilitation. This effect is most noticeable for tasks that are well-learned or simple.

A personality trait characterized by a high level of negative emotions, such as anxiety and sadness.

A personality trait characterized by a high level of conscientiousness, such as being organized and disciplined.

A personality trait characterized by a high level of agreeableness, such as being cooperative and compassionate.

A personality trait characterized by a high level of extraversion, such as being sociable and outgoing.

The tendency to conform to the behavior and opinions of others, even if it goes against one's own beliefs.

Factors that influence how we act in social situations, such as pressure from others or our desire to be liked.

The psychological process of understanding each other and how we interpret social events.

The way individuals identify with a group and perceive themselves as part of that group.

The study of individual differences in personality examines stable patterns of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that make people unique.

The study of personality explores enduring traits, motives, and patterns of behavior that characterize an individual.

The Big Five personality traits are a widely accepted model that describes five major dimensions of personality: Openness to Experience, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism.

Aggression is any behavior intended to harm another person physically or psychologically.

The social identity theory suggests that an individual's self-concept is influenced by their perceived membership in social groups.

Conformity to a group describes a change in behavior or opinions to align with the norms or expectations of a social group.

Cluster A personality disorders are characterized by odd, eccentric, or unusual behaviors. They often involve social isolation, suspiciousness, and difficulties with interpersonal relationships.

In Sherif and Sherif's studies, cooperation was found to be an effective strategy to reduce hostility and conflict between groups because it fosters shared goals and interdependence.

According to this theory, we tend to explain others' behavior based on their personality (personal factors), while explaining our own actions based on the situation (situational factors).

This theory proposes that our personalities are shaped by both conscious and unconscious processes. It focuses on hidden motives, desires, and conflicts within the mind.

This structured format helps organize information clearly, making it suitable for essays, exams, and even scientific reports.

Personality disorders categorized as Cluster B are characterized by dramatic, emotional, and erratic behaviors. Narcissistic personality disorder is a classic example.

Attributing Helen's struggles with social interaction to her own personality traits—for instance, suggesting she's not good at it.

This refers to the phenomenon of people standing by and not intervening when someone is in danger, even in a large group. It was highlighted by the case of Kitty Genovese.

This concept, central to Rogers’ humanistic theory, refers to accepting and valuing another person unconditionally, regardless of their flaws or mistakes.

Social Identity Theory proposes that the more people feel like they can move between groups, the weaker their group identity becomes.