Cambridge International AS & A Level
PSYCHOLOGY 9990/31
Paper 3 Specialist Options: Theory October/November 2021
1 hour 30 minutes
You must answer on the enclosed answer booklet.
* 5 0 2 4 6 0 4 2 5 2 *
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 (CE) 206094
© UCLES 2021 [Turn over
2
Psychology and abnormality
Answer all questions.
1 (a) Outline one cognitive explanation of schizophrenia and delusional disorder. [2]
(b) Describe the procedure in the study by Sensky et al. (2000) of cognitive-behavioural therapy
(CBT) for schizophrenia. [4]
(c) Explain one similarity and one difference between CBT and biochemical treatments for
schizophrenia/delusional disorder. [6]
2 (a) Describe characteristics and measures of bipolar and related disorders. [8]
(b) Evaluate characteristics and measures of bipolar and related disorders, including a discussion
of validity. [10]
Psychology and consumer behaviour
Answer all questions.
3 (a) One stage in the consumer decision model when buying a product is ‘recognition of need’.
Identify two other stages from this model. [2]
(b) Describe two ways to close a sale. [4]
(c) For one of the ways you described in (b):
Explain one advantage and one disadvantage of this way to close a sale. [6]
4 (a) Describe what psychologists have discovered about lighting, colour and smell in the physical
environment. [8]
(b) Evaluate what psychologists have discovered about lighting, colour and smell in the physical
environment, including a discussion about control of variables. [10]
© UCLES 2021 9990/31/O/N/21
3
Psychology and health
Answer all questions.
5 (a) Outline the Yale model of communication in relation to health promotion. [2]
(b) Describe the study by Lau et al. (1990) on health change in adolescents. [4]
(c) Explain one strength and one weakness of the study by Lau et al. [6]
6 (a) Describe what psychologists have discovered about measuring pain. [8]
(b) Evaluate what psychologists have discovered about measuring pain, including a discussion
of psychometrics. [10]
Psychology and organisations
Answer all questions.
7 (a) Kouzes and Posner (1987) produced the Leadership Practices Inventory (LPI) which
measures five practices of exemplary leadership.
Identify two of these practices. [2]
(b) Describe the styles of leader behaviour proposed by Muczyk and Reimann (1987). [4]
(c) Explain one similarity and one difference between styles of leader behaviour (Muczyk and
Reimann, 1987) and situational leadership (Hersey and Blanchard, 1988). [6]
8 (a) Describe what psychologists have discovered about group development and roles in
organisations. [8]
(b) Evaluate what psychologists have discovered about group development and roles in
organisations, including a discussion of practical applications. [10]
© UCLES 2021 9990/31/O/N/21
4
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To avoid the issue of disclosure of answer-related information to candidates, all copyright acknowledgements are reproduced online in the Cambridge
Assessment International Education Copyright Acknowledgements Booklet. This is produced for each series of examinations and is freely available to download
at www.cambridgeinternational.org after the live examination series.
Cambridge Assessment International Education is part of the Cambridge Assessment Group. Cambridge Assessment is the brand name of the University of
Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate (UCLES), which itself is a department of the University of Cambridge.
© UCLES 2021 9990/31/O/N/21
