ISC Class 12 Competency Based Questions (CBQ) Psychology

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PREFACE

With a growing emphasis on competency-based education globally, the educational landscape
in India has also steered towards high-quality learning experiences that allow learners to
incorporate critical thinking and problem-solving approaches. This approach goes beyond rote
memorisation and focuses on developing the skills and knowledge that students need to apply
in their real-world scenarios.
The Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE), as a national-level
progressive examination board, has taken several steps to infuse competency-based education
in CISCE schools through teacher capacity-building on item development for competency-
based assessments and the incorporation of competency-focused questions at the ICSE and ISC
levels from the examination year 2024.
To further facilitate the adoption of competency-based assessment practices in schools and to
support teachers and students towards the preparation for attempting higher-order thinking
questions in future board examinations, Item Banks of Competency-Focused Practice
Questions for selected subjects at the ICSE and ISC levels have been developed. This Item
Bank consists of a rich variety of questions, both objective and subjective in categories, aimed
at enhancing the subject-specific critical and analytical thinking skills of the students.
In this Item Bank, each question is accompanied by the topic and cognitive learning domain/s
that it intends to capture. The cognitive domains reflected in these questions include
understanding, analysis, application, evaluation and creativity, along with some questions of
the higher-order recall domain. The Answer Key at the end presents the possible answers to a
given question, but it is neither limiting nor exhaustive.
These practice questions are also meant to serve as teacher resources for classroom assignments
and as samplers to develop their own repository of competency-focused questions. Apart from
offering a good practice of higher-order thinking skills, engaging with these questions would
allow students to gauge their own subject competencies and use these assessments for learning
to develop individual learning pathways.
During the development of this Item Bank, a large pool of questions was prepared by a team
of experienced CISCE teachers. The questions that were finalised by the internal and external
reviewers as being higher-order competency-focused questions have been collated in this item
bank.
I acknowledge and appreciate all the ICSE and the ISC subject matter experts who have
contributed to the development and review of these high-quality competency-focused questions
for CISCE students.
We are hopeful that teachers and students will utilise these questions to support their
teaching-learning processes.

January 2025 Dr. Joseph Emmanuel
Chief Executive & Secretary
CISCE

Psychology ISC-Class XII

Table of Contents

S.No. Type of Questions Page Nos.

I. Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) 1-16

II. Assertion-Reason Questions 17-21

III. Very Short Answer Questions 22-27

IV. Fill in the Blank 28-32

V. Short Answer Questions 33-47

VI. Very Long Answer Questions 48-54

Answer Key 55-83

ISC Competency-Focused Practice Questions

Psychology ISC-Class XII

COMPETENCY-FOCUSED PRACTICE QUESTIONS

ISC-CLASS XII

Psychology

I: Multiple Choice Questions (1 Mark Each)

Questions

1. [Intelligence and Ability (Theory of Intelligence)]
A marketing firm had undergone a crisis where crucial information had leaked. While the newer
employees were confused about the solution, Mr. Kumar, a senior manager working in the firm,
could handle this crisis with absolute ease due to prior experience.
Identify the type of intelligence that this case captures best.

(a) Spatial intelligence
(b) Crystallized intelligence
(c) Specific intelligence
(d) Fluid intelligence
(Application)

2. [Psychological Disorders and Psychotherapy (Different views of abnormal behaviour)]
Ankit’s parents always punished him for everything he did that was incorrect. Now in his teens,
he has become aggressive. On the other hand, his friend Rahul due to continuously failing in his
exams, has recently turned aggressive.
Though both are aggressive, which one of the following brings out the difference in the causes
of their aggression?
(a) Ankit's aggression is primarily a result of punitive upbringing, while Rahul's aggression
stems from academic stress and failure.
(b) Ankit's aggression is a consequence of genetic predisposition, whereas Rahul's aggression is
a result of environmental factors.
(c) Ankit's aggression is due to learned behaviour from his parents, while Rahul's aggression is
a reaction to academic pressure.
(d) Ankit's aggression was caused by low self-esteem resulting from academic setbacks while
Rahul’s aggression was due to lack of parental guidance.

(Analysis)

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3. [Personality (Personality related terms)]
Rohan resists the temptation to avoid his classes in college and go out with his friends. He
analyses the event as something that he would not like to do.
Interpret the component of personality depicted.
(a) Habit
(b) Tendency
(c) Inclination
(d) Self-concept
(Application)

4. [Attitude (Components of Attitude)]
Which of these statements displays the cognitive component of Alicia’s attitudes toward action
movies?
(a) Alicia states her opinion to her friend that Hollywood action movies are very well made.
(b) Alicia experiences an adrenaline rush when she watches an action movie.
(c) Alicia follows the social media pages of actors from action movies.
(d) Alicia watches an action movie the day it is released.
(Understanding)

5. [Lifespan Development (Socio-emotional development in infancy)]
An infant displays confusion on whether to approach his/her mother or to avoid her when she re-
enters the room. S/he feels that his/her mother is a source of alarm as well as a haven of safety.
According to Ainsworth, which one of the following describes the child’s type of attachment?
(a) Secure
(b) Resistant
(c) Avoidant
(d) Disorganised
(Understanding)

6. [Psychological Disorders and Psychotherapy (Psychotherapy)]
Dheeraj had a bad experience with his classmates at school, due to which he developed a negative
attitude towards school.
Which one of the following therapies would help Dheeraj to overcome his negative attitude?

(a) Observational learning
(b) Classical conditioning
(c) Social Rehabilitation
(d) Modelling
(Application)

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7. [Psychological Disorders and Psychotherapy (Different views of abnormal behaviour)]
Dr. Raj believes that one of the causes of severe depression is due to an over-secretion of cortisol.
Which one of the following perspectives reflects Dr. Raj’s view?
(a) Psychodynamic
(b) Supernatural
(c) Biological
(d) Sociocultural

(Understanding)

8. [Personality (Trait Theory)]
Which one of the following BEST describes Allport’s contribution to the theory of Personality?
(a) Source traits manifest from surface traits.
(b) Source traits are actually the roots of all behaviours.
(c) Secondary traits have less impact on a person’s behaviour.
(d) Traits are recognised only by outward behaviour like honesty.
(Understanding)

9. [Personality (Post Freudian-Erik Erikson)]
According to Erikson, which one of the following conflicts arises in an adolescent who is unable
to effectively address his/her identity?
(a) guilt
(b) inferiority
(c) despair
(d) confusion
(Recall)

10. [Lifespan Development (Moral Development)]

Shivani, aged 4 years, shares her toys with Tina with the expectation that she will be rewarded
for her actions. Which level of Kohlberg’s theory is Shivani in?
(a) Preconventional
(b) Preoperational
(c) Conventional
(d) Postconventional
(Application)

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11. [Personality (Type theory)]
James seeks ways of getting out of responsibilities given by his teacher. He prefers to be by
himself and not mingle with his peers.
State James’ personality type.
(a) Ectomorph
(b) Endomorph
(c) Somatomorph
(d) Mesomorph
(Application)

12. [Intelligence and Ability (Theory of Intelligence)]
Aradhana was given a task to state ten words starting from the letter S.
Which one of Guilford’s dimensions is this task testing?
(a) Deductive reasoning
(b) Visual information
(c) Spatial factor
(d) Verbal skills
(Application)

13. [Personality (Psychoanalytic theory)]
Anil, aged four years, is going through a phase where he is very attached to his mother but fears
his father. He thinks that his father does not like the love he has for his mother and will punish
him by castrating him. Therefore, to reduce his anxiety, Anil starts identifying more with his
father and tries to become like him.
Relate this incident and identify the name of the theorist who explains this behaviour.
(a) Erik Erikson
(b) Karen Horney
(c) Sigmund Freud
(d) Albert Bandura
(Analysis)

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14. [Stress and Stress Management (Stress as a process)]
A group of friends gathers at a café to discuss their current life situations. They relate their
pleasures and disappointments and share their feelings.
Which one of the following is experiencing positive stress?
(a) Alan unexpectedly lost his job and got a new job that was much lower than his expectations.
(b) Raghav did not have a regular job, but he volunteered for a project of his interest.
(c) Sohail fell victim to cybercrime, losing an amount of money.
(d) Maya was retained in her job while many others were laid off.
(Analysis)

15. [Intelligence and Ability (Levels of Intelligence)]
If a child’s mental age is 10 and chronological age is 9, identify the level at which he is
functioning.
(a) Below average
(b) Above average
(c) Average
(d) Gifted
(Understanding)

16. [Lifespan Development (Context of Development)]
Chirag’s parents support his cognitive development by assisting him with his homework. They
regularly communicate with his teachers to identify any problems he may develop. They also
coordinate play sessions with Chirag’s friends to facilitate his social skills.
According to Bronfenbrenner’s theory, which ecological system is illustrated here?
(a) Microsystem
(b) Mesosystem
(c) Exosystem
(d) Macrosystem

(Understanding)

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17. [Personality (Inventories/Questionnaires in assessing Personality)]
Psychasthenia is one of the ten Clinical Scales of Minnesota Multiphasic Personality
Inventory (MMPI), used to evaluate the clinical aspects of a person.
Which one of the following statements indicates a person with Psychasthenia?
(a) Harpreet suspects that his family members are conspiring against him.
(b) Mohan suddenly develops paralysis of the hand before an examination.
(c) Adah excessively worries about her diet and has fear of gaining weight.
(d) Ken has repetitive thoughts about something going wrong during his college interview and
constantly worries about it.

(Understanding)

18. [Psychology in relation to the Environment and Social concerns (Environmental effect on
emotion)]
Sameer, aged 5 years, lived in a posh locality in his town. On his birthday, his father took Sameer
to the poorer area of the city and distributed food to the under privileged children. Sameer was
visibly upset by this experience.
Which one of the following statements relates to environmental factors that influenced Sameer’s
emotions?
(a) Environmental cues can trigger emotional responses.
(b) Environmental factors have none or little impact on emotions.
(c) Environmental influence on emotions is limited to childhood.
(d) Emotions are solely determined by genetics and biological factors.
(Recall)

19. [Intelligence and Ability (Theories of Intelligence)]
Which one of the following statements brings out the similarities between Thurstone and
Guilford’s theories of Intelligence?

(P) Both are factor theories of intelligence.
(Q) Intelligence is described as being a single entity.
(R) They group aspects of intelligence based on abilities.
(S) Both are modern theories of intelligence.

(a) (P) and (Q)
(b) (R) and (S)
(c) (Q) and (R)
(d) (P) and (R)

(Analysis)

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20. [Lifespan Development (Socio-emotional development in childhood)]

Rohtesh in kindergarten looked forward to participating in the Rhyme -Time Annual Day function
at his school. He was to be on stage for the first time and he was given the role of girl wearing a
purple dress with bows. He knew that even though he was to be dressed as a girl, he was still a
boy.
Name the type of socio-emotional development depicted by Rohtesh.
(a) Gender role
(b) Ego-Identity
(c) Gender stability
(d) Self-concept
(Evaluate)

21. [Personality (Post Freudian – Erik Erikson)]
Ron, a high school student, experiences uncertainty and is confused about the career path that he
wants to take. His grandfather, Anthony, now retired, relates the confusion he was in when he
was at the same age. Hence, he is able to guide Ron on how to take a decision. He expresses to
Ron that the plans he made in life benefited him so now he is content.
According to Erikson, which one of the following describes the stages of development of Ron
and his grandfather, Anthony?
(a) Industry Vs Inferiority; Intimacy Vs Isolation
(b) Identity Vs Role Confusion; Integrity Vs Despair
(c) Industry Vs Inferiority; Generativity Vs Stagnation
(d) Autonomy Vs Shame and Doubt; Trust Vs. Mistrust
(Evaluate)

22. [Psychological Disorders and Psychotherapy (Psychodynamic therapy)]
Sarayu is in a therapy session. The therapist asks her to recline and relate whatever comes to her
mind.
Which one of the following techniques is the therapist using?
(a) Flooding
(b) Transference
(c) Paraphrasing
(d) Free Association

(Recall)

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23. [Attitudes (How attitudes change)]
Tasha disliked the plan drawn out by her boss but she agreed with her boss. She reasoned with
herself that she did not like the plan but complied, as she did not want to displease her boss and
loose her chances for a promotion.

Identify the method used by Tasha to reduce her dissonance.

(a) Changing her attitude.
(b) Changing her behaviour.
(c) Trivialising her attitude as unimportant.
(d) Adding a cognition to justify her behaviour.
(Understanding)

24. [Psychological Disorders and Psychotherapy (Different forms of Anxiety Disorders)]

Which one of the following anxiety disorders BEST describes a person in a continuous state of
excessive, pointless worry and apprehension?
(a) Autism
(b) Severe Depression
(c) Generalized Anxiety Disorder
(d) Avoidant Personality Disorder
(Recall)

25. [Attitudes (Causes of Prejudice)]
Ramona’s school sent her for a cultural exchange program to another country to experience their
cultural heritage. She realised that people belonging to the other culture were hospitable and
friendly, contrary to her belief about the members of that culture.
Identify the phenomenon explained in this scenario.

(a) Stereotyping
(b) Re-categorization
(c) Social categorization
(d) Realistic competition

(Recall)

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26. [Attitudes (Ways in which prejudice can be resisted)]

Studies suggest that some minority group members suffer from stereotype vulnerability.

Which of the following statements are CORRECT about the above statement?

(P) They label members of their own group as enemies.
(Q) They justify their view of a negative attitude towards other groups.
(R) They accept that they are inferior and even if they perform, they will fare poorly.
(S) They benefit little from intervention programmes to reduce their negative beliefs.
(a) (P) and (Q)
(b) (P) and (R)
(c) (Q) and (R)
(d) (Q) and (S)
(Analysis)

27. [Psychological Disorders and Psychotherapy (Personality Disorders)]
The Judge noticed that the suspect, Naren did not show any sadness towards the victims or their
families whom he had harmed and killed. The psychiatrist confirmed that given a chance, Naren
would not hesitate to kill again.
Which one of the following psychological disorders is Naren depicting?

(a) Anti-social personality disorder
(b) Obsessive-compulsive disorder
(c) Avoidant personality disorder
(d) Generalised Anxiety disorder
(Recall)

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28. [Psychology in relation to the Environment and Social concerns (Promoting
pro-environmental behaviour)]
The Air Quality Index of the National Capital Region, New Delhi is at dangerous levels. Attempts
are being made by residents and the Government to reduce the air pollution levels.

Which of the following are CORRECT about the above statements.
(P) Planting more trees and ensuring their care.
(Q) Reducing the use of non-biodegradable goods.
(R) Reducing noise levels by enforcing rules and regulations.
(S) Regulating vehicular traffic and promoting electric vehicles.
(a) (P) and (Q)
(b) (P) and (S)
(c) (Q) and (R)
(d) (R) and (S)
(Application)

29. [Psychological Disorders and Psychotherapy (Different views of abnormal behaviour-the
statistical stand)]
Which of the following statements are CORRECT regarding mental disorders?

(P) Statistically, a large percentage of the population is affected by mental disorders.
(Q) People with mental disorders are easily identified and treated.
(R) Individuals with mental disorders can be significantly impacted in their daily functioning.
(S) A major cause of mental disorders is due to biological factors.
(a) (P) and (Q)
(b) (Q) and (S)
(c) (P) and (R)
(d) (R) and (S)

(Analysis)

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30. [Social Thought and Social Behaviour (Types of Groups)]
Ram aged 50, Suzan aged 43, Tom aged 39, Aelia aged 26, Daler aged 18 and Sharif aged 15 are
all residents of a locality in Bengaluru. Although they come from different backgrounds and are
of different ages, they have formed a group to spread awareness for the need to conserve water.
Which one of the following BEST describes this group?

(a) Formal - Out-group
(b) Informal - Primary group
(c) Formal - Secondary group
(d) Informal - In-group
(Analysis)

31. [Psychological Disorders and Psychotherapy (Different forms of anxiety disorders)]
Which one of the following symptoms reflects compulsive behaviour.
(a) Persistent fear of germs.
(b) Thoughts of harming a neighbour.
(c) Washing hands repeatedly without soiling it.
(d) Falsely believing that his/her spouse has been cheating.
(Recall)

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32. [Stress and Stress Management (The General Adaptation Syndrome Model)]

Observe the diagram below and answer the following question.

A

Source(Edited): Study.com

Which one of the following hormones is secreted marked as A in the given image?
(a) Cortisol
(b) Adrenaline
(c) Corticotropin releasing factor
(d) Adrenocorticotropic hormone
(Evaluate)

33. [Intelligence and Ability (Emotional Intelligence and Emotional Quotient)]

Aisha was very studious, focused on her work and topped her class. However, she was not popular
amongst her classmates since she was argumentative and at times, quarrelsome with them. Noting
her academic abilities, the teachers selected her as a Prefect at school.
Which one of the following statements BEST describes Aisha?
(a) She is low on emotional quotient.
(b) She is high on both intelligence and emotional quotient.
(c) Her emotional quotient is higher than her intelligence quotient.
(d) She is low on intelligence quotient and high on emotional quotient.
(Understanding)

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34. [Psychological Disorders and Psychotherapy (Schizophrenia – Symptoms)]
Amala falsely believes that the police have planted secret cameras in her home to monitor her
movements.
Which one of the following is a symptom of Amala’s belief?
(a) Delusion
(b) Echolalia
(c) Flat Affect
(d) Hallucination
(Understanding)

35. [Social Thought and Social Behaviour (Social Influence - Asch’s study on conformity)]

Which of the following statements are CORRECT in context to social conformity?

(P) People conform to social norms only with the desire to be famous.
(Q) People conform to social norms as they have the strong desire to be right.
(R) People conform to social norms to be accepted and liked by others.
(S) People do not want to be burdened by rules and thus avoid conformity.

(a) (P) and (Q)
(b) (Q) and (S)
(c) (Q) and (R)
(d) (R) and (S)
(Analysis)

36. [Intelligence and Ability (Theories of Intelligence)]

Raheem, aged 15 years, was part of the school mock Parliament session involving real world
scenarios of planning, budget and execution. He was selected as the team leader since he was able
to think of everyday hands-on solutions on the spot with available resources. According to the
Triarchic theory of Intelligence, which one of the following types of intelligence does Raheem
possess?

(a) Componential
(b) Experiential
(c) Contextual
(d) Analytical
(Application)

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37. [Psychological Disorders and Psychotherapy (Psychological disorders)]
Peter approaches the therapist complaining of persistent worrisome thoughts and nervousness that
interfere with his work, his relationships with his friends and colleagues as well as with his family.
Which one of the following describes Peter’s condition?
(a) Phobia
(b) Mood Disorder
(c) Paranoid Schizophrenia
(d) Generalized Anxiety Disorder

(Recall)

38. [Stress and Stress Management (General Adaptation Syndrome Model)]
While Mohit was driving, a van pulled out in front of him and almost caused an accident. Mohit's
heart began to pound, and his blood pressure increased.
Which one of the following stages of the GAS model describes Mohit’s condition?
(a) Alarm
(b) Fatigue
(c) Resistance
(d) Exhaustion
(Recall)

39. [Psychological Disorders and Psychotherapy (Classification of psychological disorders)]

Which of the following statements are CORRECT relating to DSM – IV?
(P) It is a description of the symptoms of mental disorders.
(Q) It consists of a description of the effects of mental disorders.
(R) It consists of descriptions of the likely causes of mental disorders.
(S) It consists of recommended methods of treatment for physical disorders.

(a) (P) and (Q)
(b) (Q) and (S)
(c) (P) and (R)
(d) (Q) and (R)
(Recall)

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40. [Social Thought and Social Behaviour (biases in forming judgements)]

In a culinary (cooking) competition, Asif had to prepare an Indian dish and a dessert. He secured
the first place for the dessert but he did not get any place for the Indian dish that he had prepared.
He blamed the judges for their inability to recognise his expertise in Indian cuisine but
acknowledged that they appreciated his culinary skills in desserts.
Which one of the following biases is displayed by Asif?

(a) Self-serving bias
(b) Automatic vigilance
(c) False consensus effect
(d) Counterfactual thinking
(Application)

41. [Psychological Disorders and Psychotherapy (Personality disorders)]
Which one of the following traits is exhibited by individuals with Dependent Personality
Disorder?
(a) Submissive and clingy behaviour
(b) Feels guilty all the time
(c) Prone to mood swings
(d) Attention seeking

(Understanding)

42. [Stress and Stress Management (Stress Resistant Personality)]
Raman, a Manager in a prestigious Corporate office, recently lost his job. He was disappointed
for a while but was enthusiastic about starting a new career.
Which one of the following traits of hardiness is displayed by Raman?
(a) To revitalise and be self-rejuvenated.
(b) Seek social support and comfort from friends.
(c) Spend more time outdoors indulging in sports.
(d) To accept the challenge as a change for growth.
(Understanding)

43. [Psychological Disorders and Psychotherapy (Neurodevelopmental disorders)]
Which one of the following are major symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder?
(a) Unable to vocalise and communicate.
(b) Uncomfortable with loud sounds.
(c) A preference for being alone.
(d) Impulsive and inattentive.
(Recall)

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44. [Social Thought and Social behaviour (Social Influence)]

Observe the given image and answer the following question.

Identify the kind of social influence from the given image.
(a) Obedience
(b) Conformity
(c) Commitment
(d) Assertiveness
(Application)

45. [Psychological Disorders and Psychotherapy (Rational Emotive therapy)]
Raju told his therapist that he had lost his job. Since then, he feels that he is worthless. He states
that he does not have the confidence to apply for a new job as there is every chance that he will
be rejected.
Which one of the following statements mentioned by the therapist would refer to Rational
Emotive Therapy?
(a) “Tell me about your recent dreams.”
(b) “What is your earliest childhood memory?”
(c) “It is only your irrational belief that you are worthless.”
(d) “All of us possess several good qualities which we may not always recognise.”

(Evaluate)

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II. Assertion-Reason Questions (1 Mark Each)

The questions in this section have two statements marked Assertion and Reason. Read both the
statements carefully and choose the correct option.

S.No. Questions

46. [Lifespan development (Context of development)]
Assertion(A): Reena has been showing increased anxiety and behavioural changes since
the transfer of her father to another city.
Reason (R): In Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory, events in social settings where
the child does not participate directly (exosystem), also influence the child’s experiences in
the immediate context.
(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, and Reason is false.
(d) Both Assertion and Reason are false.
(Application)

47. [Psychological Disorders and Psychotherapy (Classification of psychological disorders)]
Assertion(A): DSM-IV is a document that provides a common language and standard
criteria for the differential diagnosis of mental disorders.
Reason(R): It uses the multi-axial system to ensure that healthcare professionals have a
standard, organised way of sifting through diagnostic information Axis by Axis, identifying
those that applies to their patient.
(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, and Reason is false.
(d) Both Assertion and Reason are false.
(Recall)

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S.No. Questions

48. [Intelligence and Ability (Group test)]
Assertion (A): The Raven’s Progressive Matrices that make use of patterns is a non-verbal
test of intelligence widely used across varying populations.
Reason(R): Mala came from an illiterate family. She was forced to drop out of school due
to her low grades. The most suitable test to assess her intelligence is a non-verbal test like
the Raven’s Progressive Matrices.
(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, and Reason is false.
(d) Both Assertion and Reason are false.
(Recall)

49. [Personality (Projective Techniques)]
Assertion (A): The Thematic Apperception Test is used to assess a person's dominant
motivations, emotions, and core personality conflicts. It can also be used to interpret
behavioural disorders.
Reason (R): The patient interprets stories based on their own experiences or feelings from
the ambiguous pictures. Psychologists can then reveal parts of a person's personality based
on the story they have narrated.
(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, and Reason is false.
(d) Both Assertion and Reason are false.
(Understanding)

50. [Personality (Projective Techniques)]
Assertion(A): The Rorschach Ink Blot Test consists of ten standardised cards with
ambiguous ink blots.
Reason(R): According to the Rorschach Ink Blot Test, Human details are symbolised as D.
(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, and Reason is false.
(d) Both Assertion and Reason are false.
(Recall)

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S.No. Questions

51. [Attitudes (Prejudice)]
Assertion(A): Stereotypes are mental frameworks that suggest that members of specific
social groups share certain characteristics. They exert strong effects on the ways in which
we process social information.
Reason(R): Ramani is very upset that her brother Rahul is encouraged to join engineering
college while she is being denied the same. Her parents feel that it is a field meant more for
boys than for girls.

(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, and Reason is false.
(d) Both Assertion and Reason are false.
(Analysis)

52. [Social Thought and Social behaviour (Obedience)]
Assertion(A): The movie, ‘A Few Good Men’ depicts a military lawyer who defends two
US Marines charged with murdering a fellow Marine as they had been ordered to do so by
their Commanding Officer. The lawyer intends to prove that they were ‘only following the
Commander's orders’ as they have been taught to do.
Reason (R): Milgram’s experiment is a significant experiment on Obedience. It showed the
extent to which people obey orders from a person of authority even if they need to harm
someone.

(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, and Reason is false.
(d) Both Assertion and Reason are false.

(Evaluate)

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Psychology ISC-Class XII

S.No. Questions

53. [Attitudes (Ways in which prejudice can be resisted)]
Assertion(A): Mahalakshmi joined a college with several international students. She
avoided them as she found their foods different from her culture, so she was wary of them.
After having tasted some foods, she is now comfortable spending time with them.
Reason(R): Members realise that there are exceptions to their stereotypes when they are
encouraged to interact with other group members.

(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, and Reason is false.
(d) Both Assertion and Reason are false.

(Understanding)

54. [Social Thought and Social behaviour (Social Norms)]
Assertion(A): Social Norms are an important criterion of conformity. They coerce people
to follow regulations and are socially enforced.
Reason(R): Individuals with Dependent Personality Disorder have difficulty making
decisions without the input or presence of others, are overly passive or submissive and have
an inability to disagree with 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, and Reason is false.
(d) Both Assertion and Reason are false.
(Analysis)

55. [Stress and Stress Management (Effect of stress on health)]
Assertion(A): Profound and extended stress can have a negative impact on the immune
system.
Reason(R): Research indicates that people without social support have better immune
functioning.
(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, and Reason is false.
(d) Both Assertion and Reason are false.
(Understanding)

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Psychology ISC-Class XII

S.No. Questions

56. [Social Thought and Social Behaviour (Influence of group on individuals)]
Assertion(A): Daniel, a new recruit, was suspended for a week due to a misdemeanour.
Mahesh, a senior employee felt that it was a harsh punishment but on discussing with his
team, they all agreed that Daniel must be suspended.
Reason(R): Group Polarisation is the association of like-minded people who perceive
themselves as ‘Ingroup’ and therefore, take extreme or harsh decisions regarding members
of ‘Outgroup’.
(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, and Reason is false.
(d) Both Assertion and Reason are false.
(Understanding)

57. [Psychology in relation to the Environment and Social Concerns (Environmental effect
on occupation)]
Assertion (A): People learn to interact with their natural environment and achieve mastery
in occupations that suit the environment that they live in.
Reason (R): The Bodo tribe of Assam are known for their bamboo and cane craft
skills. They build their houses with bamboo since it is the most abundantly available natural
resource.
(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, and Reason is false.
(d) Both Assertion and Reason are false.
(Understanding)

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Psychology ISC-Class XII

III: Very Short Answer Questions (1 Mark Each)

S.No. Questions

58. [Attitudes (Components of Attitude)]
Raju believed that a regular diet was necessary to maintain good health. He did not like to
indulge in eating sweets and rich foods. He would make excuses and avoid going anywhere
when invited.
Identify and explain the Cognitive and Affective components displayed by Raju.
(Analysis)

59. [Lifespan Development (Cognitive development in infancy)]

Ramya, aged 3 years, refers to a horse as "doggie" when she sees it for the first time. This is
because she currently refers to animals with four legs as ‘doggie’. According to Piaget, which
cognitive process guides the child's response?
(Application)

60. [Psychology in relation to the Environment and Social Concerns (Characteristics of a good
counsellor)]

An important characteristic of a good counsellor is communication. Elaborate on a feature that
a good counsellor can adopt to communicate effectively with his/her client.
(Analysis)

61. [Social Thought and Social Behaviour (Biases in forming judgements)]
Anil saved a lot and bought a new car. But he finds that its mileage is very low. With soaring
petrol prices, he feels that it would have been better to have paid a little more and bought an
electric car.
With reference to the above statement, identify the kind of bias that Anil is engaging in.
(Application)

62. [Stress and Stress management (External causes of stress)]

It is not the large things that send a man to the madhouse . . . no, it is the continuing series of
small tragedies . . .not the death of his love but the shoelace that snaps with no time left.”
Charles Bukowski (1920–1994).
What does the writer suggest as the cause of stress?

(Understanding)

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Psychology ISC-Class XII

S.No. Questions

63. [Intelligence and Ability (Individual test of Intelligence)]

Mahima took the WAIS-III test. In the first test, she was asked to define the word ‘shrewd’.
In the second task, she had to use blocks that were white and red in colour to recreate some
patterns. How do these tests differ from each other?
(Understanding)

64. [Attitudes (How attitudes change)]

A brand swiftly addresses current events, cultural phenomena, and social issues with a
humorous and relatable touch through its advertisements. Identify any one method of
persuasion used by this particular brand to reach their consumers.
(Application)

65. [Lifespan Development (Cognitive Development – Piaget’s Theory)]

Which stage of Piaget's cognitive development is necessary to correctly answer this question?
If 2Y + 4 = 14, what does Y equal?
(Understanding)

66. [Social Thought and Social Behaviour (Influence of group on individuals)]

Rajesh was a good football player in his neighbourhood. His performance improved when he
played for large crowds in the stadium. Identify the term that describes the influence that the
group had on Rajesh’s performance.
(Understanding)

67. [Attitudes (Ways in which prejudice can be resisted)]

You interact with members of an outgroup and realise a change in your perception about them
for the better. Name the term to describe this change in your attitude.
(Understanding)

68. [Lifespan Development (Reflexes in infancy)]

Tina was fascinated by her infant brother’s response each time she put out her finger to him.
He would follow her finger as she moved it. He would grab it tightly when she touched his
palm.
Explain any one of the reflexes that Tina’s infant brother is depicting.
(Understanding)

69. [Psychological Disorders and Psychotherapy (Different views of abnormal behaviour)]
Prasad came from a family of educated people but he dropped out of school under the influence
of some peers from his neighbourhood who indulged in anti-social activities. He grew up to
be a feared gangster.
Describe the type of perspective of abnormality that influenced Prasad. (Understanding)

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Psychology ISC-Class XII

S.No. Questions

70. [Lifespan Development (Some major concerns in adolescence)]
Jagan was constantly compared with his sister, Kanika by his parents. Jagan felt that she was
favoured by them while he felt neglected. Before long, he sought for some consolation outside
his home and took to abuse of drugs and became addicted. His parents noticed some alarming
changes in Jagan.
Explain any one such symptom of drug abuse noted in Jagan.
(Recall)

71. [Social Thought and Social Behaviour (Biases in forming judgements)]
Shehnaaz is a talented and graceful classical dancer. She has won awards and received much
appreciation from her principal, teachers, classmates and friends. One day, a teacher corrected
her during a dance practice session for a school day event. This made Shehnaaz upset and she
did not go to school the next day. She focused on this negative comment rather than the
positive ones that she has received.
Identify the bias that Shehnaaz is experiencing.
(Analysis)

72. [Stress and Stress Management (Internal/dispositional cause of stress)]
Rachel just completed typing an assignment of ten pages on her computer. When she went to
save it, she lost all her work.
Which type of internal stress is Rachel experiencing?
(Understanding)

73. [Social Thought and Social Behaviour (Social Norms)]
Neena believes that one should not litter the streets and cause inconvenience to public. She
emphasises that this is an agreed upon standard of behaviour in society.
Name a term describing Neena’s view.
(Understanding)

74. [Intelligence and Ability (Assessment of Aptitude)]
Name any one profession that would be suitable for a person with a high score on the
Numerical Aptitude of the General Aptitude test Battery?
(Application)

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Psychology ISC-Class XII

S.No. Questions

75. [Stress and Stress Management (Work-related causes of stress)]
Observe the image as given below.

Copyright: Source: © 2003 David Sipress from cartoonbank.com.

Explain any one work-related stressor as depicted in the image given above.
(Understanding)

76. [Intelligence and Ability (Group test)]
Name the type of Raven’s Progressive Matrices suitable for a child aged 4.
(Understanding)

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Psychology ISC-Class XII

S.No. Questions

77. [Stress and Stress Management (Effects of stress on health)]
Examine the graph below and draw any one conclusion about the link between anger and
coronary disease.

Source: Cengage-Learning-2013
(Analysis)

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Psychology ISC-Class XII

S.No. Questions

78. [Intelligence and Ability (Theory of Intelligence)]
Observe the graph given below and answer the following question.

Source:https://www.careershodh.com/fascinating-theory-of-intelligence-by-cattell-fluid-
crystallized/#google_vignette

By observing the given graph, justify the growth of Crystallized intelligence compared to Fluid
intelligence in one’s lifespan.
(Analysis)

79. [Personality (Post Freudian – Horney)]
According to Horney, if the child experiences insecurity while growing up, he/she resorts to
any one of the three coping styles of social behaviour that is carried to adulthood.
Examine any one coping behaviour style and how it is expressed.
(Understanding)

80. [Personality (Type Theory)]
Samuel is a young man who is rather quiet, moody, does not socialise much and is cautious
in his behaviour. According to Hippocrates, which body fluid relates to Samuel’s behaviour.
(Understanding)

81. [Psychological Disorders and Psychotherapy (Client Centred Therapy)
During Client-centered Therapy, the client was told to speak his/her mind without any fear of
being judged. The therapist would accept the client’s point of view no matter what.
According to Rogers, what would this reassurance given to the client be called?
(Understanding)

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Psychology ISC-Class XII

IV. Fill in the Blank (1 Mark Each)

S.No. Questions

82. [Psychological Disorders and Psychotherapy (Neurodevelopmental disorders)]
Rithu, aged seven years, is easily bored and distracted. In school, she cannot stay in her seat
for long and she is unable to follow instructions. A diagnostic test showed her to have
__________________.
(Application)

83. [Attitudes (Prejudice and discrimination)]
A proprietor of a company was prejudiced against women in leadership roles. Whenever
women applied for such positions, he would give unreasonable justifications for not selecting
them. This behaviour of the proprietor is called__________________.
(Application)

84. [Social Thought and Social Behaviour (Attribution – Internal or External causes]
An order of a food item is delivered twenty minutes later than the scheduled time by the
delivery boy. One would prefer to believe him that he was caught in heavy traffic than think
that he was loafing and had stopped for a tea break. This is an example of a/an ________
cause of attribution.
(Analysis)
85. [Psychology in relation to the Environment and Social concerns (Characteristics of a good
counsellor)]
A counsellor needs to be a good listener as well as pay attention on the client’s behaviour and
expressions by observing his/her _____________.
(Recall)

86. [Intelligence and Ability (Theory of Intelligence)]
According to Spearman, the _________ factor is the underlying mental ability in an individual
which is constant.
(Recall)

87. [Personality (Psychoanalytic theory of Personality)]

The focus of ___________ perspective is on unconscious conflicts and early childhood
experiences that affect our behaviour.
(Recall)

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Psychology ISC-Class XII

S.No. Questions

88. [Attitudes (The process of forming Attitudes)]

A child develops a positive attitude towards all religions since his parents praise him for the
same; his attitude is formed due to __________conditioning.
(Understanding)

89. [Intelligence and Ability (Theory of Intelligence)]

David is the leader of his work team. Since one of his team members failed to meet a work
deadline, David took the member aside and asked for an explanation for the same. According
to Gardner, David shows a high level of_________ intelligence.
(Application)

90. [Psychology in relation to the Environment and Social concerns (natural disasters-post
traumatic stress disorder)]

Victor was rescued from a tsunami that affected his place. He lost his belongings and some
family members. He is anxious and has been struggling with this traumatic memory, has
nightmares, experiences difficulty in sleeping. He would be diagnosed with a psychological
disorder known as _________________.
(Application)

91. [Personality (Type Theory)]

Observe the image given below and answer the following question.

According to Meyer Friedman, the personality type seen in individuals 1 and 4 in the above
image is _________.
(Understanding)

ISC Competency-Focused Practice Questions 29

Psychology ISC-Class XII

S.No. Questions

92. [Personality (Post Freudian – Erik Erikson)]

Observe the image given below and answer the following question.

Source: Pinterest

Patrick’s wish was fulfilled when Emma finally accepted his proposal of marriage. According
to Erikson, the crisis that Patrick has overcome with a favourable outcome and is displaying
in the given image is_________.
(Understanding)

93. [Personality (Post Freudian – Erik Erikson)]

According to Erikson, an individual in middle adulthood who has not achieved much, may be
self-centred and has shallow involvement with the world, is experiencing the crisis as
_______________.
(Recall)

State True or False from Q. No. 94-99.

94. [Psychological Disorders and Psychotherapy (Mood disorders)]
Priya was unable to sustain good relationships with her family members and friends due to
the swings in her moods, similar to her mother’s nature. It can be stated that only genetic
factors contribute to her mood disorders.
(Recall)

95. [Stress and Stress Management (Effective strategies to cope with stress)]

Progressive muscle relaxation assumes that mental relaxation follows muscular relaxation.
(Understanding)

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Psychology ISC-Class XII

S.No. Questions

96. [Social Thought and Social Behaviour (Characteristics of a Group)]
Members of a group are usually not interdependent as the actions of one does not affect the
others.
(Understanding)

97. [Social Thought and Social Behaviour (Attribution]
Mina is late to the office; she is late for a movie and is usually late for family get-togethers.
Her behaviour shows high distinctiveness.
(Analysis)

98. [Intelligence and Ability (Theory of Intelligence)]
An individual has learnt about taxation in college and applies this knowledge at his workplace.
He is making use of numerical intelligence.
(Application)

99. [Personality (Personality related terms)]
Jenny was keen to run a race to help raise funds for a charitable cause. A day before the race,
she injured her leg. Despite the injury, Jenny did not give up and ran the race. This incident
reflects Jenny’s true altruistic character.
(Application)

From Q.No. 100-105, study the relation between the first two words/phrases and
then fill in the fourth word.

100. [Lifespan Development (Major concerns in Adolescence)]
Crime committed by a child: Juvenile Delinquency:: Binge eating : _________
(Recall)

101. [Psychological Disorders and Psychotherapy (Neurodevelopmental and psychological
disorders)]
Impulsive behaviour: Attention Deficit Hyperactive disorder :: Hallucinations: ____________
(Recall)

102. [Attitudes (Prejudice, ways in which prejudice can be resisted)]

Reset boundaries between Us and Them: Recategorization:: Negative attitude towards
person/s:_____________________
(Recall)

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Psychology ISC-Class XII

S.No. Questions

103. [Stress and stress Management (Effective and Ineffective coping mechanisms)]
Bio feedback: effective coping mechanism:: Rationalisation:_________
(Recall)

104. [Psychological Disorders and Psychotherapy (Psychotherapy)]
Unconditional positive regard: client centred therapy:: altering irrational beliefs:___________

(Recall)

105. [Lifespan development (Socio-emotional Development in Infancy)]

Ignores the care-giver’s affection: Avoidant Attachment style:: Confused reaction to the
caregiver: _____________________________
(Recall)

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Psychology ISC-Class XII

V. Short Answer Questions (4 Marks Each)

S.No. Questions
106. [Lifespan development (Cognitive Development in Childhood)]

Observe the given image and answer the following questions.

Source: Elizabeth Crews

(i) According to Piaget, identify the child's stage of cognitive development. [1]

(ii) Describe any three shifts (features) of this stage of cognitive development. [3]

107. [Social Thought and Social Behaviour (Social Norms)]

Read the conversation below and answer the questions that follow:

Policeman to Rahul: “This is a ‘No Parking’ zone and you need to remove your vehicle”.
Rahul: “I am sorry, Officer, I did not see the ‘No Parking’ sign board. I will remove my
vehicle immediately”.
Policeman: “Thank you for abiding by the rules”.

With reference to the above dialogue, explain any four reasons why Rahul obeyed the
Police Officer and conformed to social norms.

ISC Competency-Focused Practice Questions 33

Psychology ISC-Class XII

S.No. Questions
108. [Attitudes (Components of Attitude)]

Observe the image given below and answer the questions that follow -

Source:https://www.flickr.com/photos/unwomenasiapacific/albums/72157633056053519/

(i) Name the component of attitude shown by the man towards the woman. [1]

(ii) Explain any three causes of this type of attitude displayed by the man. [3]

109. [Social Thought and Social Behaviour (Why and when people obey others)]

Tim Berners-Lee was able to work with his bosses and colleagues and increase the
Company’s profits. For this, he was given the award as shown in the image given below.

Source (Edited): https://shorturl.at/0qqqn
Examine any four reasons for the obedience shown by Tim Berners-Lee to be awarded for
it.
(Application)

ISC Competency-Focused Practice Questions 34

Psychology ISC-Class XII

S.No. Questions
110. [Lifespan Development (Causes of Delinquency)]

“Teens are emotionally unstable. It is a natural impulse for them to experience hot and fiery
states, and it is characterised by emotionalism.”
- G. Stanley Hall(Edited)

With reference to the above statement, explain any four causes that such unstable emotional
states can lead to delinquent behaviour amongst adolescents.
(Recall)

111. [Intelligence and Ability (Characteristics of Emotionally Intelligent persons)]

“Emotional intelligence, more than Intelligence Quotient or expertise, accounts for 85% to
90% of success at work”
-Warren G. Bennis (Edited)

On the basis of the above quotation, justify the importance of Emotional Intelligence at
work.
(Evaluate)

112. [Intelligence and Ability (Individual test of intelligence)]

Observe the image given below and answer the following questions,

Source:https://www.csus.edu/indiv/w/wickelgren/psyc001/classlecturesixiq.html

The subject was asked to arrange the pictures as shown above to make a sensible story.
(i) Name the individual test of Intelligence identified in the image. [1]
(ii) Describe any three of the verbal subtests identified in part (i). [3]
(Understanding)

113. [Social Thought and Social Behaviour (Biases in forming judgements)]

Explain the following bias with the help of an example for each:
(i) Automatic vigilance
(ii) Self-serving bias
(Understanding)

ISC Competency-Focused Practice Questions 35

Psychology ISC-Class XII

S.No. Questions
114. [Intelligence and Ability (Theory of Intelligence)]

The teacher gave her students a test that covered various subjects, including math,
language, and science. While correcting the papers, she noticed a pattern. Some students
generally performed well across all subjects, while others excelled in one specific subject
but struggled in another subject.

With reference to the above, answer the following questions.

(i) Identify this theory of intelligence and name the psychologist who proposed it. [2]
(ii) Highlight and explain the two factors observed by the teacher amongst her students.
[2]
(Analysis)

115. [Stress and Stress Management (Selye’s Model)]

This eminent individual was the first scientist (Endocrinologist) to identify ‘stress’ as a
non-specific response to any demand (threatening stimuli) which results in signs and
symptoms of illness. He is known as the ‘Father of stress research’ and developed the
General adaptation syndrome (GAS) Model.
Identify this Scientist. Briefly discuss the stages of the GAS Model that he formulated.
(Recall)

116. [Attitudes (How attitudes change)]

Scott : “I have become conscious of my weight and I am careful of the number of calories
that I consume in a day.”
Derek : “Hey! We are at a well-known cafe. You must try their chocolate cake.”
Scott: “Okay, eating a small piece of cake once will not matter so I shall try it out today
but I do feel guilty.”

(i) Identify the phenomenon that Scott is experiencing in doing something different from
his actual attitude. [1]

(ii) Explain any three ways on how Scott can resolve the unpleasant feeling that he is
experiencing. [3]
(Application)

117. [Social Thought and Social behaviour (Milgram’s experiment on Obedience)]

During Milgram’s experiment on Obedience, the Teacher (actual subject) indicated the
desire to stop the experiment, but the Experimenter made him/her continue. How did the
Experimenter make the subject continue with the experiment.
(Understanding)

ISC Competency-Focused Practice Questions 36

Psychology ISC-Class XII

S.No. Questions
118. [Psychological Disorders and Psychotherapy (Main types of Schizophrenia)]
Observe the picture carefully and answer the questions that follow:

Source: https://www.istockphoto.com/photos/catatonia
Rashmi did not get admission into the college of her choice. She was mentally disturbed
for a long time. Her parents noticed that she froze into a particular position, as seen in the
given image, and would remain in that uncomfortable state for long hours.

(i) Identify the Disorder shown by Rashmi. [1]
(ii) Describe any three symptoms associated with this disorder. [3]
(Understanding)

119. [Intelligence and Ability (Why Aptitude and Interest are measured)]
Sarah was confused in choosing a career. The Career Counsellor conducted tests on her for
Aptitude and Interest.
Give any two reasons each for the counsellor to assess Sarah’s Aptitude and Interest.

(Understanding)

ISC Competency-Focused Practice Questions 37

Psychology ISC-Class XII

S.No. Questions
120. [Social Thought and Social Behaviour (Types of groups)]

Study the images given below and answer the following question.

B

A B
Identify the images marked A and B and compare the types of groups depicted.

(Recall)
121. [Attitudes (Components of Attitude)]

Given below is the logo of American sportswear designer and retailer Nike.

Source (Edited): https://shorturl.at/SRETc

Refer to the given image and explain any two components of Attitude that encourage people
to purchase this brand.
(Application)

ISC Competency-Focused Practice Questions 38

Psychology ISC-Class XII

S.No. Questions
122. [Stress and Stress management (Effective ways of coping with stress)]

Observe the given image and answer the following questions.

(i) Identify the type of stress management technique in the given image. [1]
(ii)Using this technique, describe any three effective strategies to reduce stress. [3]
(Application)

123. [Personality (Trait Theory)]

Mother: “How was your first day at school?”
Pari: “It was good. We studied about the Father of our Nation, Mahatma Gandhiji. He
was such a simple man and was against violence.
Mother: “Yes, I remember how inspired I was by him. I can understand your excitement”.

(i) According to Allport’s theory, identify and explain the trait that Pari is referring to in
Mahatma Gandhi. [2]
(ii) Explain the other types of traits pertaining to the identified theory in part (i). [2]

(Understanding)

ISC Competency-Focused Practice Questions 39

Psychology ISC-Class XII

S.No. Questions
124. [Lifespan Development (Cognitive development in childhood)]

Observe the conversation between a father his son, Roshan aged 5 years.

Father: Why does it get dark at night?
Roshan: So that I can sleep.
Father: Why does the sun rise?
Roshan: To keep me warm.
Father: Why is there water?
Roshan: So that I can play in it.
Father: Why is the snow white?
Roshan: Because it is my favourite colour.

(i) Identify the cognitive development in the pre-operational stage as demonstrated by
Roshan. [1]
(ii) Explain any other three cognitive developments that Roshan would display at this stage.
[3]

(Recall)

125. [Personality (Behavioural Analysis)]

Observe the given image and answer the following questions.

(i) Name the type of Behavioural Analysis as shown in the above image. [1]
(ii) Briefly explain any other three methods used to analyse a person’s behaviour. [3]

(Application)

126. [Attitudes (Ways to reduce prejudice)]

The Principal of a school realised that two of his house teams had become rivals and were
calling out names to each other. Identify and explain any two ways in which the Principal
can reduce their rivalry.
(Application)
ISC Competency-Focused Practice Questions 40

Psychology ISC-Class XII

S.No. Questions
127. [Psychology in relation to the Environment and Social concerns (promoting Pro-
environmental behaviour)]

Observe the given image below and answer the following question.

What does the given image depict? Elaborate on any three ways on how we can initiate
change and develop such desirable sustained behaviours in our community.

(Recall)

ISC Competency-Focused Practice Questions 41

Psychology ISC-Class XII

S.No. Questions
128. [Stress and Stress management (Relation between stress and performance)]

Study the given graph and answer the questions given below.

Source (Edited): https://werd.io/2022/surfing-the-stress-curve

(i) Study the graph above and explain its findings in relation to stress and performance.
[2]
(ii) Briefly describe any two factors that contribute to stress that affects performance.
[2]
(Recall)

129. [Attitudes (Prejudice, causes of prejudice)]

Riya: Have you met, Madhu, the new girl in class? She seems to be intelligent and smart.
Sarah: “Yes, she got all the answers correct in the Math class. But when I asked her to
help me with a math problem, she was unable to solve it.”
Riya: Perhaps she is not as smart as she seems. So, I may still be the best in Math in
class.

(i) Name the term to describe Riya and Sarah’s comments to form a judgement about
Madhu. [1]
(ii) Explain any other three ways by which Sarah and Riya can develop prejudice against
Madhu. [3]
(Application)

ISC Competency-Focused Practice Questions 42

Psychology ISC-Class XII

S.No. Questions
130. [Personality (Trait Approach)]

Describe the four personality traits shown on a spectrum as A, B, C and D dimensions by
McCrae and Costa.
(Recall)

131. [Psychological Disorders and Psychotherapy (Rational Emotive therapy)]

Therapist: “You strongly believe that your children should not argue and fight with you.”
Patient: “Yes, they do argue with me so I feel that I am not a good mother.”
Therapist: “Why should not your children argue with you? This may be their way of
expressing their disagreement.”
Patient:” They should not argue with me as I am so nice to them. I believe that if I am
pleasant and kind then bad things should not happen to me.”
(i) Which therapy is appropriate for addressing this patient's needs? [1]
(ii) Describe the features of this therapy. [3]
(Application)

ISC Competency-Focused Practice Questions 43

Psychology ISC-Class XII

S.No. Questions
132. [Psychology in relation to the Environment and Social concerns (Environmental effect
on human behaviour)]

Observe the given image below and answer the following question.

Source: Pixabay
Arman was disturbed by images of natural disasters in the media, as shown above, in the
region that his extended family lived.

Explain any four effects of such natural disasters which would affect him & his family and
friends.
(Understanding)

133. [Stress and Stress Management (External/situational causes of stress)]
The number and frequency of daily hassles that a person experiences and is able to cope
with, are a good predictor of his/her mental health.

Make a list of any four such daily hassles of life that your parents face.
(Create)

134. [Psychological Disorders and Psychotherapy (Classification of mental disorders)]

Why is it important to classify psychological disorders? Give any four relevant points.
(Analysis)

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Psychology ISC-Class XII

S.No. Questions
135. [Personality (Levels of consciousness)]

Observe the given image below and answer the following questions:

Source(Edited): https://shorturl.at/aeEAl

(i) Name and explain the levels as depicted in the given image. [3]
(ii) Name the psychologist who developed these levels. [1]
(Application)

136. [Psychology in relation to the Environment and Social concerns (Major causes of poverty
and measures to reduce poverty)]
Study the info graph and answer the questions given below.

(i) With reference to the given info graph, identify the state where the poverty rate has
reduced the most from 2011-12 to 2022-23. [1]
(ii) Explain any three causes of poverty in these States. [3]
(iii) Elaborate on any three measures to alleviate poverty in India. [3]

(Understanding)

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Psychology ISC-Class XII

S.No. Questions
137. [Stress and Stress Management (Personality trait as cause of stress, effects of stress on
health)]

Anil is highly motivated and determined to achieve success. He gets easily angry.
He prefers to stay busy and has difficulty relaxing.
(i)Which personality type best describes Anil? [1]
(ii) Explain any three diseases that Anil may be prone to relating to his personality type.
[3]
(Evaluate)
138. [Psychological Disorders and Psychotherapy (different views of abnormal behaviour)]
Stress, drugs and unhappiness - Hardeep, aged 42 years is a businessman. He was brought
to the psychiatrist by his wife. He sat quietly, was withdrawn but showed immense
irritation. He was drinking alcohol excessively like his father and grandfather, explained
his wife. He would come home late lying that he was at work when he was out drinking
with friends or alone. He expressed privately that he was under significant work stress and
was in an unhappy marriage which led him to alcohol. This further induced depression in
him.

Identify and explain two perspectives of abnormal behaviour that led to Hardeep’s mental
state.
(Understanding)

139. [Psychological Disorders and Psychotherapy (Types of Anxiety, Behavioural therapy)]

Rahim is terrified of mice. He frequently checks under his bed to see if any are present. At
times, he is unable to get off his bed due to this intense fear. He consults a Psychologist
for help.
(i) Name the type of psychological disorder that Rahim has? [1]
(ii) Explain any one method of classical conditioning to help Rahim overcome his fear of
mice. [3]

(Application)

140. [Psychology in relation to the Environment and Social concerns (Crowding)]

Rajeev boarded a bus during peak summer hours which was overcrowded. The temperature
inside the bus felt several degrees higher than outside. He could barely find breathing space,
let alone a place to stand comfortably.
Explain any four psychological effects of crowding which Rajeev experienced in the bus.
(Application)

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Psychology ISC-Class XII

S.No. Questions
141. [Psychology in relation to the Environment and Social concerns (Environmental effect
on occupation, living style, and attitudes)]

Provide any four relevant reasons how occupation, living style, and attitudes of human
beings are influenced by the environment.
(Evaluate)

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Psychology ISC-Class XII

VI: Very Long Answer Questions (7 Marks Each)

S.No. Questions

142. [Lifespan Development (Major concerns in Adolescence)]
Jane, aged 14 years fainted during the basketball practice at School so she was taken to the
infirmary. On enquiring, her mother stated that recently, she was losing interest in food
which was leading to her weight loss. She had lost 15 kgs in a span of just two months.

(i) Identify and define the eating disorder that Jane is suffering from. [2]
(ii) State any five symptoms of the eating disorder that Jane is suffering from. [5]

(Understanding)

143. [Personality (Psychosexual stages of development)]

Observe the given image and answer the following questions.

Source : Clipart Panda

(i) Identify and explain the child’s stage of psychosexual development as observed in the
given image. [2]
(ii) Name the psychologist associated with the psychosexual stages of development. [1]
(iii) Describe the other four stages of psychosexual development. [4]
(Recall)

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Psychology ISC-Class XII

S.No. Questions

144. [Intelligence and Ability (Levels of Intelligence)]
Observe the given image below and answer the following questions.

Source:https://nuwritersguild.wordpress.com/2017/04/27/the-legacy-of-gifted-education-curse-or-blessing/

(i) What does the teacher’s remark indicate about the boy’s level of intelligence? [1]
(ii) State any six positive characteristics that such children exhibit. [6]
(Application)

145. [Lifespan development (Socio-emotional development in infancy)]

Observe the image given below and answer the following questions.

(i) Name the study as shown above on socio-emotional development in infancy.
[1]
(ii) Explain any three types of socio-emotional development that emerged from this study.
[6]
(Understanding)
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Psychology ISC-Class XII

S.No. Questions

146. [Stress and Stress Management (Effect of stress on health)]
Stress Awareness Day is observed on the third Wednesday in November. As a psychology
student, you have been assigned the responsibility of raising awareness about the impact of
stress on health in your neighbourhood. With reference to this, answer the following
questions.
(i) What is meant by the term Stress? [1]
(ii) As a student of Psychology, how would you explain any three effects of the physical
impact of stress on health? [6]
(Understanding)

147. [Intelligence and Ability (Group test – Raven’s Progressive Matrices)]
Observe the given image and answer the questions given below.

Source (Edited): https://shorturl.at/UQsUP

(i) Name the psychological test of intelligence given in the above image. [1]

(ii) Describe the features of the three types of this psychological test. [6]

(Recall)

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Psychology ISC-Class XII

S.No. Questions

148. [Intelligence and Ability (Theory of Intelligence)]

Source(Edited):https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:5cube.svg

(i) Name the Model of Intellect depicted in the image given above. [1]
(ii) Identify the dimensions numbered 1, 2 and 3 and describe the factors in the three
dimensions.
[6]
(Understanding)

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Psychology ISC-Class XII

S.No. Questions

149. [Social Thought and Social Behaviour (Influence of group on individuals)]

Source: Pinterest

The image of a choir shows that there are some children who are singing loudly and making
an effort to stay in pitch, follow the rhythm, and concentrate on their pronunciation. There
are others in the group who pretend to sing and reduce their effort to sing in pitch and rhythm
because they are in a group.

(i) State the term that describes those in the choir who pretend to sing. [1]
(ii) Explain any six reasons as to why some of those in the choir pretend to sing. [6]
(Analysis)

150. [Social Thought and Social behaviour (Conformity)]

Read the dialogue given below and answer the questions that follow.

Rana: “I am confused as I actually gave a wrong answer in class, but it still seemed
right”.
Savita: “I am puzzled by what you are saying.”
Rana: “Exactly. The teacher showed us the Political map of India and asked the whole
class a very simple question whether Rajasthan is a bigger state than Punjab. She asked
all the students and my turn was one of the last. All Twenty-one of my classmates before
me gave the answer as Punjab. I knew that it was wrong but I went with the majority and
stated it as Punjab.

(i) Name the type of social influence experienced by Rana. [1]

(ii) Discuss in detail, a study based on the above dialogue. [6]
(Application)

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Psychology ISC-Class XII

S.No. Questions

151. [Social Thought and Social Behaviour (H. Kelley’s Attribution Theory]
Veena and her friends visited a restaurant. The waiter who took their order had an
unpleasant mannerism. Veena thought that he may have been going through a rough time.
On their next visit, the same waiter served them and seemed to behave in the same manner.
Veena’s friends felt the same as Veena did. They happened to meet the waiter off-duty on
the street later. They were surprised by his cordial pleasant greeting.

(i) With reference to the Attribution theory, explain the causes of Veena and her friend’s
reactions to the waiter’s behaviour on both occasions in the restaurant.
[2]
(ii) According to the Attribution theory, name and describe any of the two factors that help
determine how Veena and her friends interpret the waiter’s behaviour in the restaurant and
outside. [4]

(iii) Who developed this theory? [1]

(Recall)

152. [Lifespan Development (Moral Development)]
Observe the dialogue between two children, Poorvi and Swayam aged six years.
Poorvi:“Oh, it is raining! Let’s go out and play. It will be fun splashing in the puddles.”
Swayam: “Oh yes, I like the rain too. I would like to join you but the last time I went to play
in the rain, my mother got very angry at me.”
Poorvi: “Join me and let us have fun. Your mother is not here so she will not see us
playing in the puddles.”
Swayam: “No, I do not want to be scolded again and punished. I will not go out in the rain.”

On the basis of the above dialogue, answer the following questions.

(i) Name the level of moral development that Poorvi and Swayam are in. [1]
(ii) Describe the features of the sub-levels of moral development that Poorvi and Swayam
are in. [4]
(iii) Explain the next level of Moral development. [2]
(Application)

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Psychology ISC-Class XII

S.No. Questions

153. [Psychology in relation to the Environment and Social concerns (Causes of poverty,
adverse effects of poverty)
Study the graph given below that shows the decline of levels of poverty over the stated
years.

(i) Why do you think there are a greater number of children below the poverty line than
adults? Enumerate any two points. [2]
(ii) How do poverty and deprivation affect the following aspects: [5]
(a) Personality
(b) Motivation
(c) Social Behaviour
(d) Cognitive Processes
(e) Mental Health
(Analysis)

154. [Attitudes (How attitudes change)]
Sasha had created an app that would help sports players to keep track of their calorie intake.
How can Sasha advertise her app using the methods of persuasion?
(Application)

ISC Competency-Focused Practice Questions 54

Psychology ISC-Class XII

ANSWER KEY

Q.No. Expected Answers

1. (b) Crystallized intelligence

2. (a) Ankit's aggression is primarily a result of punitive upbringing, while Rahul's
aggression stems from academic stress and failure.

3. (d) Self-concept

4. (a) Alicia states her opinion to her friend that Hollywood action movies are very well
made.

5. (d) Disorganised

6. (b) Classical conditioning

7. (c) Biological

8. (c) Secondary traits have less impact on a person’s behaviour.

9. (d) confusion

10. (a) Preconventional

11. (a) Ectomorph

12. (d) Verbal skills

13. (c) Sigmund Freud

14. (b) Raghav did not have a regular job, but he volunteered for a project of his interest.

15. (b) Above average

16. (b) Mesosystem

17. (b) Mohan suddenly develops paralysis of the hand before an examination.

18. (a) Environmental cues can trigger emotional responses.

19. (d) (P) and (R)

20. (c) Gender stability

21. (b) Identity Vs Role Confusion; Integrity Vs Despair

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Psychology ISC-Class XII

Q.No. Expected Answers

22. (d) Free Association

23. (d) Adding a cognition to justify her behaviour.

24. (c) Generalized Anxiety Disorder

25. (b) Re-categorization

26. (c) (Q) and (R)

27. (a) Anti-social personality disorder

28. (b) (P) and (S)

29. (d) (R) and (S)

30. (c) Formal-Secondary group

31. (c) Washing hands repeatedly without soiling it.

32. (c) Corticotropin releasing factor

33. (a) She is low on emotional quotient.

34. (a) Delusion

35. (c) (Q) and (R)

36. (b) Experiential

37. (d) Generalized Anxiety Disorder

38. (a) Alarm

39. (c) (P) and (R)

40. (a) Self-serving bias

41. (a) Submissive and clingy behaviour

42. (d) To accept the challenge as a change for growth.

43. (d) Impulsive and inattentive.

(a) Obedience
44.

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Psychology ISC-Class XII

Q.No. Expected Answers

45. (c) “It is only your irrational belief that you are worthless.”

46. (a) Both Assertion and Reason are true, and Reason is the correct explanation for
Assertion.

47. (a) Both Assertion and Reason are true, and Reason is the correct explanation for
Assertion.
(a) Both Assertion and Reason are true, and Reason is the correct explanation for
48.
Assertion.
(a) Both Assertion and Reason are true, and Reason is the correct explanation for
49.
Assertion.
(c) Assertion is true, and Reason is false.
50.

51. (a) Both Assertion and Reason are true, and Reason is the correct explanation for
Assertion.

52. (a) Both Assertion and Reason are true, and Reason is the correct explanation for
Assertion.

53. (a) Both Assertion and Reason are true, and Reason is the correct explanation for
Assertion.

54. (b) Both Assertion and Reason are true, and Reason is not the correct explanation for
Assertion.
(c) Assertion is true, and Reason is false.
55.

56. (a) Both Assertion and Reason are true, and Reason is the correct explanation for
Assertion.

57. (a) Both Assertion and Reason are true, and Reason is the correct explanation for
Assertion.

58. The cognitive component involves our beliefs and opinions about the attitude object. He
believes that sweets are bad for one’s health and diet. In the affective component, we
tend to express our feelings and emotions towards the attitude object. Here, Raju does
not like eating sweets.

59. The process of assimilation.

ISC Competency-Focused Practice Questions 57

Psychology ISC-Class XII

Q.No. Expected Answers

60. • Good listener.
• Consider cultural factors.
• Understand body language.
• Pay attention.
• Utilise paraphrasing.
• Speaking in language that is simple and easily understood.
(Explain any one feature of a good counsellor in detail.)

61. Counterfactual Thinking

62. Daily hassles of life

63. The first test belongs to the verbal scales and requires the use of language while the
second test belongs to the performance scales which involves the respondent to perform
tasks.
(Any other relevant answer to be accepted.)

64. Promotion by experts/Make persons get distracted easily/ play on strong emotions.
(Any other relevant point to be explained.)

65. Formal operation stage. At this stage, an individual learns to perform hypothetical
questions because of her/his cognitive development.

66. Social Facilitation

67. Re-categorization

68. 1. The rooting reflex is the turning of an infant's head toward a stimulus such as
a breast or hand.
2. The grasping reflex is the vigorous grasping of an object that touches the palm.
(Any one point to be accepted.)
Socio-cultural perspective wherein behaviour is shaped by the kind of environment,
69.
family, group and culture that the individual is exposed to and lives in.

70. • Recurrent substance use resulting in a failure to fulfil important obligations (for
example, at work, school, or home).
• Recurrent substance use in situations in which it is physically hazardous to do so (for
example while driving an automobile).
• Recurrent substance-related legal problems (example: arrest).
• Continued substance use despite having persistent or recurrent social or interpersonal
problems caused or exacerbated by the effects of the substance (For example: physical
fights).
(Any one point to be explained.)

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Psychology ISC-Class XII

Q.No. Expected Answers

71. Automatic Vigilance

72. Frustration
(Any other relevant point.)

73. Social norm

74. This would include mathematicians, scientists and accountants.
(Any one point accepted.)

75. Work-related stressors can be seen in the picture. Examples- work overload, extra
working hours, non-cooperative boss etc.
(Any other relevant workplace-related stress to be accepted.)

76. Coloured Progressive Matrices

77. It was discovered that the participants' risk of coronary heart disease increased with
their level of anger.
(Any other relevant point to be accepted .)

78. Crystallized intelligence depends on the accumulation of knowledge and experience that
one has gained over one’s lifespan, hence it increases with age as compared to Fluid
intelligence which is innate.

79. Compliance: Excessively compliant
Aggression: Overpowering others
Withdrawn: Protects himself from social relations.

80. Black Bile

81. Unconditional Positive Regard

82. Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

83. Discrimination

84. External

85. Body language

86. ‘g’

87. Psychodynamic

ISC Competency-Focused Practice Questions 59

Psychology ISC-Class XII

Q.No. Expected Answers

88. Operant

89. Interpersonal

90. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

91. Type A

92. Intimacy Vs Isolation

93. Stagnation

94. False

95. True

96. False

97. False

98. True

99. True

100. Bulimia

101. Schizophrenia

102. Prejudice

103. Ineffective coping mechanism/defence mechanism

104. Rational Emotive therapy/ Cognitive Behaviour therapy

105. Disorganised Attachment style

ISC Competency-Focused Practice Questions 60

Psychology ISC-Class XII

Q.No. Expected Answers

106. (i) Pre-operational stage.
(ii) In this stage, the child can demonstrate symbolic play in which they pretend that one
object is another.
The three features of this cognitive development:
• Decentration means that children begin to make others rather than themselves the
recipient of their playful actions.
• Decontextualization is the process in which children substitute objects for one
another.
• Integration is when a child combines play actions into increasingly complex
sequences.

107. Reasons to conform:
• Reason we conform is our strong desire to be right –to hold the right views.
• To meet other’s expectations and so to gain their approval and acceptance.
• A strong desire to be liked by others.
• Appear to be as similar to others as possible.
• We turn to other persons for guidance as to what’s appropriate and this leads us to
conform to existing social norms.
(i) Cognitive component
108.
(ii) The three causes of the display of the attitude:
• Social Learning - media, upbringing may contribute.
• Stereotypes - cognitive frameworks which suggest negative attitude.
• Social categorisation - categorising people on the basis of Us vs Them.

109. 1. Tim Berners-Lee’s emotional distance from his bosses and colleagues made him more
likely to obey.
2. Tim Berners-Lee’s boss and authority that passed any orders was prestigious or highly
placed, so he was more likely to obey.
3. Foot-in-the-door phenomenon: Tim Berners-Lee’s obeyed easy commands first and
then fell compelled to obey more and more difficult commands. This process helped him
to become more obedient.
4. Tim Berners-Lee’s justified his behaviour by assigning responsibility to his Boss and
authority rather than to himself.
5. In keeping with social norms, Tim Berners-Lee was more compelled to obey.
(Any four points to be accepted.)

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Psychology ISC-Class XII

Q.No. Expected Answers

110. Causes of delinquency
• Psychological factors: poor health, short or too big stature or some deformity which
gives rise to feelings of inferiority, dispose one to more aggression, as a compensatory
reaction for his inadequacies. Consequently, this leads to delinquent behaviour.
• Environmental and social factors: It has been proved that delinquent behaviour is a
learned reaction. Poor socio-economic conditions, friction between the individual and
society, and the uncongenial environment of the family, school, neighbourhood, and
society contributes to such behaviour (social-cultural factors)
• Substance abuse risk factors: Juveniles are using more powerful drugs today than was
the case as recently as 10 years ago. The use of these illegal substances or the use of
legal substances illegally motivates young people to commit crimes to obtain money
for drugs.
(Any other relevant point to be accepted.)

111. • To be able to manage one's own emotions in stressful situations.
• To be able to work efficiently with coworkers by being able to understand their
emotions.
• The ability to recognise our emotions to manage them efficiently.
• The ability to align our thought and our emotions.

112.
(i) This test is WAIS-III – Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale - III.
(ii) Information, Digit Span, Vocabulary, Comprehension, Arithmetic and Similarities.
(Any three to be explained)

113. (i) Automatic vigilance occurs when we automatically turn our attention to something
threatening or important to us.
(ii) Self-serving bias is "Our tendency to attribute positive outcomes to our own traits or
characteristics (internal causes) but negative outcomes to factors beyond our control
(external causes)." This is a result of Fundamental Attribution Error.
(Any suitable example for each is to be accepted.)

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Psychology ISC-Class XII

Q.No. Expected Answers

114. (i) Two-Factor Theory of Intelligence and Charles Spearman.
(ii) This theory talks about intelligence as belonging to two categories- specific and
general. General intelligence factor (G) that underlay performance on any cognitive task
and one or more specific factors (s) relating to particular tasks. Spearman based his view
on the following finding: Although tests of Intelligence often contain different kinds of
items designed to measure different aspects of intelligence, scores on these items often
correlate highly with one another. This fact suggested to him that no matter how
intelligence was measured, it was related to a single primary factor. For example, an
arithmetic test might tap both G and a specific mathematical ability. The idea that
intelligence can be largely summed up with one score –IQ. IQ is closely related to
Spearman’s idea that intelligence consists of one general ability factor.

115. Hans Selye proposed the GAS model.
• Alarm: At this stage the body prepares itself for immediate action. The sympathetic
nervous system gets activated and adrenal glands release hormones that help prepare
the body to meet the threats or dangers. Physiological changes in this stage include
an increase in heart rate, blood pressure and supply of blood sugar, which results in
bursts of energy. Reactions such as fever nausea and headache are common.
• Resistance: If the stresses prolong, the resistance stage begins. As the stress
continues, the body settles into sympathetic division activity, continuing to release
the stress hormones that help the body fight off, or resist the stressor. The early
symptoms of alarm lesson and the person or animal may feel better. The stage will
continue until the stressor ends or the organism has used up all its resources.
• Exhaustion: When the body’s resources are gone, the exhaustion stage occurs.
Exhaustion can lead to the formation of stress- related diseases, like high blood
pressure or weak end immune system, or the death of the organism if outside help
is unavailable. When the stressor ends, the parasympathetic division activates, and
the body attempts to replenish its resources.

116. (i) Cognitive Dissonance
(ii) Ways to resolve unpleasant feeling:
• Changing his attitude.
• Changing his behaviour.
• Trivialising his attitude as unimportant.
• Adding a cognition to justify his behaviour.
(Any three explanations to be accepted.)

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Psychology ISC-Class XII

Q.No. Expected Answers

117. Verbal prods:
(i) Please continue.
(ii) The experiment requires that you continue.
(iii) It is absolutely essential that you continue.
(iv) You have no other choice; you must go on.
(i) Catatonic stupor - Schizophrenia.
118.
(ii) The following are the three symptoms of catatonic schizophrenia:
1. Stupor – No psychomotor activity, no interaction with the environment
2. Catalepsy – Includes adopting unusual postures
3. Waxy flexibility – If an examiner places the patient’s arm in a position, they will
maintain this position until it is moved again
4. Excitement – Overactive behaviour
5. Grimacing
6. Echolalia – Mimicking another person’s speech.
119. Aptitude would assess Sarah’s potential to learn a skill; it would identify her unique
abilities; it would help to find out her strengths and weaknesses. It would help to identify
her hidden talents.
Sarah’s interests measurement would help to identify her areas of preference in career to
get job satisfaction; it would help identify her liking or inclination towards a certain area.

120. (A) Primary group: Face-to-face interaction, close physical proximity, warm emotional
bonds, members have no choice of membership, etc. Example: Family
(B) Secondary group: Relations are impersonal, indirect and less frequent, people can
choose their group and leave anytime and join another group, etc.
Example: Office, School
(Any suitable example to be accepted.)

121. Cognitive - In my opinion, Nike products are of good quality.
Affective - I like the brand Nike.
Behavioural- I wear Nike shoes/buy Nike shoes.
(Explain any two components.)
(i) Relaxation and/or Yoga
122.
(ii) Exercise, positive thinking, mindfulness, rejuvenation.
(Points to be explained and any other relevant points to be accepted.)

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Psychology ISC-Class XII

Q.No. Expected Answers

123.
(i) Cardinal Trait: One or two dominant trait that dominates the individual’s personality.
Gandhiji’s dominant trait of non-violence (ahimsa). His simplicity was in rejecting all
pleasures of life and fighting for a cause in a non-violent manner.

(ii) The two other traits are:
• Central Trait: They are about five to ten traits which best describe the individual
core personality and in determining his/her unique personality.
• Secondary Trait: They are a number of traits that are less important and exert
relatively weak effects on behaviour and are less influential thus having less impact
on the individual’s behaviour. They include attitudes and preferences.

124.
(i) Egocentrism.
(ii) The three cognitive development:
• Animism
• Decentration
• Contextualization
• Integration
(Each to be explained. Any other relevant point to be accepted.)

125. (i) Behavioural rating
(ii) The three methods to analyse a person’s behaviour:
• Interview
• Situational Test
• Nomination
• Observation
[Explain in detail.]

126. The Principal would adopt the following ways to reduce the rivalry between the two
house teams.
(1) Direct intergroup contact: Involving both the groups to work together on various
activities. This may lead the members to realize similarities between them.
(2) Re-Categorization: The Principal can make smaller groups with all house members
to make sure that the boundaries between Them and Us are shifted constantly to reduce
prejudice.

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Psychology ISC-Class XII

Q.No. Expected Answers

127. Pro-Environment behaviour.
• Reducing air pollution by keeping vehicles in good condition, or changing to non-
fuel driven vehicles, stopping the practice of smoking.
• Reducing noise pollution by ensuring that noise levels are low, for example,
discouraging needless honking on the road, or making rules regarding noisy music
at certain hours.
• Managing disposal of garbage sensibly, for example, by encouraging separation of
biodegradable garbage from non-biodegradable waste, or composting of kitchen
waste. These practices need to be adopted both at home and in public places. Special
attention has to be paid to the management of industrial and hospital waste.
• Planting trees and ensuring their care, keeping in mind that those plants and trees
should not be planted that have adverse health effects.

(Any other relevant point to be accepted.)

128. (i) The upside-down U is a psychological principle that states that performance increases
with arousal up to a certain point, but then decreases when arousal becomes too high.
(ii)
Firstly, even relatively mild stress can be distracting. People experiencing stress may be
aware of the unpleasant feelings and emotions it involves rather than on the task at hand.
Second, prolonged or repeated exposure may exert harmful effects on health.
Thirdly, with regard to motivation to perform, arousal increases task performance at
first, but these later drop. This depends a great deal on how difficult the task is.
The greater the difficulty, the lower the level of arousal to deal with the task. In today’s
world, tasks are more complex, and therefore even low levels of stress can interfere with
performance.
As the stress continues, one begins to lose the interest or motivation that led them to
take on a certain role in the first place. Burnout reduces one’s productivity and saps their
energy, leaving them feeling increasingly hopeless, powerless, cynical, and resentful.
(Any two factors from above to be accepted.)

ISC Competency-Focused Practice Questions 66

Psychology ISC-Class XII

Q.No. Expected Answers

129. (i) Stereotype
(ii) The three ways:
1.The Role of Social Learning – This theory states that people’s feeling about members
of various groups are shaped by the behaviour of people around us – more specifically
our parents, other adults and peers. Prejudice emerges out of countless experiences in
which children hear or observe them and others expressing prejudiced views. Because
children want to be like these persons and are often rewarded for expressing the ‘right’
views they quickly adopt such attitudes themselves. Likewise young children learn
prejudice by imitating the behaviour of adult parents even when they as young as 3 yrs
old.
2.Realistic Competition or Direct Intergroup conflict: Competition as a source of
bias. It is sad but true that many of the things that we value most - a good job, a nice
home, and high status – are in short supply. This fact serves as the basis for one view
of prejudice – realistic conflict theory. According to this view, prejudice stems from
competition or perceived competition between social groups over valued commodities
or opportunities.
3.Social Categorization and Stereotyping – The Us versus –Them Effect . Another
perspective on the origins of prejudice begins with a basic fact: We all tend to divide
the social world into two distinct categories – Us and Them. Also known as the Social
Identity Theory – we view other persons as belonging either to our own social group,
usually termed as the in-group – or to another group –an out-group. We make such
distinctions on the basis of many dimensions, including race, religion, gender, age,
ethnic background, occupation and even the town or neighbourhood where people live.
We use group membership as a source of pride and self-worth.
(Each to be explained.)
A -Conscientiousness: A dimension ranging from well-organised, careful, self-
130.
disciplined, responsible and precise at one end to disorganised, impulsive, careless and
undependable at the other.
B - Extraversion: Dimensions ranging from energetic, enthusiastic, sociable and
talkative at one end to retiring, sober, reserved, silent and cautious at the other.
C - Agreeableness: A dimension ranging from good-natured, cooperative, trusting and
helpful at the one end to irritable, suspicious, and uncooperative at the other.
D – Neuroticism` Vs (Emotional Stability): A dimension ranging from poised, calm,
composed, and not hypochondriacal at one end to nervous, anxious, high-strung and
hypochondriacal at the other.

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131. (i) Rational Emotive Therapy (RET).
(ii) A-B-C-D-E Model – Activating Event - Irrational Belief - Emotional Consequence-
Disputing Irrational Belief-Expected New Behaviour explained briefly.
The central thesis of this therapy is that irrational beliefs mediate between the antecedent
events and their consequences. The first step in RET is the antecedent belief-
consequence (ABC) analysis. Antecedent events, which caused the psychological
distress, are noted. The client is also interviewed to find the irrational beliefs, which are
distorting the present reality. This distorted perception of the antecedent event due to the
irrational belief leads to the consequence, i.e. negative emotions and behaviours.
In the process of RET, the irrational beliefs are refuted by the therapist through a process
of non-directive questioning. The rational belief system replaces the irrational belief
system and there is a reduction in psychological distress.

132. The effects of natural disasters:
1.Arman’s family would be left poverty-stricken, homeless, without any resources,
usually along with a loss of everything they owned.
2.The sudden loss of all their belongings as well as their dear ones would leave Arman
and his family shocked and stunned. This is sufficient to create a deep-seated
psychological disorder.
3.Natural disasters are traumatic experiences, i.e. emotionally wounding and shocking
to those family members of Arman who would survive the disaster.
4. Arman would go through emotional reactions, such as grief and fear, irritability, anger
(“Why should this happen to me?”), helplessness, hopelessness (“I could do nothing to
prevent this event”), depression, sometimes absolute lack of emotion (numbness).
(Any other relevant effects to be accepted.)

133. Daily hassles can include noisy surroundings, commuting, quarrelsome neighbours,
electricity and water problems, health of a family member, rising prices, home
maintenance, too many things to do, misplacing or losing things, traffic snarls, etc..
(Any other relevant point to be accepted.)

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134. For years, psychologists and psychiatrists have tried to come up with a reasonable list of
psychological disorders. Several different classification systems have been tried, each
with various disorders named, defined, and grouped into categories.
The following are the reasons for classifying psychological disorders:
1. To give precise meanings to terms that are tossed around in our everyday language
without much precision, for example terms like "paranoid" and "schizophrenic."
2. Giving clear definitions of such terms is important because they are often used in
making crucial decisions. For example, when expert witnesses classified John
Hinckley, Jr., as schizophrenic, the jury ruled that he was "not guilty by reason of
insanity."
3. It provides a standardised framework for understanding and diagnosing mental health
conditions.
4. This allows clinicians to communicate effectively about symptoms, treatment
approaches, and prognoses. For example, if a psychologist diagnoses a patient with
major depressive disorder according to the criteria outlined in the DSM, it ensures
that other mental health professionals understand the nature of the condition and can
collaborate on the best course of treatment.

135. (i) Freud used the analogy of an iceberg to describe the three levels of the mind.
According to him most of the mind lies below the surface—below the threshold of
conscious experience. Above this threshold is the realm of the conscious. This includes
our current thoughts: whatever we are thinking about or experiencing at a given moment.
Beneath this conscious realm is the much larger preconscious. This contains memories
that are not part of current thoughts but can readily be brought to mind if the need arises.
Finally, beneath the preconscious, and forming the bulk of the human mind, is the
unconscious: thoughts, desires, and impulses of which we remain largely unaware.
Although some of this material has always been unconscious, Freud believed that much
of it was once conscious but has been actively repressed - driven from consciousness
because it was too anxiety-provoking.
(ii) Sigmund Freud

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136. (i) State of Bihar has shown the maximum reduction in poverty rate from 2011-12 to
2022-23.
(ii) Major Causes of Poverty:
Poverty is sometimes caused by natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods, and
cyclones, or man-made disasters such as poisonous gas leaks. When such events take
place, people suddenly lose all their possessions and have to face poverty.
• Similarly, one generation of the poor may be unable to eradicate their poverty, and the
next generation continues to remain in poverty. Apart from these causes, other factors
responsible for poverty have been mentioned below. However, there are some
differences of opinion regarding the importance of these factors.
• The poor themselves are responsible for their poverty. According to this view, the poor
lack the ability and motivation to put in effort, and make use of available opportunities.
In general, such a view about the poor is rather negative, and does not help at all in
making them better.
• It is not the individual, but a belief system, a way of life, and values, in which she/he
is brought up, that is the cause of poverty. This belief system, called the ‘culture of
poverty’, convinces the person that she/he will continue to remain poor, and the belief is
carried over from one generation of the poor to the next.
• Economic, social and political factors together account for poverty. Because of
discrimination, certain sections of society are denied the opportunities needed for getting
even the basic necessities of life. The economic system is made to grow in a
disproportionate way, through social and political exploitation, so that the poor are left
out of the race. All these factors can be summed up in the idea of social disadvantage,
because of which the poor experience social injustice, deprivation, discrimination, and
exclusion.
• The geographic region in which one lives is said to be a significant cause of poverty.
For example, people living in regions (such as deserts) that have a shortage of natural
resources and a harsh climate (such as extreme heat or cold) end up being poor. This
factor cannot be controlled by human beings. However, attempts can be made to help
people in such regions to find alternative means of livelihood, and to provide special
facilities for their education and employment.
• The poverty cycle is another important cause of poverty that explains why poverty
tends to continue among the same sections of society. Poverty begets poverty. Beginning
with a low income and lack of resources, the poor go through low health and nutrition,
lack of education, and lack of skills. This leads to low employment opportunities, which,
in turn, continue their low-income condition, and low health and nutrition status. The
resulting lowered motivational level only makes the situation worse; the cycle starts and
continues again. Thus, the poverty cycle involves an interaction between the factors
mentioned above, and results in declining individual motivation, hope, and sense of
control.
(Any three or any other relevant point to be accepted.)
(iii) Measures to reduce poverty:
Several steps are being taken by the government of India and other groups to work
towards the reduction of poverty and its negative consequences.
• Breaking the poverty cycle, and helping the poor to attain self-sufficiency - Initially,
financial relief, medical and other facilities may have to be provided to the poor. Care
should be taken to see that this financial and other help does not make the poor
dependent on these sources for their livelihood.

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• Creating a context for making the poor take responsibility instead of blame for their
poverty. This step will help them to regain a sense of hope, control and identity.
• Providing educational and employment opportunities. This step may help the poor
to discover their own abilities and skills, thus enabling them to come up to the level
of other sections of society. This will also help in reducing crime and violence by
reducing frustration, and by encouraging the poor to earn their livelihood through
legal rather than illegal means.
• Measures for improved mental health. Many of the poverty reduction measures help
to improve the physical health of the poor, but their mental health still remains a
problem to be tackled effectively. With greater awareness of this problem, it is hoped
that more attention will be paid to this aspect of poverty.
(Any three or any other relevant point to be accepted.)

137. (i) Anil has a Type A personality.
(ii) Individuals with type A personality have some negative traits like impatience, hostile,
restlessness and others which make them more prone to stress. Since they are under more
stress than other people, they may have greater risks for coronary heart diseases, ulcers
and hypertension.

138. Different perspectives of abnormal behaviours:
1. Psychodynamic perspective: According to this psychodynamic perspective, many
mental disorders can be traced to unconscious urges or impulses and to the struggle over
their expression that takes place in the hidden depths of human personality. According
to Freud, mental disorders arise when the ego, sensing that it may soon be overwhelmed
by the id, experiences anxiety.
2. Biological perspective: The biological model, emphasises the role of the nervous
system in mental disorders. This approach seeks to understand such disorders in terms
of malfunctioning portions of the brain, imbalances in various neurotransmitters and
genetic factors.
3. Socio-cultural perspective: Sociocultural factors also play a role in mental disorders.
Psychologists and other mental health professionals point to the important role of such
social variables as poverty, unemployment, inferior education, and prejudice as potential
causes of at least some mental disorders. In other words, the sociocultural perspective
emphasises the fact that external factors such as negative environments, a disadvantaged
position in society, and cultural traditions can play a role in mental disorders.
(Any two points to be accepted.)

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139. (i) Phobia
(ii) Flooding -behaviour therapists expose the person to the feared stimuli or to mental
representations of them in situations from which they cannot escape. A high strength
conditioned stimulus is presented over and over again. Eg: Acrophobia (fear of heights)
- made to stand near a high cliff
Systematic desensitization-This is a form of behaviour therapy for phobias in which
gradual exposure to anxiety producing stimuli is paired with relaxation in order to
extinguish the response of anxiety.
(Each to be explained. Any other relevant point to be accepted.)

140. Psychological Effects observed:
1.Stress and Anxiety: Crowded environments can trigger feelings of stress and anxiety
due to the lack of personal space, increased noise levels, and the perception of being
surrounded by strangers.
2.Agitation and Irritability: Crowding can lead to feelings of agitation and irritability,
as individuals may feel constrained or restricted in their movements and personal
space.
3.Decreased Mood: Being in a crowded environment can contribute to a decrease in
mood and overall emotional well-being. The discomfort and inconvenience of
crowding can dampen individuals' spirits and affect their enjoyment of the situation.
4.Fatigue: Crowded spaces may lead to feelings of fatigue or exhaustion, as individuals
navigate through the crowd, expend energy trying to find personal space, or cope
with the sensory overload associated with crowded environments.
(Any other relevant effects to be accepted.)

141. Environmental influences on occupation, living style and attitudes:
The natural environment of a particular region determines whether people living in that
region rely on agriculture (as in the plains), or on other occupations such as hunting and
gathering (as in forest, mountainous or desert regions), or on industries (as in areas that
are not fertile enough for agriculture).
In turn, the occupation determines the lifestyle and attitudes of the residents of a
particular geographical region. Compare the daily routine followed by a person living in
a desert with one living in a mountainous region and one living on the plains. It has been
observed that an agricultural society has to depend on the collective efforts of its
members. Therefore, the members of an agricultural society develop an attitude of
cooperativeness, and consider group interests more important than the individual’s
wishes. They are also closer to nature, more dependent on natural events such as the
monsoon, and may face situations in which necessary natural resources such as water are
in limited supply. Accordingly, the members of an agricultural society may become more
fatalistic in their beliefs. On the other hand, highly industrialised societies feel less close
to and less dependent on nature. Members of industrialised societies may value
independent thinking, develop an attitude of competitiveness, and cultivate a belief of
personal control over what happens to them.

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142. (i) Anorexia / anorexia nervosa.
Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder and psychological condition marked by extreme
self-starvation due to a distorted body image.
(ii) Symptoms of anorexia nervosa
• Refusal to sustain a minimal normal body weight.
• Intense fear of gaining weight.
• Distorted view of one’s body or weight.
• Severe starvation.
• Obsession regarding food and weight.
• Intense and overwhelming fear of gaining weight.
• Low blood pressure.
• Fatigue and exhaustion.
(Any five or any other relevant point to be accepted.)

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143. (i) The Oral Stage (Birth to1½ or 2 years): In the first stage of development, in which a
baby seeks pleasure primarily from its mouth. During this time, the infant sucks, bites,
mouths things and babbles – all of which are oral activities, thus the name. Freud
believed that at this stage, the mouth was the primary site of a kind of sexual pleasure.
If the infant is overindulged by its parents or is frustrated in its search for oral
gratification, its psychic energy may become fixated at this stage.
(ii) Sigmund Freud
(iii)
The Anal Stage (1½ or 2 to 3 years): The second stage of psychosexual development,
which occurs in response to efforts by parents to toilet train their child. At this point,
the major source of pleasure changes from the mouth to the anal region. The child
derives considerable pleasure from controlling its excretion. If toilet training is
traumatic, fixation may occur resulting in individuals who are excessively orderly and
stubborn or, alternatively, excessively generous and undisciplined.
The Phallic Stage (3 to 6 or 7 years): Around the age of four, the genitals become the
primary source of pleasure. According to Freudian theory, this is the stage of one of the
most important points of personality development. He speculated that at this time, the
child fantasizes about sexual relations with the parent of the opposite sex – a
phenomenon he termed as the Oedipus Complex. A boy child experiences sexual desires
towards his mother and considers the father as a rival. But since he sees his ‘rival’ as a
powerful person who may harm him, he develops anxiety or fear. Ultimately, the fear
becomes so strong that the child represses his desires for his mother and chooses
Identification with his father, trying to be as much like him as possible. At this point,
the Oedipus complex is resolved.
For girls, the process is different. They begin the stage by experiencing sexual desires
towards their fathers – termed, as Electra Complex which is the same as above. Freud
felt that if the Oedipus and Electra complexes are not resolved, it could lead to improper
sex roles in the child. Freud believed that girls experienced penis envy. The Castration
anxiety theory is that a child has a fear of damage being done to their genitalia by the
parent of the same sex (e.g. a son being afraid of his father) as punishment for sexual
feelings toward the parent of the opposite sex (e.g. a son toward his mother)
The Latency Period (6 or 7 years to Puberty): Once the Oedipus/Electra complex is
resolved, the child enters the Latency stage, which lasts until puberty. The child does
not experience any major sexual concerns. The energies of the child are directed towards
learning new skills
The Genital stage (Puberty onwards): The final stage of development is the genital stage,
which emerges with the onset of puberty and lasts until death. Sexual feeling re-emerge
in this stage and the focal point of pleasure is the genitals. However, at this stage, sexual
pleasure takes on a more mature form and the person becomes capable of adult love in
its fullest sense.
Freud believed that if psychic energy is fixated at any one of the first four stages, the
person does not progress into the genital stage, since fixation blocks the normal pattern

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of development. As a result, many psychological disorders result.

144. (i) Gifted
(ii) Positive traits: A gifted or exceptional child is superior in ability and performance to
his/her peers A gifted child is applicable not only in academics but shows talent in
creative arts fields like music, dance, drama, writing and such, mechanical work,
leadership skills, science, games etc. Such a child need not necessarily possess a very
high IQ. Common characteristics of gifted individuals according to the National
Association for gifted children are unusual alertness, even in infancy, rapid learners,
excellent memory, unusually large vocabulary, advanced comprehension, and high
sensitivity. Gifted children are alert, keenly observant, respond quickly and can perform
difficult mental tasks.
(Any relevant six explanations to be accepted.)

145. (i) Attachment is an emotional bond developed between infant and mother/caregiver
during the first year of life.
(ii) Different attachment styles are given below:
• Secure attachment: An infant–caregiver bond in which the child welcomes contact
with a close companion and uses this person as a secure base from which to explore
the environment.
• Resistant/Ambivalent attachment: An insecure infant–caregiver bond, characterised
by strong separation protest and a tendency of the child to remain near but resist
contact initiated by the caregiver, particularly after a separation.
• Avoidant attachment: An insecure infant–caregiver bond, characterized by little
separation protest and a tendency of the child to avoid or ignore the caregiver.
• Disorganised/disoriented attachment: An insecure infant–caregiver bond
characterised by social referencing techniques such as checking the adult's facial
expression to ascertain whether a situation is safe. The caregiver is both the source of
the child's alarm as well as the child's haven of safety.
(Accept any three explanations.)

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146. (i) Stress is the response to anything that threatens our well-being.
(ii) Stress has an impact on the physical health of an individual.
• Immune System: Stress can cause illness by impairing the workings of the immune
system. The immune system guards the body against attackers, both from within and
outside. When an individual is experiencing stress, the resources and energy is diverted
from immune system to systems in the body that play more important role in stress
reactivity (fight and flight response and GAS) and thus, individuals who experience
stress for long period of time are prone to develop infections as their immune system
is compromised.
• Diabetes: When stressed, the blood sugar level rises. Stress hormone like cortisol and
epinephrine are released as they raise blood sugar to help boost energy when it is
needed the most. Both physical and emotional stress can prompt and increase these
hormones resulting in an increase in blood sugar.
• Ulcer: In people who have a reactive temperament, chronic stress leads to several
physiological changes. Prolonged resentment, anger or anxiety may stimulate an
excess of digestive acids that eat away parts of the lining of the stomach or small
intestine, creating ulcers. As a result of prolonged stress, an individual could also
develop ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel diseases. Activation
of sympathetic nervous system that takes place when stress is experienced could lead
to excess production of hydrochloric acid and pepsin which in turn could lead to peptic
ulcers.
• Asthma, heart disease, hypertension, (or any other relevant point explained).

147. (i) Raven’s Progressive Matrices
(ii)Standard Progressive Matrices is used for age 6 to 80, has 5 sets of 12 items each. A
to E and all items are presented in black ink on a white background.
Coloured Progressive Matrices: Designed for younger children, the elderly, and people
with moderate or severe learning difficulties, this test contains sets A, Ab and B with 12
items in each set. Most items are presented on a coloured background to make the test
visually stimulating for participants.
Advanced Progressive Matrices is for above average adolescents and adults. This form
contains 48 items, presented as one set of 12 (set I), and another of 36 (set II). Items are
again presented in black ink on a white background, and become increasingly difficult
as progress is made through each set.

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148. (i) Guilford's Structure of Intelligence
(ii) According to Guilford's Structure of Intellect (SOI) theory, an individual's
performance on intelligence tests can be traced back to the underlying mental abilities or
factors of intelligence. SOI theory comprises up to 150 different intellectual abilities
organised along three dimensions — Content, Operations, and Products.
The operations dimension includes six operations:
(Each sub-unit to be briefly explained.)
1. Cognition
2. Memory recording
3. Memory retention
4. Divergent production
5. Convergent production
6. Evaluation
Content dimension includes five broad areas of information to which the human intellect
applies the six operations:
(Each sub-unit to be briefly explained.)
1. Visual
2. Auditory
3. Symbolic
4. Semantic
5. Behavioural
Product dimension:
(Each sub-unit is to be briefly explained.)
1. Units
2. Classes
3. Relations
4. Systems
5. Transformations
6. Implications
Guilford’s original model was composed of 120 components because he had not
separated Figural Content into separate Auditory and Visual contents, nor had he
separated Memory into Memory Recording and Memory Retention. When he separated
Figural into Auditory and Visual contents, his model increased to 5 x 5 x 6 = 150
categories. When Guilford separated the Memory functions, his model finally increased
to the final 180 factors.

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149. (i) Social Loafing
(ii) Reasons for Social Loafing:
1. Group members feel less responsible for the overall task being performed and
therefore exert less effort.
2. The motivation of members decreases because they realise that their contributions
will not be evaluated on individual basis.
3. The performance of the group is not to be compared with other groups.
4. There is an improper coordination (or no coordination) among members.
5. Belonging to the same group is not important for members. It is only an aggregate
of individuals.
6. The larger the size of the group, the more the tendency for social loafing.

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150. (i) Conformity
(ii) Asch’s Experiment on Conformity
The classic demonstration of pressure to conform comes from a series of studies carried
out in the 1950’s by Solomon Asch. In the experiments, participants thought they were
participating in a test of perceptual skills with a group of 7-9 other participants. The
participants were shown one card with three lines of varying length and a second card
that had a fourth line that matched one of the first three. A control group was also given
the same task and by themselves they were accurate about 99% of the time. This was
used to compare the responses of the other subjects in the experiment.

Standard line Comparison lines
The task was seemingly straightforward: The participants had to announce aloud which
of the first three lines was identical in length to a “standard line”. Because the correct
answer was always obvious, the task seemed easier to the participants. Asch asked the
students to give their answers aloud. He repeated the procedure with 18 sets of lines.
This experiment was actually “set up”, because the first 6 or 7 participants were actually
confederates (paid employees of the experimenter) and had been instructed to give
unanimously incorrect answers in many of the trials. And the study had nothing to do
with perceptual skills. Instead, the issue under study was conformity.
Only one student in each group was a real subject. All the others were confederates who
had been instructed to give incorrect answers on 12 of the 18 trials. Asch arranged for
the real subject to be the next-to-the-last person in each group to announce his answer so
that he would hear most of the confederates’ incorrect responses before giving his own.
From the perspective of the participant in the group who got the answer last, all of the
participants before him seemed to be wrong –in fact unanimously wrong. And this
pattern persisted. Over and over again, the first participants provided answers that
contradicted what the last participant believed to be correct. The dilemma that this
situation posed for the last participant was whether to follow his or her own perceptions
or to follow the group and repeat the answer that everyone else was giving.
What Asch found was that in about one-third of the trials, participants conformed to the
unanimous but erroneous group answer, with about 75% of all participants conforming
at least once. However, there were strong individual differences. Some participants
conformed nearly all the time, whereas others never did so.
People conform for two main reasons: (1) Because they want to be liked by the group
and (2) Because they believe the group is better informed than they are.

1.The characteristics of the group- attractiveness, relative status, similarity, expert

2.The situation in which the individual is responding – Conformity is considerably

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higher when people must make a response publicly than when they can respond
privately. Eg: Secret ballots.
3.The 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.
4. Unanimity of the group- Conformity pressures are most pronounced in groups that
are unanimous in their support of a position.
5. 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.
6. Cultural values – In experiments conducted in 14 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.
7. The need for social respect

151. (i) The first reaction was due to situational cause – the waiter may have had a rough day;
the second was due to dispositional cause – he behaved in the same offensive manner on
both occasions.
(ii) Harold Kelley’s attribution theory. He developed a logical model for judging whether
a particular action should be attributed to some characteristic (dispositional) of the
person or the environment (situational).

•Consensus: the extent to which other people behave in the same way in a similar
situation. Veena and her friends felt that the waiter’s behaviour was offensive in the
restaurant. Hence consensus is high.

•Consistency: the extent to which the person behaves like this every time the situation
occurs. The waiter was offensive on both occasions when Veena and her friends met him
in the restaurant hence consistency is high.

•Distinctiveness: the extent to which the person behaves in the same way in similar
situations. When Veena and her friends met the waiter outside the restaurant, they found
his behaviour to be cordial hence distinctiveness is high.

(Any two factors)
(iii) Harold Kelley

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152. (i) Pre-Conventional level
(ii) Obedience and Punishment Orientation. Kohlberg calls stage 1 thinking
"preconventional" because children do not yet speak as members of society. Instead, they
see morality as something external to themselves, as that which the big people say they
must do.
At stage 2, pleasure-seeking orientation, activities are undertaken primarily to
satisfy one's own needs; the needs of others are important only as they relate to one's
own needs.
(iii) Conventional level where conformity to social rules remains important to the
individual. However, the emphasis shifts from self-interest to relationships with other
people and social systems. The individual strives to support rules that are set forth by
others such as parents, peers, and the government in order to win their approval or to
maintain social order.

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153. (i) Reasons for greater number of children below the poverty line-:
• Children make up a large portion of the world's population.
• Children are more vulnerable to the effects of poverty due to lack of health
facilities, care and education.
• Lack of education leads to many more children amongst the poor.
(Any other suitable points to be accepted.)
(ii) The effects of poverty and deprivation on personality, motivation, social behaviour,
cognitive processes, and mental health.
(a) The effects of poverty and deprivation on Personality: The poor and deprived
have low self-esteem, are high on anxiety and introversion, and dwell on the
immediate present rather than being future-oriented. They prefer smaller
immediate rewards to larger rewards in the long run, because in their perception,
the future is too uncertain. They live with a sense of hopelessness, and
powerlessness, feel injustice, and experience a loss of identity.
(b) The effects of poverty and deprivation on Motivation: The poor have low
aspirations low achievement motivation, and a high need for dependence. They
explain their successes in terms of luck or fate rather than ability or hard work.
In general, they believe that events in their lives are controlled by factors outside
them, rather than within them
(c) The effects of poverty and deprivation on social behaviour: The poor and
deprived sections exhibit an attitude of resentment towards the rest of society.
(d) The effects of poverty and deprivation on cognitive functioning: It has been
found that intellectual functioning and performance on tasks (such as
classification, verbal reasoning, time perception, and pictorial depth perception)
is lower among the highly deprived compared to those who are less deprived. It
has also been clarified that the effect of deprivation is because the nature of the
environment in which children grow up — whether it is enriched or impoverished
— makes a difference in their cognitive development, and this is reflected in
cognitive task performance.
(e) The effects of poverty and deprivation on mental health: There is an
unquestionable relationship between mental disorders and poverty or
deprivation. The poor are more likely to suffer from specific mental illnesses
compared to the rich, possibly due to constant worry about basic necessities,
feelings of insecurity, or inability to get medical facilities, especially for mental
illnesses. In fact, it has been suggested that depression may be a mental disorder
largely of the poor. Besides, the poor experience a sense of hopelessness and a
loss of identity, as though they do not belong to society. As a result, they also
suffer from emotional and adjustment problems.

ISC Competency-Focused Practice Questions 82

Psychology ISC-Class XII

Q.No. Expected Answers

154. Sasha can use the following strategies -
• Use experts like sports players playing and tracking their calories on the app.
• Use sports players eating something sweet after winning a match and then using the
app to check their calories.
• Using attractive sports players.
• Employing fast-paced music and narrate a story highlighting how health-conscious
sports players utilise a calorie tracker.
• Sports players can discuss how they are always keeping a tab on their calorie intake
which could be quite stressful.
• People who speak rapidly are often more persuasive than persons who speak more
slowly. So, confident sports players who can talk rapidly should be used.
• Emotional messages of the ill effects of not tracking calories can be shown.

ISC Competency-Focused Practice Questions 83