ISC Class 12 Sample Paper 2027 Psychology

FOR ISC CLASS 12 EXAM PREPARATION

ISC Class 12 2027
Sample Paper ·
Psychology
EXAM YEAR TYPE SUBJECT

ISC Class 12 2027 Sample Paper Psychology

Notes · Sample Papers · Previous Year Papers · Mock Tests

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PSYCHOLOGY
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Maximum Marks: 70
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Time Allotted: Three Hours
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Reading Time: Additional Fifteen Minutes
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Instructions to Candidates
1. You are allowed an additional fifteen minutes for only reading the question
paper.
2. You must NOT start writing during the reading time.
3. This question paper has 10 printed pages.
4. It is divided into three sections and has twelve questions in all.
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5. All questions are compulsory. Answer all questions.
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6. Section A has fourteen subparts which are objective / very short answer
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questions. Each question carries 1 mark.
7. While attempting Multiple Choice Questions in Section A, you are required
to write only ONE option as the answer.
8. Section B has seven questions which are short answer questions.
Each question carries 4 marks.
9. Section C has four questions which are long answer questions.
Each question carries 7 marks.
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10. Internal choices have been provided in three questions in Section B and in
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two questions in Section C.
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11. The intended marks for questions are given in brackets [ ].
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g la Instruction to Supervising Examiner a
a Kindly read aloud the Instructions given above to all the candidates present in the
examination hall.

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1 ISC SPECIMEN QUESTION PAPER 2027
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Page 1 of 21

Note: The Specimen Question Paper in the subject provides a realistic format of the
Board Examination Question Paper and should be used as a practice tool. The questions for the
Board Examination can be set from any part of the syllabus, though the format of the Board
Examination Question Paper will remain the same as that of the Specimen Question Paper.

SECTION A – 14 MARKS

Question 1
(i) Mona arrived late for an important meeting. Her boss was angry and scolded her. [1]
She thought to herself, “If only I had woken up earlier, I would have reached on
time.” How has Mona used counterfactual thinking as a bias? (Analyse)
(ii) Rahim’s parents did not approve of his friends in his college. They believed that
his friends were a bad influence on him which angered Rahim and he distanced
himself from his parents.
Identify the level of Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological System represented by the [1]
conflict in the above scenario. (Understand)
(iii) Study the relation between the first two terms / phrases and complete the analogy. [1]
Toddler begins to walk: Gross motor skill :: Infant’s toes fan out on stroking:
____________ (Analyse)
(iv) Given below are two statements marked as Assertion and Reason. Read the [1]
statements carefully and choose the correct option. (Analyse)
Assertion: High density in a room does not always lead to the feeling of crowding.
Reason: Crowding is a subjective feeling of lack of adequate personal space in the
presence of others.
(a) Both Assertion and Reason are true, and Reason is the correct explanation
for Assertion.
(b) Both Assertion and Reason are true, but Reason is not the correct
explanation for Assertion.
(c) Assertion is true but Reason is false.
(d) Both Assertion and Reason are false.

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(v) Given below are two statements marked as Assertion and Reason. Read the [1]
statements carefully and choose the correct option. (Analyse)
Assertion: In early childhood phase, children assess an action in terms of physical
consequences.

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Reason: It is reflective of the conventional stage of obedience-punishment
orientation of moral development.
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(a) Both Assertion
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for Assertion.
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(b) aBoth Assertion and Reason are true, but Reason is not the correct g
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(c) Assertion is true but Reason is false.
(d) Both Assertion and Reason are false.
(vi) Client: “I feel that no matter what I do, it is never good enough for my parents.
They always expect more from me.”
Therapist: “It seems like you are feeling frustrated because your efforts are not

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being acknowledged the way you need them to be.”

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Which of the following approaches to counselling is being used by the therapist? [1]

s e (Understand)

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(a) Authenticity
(b) Paraphrasing
(c) Positive regard for others
(d) Unconditional positive regard
(vii) According to the General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS) Model, which one of the [1]
following correctly matches the stage when stress is prolonged and becomes
chronic? (Understand)

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(a) The body prepares itself for immediate action to face the threat.
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Depending on the nature of the stress, the body takes control over the situation.
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(d)
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(viii) Sudesh lost his job and is struggling to pay rent and buy groceries. He once dreamt
of becoming a famous writer but has now set those goals aside, focusing entirely
on finding any job to meet his daily expenses.
According to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, which level is Sudesh currently [1]
focused on satisfying? (Understand)
(a) Esteem Need
(b) Self-Actualisation Need
(c) Safety and Security Need
(d) Love and Belongingness Need
(ix) Which one of the following scenarios demonstrates practical intelligence as [1]
proposed by Sternberg? (Apply)
(a) Arjun composes music and songs for his social media blog.
(b) Rahul uses logical reasoning to solve complex mathematical problems in
his unit test.
(c) Neha travels to a new city and navigates her way through the place using
her common sense.
(d) Riya analyses research problems and selects multiple hypotheses to
determine the best outcome.
(x) Which one of the following situations illustrates Temperament? (Apply) [1]
(a) Rohan follows a routine of checking his school bag every night before sleep.
(b) Ananya believes she is better at public speaking than at leading her team at
workplace.
(c) Meera strongly believes in honesty and does not resort to dishonest means
even when others do so.
(d) Kabir has been a calm and easy-going person since early childhood, rarely
getting upset even in stressful situations.
(xi) A four-year-old child exhibits curiosity, creates make-believe games, and enjoys
planning tasks with peers.
According to Erikson’s stages of the psychosocial development, the psychosocial [1]
trait demonstrated by the child is: (Recall)
(a) Initiative
(b) Identity
(c) Integrity
(d) Industry

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(xii) Rahul lost his grandmother at a young age to whom he was deeply attached. As an
adult, he experiences persistent feelings of sadness and anxiety and struggles to
interact with others.
Which one of the following is the psychoanalytic perspective on Rahul’s [1]
behaviour? (Understand)

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(a) Investigating his faulty thinking patterns
(b)
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Analysing his behaviour as a statistical rarity
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(c)
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Exploring unconscious conflicts in early childhood experiences
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(d)
a s Examining biological factors such as brain chemistry or genetics
l has a perennial fear of flying. To help him overcome his fear, the therapist ag
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a him to relax. They proceed through a series of steps that go from reading
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a story about an airplane, visiting an airport, boarding a plane and taking a short
flight.
Which one of the following techniques is exemplified here? (Understand) [1]
(a) Shaping
(b) Flooding
(c) Token Economy
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(d) Systematic Desensitisation

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(xiv) Which of the following scenarios represents the bias, False Consensus Effect? [1]

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(P) Riya is an environmentalist and actively practises waste
management. She assumes that almost everyone she meets must be
practising waste recycling.
(Q) Siddharth is a chain smoker. He is convinced that nearly 70% of
adults in his city smoke, despite actual health department statistics
showing the figure is closer to 18%.
(R) Karan is a singer. He believes that he is the only student in his class
who knows the lyrics of a less popular 1970s rock song and is proud
of his unique taste.
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(S) Arjun is an avid fan of a local football team. He predicts that they will
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win the tournament based on his reading of sports blogs written by
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other fans of that team.
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(a) Only (P) and (Q)

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(d) Only (Q) and (S)

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SECTION B – 28 MARKS

Question 2 [4]
(i) ‘In a panel discussion reported by Harvard Gazette, Howard Gardner - the originator
of the Multiple Intelligences Theory of Intelligence - spoke about how technology
and Artificial Intelligence (AI) could change education by 2050. He stated that many
traditional cognitive tasks may become optional due to technological advances.
This refers to his fundamental idea that intelligence is not just one thing.’
(Source (edited): Harvard Gazette. 2025, September 18-How AI could
radically change schools by 2050, Harvard University)
Based on your reading of the excerpt, suggest four types of Multiple Intelligences
that would be given prominence in future classrooms. Justify your answer by giving
valid arguments. (Create)
OR
(ii) ‘According to Alan Price’s article titled ‘The Importance of Emotional Intelligence
at Work’, only 36% of individuals possess high emotional intelligence. It is a
surprisingly low number when you consider that we now know emotional
intelligence helps employees progress and perform better.’
Considering the role of Emotional Intelligence, how would a high Emotional
Quotient improve the performance of the employees and ensure their professional
growth. (Create)

Question 3 [4]
Priya, a teenager, is unable to make friends and struggles to express her thoughts clearly.
The therapist suspects that there may be deeper emotional conflicts that Priya cannot
articulate. She decides to administer a test of personality to uncover any psychological
problem in Priya. She shows her a series of cards depicting human figures in unstructured
situations and asks her to create stories based on each card.
Discuss the administration of the type of projective technique used by the therapist to
assess Priya’s personality. (Understand)

Question 4 [4]
Read the discussion below among four members of a Jury. They are discussing a severe
case of fraud and the degree of punishment to be given to the offender.
Juror 1: “He did commit a crime, but maybe a short prison term and a fine are adequate
punishment.”
Juror 2: “I don’t think so. He ruined people’s life savings. He deserves a longer sentence.”
Juror 3: “Such crimes are often treated too lightly. We must set an example by punishing
him severely.”

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Juror 4: “Yes, if we are soft on the degree of punishment, others will think that they can
escape the consequences of such crimes.”
Jury 1: “You all are right. I did not think about the wider impact of the offence. I am now
of the opinion that he deserves severe punishment to set an example for others.”
Identify the social phenomenon evident above. Comment on the shift in Juror 1’s decision.
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(Analyse)

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Question 5
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Ritesh is a high-ranking executive in a law firm. He is highly competitive, takes on

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multiple projects simultaneously. On losing a major contract, he defends his failure by
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blaming the client for being “unprofessional”. Furthermore, he loses his temper easily and
shouts at his subordinates over minor issues.
(i) Interpret the personality type of Ritesh. How can it be detrimental to his heart? [2]
(Understand)
(ii) Examine the effectiveness of two coping strategies (defense mechanisms) that [2]
Ritesh uses. (Evaluate)

Question 6 [4]
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(i) Study the graph below showing the scores of a candidate on the General Aptitude

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Test Battery and answer the following question.

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. graph.
c. o Identify the highest and lowest areas of performance from the given
Examine what the scores reveal about the candidate’s aptitude.
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(ii) Study the graph showing changes in Fluid and Crystallised Intelligences across
different age groups.

(Source: Cattell, R. B. (1963). Theory of fluid and crystallised intelligence:
A critical experiment. Journal of Educational Psychology, 54(1), 1–22)
Compare the developmental changes in Fluid Intelligence and Crystallised
Intelligence from early adulthood into old age. (Analyse)

Question 7
(i) Ravi, a fourteen-year-old boy, lives in a densely populated urban slum. His parents
work as daily wage labourers. The family struggles to afford him nutritious food
and school supplies. Ravi frequently misses school to work and support his family.
Over time, his teachers observe that he has developed low self-confidence and tends
to isolate himself from his classmates. He rarely participates in class activities and
believes that higher education is “not meant for people like him”.
(a) Briefly explain how poverty has affected Ravi’s cognitive process. [2]
(Understand)
(b) Suggest two effective strategies to address the impact of poverty on [2]
children like Ravi. (Understand)
OR

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(ii) A coastal village suffered a devastating flood which caused physical and emotional
ruin. Several residents experienced profound psychological and physical grief such
loss of family, property, and severe anxiety regarding their future. A team of social
workers and clinical counsellors set up temporary community support centres.
As a counsellor in the group, Dheeraj, listened to the victims without judgment,
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feeling their pain as if it were his own.

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(Source (edited): www.freepressjournal.in)
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Identify and briefly discuss the psychological disorder displayed by the
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(b) asInterpret the prominent counselling characteristic exhibited by Dheeraj in g[2]
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a (Understand)

Question 8 [4]
In a recent podcast interview, former footballer David Beckham openly discussed his daily
rituals, including meticulously arranging candles, aligning lights, and ordering clothes in
pairs and straight lines. He admitted to struggling with obsessive-compulsive disorder
(OCD) and the overwhelming need for symmetry and cleanliness.
(Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKiYDP9i6b8- The Guardian – Mabel
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Banfield-Nwachi 28 Apr 2023)
Based on this, discuss the possible causes of David Beckham’s obsessive compulsive
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disorder, citing both biological and psychological perspectives. (Understand)

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SECTION
Question 9
‘Studies have revealed how gender is displayed in highly visible ways in childhood.
Girls, especially at ages 3 and 4, like dresses with glitter, pinks, and ribbons. Boys can be
seen asserting themselves as heroic play characters imagining themselves as Spiderman.
Both girls and boys exhibit “gender rigidity” conforming to gender-stereotypical
behaviours which shapes their identity in future.’
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(Source (edited): Halim et al., 2012; Ruble, Lurye, & Zosuls, 2007 & Gender stereotypes
m in childhood: what’s the harm? Eva Pemberton, Birmingham City University)
c. o(i) With reference to the above article, examine how play patterns displayed
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and girls in early childhood impact their socio-emotional development. (Analyse)

la (ii) Referring to James Marcia’s Theory, analyse how ‘gender ag rigidity’ in early
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[4]
childhood may influence identity formation during adolescence. (Analyse)

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Question 10 [7]
(i) Elaborate on types of Yoga and Meditation as effective techniques to reduce stress.
(Recall)
OR
(ii) Elaborate on how individuals with a Hardy personality effectively reduce their
stress levels and promote their well-being. (Recall)

Question 11 [7]
(i) With reference to Stanley Milgram’s experiment on Obedience, discuss why
obedience remains high even at shock levels of 450 volts. (Understand)
OR
(ii) With reference to Solomon Asch’s study on Conformity, explain the factors that
affect conformity. (Understand)

Question 12
Read the excerpt below from a newspaper and answer the questions that follow.

(Source: Times of India, February 10, 2026)
(i) Analyse how these ‘early warning signs’ can act as catalysts for Juvenile [4]
Delinquency. (Analyse)
(ii) Discuss three ways by which intervention by society can help develop a positive [3]
attitude towards adolescents suffering from substance abuse. (Understand)

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PSYCHOLOGY a
ANSWER KEY
SECTION A – 14 MARKS

Question 1
In answering Multiple Choice Questions, candidates have to write either the correct
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option number or the explanation against it. Please note that only ONE correct
answer should be written.
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(i) After a negative outcome, Mona has mentally undone the event and imagined a
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better alternative
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avoided
(ii) aMesosystem [1]
Reason why this is only Mesosystem and not Micro system:
Rahim’s situation represents the mesosystem because it involves the interaction
between two microsystems - his family and his peer group. His parents’ negative
opinion of his friends created conflict, which influenced Rahim’s relationship
with them. If Rahim had a conflict only with his parents, it would be a
microsystem issue. Since the conflict arose due to parents’ relationship with his

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peer group, it would be categorised as mesosystem.
(iii) Babinski reflex
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(iv)
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(a) Both Assertion and Reason are true, and Reason is the correct explanation for [1]
Assertion.
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a is false.
(v) (c) Assertion is true but Reason [1]
(vi) (b) Paraphrasing [1]
(vii) (d) The body fails to overcome the threat and depletes its physiological resources. [1]
(viii) (c) Safety and Security Need [1]
(ix) (c) Neha travels to a new city and navigates her way through the place using her [1]

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common sense.

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(x) (d) Kabir has been a calm and easy-going person since early childhood, rarely
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(xii) (c) Exploring unconscious conflicts in early childhood experiences [1]
a (xiii) (d) Systematic Desensitisation [1]
(xiv) (a) Only (P) and (Q) [1]

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ISC SPECIMEN ANSWER KEY 2027
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SECTION B – 28 MARKS
(Answers provided in Sections B and C are suggestive and not exhaustive. Any other
correct answers will be accepted.)

Question 2 [4]
(i) Following are the multiple intelligences that might gain prominence in future
classrooms:
Interpersonal Intelligence: This is the ability to understand and interact
effectively with others. As AI handles technical tasks efficiently but lacks humane
element, human collaboration, empathy, and teamwork would become more
valuable. Hence, interpersonal intelligence would be relevant in future to fill that
gap.
Intrapersonal Intelligence: It is the ability to understand oneself, including one’s
emotions, motives, and goals. As learning would be driven by AI, intrapersonal
intelligence would allow students to retain their autonomy and self – awareness
and make ethical and purposeful use of AI tools.
Spatial Intelligence: This intelligence would be highly relevant as classrooms in
future would make a heavy use of AI tools such as 3D environments to solve
complex problems. Developing spatial intelligence would help the students to
think imaginatively and create original ideas or products. This would, in fact,
differentiate human thinking from AI-generated outputs.
Linguistic / Verbal Intelligence: It is the ability to use language effectively to
express, communicate ideas or solve problems. This intelligence would be much
needed in future as students would be required to must rephrase and adapt AI
content to suit specific human needs.
(Candidates are required to discuss those multiple intelligences that would gain
relevance in the scenario described in the question. They should justify their
choice of the intelligences.)
OR
(ii) A high level of Emotional Quotient would result in better performance at
workplace in the following ways:
• It would help employees perceive and be sensitive to their own feelings and
emotions.
• It would also make them sensitive to various types of emotions in their
co-workers which will foster collaboration and mutual support.
• Employees with a high Emotional Quotient would regulate their emotions
well and not respond impulsively to situations which would help them take
important decisions thoughtfully.
• They would also manage stress situations well and not panic under pressure.
This ability would help them navigate through such tough situations and
eventually turn it to their advantage.
• Such workers would also understand the significance of motivation and
encourage their team well, thereby boosting the morale of their team members
to attain the organisational goals.
(Candidates have to link the significance of high Emotional Quotient to
productivity and work efficiency of the employees at their workplace.)

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Question 3 a [4]
The projective technique used to assess Priya’s personality is
Thematic Apperception Test. It consists of 30 pictures which portray human beings in a
variety of actual life situations. Ten of these cards are for male clients and other ten are
for females and common ten cards for both. The pictures are presented one at a time.
The situations in them are vague and indefinite. The respondent is told that it is a test of
creative imagination and that there is no right and wrong response. She has to make up
a story for each of the pictures presented to her. She must take care of the following
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aspects while making the story:

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1) What is going on in the picture?
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2) What has led to this scene?
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3) What would happen in such a situation?
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4) What are the characters thinking and feeling?

Question 4 [4]
The phenomenon evident in the given case is Group Polarisation.
Group polarisation is the tendency for group discussion to strengthen or intensify the
members' initial attitudes or decisions, making the group's final position more extreme
than before the discussion.
Reasons for change in Juror 1’s stance: m
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• Informational influence: Juror 1 hears new arguments favouring her viewpoint.
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This makes her more favourable towards the group’s view thereby, pushing her
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towards a stronger position.
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• Normative influence: People shift to more extreme views to fit in and be
accepted by the group. When Juror 1 finds others also on the Jury favour a severe
punishment, she feels that this view is validated by the public. This is a sort of
bandwagon effect.
• In-group: When Juror 1 finds the group having similar views, she is likely to
perceive them as in-group. She starts identifying with the group and therefore,
Juror 1’s views become strengthened with that of the group.

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Question 5
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exhibits Type A Personality as he displays extreme competitiveness,
constant urgency, impatience with subordinates, multitaskingeon projects.
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[2]

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These are hallmarks of Type A personality linked to risks of developing

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heart diseases.
Ritesh’s behaviour pattern can produce excessive physiological arousal in
stressful situations. This arousal in turn might result in increased production of
hormones epinephrine and nor-epinephrine, as well as increased heart and blood
pressure, which produces an increased incidence of coronary heart disease.
The surge in adrenaline also causes blood to clot more rapidly which is a major
factor in heart disease.

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(ii) Ritesh uses the following two coping strategies ineffectively: [2]
• Rationalisation: Ritesh claims that the client was “unprofessional”
thereby, justifying losing a major contract. He tries to mask his failure
with a false logic.
• Displacement: He directs his anger onto his subordinates by shouting at
them over minor issues which is a safer target and does not address the
real cause. He directs his frustrations from a threatening stimulus to a
non-threatening stimulus which is an ineffective way to cope with failures.
(Candidates have to assess the coping strategies used by Ritesh and provide
strong arguments to support their views.)

Question 6 [4]
(i) As per the graph given, the strongest Aptitudes are:
1. Verbal Ability (90)
2. General Learning Ability (85)
3. Spatial Aptitude (80)
As per the given graph, the weakest Aptitudes are:
1. Finger Dexterity (35)
2. Motor Coordination (40)
3. Manual dexterity (40)
The candidate shows weak ability towards motor related tasks but is strong in
general learning abilities which are verbal and spatial in nature.
OR
(ii) The graph given shows the trajectory of Fluid intelligence and Crystallised
intelligence.
• The graph shows that Fluid Intelligence (Gf) increases with age and
begins to decline around middle age. It is acquired when individuals
develop the ability to solve new problems, reason logically, and think in
abstract terms without relying on prior knowledge.
• It peaks in early adulthood (around 20 - 30 years) and gradually declines
with age because it depends on processing speed, working memory, and
neural efficiency, which reduce naturally over time.
• Crystallised intelligence, on the other hand, increases with age and can be
sustained through constant efforts. Individuals develop the ability to use
accumulated knowledge, skills, and experience to solve problems.
• It increases through adulthood and remains relatively stable in old age as
it relies on constant learning and expertise rather than processing speed.

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Question 7 a
(i) (a) Poverty has impacted Ravi’s cognitive process. His family hardships and [2]
lifestyle have altered his mindset, and he has come to believe that education
is not for him. Due to his underprivileged background and lack of proper
nutrition, his attention span and memory have been impaired which is not
conducive to his intellectual growth.
(b) Possible suggestions [2]
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• Providing financial and nutritional support can help retain Ravi at
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school.
• Personalised mentoring, counselling and skill development
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a • Providing Ravi with educational support programmes such as
scholarships, free learning materials, remedial teaching can
improve his self-confidence and academic motivation.
(Candidates have to suggest two strategies by which the impact of poverty
can be reduced on children like Ravi.)
OR
(ii) (a) The flood victims display Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). [2]
It commonly follows severe natural disasters, and its symptoms include
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intrusive memories such as nightmares, avoidance of trauma-linked
reminders, chronic fear, emotional numbness, and heightened arousal.

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The sudden, catastrophic nature of the flood triggers an intense stress
response.
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(b) Empathy is the prominent exhibited by Dheeraj. It involves
understanding the client’s experience from their own perspective, putting
[2]

oneself in their shoes, and feeling their pain without becoming emotionally
overwhelmed.

Question 8 [4]
Obsessive compulsive disorder in David Beckham can be attributed to the following:
Biological factors:
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appear to inherit the disorder they are closer in their genetic makeup.
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• Role of Brain Structure: The frontal cortex controls many cognitive functions likel
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a self-control and self-awareness. Abnormalities in brain structure such as an
overactive frontal cortex may generate many impulses to the thalamus of the
brain resulting in obsessive thoughts and compulsive actions.
• Obsessive compulsive disorder is highly associated with an imbalance in
neurotransmitters, specifically, a deficiency in serotonin. Serotonin is responsible
for regulating mood, impulse, and anxiety. Lower levels make it difficult for the
brain to regulate and suppress intrusive thoughts.

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Psychological factors
• Obsessive compulsive disorder may develop as a result of fixation at the anal
stage of psychosexual development as explained by Sigmund Freud. In this stage,
children are believed to derive pleasure from excreting.
• Toilet training by their parents involves teaching them to learn control. If parents
are too harsh and make the child feel dirty or bad about soiling themselves, they
may cause a lot of guilt and shame in the child.
• The intense conflict between the id to ‘let go’ and the ego ‘to control’ can lead
to obsessive compulsive disorder symptoms as adults. Individuals like
David Beckham try hard to suppress, resolve or cope with the conflict which
causes them a lot of distress. Hence, they resort to more manageable ways like
intrusive thoughts and its associated compulsive behaviour. This helps them to
get relief from their anxiety.

SECTION C – 28 MARKS
Question 9
(i) As highlighted in the article, play patterns reveal distinct patterns of [3]
socio-emotional development in children from an early age which are influenced
by gender rigidity. The given article highlights the behavioural patterns and toy
preferences of girls and boys which also determine their emotional regulation.
Their socio-emotional development conforms to stereotypes where boys adopt
assertive roles of heroic characters while girls take on nurturing roles.
Such rigidity influences socio-emotional development and shapes their
emotional expressions and peer interactions. They are eventually rewarded for
behaving in accordance with social norms laid down by society.
(ii) Early gender rigidity can influence the process of identity exploration and [4]
commitment, affecting adolescents' socio-emotional development.
James Marcia identified patterns of socio-emotional development in adolescents.
If the fulfilment is inadequate, then it results in problems in the socio emotional
development in adolescents.
• Based on James Marcia’s study, during adolescence, individuals begin exploring
their identity. A lack of it results in identity crisis.
• According to Erik Erikson, appropriate social development in adolescence
requires solving the major challenge of ego-identity vs. role diffusion.
To resolve this life crisis, adolescents must form an ego-identity, a strong sense
of “who I am and what I stand for,” or they may suffer role diffusion (running
from activity to activity), with the increased likelihood of succumbing to peer
pressure.
• Identity Foreclosure: Adolescents who accept gender roles without questioning
them may develop Identity Foreclosure. Adolescents who choose an identity
suggested to them by their parents’ or other authority figure do not engage in any
identity experimentation and establish an identity based on the choices or values
of others. Some parents may make these decisions for their children and do not
grant them the opportunity to make choices. In other instances, adolescents may
strongly identify with parents and others in their life and wish to follow in their
footsteps.
•

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a have not begun the process
• Identity Diffusion: It refers to those adolescents who
and are confused. Such individuals do not have firm commitments regarding the
issues in question and do not make progress toward them. Those who persist in
this identity may drift aimlessly with little connection to those around them or
have little sense of purpose in life.
• Identity Moratorium: This defines those adolescents who are still searching for
an identity. It can be a period to seek what one wants to do in life or can lead to
rebellion termed as negative identity. The individuals explore various choices
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but have not yet made a clear commitment to any of them. This can be an anxious
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and emotionally tense time period as the adolescent experiments with different
roles and explores various beliefs. Nothing is certain and there are many
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questions, but few answers.
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Question l10
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(i) Types of Yoga comprise the following:
• Pranayama: It is the control of breath. One of the most fundamental
practices associated with Yoga, it has become quite popular of late. This
is mostly because of its great disease-curing properties. With regards to
the spiritual practices, it is one of the fundamental aspects of managing
your own mind.
• Asana: These are the poses of Ashtanga Yoga which can be practised to

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• Niyama: These are the guidelines to the path of Yoga that one needs for
maintaining harmony within oneself.
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Yama: These are the ethical restraints that a person must impose on
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himself to achieve harmony with other beings. These can be practised to
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achieve self-realisation, spiritual transformation, or union with the divine.
• Pratyahara: It is all about withdrawing of senses from their objects and
into the centre of their origin. It is a re-absorption into the self of all the
organs.
Meditation help one relax deeply and calm the mind to be relieved of stress. Since
the mind focuses on one thing during meditation, one gets rid of the stream of
thoughts that crowd mind causing stress. This process can lead to better physical
and emotional well-being.
Some of the most common features of Meditation include:
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from many things that cause stress and worry. An individual can focus
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your attention on things such as a certain object, an image, a mantra or

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a • Relaxed breathing: This technique involves deep, even-paced breathing
using the muscle between chest and belly, called the diaphragm muscle,
to expand your lungs. The purpose is to slow breathing, take in more
oxygen, and reduce the use of shoulder, neck and upper chest muscles
while breathing so that you breathe better.
• Quiet setting: Meditation may be easier if the spot is a silent place. The
aim to have fewer things that can distract or stress.

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•Comfortable position: Meditation can be practised in any comfortable
position whether sitting, lying down, walking, or in other positions or
activities.
• Deep breathing: This requires focusing the attention on breathing. The
breath has to be slow and deep and listened to during inhale and exhale.
• Focusing on body: This technique requires focusing attention on each part
of body and becoming aware of how the body feels.
OR
(ii) Coined by Salvatore Maddi, Hardiness involves a strong sense of Control,
Commitment and Challenge described as:
• Commitment: It is a tendency to throw oneself into whatever they are
doing with a sense that their activities are meaningful and important.
• Challenge: Hardy people believe that change rather than stability, is the
standard condition of life. They remain resilient in difficult situations.
• Control: Hardy people feel a sense of control. They believe that they can
influence the events in their lives. Such individuals approach stress
optimistically and confront it by taking direct action to deal with the
stressors. Thus, hardiness can act as a defense against stress related
diseases. Stress resistant personalities have control which is a sense of
purpose and direction in life; commitment to work, family, hobbies and
social life; and challenge, that is, they see changes in life as normal and
positive rather than as a threat.
• Hardiness helps towards promoting one’s positive health and well-being.
Many people sail through crises and rebuild their lives positively.
They are likely to have constructive attitudes and emotional and social
support of various kinds available to them. When we find ways of
managing these pressures and can use the energy to create something
positive out of the situation, then it can be said that the individual has
learned to survive healthily and which makes one more stress fit for future
crises. It is like being immunised against the dangers of unhealthy stress.

Question 11 [7]
(i) Referring to Stanley Milgram’s experiment on Obedience, 65% of the subjects
(Teacher) obeyed the figure of authority providing shock to the Learner up to
450V. The Experimenter and the Learner were confederates with no shock being
given.
The levels of obedience remain high even at shock levels labelled as ‘strong’
because of the following reasons:
• Victim’s emotional distance: This significantly increases their likelihood
of obedience to authority as when individuals detach emotionally -
whether due to fear, or social conditioning - they may become more
susceptible to compliance, as their critical thinking and moral resistance
weaken.
• Legitimacy of authority: Authority generally possesses symbols of status
which people find difficult to resist.
• Liberating effect of group influence: When individuals worked alongside
others who obeyed, they were more likely to continue following harmful
orders.

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a because they feel they are
• Lack of personal responsibility: People obey
not responsible for their own actions and are simply carrying out orders.
• Follow social norms: These act as unwritten rules that guide behaviour,
and when authority figures embody these norms, individuals are more
likely to follow their instructions.
• Consistency in giving command: Authority gradually increases
commands from lesser to greater levels and initial obedience binds
followers for commitment.
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• Foot-in-the door phenomenon: It begins with a small request that the other
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person is not likely to refuse. Once carried out, a bigger request is made.
Since the smaller request was complied, refusing the second request
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becomes uncomfortable.
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a experiment, namely that the shocks get progressively worse. Once one
has accepted the idea of giving another human being the lowest shocks
on a scale which one can clearly see progresses through to potentially
lethal levels, then there is no obvious stopping point.
OR
(ii) In Solomon Asch’s experiment on Conformity, the participants had to announce
aloud which of the first three lines was identical in length to a “standard line”.
This experiment was actually ‘set up’, because only one student in each group

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conformed.
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Among the most important variables producing conformity are the following:
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• Characteristics of the group: The more attractive a group is to its
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members, the greater its ability to produce conformity. All the subjects in
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Asch's experiments were students. Each student would perceive the group
as a reference group. Individuals tend to conform to their reference
groups, people we like and enjoy being with and by whom we want to be
liked. Furthermore, a person’s relative status – social rank within a field
– is important. The lower a person’s status in the group, the greater the
power of the group over that person’s behaviour. Group size is another
factor in which the conformity increases with the size of the group,
however as the group becomes very large, conformity is likely to reduce.
Similarly, the more cohesive or close-knit a group is the more conformity
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there is. If group members are seen as similar to themselves or as experts

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as compared to oneself, conformity increases.

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• The situation in which the individual responds: Conformity is
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when they can respond privately. Also, when there is prior commitment
a to an idea or opinion, people conform less than if they have not expressed
it publicly.
• Kind of task: The Social comparison idea suggests that people working
on tasks and questions that are ambiguous (where we do not know what
is ‘right’ and expected of us) are more susceptible to social pressure.
Asked to give an opinion, such as what type of clothing is fashionable, a
person is likely to give into conformist pressures, than if asked a question
of fact. Individuals resolve this ambiguity by observing people similar to

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individual is less competent than the group create conformity in the
person than is more likely.
• Unanimity of the group: Conformity pressures are most pronounced in
groups that are unanimous in their support of a position. This goes along
with the saying ‘The majority rules’. In case a person has an ally in the
group called social supporter- one who shares an unpopular opinion or
attitude of another group member – they encourage conformity, even if
the person giving us the support is not particularly competent and even if
he or she does not share our views. It seems that any support will do.
However, the support is more likely to be successful if she is competent
and does share our views. It also seems to be especially important that
dissent by a social supporter, if it is to be effective, should be voiced early
on in the proceedings.
• Personality: Generally, when people question or are unsure of their
personal abilities they tend to conform. Those with low esteem also fall
in line more easily with others.
• Cultural values: In experiments conducted in fourteen countries,
conformity rates were lower in individualistic cultures (such as in the
United States), in which people tend to pursue their own interests, and
higher in collectivistic cultures (such as in China), in which people
typically seek to contribute to the group’s success.
• Need for social respect: Many people express that they did not want to
appear silly. One of our secondary needs is a need for 'social respect',
which includes the need to avoid looking ridiculous in front of others or
the need to avoid criticism from others. That need would be likely to
motivate us to seek compromise with others and seems to be supported
by some subjects' reports after the experiment that they wished to avoid
embarrassment.

Question 12
(i) The symptoms listed in the question do signal juvenile delinquency. [4]
• Sudden change in friend circle may be due to associating with a deviant
peer group that often introduces one to substance abuse. Youth may
engage in illegal activities, vandalise property, or commit thefts due to
peer pressure and the desire to fit into the new group.
• Similarly, withdrawal from family and frequent mood swings symbolises
breakdown of social control which often results in rebellion against
parents or authority figures.
• Irregularity at school / college or chronic truancy leads to unsupervised
free time, exposing youth to negative street influences. Academic failure
diminishes prospects, creating frustration and a sense of hopelessness that
pushes individuals toward criminal behaviour.
• Unexplained need for money or frequent may be a strong signal of
indulgence in substance abuse a, the intense urge to procure drugs drives
the adolescents toward illegal financial acts.
• Secretive digital behaviour such as excessive use of phone or late-night
chats can expose youngsters to online drug peddlers or gangs.
• Erratic sleep pattern impacts sense of control, judgment and increases the
possibility of aggressive behaviour and violence.

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(ii) • Awareness programmes can be run inaschools to view substance [3]
abuse as a medical condition and not as a moral failure. This can bring
an attitudinal shift in the perspectives of teachers and parents and
make them more mindful rather than develop a dislike towards
adolescents.
• Promoting peer lead dialogues and conversations can help everyone
understand the psychological stress and reasons that propel
adolescents to resort to addiction.
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Community rehabilitation centres can be established to counsel the
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youth and destigmatise them.
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Society can create a supportive and protective environment where the
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build a positive attitude towards victims of substance abuse.)

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