1.

Evaluate trait and social learning theories of personality formation.

[4]

© OCR 2019. You may photocopy this page. 1 of 8 Created in ExamBuilder

 2. Describe the social learning and interactionist theories of personality.

[4]

3. Describe a Type A personality.

[2]

© OCR 2019. You may photocopy this page. 2 of 8 Created in ExamBuilder

 4. Chris is an elite performer with an extrovert personality. He is performing the triple jump in front of an audience.

Explain how the presence of an audience might impact on Chris’ performance.

[5]

© OCR 2019. You may photocopy this page. 3 of 8 Created in ExamBuilder

 5. Sports psychologists have stated that people with a Type A personality are highly competitive, whereas people
with a Type B personality are non-competitive.

Give one other characteristic of a Type A personality and one other characteristic of a Type B personality.

Type A

Type B

[2]

END OF QUESTION PAPER

© OCR 2019. You may photocopy this page. 4 of 8 Created in ExamBuilder

 Mark Scheme

Question Answer/Indicative content Marks Guidance

1 Four marks from: 4

Trait theory (sub max 2)
AO3)
Positives (sub max 1 for positives)
1. (If the theory is correct)
personality/behaviour can be
predicted.
2. (There is some evidence) personality
is influenced by genetics/innate e.g.
aggressive tendencies
Negatives
3. Trait theory may be deemed to not be
accurate as not likely to just be genetic
input that determines our personality.
4. Doesn’t account for how personality
seems to change in different
environments if it is just based on
traits/ doesn't account for free will/ too
deterministic/ doesn’t account for
upbringing/socialisation
5. Identical twins who are brought up in
different environments do not
demonstrate the same personality
therefore suggesting it’s not just traits
that determine personality.
(4 × Examiner’s Comments
Most candidates referenced both trait and
social learning theories in their answers
and attempted both the positives and
negatives for each theory. However many
candidates described the theories rather
than evaluating them. It was decided to
allow candidates to gain marks where they
had described the positives of the theory
without explicitly stating they were
positives, as without this allowance many
candidates would have scored no marks in
this question. The negatives were
generally attempted but on the whole,
candidates’ knowledge was fairly
superficial and therefore did not fully
answer the question. Centres are reminded
to encourage candidates to specifically
state if their point is a positive or a
negative.

Social learning theory (sub max 2)

Positives (sub max 1 for positives)

6. Bobo doll experiment supports the
idea/ adds validity
7. (There is evidence to suggest) some
aspects of personality are learned by
watching and copying (significant)
others/ role models/ environment
Negatives
8. Social learning theory may be viewed
as too simplistic as it is not likely to be
just our environment that determines
our personality/ doesn't account for
inherited personality traits.
9. Children/Siblings/twins brought up in
the same way don’t always display the
same personality.
10. If the theory was true we would all
have the same personality/copy our

© OCR 2019. You may photocopy this page. 5 of 8 Created in ExamBuilder

 Mark Scheme

Question Answer/Indicative content Marks Guidance

role models

Total 4

2 4 marks for 4 of: 4 Sub max 2 for social learning

Description of social learning (sub max 2) Sub max 2 for interactionist
1. (Observe and We (observe and)
copy) copy / emulate
behaviour (of Do not accept a list. There must be an
others) or copy attempt at a description for marks to be
significant others awarded.
or copy role Do not accept B=f(PE) for point 3 (must
models describe)
2. (reinforcement) Learning requires Do not accept interactionist is a
reinforcement or combination of trait and social learning
vicarious (must describe)
reinforcement Accept a practical example as a
Description of interactionist (sub max 2) description
3.(trait – (Personality
environment) determined by the) Examiner’s Comments
interaction /
function / Candidates often struggled to describe
relationship accurately the two named approaches to
between personality theory The all-important
personality / traits elements of copying / imitation and
and the situation / reinforcement were often omitted for social
environment or learning, but the interactionist approach
personality was generally well described. Many
interacting or identified that interactionist is a mix of
reacting to the social learning and trait approaches, but
environment / they did not score marks unless they then
situation went on to describe the relationship
4. (Changes in Behaviour changes between genetic disposition and situational
behaviour) depending on the aspects – key features of this approach.
demands of the
situation /
environment / role
or personality is
not predictable /
stable.

Total 4

© OCR 2019. You may photocopy this page. 6 of 8 Created in ExamBuilder

 Mark Scheme

Question Answer/Indicative content Marks Guidance

3 Two marks from: 2

(AO1)
prone to anxiety / stress
likes to be in control
highly competitive
desire to succeed
works fast

Total 2

4 Five marks from: 5 Full marks can only be gained by visiting

(AO3) all variables of ability and personality and
(ability) – (the performer is elite) types of skill
therefore the audience will facilitate /
help performance because the
performers’ dominant responses are
correct
and because the performer has
(correct) motor programmes / can carry
out the jump with little conscious
control / has autonomous control
(personality) (the performer has an
extrovert personality) therefore the
audience will facilitate / help
performance because extroverts
require external stimulation (provided
by the presence of others)
and because extroverts have lower
levels of internal arousal
(type of skill) (the skill of the triple
jump) is gross / dynamic / ballistic and
requires higher arousal level
and because there are few
requirements to process (complex)
information.

Total 5

© OCR 2019. You may photocopy this page. 7 of 8 Created in ExamBuilder

 Mark Scheme

Question Answer/Indicative content Marks Guidance

5 Two marks from: 2

(2 x AO1)
Sub max one mark - Type A

1Works fast
2Strong desire to succeed
3Likes control
4Prone to suffer stress

Sub max one mark - Type B

1Works more slowly

2Lacking in desire to succeed
3Does not enjoy control
4Less prone to stress

Total 2

© OCR 2019. You may photocopy this page. 8 of 8 Created in ExamBuilder

Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)