Section A (20 marks)

Answer all questions from this section. Read the following passage. Use the source
and your own knowledge of psychological perspectives to complete your answers
to the questions below.

Social media has been linked to higher levels of loneliness, envy, anxiety,
depression, narcissism and decreased social skills. The narratives we share and
portray on social media are all positive and celebratory. Meaning for some,
sometimes, it appears everyone you know are in great relationships, taking 5-star
vacations and living your dream life. However, what is shared across our social
networks only broadcasts the positive aspects of our lives. Clarissa Silva, The
Huffington Post, 2 February 2017

1. Explain social comparison theory. (6 marks)

We constantly compare our behavior with others in our daily lives. The processes
of observing one's behavior and comparing it with others' behavior are also closely
related to self-awareness theory. Starting with knowing yourself, comparison with
others may be the starting point for developing into a better person, but at the same
time, excessive comparison and frustration can make a person devastated and
depressed. So social comparison is very important in our lives.

There are several types of comparison, largely divided into upward comparison and
downward comparison. Upward comparison is comparing people who are better
than themselves, and downward comparison is comparing people who are worse
than themselves. However, according to Aron, Wilson, Akert, and Somers (2016),
people prefer comparisons with people in similar backgrounds or situations. As a
result, colleagues' values and actions have a profound influence on people. This is
known as social tuning helps people participate and interact socially. However,
during adolescence, comparison with peers can sometimes act as a sense of duty,
and excessive trust in colleagues' views or actions is likely to have worse
consequences. These series of processes, starting with observation and evaluation
of oneself and leading to comparison with others, are social comparisons.

2. What impact might using social media have on the self-concept? Support your
answer with two examples. (14 marks)
I reckon social media has a positive effect on self-concept. Most of the popular
people reflected through the media are people who are tailored to the framework
set by society. They are people who want to be ordinary people and are honestly
far from reality. However, as explained in social comparison theory, people prefer
comparison with people who are similar or close to them. Therefore, celebrities on
TV are objects of envy and people they want to resemble. In other words, it is
difficult to feel frustrated through comparison. Here are two examples that support
my opinion.

First, groups are formed in social media, and social interactions within them are
actively taking place. This can be a space for shy teenagers to talk, and sometimes
you can talk openly about your feelings that you can't even tell your real friends.
This can act as a way out for adolescents with severe emotional ups and downs.
Through this, social media can help in the process of communicating with various
people in a similar situation and finding themselves.

Second, when writing resumes or self-introductions, ordinary people look for

appropriate forms on Google and watch other people's successful works. It is used
to refer to the way others express themselves, and through this, they can find
themselves they do not know.

Section B (20 marks)

Answer all questions from this section. Read the following passage. Use the source
and your own knowledge to complete your answers to the questions below.

Laws protect individuals from discrimination in the workplace based on race,

colour, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, disability status and
age. However, there is one highly stigmatized group that is not listed as a protected
class under federal law — overweight individuals.

According to the most recent data from the Federal Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention, more than 35 percent of American adults are obese. Childhood
obesity is at 17 percent. A person is considered obese when their weight is higher
than what is considered as a healthy weight for a given height. Studies show obese
individuals experience prejudice and weight discrimination and are perceived as
lazy and lacking self-discipline. In this tight labour market, management should be
aware of the stigma that exists and actively try to counteract the stereotypes.

3. What is a stereotype and how does it relate to prejudice? (6 marks)

Stereotypes are hard-working thoughts that determine people's behavior or are
known as too natural. And if stereotypes become someone's attitude, this is
prejudice. Everyone has different personal experiences, abilities, beliefs, and
values. As a result, stereotypes are created by age group, gender, or where they live
and nationality. Prejudice refers to when a person has negative beliefs about a
person or group based on stereotypes. This belief is usually based on membership
(or assumed membership) of a particular group. Prejudice also divides people
based on stereotypes. For example, the stereotype that Asians are short and have a
dwarf physique can emerge as a prejudice that some Westerners disparage Asians
as lower-class individuals than them.

4. It has been claimed that the jigsaw classroom can reduce prejudice. Define the
term jigsaw classroom, and explain the relationship between jigsaw classroom and
the contact hypothesis, with examples. (14 marks)

The Jigsaw experiment was conducted in 1971 by Elliot Aaronson comparing

traditional competitive learning with interdependent collaborative learning. The
test was inspired by racial warfare among students in the school system in Austin,
Texas. The experiment included forming a study group (jigsaw group) that relied
on other students in their group to obtain the information needed to succeed in the
examination. The group was asked to cooperate among its members to achieve
racial integration and academic success. Compared to the traditional classroom in
which each student completes, students in small groups of cooperative workers
showed low discrimination, stereotyped attitudes, and higher academic
achievement. The jigsaw classroom is related to the hypothesis that when separate
groups and external groups gather as one task, their prejudices will be dispersed.
Before this can work, the following must be met:
Please cooperate in the work that everyone has to do together to complete the
work.
Equivalent status among members of a contact group.
be supported by social norms
Personal communication between members.
Authoritative people support it.
Jigsaw classrooms encourage students to interact in an interdependent and
cooperative way during learning. As a result of direct appeal, students have high
empathy, low prejudice, high self-esteem, and high test scores.