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Psychology (037) · Class XII · Chapter-wise Board Questions

CBSE Board papers 2022 to 2026, plus CBSE Sample Question Papers. Chapters as per CBSE Curriculum 2026-27. 420 questions. Click Reveal answer under any question to see the official marking scheme.

Marks

1. Variations in Psychological Attributes

Q1.2026 Main · Q11 mark

Neha always scores well in school assessments and is appreciated for her sharp, critical ability, reasoning and analytical thinking. Which form of intelligence is she most likely demonstrating ?

  1. Naturalistic Intelligence
  2. Contextual Intelligence
  3. Componential Intelligence
  4. Experiential Intelligence
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2026 (Main)

(C) Componential Intelligence

Q2.2026 Main · Q21 mark

A teacher notices that one of her usually calm and respectful students behaves aggressively during a group activity. She considers whether this behaviour might be due to peer pressure and classroom dynamics rather than the student’s personality. Which approach is the teacher following ?

  1. Functionalism
  2. Altruism
  3. Structuralism
  4. Situationism
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2026 (Main)

(D) Situationism

Q3.2026 Supp. · Q11 mark

__________ uses systematic testing procedures to evaluate the abilities, behaviours and personal qualities of individuals.

  1. Psychological assessment
  2. Biological assessment
  3. Cognitive assessment
  4. Physiological assessment
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2026 (Supplementary)

(A) Psychological Assessment

Q4.2025 Main · Q11 mark

Madhu is a student who excels in remembering facts and figures but struggles when it comes to solving complex problems that require critical thinking and creativity. According to Arthur Jensen, which level of abilities does Madhu possess ?

  1. Level II, associative learning
  2. Level I, cognitive competence
  3. Level I, associative learning
  4. Level II, observational learning
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2025 (Main)

(C) Level I, associative learning

Q5.2025 Main · Q21 mark

Match the following :

Rearing PracticesCorrelation
1. Identical twins reared in different environmentI. 0·50
2. Fraternal twins reared togetherII. 0·60
3. Brothers and sisters reared togetherIII. 0·72
4. Siblings reared apartIV. 0·25
  1. 1-I, 2-II, 3-III, 4-IV
  2. 1-III, 2-II, 3-I, 4-IV
  3. 1-IV, 2-I, 3-III, 4-II
  4. 1-II, 2-IV, 3-I, 4-III
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2025 (Main)

(B) 1-III, 2-II, 3-I, 4-IV

Q6.2025 Main · Q41 mark

Which of the following best describes the nature of creativity tests where there are no specified answers to questions or problems, allowing for freedom to use one’s imagination and express it in original ways ?

  1. Divergent
  2. Convergent
  3. Analytical
  4. Structured
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2025 (Main)

(A) Divergent

Q7.2025 Main · Q61 mark

In the following question, a statement of Assertion (A) is followed by a statement of Reason (R). Read the statements and choose the appropriate option.

Assertion (A) : Psychological tests are widely used for clinical diagnosis, guidance, personnel selection, placement and training.

Reason (R) : Objective tests provide a standardized and reliable measure of an individual’s psychological attributes.

  1. Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, and Reason (R) is the correct explanation of Assertion (A).
  2. Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, but Reason (R) is not the correct explanation of Assertion (A).
  3. Assertion (A) is true, but Reason (R) is false.
  4. Assertion (A) is false, but Reason (R) is true.
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2025 (Main)

(A) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, and Reason (R) is the correct explanation of Assertion (A).

Q8.2025 Supp. · Q11 mark

Neena read an in-depth account of a scientist. It contained all his psychological history. This in-depth account must have been presented in his ____________.

  1. Interview
  2. Observation
  3. Case Study
  4. Data
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2025 (Supplementary)

(C) Case Study

Q9.2025 Supp. · Q21 mark

Which one of the following theories represents the information processing approach to understand intelligence ?

  1. Structure-of-Intellect Model
  2. Theory of Primary Mental Abilities
  3. Triarchic Theory of Intelligence
  4. Two-Factor Theory
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2025 (Supplementary)

(C) Triarchic Theory of Intelligence

Q10.2024 Main · Q11 mark

Sangeeta is a counsellor. She interacts with the client and seeks information from the client on one-to-one basis. She is using __________ as a method of assessment.

  1. Self-report
  2. Observation
  3. Psychological test
  4. Interview
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2024 (Main)

(D) interview

Q11.2024 Main · Q31 mark

In this question, a statement of Assertion (A) is followed by a statement of Reason (R). Read the statements and choose the appropriate option.

Assertion (A): The theory of primary mental abilities states that intelligence consists of primary abilities, each of which is relatively independent of the others.

Reason (R): This theory explains that intelligence consists of abilities operating at two levels, called Level I and Level II.

  1. Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, and Reason (R) is the correct explanation of Assertion (A).
  2. Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, but Reason (R) is not the correct explanation of Assertion (A).
  3. Assertion (A) is true, but Reason (R) is false.
  4. Assertion (A) is false, but Reason (R) is true.
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2024 (Main)

(C) (c) Assertion (A) is true, but Reason ( R) is false

Q12.2024 Supp. · Q11 mark

Raghav was told by the teacher about a test which she plans to hold. This forces him to focus on reading, learning and revising the contents of the chapters. This is because of ___________.

  1. Arousal/Attention
  2. Coding
  3. Simultaneous processing
  4. Successive processing
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2024 (Supplementary)

(A) Arousal/Attention

Q13.2024 Supp. · Q21 mark

Nirja has a mental age of 14 years with an Intelligence Quotient (IQ) of 110. What is her chronological age ?

  1. 9·7 years approximately
  2. 10·7 years approximately
  3. 11·7 years approximately
  4. 12·7 years approximately
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2024 (Supplementary)

(D) 12.7 years approximately

Q14.2023 Main · Q11 mark

Vijay’s parents are confused as to what subjects should he choose in Grade 11. To know where his strengths lie, the School Counsellor suggested that he take an aptitude test. What form of aptitude test do you think would be given to him ?

  1. Specialised
  2. Independent
  3. Generalised
  4. Vocational
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2023 (Main)

(c) Generalised

Q15.2023 Main · Q181 mark

In the following question, a statement of Assertion (A) is followed by a statement of Reason (R). Select the correct choice from (a), (b), (c), (d).

Assertion (A) : Children from disadvantaged homes, when adopted into families with higher socio-economic status, exhibit a large increase in their intelligence scores.

Reason (R) : Environmental deprivation lowers intelligence while rich nutrition, good family background and quality of schooling increases intelligence.

  1. Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, and Reason (R) is correct explanation of Assertion (A).
  2. Assertion (A) is true, but Reason (R) is false.
  3. Assertion (A) is false, but Reason (R) is true.
  4. Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, but Reason (R) is not the correct explanation of Assertion (A).
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2023 (Main)

(a) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true and Reason (R) is correct explanation of Assertion (A)

Q16.2023 Supp. · Q41 mark

Ayush is a young engineering graduate, who has effective communication skills and is good at problem solving. He is respected in his society because he shows commitment towards elders, the young and the needy and values others perspectives. According to integral intelligence, what are the competencies that are visible in him ?

  1. Cognitive and social
  2. Social and emotional
  3. Emotional and entrepreneurial
  4. Entrepreneurial and cognitive
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2023 (Supplementary)

(a) Cognitive and Social

Q17.2023 Supp. · Q61 mark

A 14-year-old girl was sent for psychometric testing, where her I.Q. was found to be 140. What will her Mental Age (MA) be like ?

  1. Mental age will be greater than chronological age.
  2. Mental age will be less than chronological age.
  3. Mental age will be equal to chronological age.
  4. Mental age will have no relationship with chronological age.
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2023 (Supplementary)

(a) Mental age will be greater than chronological age

Q18.2023 Supp. · Q181 mark

In the following question, a statement of Assertion (A) is followed by a statement of Reason (R). Mark the correct choice.

Assertion (A) : Psychometric approach expresses the individual’s performance in terms of a single index of cognitive abilities.

Reason (R) : It describes the process people use in intellectual reasoning and problem solving.

  1. Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, and Reason (R) is the correct explanation of Assertion (A).
  2. Assertion (A) is true, but Reason (R) is false.
  3. Assertion (A) is false, but Reason (R) is true.
  4. Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, but Reason (R) is not the correct explanation of Assertion (A).
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2023 (Supplementary)

(b) Assertion (A) is true, but Reason (R) is false.

Q19.SQP 2026-27 · Q11 mark

Identify the assessment method that is an objective and standardised measure of an individual’s mental and/or behavioural characteristics.

  1. Interview
  2. Observation
  3. Case Study
  4. Psychological test
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CBSE Sample Question Paper 2026-27 · Official Marking Scheme

(D) Psychological test

Q20.SQP 2026-27 · Q21 mark

People who are “street-smart" have high ____________ intelligence.

  1. Componential intelligence
  2. Experiential intelligence
  3. Contextual intelligence
  4. Technological intelligence
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CBSE Sample Question Paper 2026-27 · Official Marking Scheme

(D) Contextual intelligence

Q21.SQP 2026-27 · Q141 mark

Simi lags behind her peers in language and motor skills. At school the teachers are working on training her in self-care skills and simple social and communication skills. Under which category of intellectual disability is Simi likely to be in?

  1. Mild
  2. Moderate
  3. Severe
  4. Profound
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CBSE Sample Question Paper 2026-27 · Official Marking Scheme

(B) Moderate

Q22.SQP 2026-27 · Q301 mark

Read the following passage and answer questions number 30 and 31.

Rahul was never a topper of his class. But today he is a team leader at a marketing firm. He keeps his calm when his team struggles with a tight deadline. He recognises his frustration, takes a moment to breathe, and asks team members how they are feeling. He actively listens to their concerns. Rahul communicates clearly, delegates tasks and offers support. He manages his emotions and stays calm under pressure. He also inspires his team, focuses on shared goals, and creates a supportive environment. As a result, the team feels heard and valued. Collaboration improves, and they meet the deadline with quality work. Rahul fosters trust thus reducing stress leading to positive outcomes in high-pressure situations.

Identify the kind of intelligence being exhibited by Rahul.

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CBSE Sample Question Paper 2026-27 · Official Marking Scheme

Emotional intelligence

1 mk

Q23.SQP 2025-26 · Q31 mark

Sonia has to be assessed for abilities such as logical reasoning and clear thinking. The test used by the psychologist will involve the following:

  1. Convergent thinking
  2. Divergent thinking
  3. Both convergent and divergent thinking
  4. Open -ended questions
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CBSE Sample Question Paper 2025-26 · Official Marking Scheme

(a) Convergent thinking

Q24.2026 Main · Q152 marks

Identify two differences between Psychometric theories and Information processing theories of intelligence.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2026 (Main)

Difference between psychometric and information processing theories of Intelligence: (1+1=2)

PsychometricInformation Processing
(i) It considers intelligence as an aggregate of abilities.It describes the process people use in intellectual reasoning and problem solving.
(ii) It expresses the individual’s performance in terms of single index of cognitive abilities.Information processing approaches emphasise studying cognitive functions underlying intelligent behaviour.
(iii) It focuses on structure of intelligence.The major focus of this approach is on how an intelligent person acts.
eg. Uni-factor Theory
Two-factor Theory etc.
eg. Triarchic theory of intelligence etc.

Any two points from the above and if example alone is mentioned for each approach (0.5 + 0.5) marks should be awarded.

Q25.2026 Main · Q162 marks

Find out the IQ of a 14-year-old child with a mental age of 16.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2026 (Main)

IQ = (MA / CA) × 100 (1+1)

Result = 114/114.28

Q26.2026 Main · Q16 (OR)2 marks

Differentiate between a verbal and a non-verbal test.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2026 (Main)

Differences between verbal and non verbal tests: (1+1)

Verbal TestNon Verbal Test
(i) Verbal test require subjects to give responses either orally or in a written form.Non-verbal tests use pictures or illustrations as test items.
(ii) Verbal tests can be administered only to literate people.Non-verbal tests can be administered to literate and illiterate people. eg RSPM
Q27.2026 Supp. · Q152 marks

The two-factor theory of intelligence is the opposite of the one (uni) factor theory. Explain.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2026 (Supplementary)
Uni-FactorTwo-Factor
  • Proposed by Alfred Binet
  • One similar set of abilities which can be used for solving any / every problem in individual’s environment.
  • Proposed by Charles Spearman
  • Two factors are General factor (G) and Specific factor (S). G Factor - mental operations common to all performances. S factor – Besides G factor, S factor allows individual to excel in any given area.

(1+1=2 marks)

Q28.2025 Main · Q152 marks

A teacher notices that Neeraj, one of her class 5 students, learns new languages very easily, loves new subjects, and is very sensitive to changes in the classroom. Comment on the intellectual abilities of Neeraj.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2025 (Main)

(With reference to Neeraj)

  • Gifted children show early signs of intellectual superiority. Even during infancy and early childhood, they show larger attention span, good recognition memory, preference for novelty, sensitivity to environmental changes, and early appearance of language skills.
  • To equate giftedness with brilliant academic performance is not correct. Athletes who show superior psychomotor ability are also gifted. Each gifted student possesses different strengths, personalities and characteristics.

OR

(Above points or any other relevant points on giftedness or any other valid/connected theory of intelligence)

(1+1=2)

Q29.2025 Supp. · Q162 marks

State the difference between verbal and non-verbal tests.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2025 (Supplementary)

Verbal tests require subjects to give verbal responses either orally or in a written form. Therefore, verbal tests can be administered only to literate people. The non-verbal tests use pictures or illustrations as test items. These can be administered on children and illiterate people too.

(2)

Q30.2025 Supp. · Q16 (OR)2 marks

State any two characteristics of gifted children.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2025 (Supplementary)

Some important characteristics of gifted children are:

  • Advanced logical thinking, questioning and problem solving behaviour.
  • High speed in processing information.
  • Superior generalisation and discrimination ability.
  • Advanced level of original and creative thinking.
  • High level of intrinsic motivation and self-esteem.
  • Independent and non-conformist thinking.
  • Preference for solitary academic activities for long periods

Any two points from the above.

(1+1=2)

Q31.2025 Supp. · Q172 marks

Explain any one limitation of the assessment method that employs systematic and objective procedures to record behavioural phenomena occurring naturally in real time.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2025 (Supplementary)

The assessment method that employs systematic and objective procedures to record behavioural phenomena occurring naturally in real time is Observational Method.

Limitation of observational method (any one)

  • Observer has little control over the situation and the reports may suffer from subjective interpretations of the observers.
  • Professional training required for collection of useful data through these methods is quite demanding and time consuming.
  • Maturity of the psychologist is a precondition for obtaining valid data through these techniques.
  • Mere presence of the observer may contaminate the results. As a stranger, the observer may influence the behavior of the person being observed and thus not obtain good data.

OR related explanation given on Pg 46

(1+1=2)

Q32.2024 Main · Q162 marks

Explain the term ‘assessment’.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2024 (Main)

Assessment refers to the measurement of psychological attributes of individuals and their evaluation often using multiple methods in terms of certain standards of comparison

OR

Any other relevant explanation or example.

(2)

Q33.2024 Main · Q172 marks

‘Intelligence by itself does not ensure creativity.’ Do you agree with this statement ? Give reasons and examples in support of your answer.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2024 (Main)
  • All creative acts require some minimum ability to acquire knowledge and the capacity to comprehend, retain and retrieve

    OR

    Terman in the 1920s found that all persons with high IQ were not necessarily creative (1)
  • Any relevant example. (1)
Q34.2024 Supp. · Q162 marks

Tripti is a psychologist. She administers a test that requires the subject to manipulate objects and other materials to perform a task. Name the type of intelligence test and state its importance.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2024 (Supplementary)

Performance tests require subjects to manipulate objects and other material to perform a task. For example, Kohs’ Block Design Test.

Marks: 2

Q35.2023 Main · Q352 marks

When Srikanth Bolla was born, neighbours in the village suggested that his parents smother him. It was better than the pain they would have to go through their lifetime, some said. He is a “useless” baby without eyes; being born blind is a sin, others added. Twenty-three years later, Srikanth is standing tall living by his conviction that if the “world looks at me and says, ‘Srikanth, you can do nothing’, I look back at the world and say, I can do anything.”

Srikanth is the Founder and CEO of Hyderabad-based Bollant Industries, an organisation that employs uneducated and challenged employees to manufacture eco-friendly, disposable consumer packaging solutions, which is worth ₹ 50 crore. He considers himself the luckiest man alive, not because he is now a millionaire, but because his uneducated parents, who earned ₹ 20,000 a year, did not heed any of the ‘advice’ they received and raised him with love and affection. “They are the richest people I know,” says Srikanth.

We can see that Srikanth has the ability to adopt, shape and select the environment. Identify the theory of intelligence that would best support our understanding of Srikanth’s intelligence.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2023 (Main)

Triarchic Theory of intelligence

Type of Intelligence – Contextual Intelligence

1+1=2

Q36.2023 Main · Q362 marks

When Srikanth Bolla was born, neighbours in the village suggested that his parents smother him. It was better than the pain they would have to go through their lifetime, some said. He is a “useless” baby without eyes; being born blind is a sin, others added. Twenty-three years later, Srikanth is standing tall living by his conviction that if the “world looks at me and says, ‘Srikanth, you can do nothing’, I look back at the world and say, I can do anything.”

Srikanth is the Founder and CEO of Hyderabad-based Bollant Industries, an organisation that employs uneducated and challenged employees to manufacture eco-friendly, disposable consumer packaging solutions, which is worth ₹ 50 crore. He considers himself the luckiest man alive, not because he is now a millionaire, but because his uneducated parents, who earned ₹ 20,000 a year, did not heed any of the ‘advice’ they received and raised him with love and affection. “They are the richest people I know,” says Srikanth.

“Srikanth is standing tall living by his conviction that if the “world looks at me and says, ‘Srikanth, you can do nothing’, I look back at the world and say, I can do anything.” According to Gardner’s multiple theory of intelligences, which kind of intelligence explains this ? Discuss this intelligence in brief.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2023 (Main)
  • Intrapersonal intelligence (1)
  • (i) Awareness of one’s own feelings motives and desires
    (ii) Knowledge of one’s internal strengths and limitations and using that knowledge to effectively relate to others. (1)

(Any of point (i) and (ii))

(1+1=2)

Q37.2023 Supp. · Q202 marks

Priya is very smart at solving any problem that she encounters. She refers to similar problems that she has faced in the past and uses her experience to solve the present ones. Which type of intelligence is she using and what theory is this based on ?

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2023 (Supplementary)
  • Experiential/Creative intelligence
  • Triarchie theory of intelligence

These are the type of intelligence:

  • Componential/Analytical
  • Experiential/Creative
  • Contextual/Practical

1+1=2

Q38.2023 Supp. · Q20 (OR)2 marks

Angel, a psychologist, is analysing the intelligence scores of the children. She notices that the children from rural areas scored significantly lower than the children from urban areas. What do you think would have influenced the result of intelligence tests ? Explain how she can overcome it.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2023 (Supplementary)
  • Culture biased test – show a bias to the culture in which they were developed.
  • By using a culture fair test – common to all cultures (non-verleal and performance tests)

1+1=2

Q39.SQP 2026-27 · Q312 marks

Read the following passage and answer questions number 30 and 31.

Rahul was never a topper of his class. But today he is a team leader at a marketing firm. He keeps his calm when his team struggles with a tight deadline. He recognises his frustration, takes a moment to breathe, and asks team members how they are feeling. He actively listens to their concerns. Rahul communicates clearly, delegates tasks and offers support. He manages his emotions and stays calm under pressure. He also inspires his team, focuses on shared goals, and creates a supportive environment. As a result, the team feels heard and valued. Collaboration improves, and they meet the deadline with quality work. Rahul fosters trust thus reducing stress leading to positive outcomes in high-pressure situations.

Identify the characteristics of Rahul’s intelligence that makes him a good team leader.

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CBSE Sample Question Paper 2026-27 · Official Marking Scheme

He has the ability to monitor his own and other’s emotions, to discriminate among them, and uses the information to guide his thinking and actions.

1+1=2

Q40.SQP 2025-26 · Q182 marks

Distinguish between non-verbal and performance tests of intelligence.

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CBSE Sample Question Paper 2025-26 · Official Marking Scheme

-The non-verbal tests use pictures or illustrations as test items. Here the subject examines an incomplete pattern and chooses the correct figure from the alternative to complete the figure. Raven’s Progressive Matrices is an example of a non-verbal test.

-Performance tests require subjects to manipulate objects and other materials to perform a task. Eg Koh’s Block Design Test.

Q41.2026 Main · Q203 marks

Rohan, a 10-year-old diagnosed with intellectual deficiency as per AAMD guidelines, is supported with a special education plan. Based on his diagnosis, identify two common features he might display in his daily functioning.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2026 (Main)

Features of Intellectual Deficiency (1+1+1=3)

  • First, in order to be judged as intellectually disabled, a person must show significantly sub-average intellectual functioning.
  • Person having IQs below 70 are judged to have sub-average intelligence.
  • Deficits in adaptive behavior.

Any other relevant feature.

Q42.2025 Main · Q223 marks

(a) Analyze the relationship between intelligence and creativity, based on Terman’s research findings.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2025 (Main)
  • According to Terman persons with high IQ were not necessarily creative. Creative ideas could come from persons who did not have a very high IQ.
  • Both high and low levels of creativity can be found in highly intelligent children and also children of average intelligence.
  • The same person can be creative as well as intelligent but it’s not necessary that intelligent ones must be creative.
  • Intelligence by itself does not ensure creativity.
  • Relationship between creativity and intelligence is positive.

(Any three relevant points from above)

(1+1+1 =3)

Q43.2025 Main · Q22 (OR)3 marks

(b) Evaluate how Gardner’s view of intelligence as an independent and interactive type challenges the traditional notions of a singular, unified intelligence.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2025 (Main)
  • Howard Gardner proposed the theory of multiple intelligences. According to him, intelligence is not a single entity; rather distinct types of intelligences exist.
  • Each of these intelligences are independent of each other. If a person exhibits one type of intelligence, it does not necessarily indicate being high or low on other types of intelligences.
  • Different types of intelligences interact and work together to find a solution to a problem.
  • There are eight types of intelligence : Spatial, linguistic, interpersonal, intrapersonal, musical, bodily-kinesthetic, logical-mathematical, naturalistic intelligence.

(Any three points of the above)

(1+1+1=3)

OR

(Any one point from above and explanation of any two types of intelligences)

(1+2=3)

Q44.2025 Supp. · Q223 marks

Raghav belongs to a technologically advanced society. What are the qualities and skills he is likely to possess ?

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2025 (Supplementary)

The qualities and skills Raghav is likely to possess are:

  • In technologically advanced societies, personal achievement founded on abilities of reasoning and judgement is considered to represent intelligence.
  • Technologically advanced societies adopt child rearing practices that foster skills of generalisation and abstraction, speed, minimal moves, and mental manipulation among children.
  • In technological societies, persons are well-versed in skills of attention, observation, analysis, performance, speed, and achievement orientation.

(1+1+1=3)

Q45.2025 Supp. · Q22 (OR)3 marks

Ridit initiated a programme in his school that aimed at improving students’ emotional intelligence. How will this programme help the students ?

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2025 (Supplementary)
  • Emotional intelligence is receiving increasing attention from educators for dealing with students who are affected by stresses and challenges of the outside world. Programmes aimed at improving students’ emotional intelligence, like that of Ridit, have beneficial effects on their academic achievement.
  • They encourage co-operative behaviour and reduce their antisocial activities.
  • These kind of programmes are very useful in preparing students to face the challenges of life outside the classroom.

(1+1+1=3)

Q46.2024 Main · Q223 marks

Mohit understands the motives, feelings and behaviours of other people and can develop a comfortable relationship with them. He also likes to travel as he recognises the beauty of different species of flora and fauna. Identify the types of intelligence that Mohit possesses in accordance with Gardner’s theory. From the information provided about Mohit, explain any two other types of intelligence that Mohit may not be possessing.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2024 (Main)

Types of intelligence that Mohit possesses

# Naturalistic     # Interpersonal

# Intelligence that are not present-

  • Spatial
  • Linguistic- Verbal
  • Logical- mathematical
  • Bodily- kinesthetic
  • Musical
  • Intrapersonal

(Explanation of any two of above)

(½+½ +1+1=3)

Q47.2024 Supp. · Q223 marks

‘J.P. Guilford’s structure-of-intellect model is a representation of a psychometric approach to understand intelligence.’ Do you agree with this statement ? State the reasons for the same and the characteristics of his theory.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2024 (Supplementary)

Yes,

The psychometric approach considers intelligence as an aggregate of abilities. It expresses the individual's performance in terms of a single index of cognitive abilities. (1.5)

The structure of-intellect model classifies intellectual traits among three dimensions: operations, contents, and products. (0.5 x 3)

(Explanation of the above dimensions)

Q48.2023 Main · Q243 marks

Ryan and Shireen are siblings brought up in the same environment. Ryan knows all the formulae in mathematics and can recall them as they are but cannot solve problems based on those formulae, whereas Shireen can use formulae to solve any kind of problem that are based on them. Explain the intelligence they both exhibit. Which approach is this theory based on ?

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2023 (Main)

Hierarchical Model of Intelligence by Arther Jensen (1)

Level 1 – Associative learning in which output is more or less similar to input (Possessed by Ryan)

Level 2 – Cognitive competence involves higher order skills as they transform the input to produce on effective output. (Possessed by Shireen) (½+½)

Based on Psychometric Approach (1)

(or any other relevant explanation)

(1+½+½+1=3)

Q49.SQP 2026-27 · Q233 marks

Yasmin, a psychologist, finds that children from rural areas score lower than urban children on intelligence tests. Identify the factors that would have influenced these test scores. How can she overcome it?

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CBSE Sample Question Paper 2026-27 · Official Marking Scheme
  • Cultural differences have an impact on intelligence tests. The test used by the psychologist would have been a verbal test which did not respect the culture of rural students.

It can be overcome by:

  • It is important for her to use culture fair tests like the non-verbal tests e.g. RSPM or performance tests like Koh’s Block Design test.
  • Even those verbal tests that are based on the culture of the rural population can be implemented.

1+2=3

Q50.SQP 2026-27 · Q23 (OR)3 marks

Aliya scores high on analysis and achievement orientation, whereas Ajay scores high on social and emotional skills. Explain how their intelligence is viewed in Indian culture.

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CBSE Sample Question Paper 2026-27 · Official Marking Scheme

Aliya is high in cognitive and entrepreneurial competence. Ajay is showing social and emotional competence.

  • Integral Intelligence: gives emphasis on connectivity with the social and world environment.

Views intelligence from a holistic perspective where equal attention is paid to cognitive and non-cognitive processes as well as their integration.

1+2=3

Q51.2026 Main · Q244 marks

Elaborate on the concept of buddhi and specify how intelligence in the Indian tradition lays emphasis on its connectivity with social and environmental world.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2026 (Main)

Intelligence in Indian Tradition: (2+(0.5x4)=4)

  • Definition of Buddhi - It includes skills like mental effort, determined action, feelings and opinions along with cognitive competence such as knowledge, discrimination and understanding/Includes Cognitive and Non cognitive factors/Explanation of Integral Intelligence
  • Explanation of the following four competencies -
    • Cognitive
    • Social
    • Emotional
    • Entrepreneurial
Q52.2026 Main · Q24 (OR)4 marks

Individuals who are categorised as having intellectual disability show significant variation in their abilities, ranging from those who can be taught to work and function with special attention, to those who cannot be trained and require institutional care throughout their lives. Identify their categories according to IQ range and specify their potential functionalities.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2026 (Main)

Variation in Intellectual Deficiency (0.5+0.5+0.5+0.5+1+1=4)

1.Mild (IQ-55-70 approximately)

  • Slower, can function independently, can hold jobs and families.

2.Moderate (IQ-35-40 to approximately 55)

  • Lag behind in language and motor skills, can be trained in self care skills and simple social and communication skills and simple social and communication skills, require moderate degree of supervision in everyday task.

3.Severe (IQ-20-25) and Profound (IQ Below 20)

  • Incapable of managing life and need constant care for their entire lives.

OR

Any other relevant characteristics.

Q53.2026 Supp. · Q244 marks

Howard Gardner proposed theory of multiple intelligences that interact and work together to find a solution to a problem. Identify and explain four such types.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2026 (Supplementary)

Types of Intelligence as proposed by Howard Gardner

  • Linguistic
  • Logical Mathematical
  • Spatial
  • Musical
  • Bodily – Kinaesthetic
  • Interpersonal
  • Intrapersonal
  • Naturalistic

(Explanation of any four from the above)

(1 mark for naming only if no explanation is given)

(1+1+1+1=4 marks)

Q54.2026 Supp. · Q24 (OR)4 marks

Psychological attributes are not linear or unidimensional. They are complex and expressed in terms of dimensions. Elaborate any four domains of psychological attributes.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2026 (Supplementary)

Domains of psychological attributes

  • Intelligence
  • Aptitude
  • Interest
  • Personality
  • Values

(Explanation of any four from the above)

(1 mark for naming only if no explanation is given)

(1+1+1+1=4 marks)

Q55.2025 Main · Q244 marks

(a) Compare and contrast technological and integral approaches to intelligence. Also discuss the cultural factors that may influence these perspectives.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2025 (Main)

Comparison between Technological and Integral Intelligence.

  • Technologically advanced societies adopt child rearing practices that foster skills of generalisation and abstraction, speed, minimal moves, and mental manipulation among children.
  • Intelligence in the Indian tradition can be termed as integral intelligence, which gives emphasis on connectivity with the social and world environment. Indian thinkers view intelligence from a holistic perspective where equal attention is paid to cognitive and non-cognitive processes as well as their integration.

Cultural factors:

  • The cultural environment provides a context for intelligence to develop. Vygotsky, a Russian psychologist, has argued that culture provides social context in which people live, grow, and understand the world around them.
  • For example, in less technologically developed societies, social and emotional skills in relating to people are valued, while in technologically advanced societies, personal achievement founded on abilities of reasoning and judgment is considered to represent intelligence.
  • Four facets of integral intelligence: Cognitive. social, emotional and entrepreneurial competence.

(Any two points from the above)

(2+2=4)

Q56.2025 Main · Q24 (OR)4 marks

(b) Manoj and Sunil are two managers in a company. State four reasons how Manoj’s higher emotional intelligence contributes to his popularity with colleagues as compared to Sunil, who lacks these qualities.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2025 (Main)

Characteristics of Emotionally Intelligent person which contribute to Manoj’s popularity as compared to Sunil-

  • The ability to monitor one’s own and others emotions.
  • To discriminate among them.
  • Understand the powerful influence of the nature and intensity of your emotions.
  • Use this information to guide one’s thinking and actions.

(Any four of the above or any other relevant characteristics of emotionally intelligent persons).

(1x4=4)

Q57.2025 Supp. · Q254 marks

Veer is undertaking a research project to study teacher-student interaction. Explain any four assessment methods that he can use for his research.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2025 (Supplementary)

Assessment methods:

  • Psychological Test
  • Observation
  • Interview
  • Case Study
  • Self-Report

Explanation of any four points referring to Veer

(1+1+1+1=4)

Q58.2024 Main · Q254 marks

Vimal is brought up in a society which is technologically advanced. Explain the intelligence that is adopted by him. Is it likely to be tuned by the cultural factors ? Give reasons for your answer.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2024 (Main)

Technologically advanced societies foster skills of generalization and abstraction, speed, minimal moves, and mental manipulation among children. This can be called technological intelligence, which is also individualistic. This is present in Vimal.

Vimal’s intelligence is likely to be tuned by these cultural parameters.

  • The unique features of culture now find some representation in theories of intelligence. Sternberg’s notion of contextual or practical intelligence implies that intelligence is the product of culture.
  • Vygotsky also believed that cultures like individuals have a life of their own; they grow and change, and in the process, specify what will be the end product of successful intellectual development.
  • According to him, while elementary mental functions (eg. Crying, attending to mother’s voice, sensitivity to smells, walking and running) are universal, the manner in which higher mental function such as problem solving and thinking operate are largely culture-produced.
  • Technologically advanced societies, skills of generalization and abstraction, speed, minimal moves, and mental manipulation among children. These societies promote a type of behavior, which can be called technological intelligence.
  • In these societies, persons are well-versed in skills of attention, observation, analysis, performance, speed and achievement orientation. Intelligence tests developed in Western culture look precisely for these skills in an individual.

(any two of the above)

(1+1.5+1.5=4)

Q59.2023 Main · Q284 marks

Describe the model which states that intellectual activity involves the three interdependent functioning of neurological systems.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2023 (Main)

PASS Model

(i) Attention Arousal (1)

(ii) Simultaneous & successive (2)

(iii) Planning (1)

(Explanation of above processes)

(1+2+1=4)

Q60.2023 Main · Q28 (OR)4 marks

The cultural environment provides a context for intelligence to develop. How does the role of culture influence our understanding of intelligence ? Explain.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2023 (Main)
  • According to Vygotsky culture provides a social context in which people live, grow and understand the world around them.
  • Sternberg’s notion of contextual or practical intelligence implies that intelligences is a product of culture.
  • Technologically advanced societies adopt child rearing practices that foster skills of generalization, abstraction, speed, minimal moves and mental manipulation among children, whereas
  • Integral intelligence emphasizes on connectivity with the social and world environment and majority focuses on cognitive, social, emotional and entrepreneurial competences.

(Or any other four relevant points)

1+1+1+1=4

Q61.2023 Supp. · Q284 marks

What is assessment ? Explain any three methods of psychological assessment.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2023 (Supplementary)

Assessment refers to the measurement of psychological attributes of individuals and their evaluation, often using multiple methods in terms of certain standards of comparison.

Methods used for Psychological assessment-

  • Psychological test is an objective and standardized measure of individual’s mental and/or behavioral characteristics.
  • Interview involves seeking information from a person on a one to one basis.
  • Case study is an in depth study of an individual in terms of his/her psychological attributes, psychological history in the context of his/her psychological and physical environment.
  • Observation involves employing systematic, organized and objective procedures to record behavioral phenomena occurring naturally in real time.
  • Self report is a method in which a person provides factual information about himself/herself and/or opinions, beliefs etc.

(explanation of any 3 methods)

1+1+1+1=4

Q62.2023 Supp. · Q28 (OR)4 marks

What is the relationship between creativity and intelligence ? Differentiate between creativity tests and intelligence tests.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2023 (Supplementary)
  • Terman found that persons with high IQ were not necessarily creative, creative ideas could come from persons who did not have a very high IQ. Intelligence by itself does not ensure creativity.
  • The relationship between intelligence and creativity is positive. Certain level of intelligence is required for creativity but beyond that intelligence does not co-relate well with creativity.

Difference between creativity tests and intelligence tests

  • Creativity tests are open ended, involve divergent thinking and assess ability to produce a variety of ideas, ability to see new relationships, ability to guess causes and consequences, ability to put things in a new context.
  • Intelligence tests are close ended, involve convergent thinking, the person has to think of the right solution to the problem, focus on assessing memory, logical reasoning, accuracy etc.

2+2=4

Q63.2023 Supp. · Q294 marks

If we look around in our environment, we find that success is not associated with marks at school. There are many other types of intelligences. How will Gardner’s theory of intelligences explain this ? Describe his theory of multiple intelligences.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2023 (Supplementary)

According to Garden’s theory of Multiple intelligence

  • There are eight types of intelligence which are independent of each other.
  • They interact and work together to find a solution to a problem.
  • Eight intelligences are linguistic, logical-Mathematical, Spatial, Musical, Bodily-Kinesthetic, Interpersonal, Intrapersonal, Naturalistic. (Explanation of any two)

1+1+1+1/2+1/2=4

OR

According to Gardner’s theory of Multiple intelligence there are eight types of intelligences:

  • Linguistic – use language fluently and flexibly to express one’s thinking and understand others.
  • Logical-Mathematical – person high on this type of intelligence can think logically and critically.
  • Spatial – refers to the abilities involved in forming, using and transforming mental images.
  • Musical – capacity to produce, create and manipulate musical pattern.
  • Bodily-Kinesthetic – use of the whole body or portions of it for display or construction of products and problem solving.
  • Interpersonal – skills of understanding the motives, feelings and behaviors of other.
  • Intrapersonal – Skills of understanding the motives, feelings and behavior of oneself.
  • Naturalistic – awareness of our relationship with the natural world.

½ x8=4

Q64.SQP 2026-27 · Q244 marks

Academic achievement is often measured through school marks, yet many individuals succeed in life without excelling academically. Explain this observation with reference to Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligences.

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CBSE Sample Question Paper 2026-27 · Official Marking Scheme

Different types of intelligences interact and work together to find a solution to a problem. 8 intelligences-

  • Linguistic- use language fluently and flexibly to express one’s thinking and understand others.
  • Logical-Mathematical- Persons high on this type of intelligence can think logically and critically.
  • Spatial: refers to the abilities involved in forming, using, and transforming mental images.
  • Musical: capacity to produce, create and manipulate musical patterns.
  • Bodily-Kinesthetic: use of the whole body or portions of it for display or construction of products and problem solving.
  • Interpersonal: skill of understanding the motives, feelings and behaviors of other
  • Intrapersonal: knowledge of one’s internal strengths and limitations and using that knowledge to effectively relate to others.
  • Naturalistic: awareness of our relationship with the natural world.

Any four points 1+1+1+1=4

Q65.SQP 2025-26 · Q274 marks

How is the Indian concept of intelligence different from the type of intelligence valued in Western countries? Distinguish between these two types of intelligence.

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CBSE Sample Question Paper 2025-26 · Official Marking Scheme

In India, integral intelligence is valued which gives emphasis on connectivity with the social and world environment. Integral intelligence views intelligence holistically where equal attention is paid to cognitive and non-cognitive processes as well as their integration. The Indian concept of ‘Buddhi’ has both affective and motivational and cognitive components.

It includes cognitive capacity, social, emotional and entrepreneurial competence.

Technological intelligence is more valued in Western societies like America and Europe. Child rearing practices that foster skills of generalisation and abstraction, speed, minimal moves and mental manipulation among children. Persons here are well-versed in skills of attention, observation, performance, speed and achievement orientation.

(2+2=4)

Q66.2026 Supp. · Q286 marks

Robert Sternberg is a pioneering figure in the field of Psychology. Define intelligence according to him and illustrate the three types of intelligence he identified.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2026 (Supplementary)

Robert Sternberg’s view of intelligence – Triarchic theory of intelligence, definition of intelligence.

Types:

  • Componential / Analytical Intelligence
  • Experiential / Creative Intelligence
  • Contextual / Practical Intelligence

(Explanation of the above)

(1.5+1.5+1.5+1.5=6 marks)

Q67.2026 Supp. · Q28 (OR)6 marks

Intelligence tests are of several types. They can be classified based on their administration procedure, the nature of items used and their cultural impact. Explain each type with its meaning.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2026 (Supplementary)

Intelligence tests can be classified on the basis of -

(i) Administration procedure –

  • Individual tests
  • Group tests

(ii) Nature of items –

  • Verbal tests
  • Non-verbal tests
  • Performance tests

(iii) On the basis of Cultural impact –

  • Culture fair tests
  • Culture biased tests

(Explanation of any four from the above)

(1 mark for naming only if no explanation is given)

(2+2+2=6 marks)

Q68.2024 Supp. · Q296 marks

Explain briefly the multiple intelligences identified by Howard Gardner with the help of examples.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2024 (Supplementary)

Theory of multiple intelligences by Howard Gardner. These are as follows:

  • Linguistic (an ability to produce and use language)
  • Logical-Mathematical (an ability to think logically and critically, and solve problems)
  • Spatial (an ability to form visual images and patterns)
  • Musical (an ability to produce and manipulate musical rhythms and patterns)
  • Bodily-Kinaesthetic (an ability to use whole or portions of the body flexibly and creatively)
  • Interpersonal (an ability to understand to subtle aspects of others' behaviours)
  • Intrapersonal (an ability to understand of one's own feelings, motives, and desires)

(explanation of any six of the above types)

Marks: 1+1+1+1+1+1

Q69.2024 Supp. · Q29 (OR)6 marks

Discuss the cultural differences in the conceptualisation of intelligence.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2024 (Supplementary)
  • The cultural environment provides a context for intelligence to develop.
  • Vygotsky, a Russian psychologist, has argued that culture provides a social context in which people live, grow, and understand the world around them.
  • For example, in less technologically developed societies, social and emotional skills relating to people are valued.
  • In technologically advanced societies, personal achievement founded on abilities of reasoning and judgement is considered to represent intelligence.
  • Sternberg's notion of contextual or practical intelligence implies that intelligence is a product of culture.
  • Vygotsky also believed that cultures, like individuals, have a life of their own; they grow and change, and in the process specify what will be the end-product of successful intellectual development.
  • According to him, while elementary mental functions (e.g., crying, attending to mother's voice, sensitivity to smells, walking, and running) are universal, the manner in which higher mental functions such as problem solving and thinking operate are largely culture-produced.

(Any six points from above explanation or any other relevant explanation)

Marks: 1+1+1+1+1+1

Q70.SQP 2025-26 · Q296 marks

Is intelligence a product of heredity or environment? Give reasons in support of your answer.

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CBSE Sample Question Paper 2025-26 · Official Marking Scheme

Intelligence is influenced by heredity and the environment.

Evidence for hereditary influence comes from studies on twins and adopted children.

Correlation studies.

Studies on adopted children.

Role of the environment. Adopted children and environmental enrichment like education, nutrition, schooling and parental upbringing.

A detailed description about both.

(3+3=6)

Q71.SQP 2025-26 · Q29 (OR)6 marks

Describe Robert Sternberg's theory of intelligence.

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CBSE Sample Question Paper 2025-26 · Official Marking Scheme

Concept and theory of intelligence -

-Componential- Knowledge acquisition, meta component, performance
-Experiential Intelligence- Creative Intelligence
-Contextual Intelligence-Practical Intelligence

Explanation of each in detail.

(2+2+2=6)

2. Self and Personality

Q1.2026 Main · Q31 mark

Rohan failed an important exam. Instead of accepting that he didn’t prepare well, he insists that the teacher was biased and the exam was unfair. Which defence mechanism is Rohan using ?

  1. Repression
  2. Projection
  3. Rationalization
  4. Denial
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2026 (Main)

(C) Rationalization

OR

(B) Projection

Q2.2026 Main · Q41 mark

Meera always felt left out, low and incompetent as a child because her elder siblings were more successful. Now she works extremely hard to be the best in every task she takes up. According to Adler, this behaviour can be explained by :

  1. Fixation
  2. Inferiority Complex
  3. Superiority Complex
  4. Regression
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2026 (Main)

(B) Inferiority Complex

Q3.2026 Main · Q51 mark

Ananya is known in school for honesty. No matter the situation, she always speaks the truth. According to Allport, this trait can be classified as :

  1. Central Trait
  2. Cardinal Trait
  3. Secondary Trait
  4. Source Trait
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2026 (Main)

(B) Cardinal Trait

OR

(A) Central Trait

Q4.2026 Main · Q61 mark

Which concept is based on Bandura’s social learning theory ?

  1. Self-esteem
  2. Self-efficacy
  3. Self-concept
  4. Identity crisis
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2026 (Main)

(B) Self-efficacy

Q5.2026 Supp. · Q21 mark

During a discussion about family, Riya suddenly snapped at her best friend who had lightly teased her about being “too quiet at home”. Riya shouted, “Just stop talking about my family!” surprising everyone, including herself. Later, when her friend tried to talk to her, Riya appeared confused and embarrassed. She kept repeating, “I do not know why I did that.”

Identify the defence mechanism reflected in Riya’s behaviour :

  1. Repression
  2. Denial
  3. Projection
  4. Fixation
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2026 (Supplementary)

(A) Repression

Q6.2025 Main · Q31 mark

A researcher is conducting a survey to assess the personality traits of participants. One of the items in the survey asks, “I always help others when they are in need.” Which of following biases is most likely to affect the response to this item ?

  1. Non-response bias
  2. Acquiescence
  3. Random responding
  4. Social desirability
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2025 (Main)

(D) Social desirability

Q7.2025 Main · Q51 mark

Which of the following is not a major criticism of Psychodynamic theories ?

  1. They are largely based on case studies and lack a rigorous scientific basis.
  2. They use small and atypical individuals as samples for advancing generalisations.
  3. The concepts are well defined and easily submitted to scientific testing.
  4. They face criticism for using non-representative samples.
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2025 (Main)

(C) The concepts are well defined and easily submitted to scientific testing.

Q8.2025 Main · Q111 mark

According to Sheldon’s typology, which of the following combinations correctly matches the body build with the associated temperament ?

  1. Endomorphs – Thin, long, fragile, brainy, artistic, introvert
  2. Mesomorphs – Strong musculature, strong body build, rectangular, energetic, courageous
  3. Ectomorphs – Fat, soft, round, relaxed, sociable
  4. Endomorphs – Strong musculature, rectangular, energetic, courageous
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2025 (Main)

(B) Mesomorphs – Strong musculature, strong body build, rectangular, energetic, courageous

Q9.2025 Supp. · Q31 mark

Aditya tells himself that he will use his pocket money wisely. He uses the important technique of self-control called ____________.

  1. Self-reinforcement
  2. Self-instruction
  3. Self-esteem
  4. Observation of own behaviour
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2025 (Supplementary)

(B) Self-Instruction

Q10.2025 Supp. · Q51 mark

Neeraj believed that he had the ability to face the interview and luck had no role to play in the outcome. This indicates that he is high on ______________.

  1. Self-efficacy
  2. Self-esteem
  3. Self-concept
  4. Self-identity
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2025 (Supplementary)

(A) Self Efficacy

Q11.2025 Supp. · Q301 mark

Aman, a 15-year-old teenager, leads a largely sedentary lifestyle and shows little enthusiasm for engaging in regular physical activity. Additionally, he spends an excessive amount of time on electronic devices, which has become a major concern for his parents regarding his overall health and well-being. Concerned about the potential negative effects on Aman’s physical fitness and social interactions, his parents decided to seek professional help from a therapist. The therapist devises a comprehensive behavioural intervention to address Aman’s lack of physical activity and excessive screen time.

Over the course of several months, Aman’s behaviour begins to change noticeably. Initially motivated by the reward system, he starts to engage more regularly in physical activities. As he becomes more involved, he begins to appreciate the benefits of exercise and starts to enjoy activities he previously avoided. His screen time decreases as he finds himself increasingly absorbed in his new hobbies and interests.

Aman leads a largely sedentary lifestyle. Can this behaviour be an outcome of learning ? Give reasons in support of your answer.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2025 (Supplementary)

Yes, this may be an outcome of learning. This behaviour might have trigged due to Operant/ Instrumental conditioning or Observational learning.

(1)

Q12.2024 Main · Q21 mark

Surendra’s newborn son has no idea of his own self. This refers to which of the following ?

  1. He is unaware of various objects in his environment, such as a chair or a table in his room.
  2. He is able to cry when he is hungry.
  3. Sometimes he smiles when he sleeps.
  4. People around him are part of his experiences. However, he cannot gather any meaning from it.
  1. (i) and (ii)
  2. (i) and (iv)
  3. (iii) and (iv)
  4. (ii) and (iii)
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2024 (Main)

(B) (i) and (iv)

Q13.2024 Supp. · Q31 mark

Mohi buys a set of new pens after doing poorly in an examination. She asserts that she will do much better with the new pens. She is using ___________ to reduce anxiety caused due to poor performance.

  1. Denial
  2. Reaction formation
  3. Projection
  4. Rationalisation
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2024 (Supplementary)

(D) a defense mechanism

Q14.2024 Supp. · Q41 mark

In the following question, a statement of Assertion (A) is followed by a statement of Reason (R). Read the statements and choose the appropriate option.

Assertion (A) : Personality is solely determined by genetic factors.

Reason (R) : While genetic factors contribute to the development of personality traits, the ecological and cultural environment also plays a crucial role.

  1. Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, and Reason (R) is the correct explanation of Assertion (A).
  2. Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, but Reason (R) is not the correct explanation of Assertion (A).
  3. Assertion (A) is true, but Reason (R) is false.
  4. Assertion (A) is false, but Reason (R) is true.
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2024 (Supplementary)

(D) Assertion (A) is false, but Reason (R) is true.

Q15.2023 Main · Q21 mark

There are some people who are hostile, egocentric and antisocial. They are said to be high on _________ .

  1. Sociability
  2. Psychoticism
  3. Neuroticism
  4. Introversion
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2023 (Main)

(b) Psychoticism

Q16.2023 Main · Q31 mark

The self that values family and social relationships is referred to as _________ .

  1. Personal
  2. Social
  3. Familial
  4. Relational
  1. (i) and (iii)
  2. (ii) and (iii)
  3. (iii) and (iv)
  4. (i) and (iv)
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2023 (Main)

(b) (ii) and (iii) / (c) (iii) and (iv)

Q17.2023 Main · Q41 mark

Some traits often get associated strongly with the name of the person and derive such identities as the ‘Gandhian’ or ‘Hitlerian’ trait. Identify the trait.

  1. Central
  2. Secondary
  3. Surface
  4. Cardinal
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2023 (Main)

(d) Cardinal

Q18.2023 Supp. · Q11 mark

While responding on a self-report inventory, there is a tendency in many individuals to respond by ticking “yes” to the items. Identify this tendency.

  1. Social desirability
  2. Halo effect
  3. Acquiescence
  4. Extreme response bias
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2023 (Supplementary)

(c) Acquiescence

Q19.2023 Supp. · Q21 mark

Chetan lacks motivation in life and is prone to depression. He does not like to converse with others and likes to stay alone. According to Friedman and Rosenman, which type of personality does Chetan have ?

  1. Type-A
  2. Type-B
  3. Type-C
  4. Type-D
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2023 (Supplementary)

(d) Type D

Q20.2023 Supp. · Q31 mark

Identify the statements that are true to the familial self.

  1. It is also referred to as social or relational self.
  2. It is the self that emerges in relation with others in the social world.
  3. It brings out aspects like cooperation, affiliation and sacrifice, etc.
  4. This self values family and social relationships.
  1. (i), (iii) and (iv)
  2. (i) and (iv)
  3. (i) and (ii)
  4. (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv)
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2023 (Supplementary)

(d) (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv)

Q21.SQP 2026-27 · Q31 mark

As individuals we always make some judgment about our own worth. This is called ___

  1. self-efficacy
  2. self-concept
  3. self-esteem
  4. self-regulation
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CBSE Sample Question Paper 2026-27 · Official Marking Scheme

(C) self-esteem

Q22.SQP 2026-27 · Q131 mark

Which of the following is not true about source traits?

  1. These traits are the building blocks of personality
  2. These result from the interaction of surface traits
  3. These traits are of opposing tendencies
  4. These traits are stable
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CBSE Sample Question Paper 2026-27 · Official Marking Scheme

(B) These result from the interaction of surface traits

Q23.SQP 2025-26 · Q11 mark

Neeta is conducting interviews for candidates applying for a senior management role. She uses the same set of questions with each candidate. Why is this type of interview beneficial?

  1. It allows candidates to showcase their unique personalities.
  2. It helps create a positive impression of the interviewer.
  3. It ensures all candidates are assessed using the structured interview.
  4. It gives candidates the freedom to discuss any topic they want because it is structured.
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(c) It ensures all candidates are assessed using the structured interview.

Q24.SQP 2025-26 · Q21 mark

Why does a strong sense of social competence enhance a person's self-esteem?

  1. By making them superior to others in every area.
  2. By fostering social connection and positive reinforcement.
  3. By ensuring that they excel in academic competence as well.
  4. By encouraging them to focus solely on physical appearance.
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(b) By fostering social connection and positive reinforcement.

Q25.2026 Supp. · Q162 marks

The notion of self-efficacy is based on Albert Bandura’s social learning theory. How is self-efficacy important for human beings ?

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2026 (Supplementary)
  • Self-efficacy refers to a person’s belief in their own ability to handle situations and influence life outcomes, rather than attributing them to luck or external factors.
  • Self-efficacy shapes the behaviors people choose and the risks they take. Strong sense of self-efficacy helps individuals shape their own lives and reduces fear.
Q26.2026 Supp. · Q16 (OR)2 marks

Alfred Adler’s theory of lifestyle and social interest has given us great insights into human personality. Discuss.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2026 (Supplementary)
  • Adler’s theory is known as Individual Psychology.
  • Human behavior is purposeful, and goal directed
  • Our personal goals are source of our motivation and provide security
  • Feelings of inadequacy and guilt/inferiority complex arising from childhood.
  • Overcoming the complex essential for optimal personality development

(Any two points from the above)

Q27.2025 Supp. · Q182 marks

Result of a psychological test on a particular dimension indicates that a person tends to be hostile, egocentric and antisocial. Identify and explain the test that has been used here.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2025 (Supplementary)

The test which has been used is Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ) (½)

  • Developed by Eysenck, this test initially assessed two dimensions of personality, called Introversion vs Extraversion and Neuroticism vs Emotional Stability.
  • Later on, Eysenck added a third dimension, called Psychoticism vs Sociability.
  • Psychoticism dimension is linked to psychopathology which represents a lack of feeling for others, a tough manner of interacting with people, and a tendency to defy social conventions.
  • A person scoring high on Psychoticism dimension tends to be hostile, egocentric, and antisocial.

Any 3 of the above points. (½ X 3=1½)

(½ +1½=2)

Q28.2025 Supp. · Q312 marks

Aman, a 15-year-old teenager, leads a largely sedentary lifestyle and shows little enthusiasm for engaging in regular physical activity. Additionally, he spends an excessive amount of time on electronic devices, which has become a major concern for his parents regarding his overall health and well-being. Concerned about the potential negative effects on Aman’s physical fitness and social interactions, his parents decided to seek professional help from a therapist. The therapist devises a comprehensive behavioural intervention to address Aman’s lack of physical activity and excessive screen time.

Over the course of several months, Aman’s behaviour begins to change noticeably. Initially motivated by the reward system, he starts to engage more regularly in physical activities. As he becomes more involved, he begins to appreciate the benefits of exercise and starts to enjoy activities he previously avoided. His screen time decreases as he finds himself increasingly absorbed in his new hobbies and interests.

What are the principles of the behavioural approach that helped in modifying Aman’s behaviour ? Explain any two.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2025 (Supplementary)

Principles of Behavioural approach are -

  • Behavioural approach focuses on learning of stimulus-response connections and their reinforcement. According to them, personality can be best understood as the response of an individual to the environment.
  • The structural unit of personality is the response. Each response is a behaviour, which is emitted to satisfy a specific need.
  • The core tendency that organizes behaviour is the reduction of biological or social needs that energize behaviour. This is accomplished through responses (behaviours) that are reinforced.
  • The theories of classical conditioning (Pavlov), instrumental conditioning (Skinner), and observational learning (Bandura)

Any two points from the above.

(2)

Q29.2024 Main · Q182 marks

In India, Mallick and Joshi have developed the Jodhpur Multiphasic Personality Inventory (JMPI). Which test has it been adapted from ? Explain its most important use.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2024 (Main)
  • Adapted from MMPI (Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory)
  • The test has been found effective in identifying psychopathology

    OR

  • It is used as a tool for psychiatric diagnosis.

(1+1=2)

Q30.2024 Supp. · Q172 marks

Daniel often feels torn between seeking immediate pleasure and adhering to societal rules. How does the psychodynamic theory explain his conflict ? Explain.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2024 (Supplementary)

The psychodynamic theory explains Daniel's struggle as a conflict between his id (the unconscious, pleasure-seeking part of his personality) and his superego (the internalized societal rules and moral standards). This conflict could lead to feelings of guilt or anxiety as he tries to balance his desire for immediate pleasure with the need to conform to societal expectations.

Marks: 1+1

Q31.2023 Supp. · Q352 marks

Read the case study and answer the questions (Q. 35 – 36) that follow :

Anna first came to the attention of psychoanalyst, Joseph Breuer, in 1880 when he was called to her house in Vienna where she was lying in bed, almost entirely paralysed. Her other symptoms included hallucinations, personality changes and rambling speech, but doctors could not find any physical cause. Breuer visited her almost daily and talked to her about her thoughts and feelings, including her grief for her father. The more she talked, the more her symptoms seem to fade — this was apparently one of the first ever instances of psychoanalysis or “the talking cure”. Although Freud never met Anna, he wrote about her case, including the notion that she had a hysterical pregnancy, although this was also disputed later.

What could be the reasons for Anna’s illness as per psychoanalysts ?

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2023 (Supplementary)
  • Unconscious sexual and aggressive urges, motives and conflicts.
  • The influence of childhood experiences
  • The intrapsychic conflict within her
  • The conflict between the id, ego and ego.

(any two points)

1+1=2

Q32.SQP 2026-27 · Q152 marks

What are the reasons for the development of psychological disorders according to Karen Horney?

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  • Psychological disorders are caused by disturbed interpersonal relationships during childhood.
  • When parents' behaviour towards a child is indifferent, erratic the child feels insecure and a feeling called basic anxiety develops. Deep resentment towards parents or basic hostility occurs due to this anxiety.
  • By showing too much dominance or indifference, parents can generate among children feelings of isolation and helplessness which interferes with their healthy development.

Any two points. 1+1=2

Q33.SQP 2025-26 · Q162 marks

State any two features of projective techniques.

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The features of projective techniques are as follows: (any two)

  • The stimuli are relatively or fully unstructured and poorly defined.
  • The person being assessed is usually not told the purpose of assessment and the method of scoring and interpretation.
  • The person is informed that there are no correct or incorrect responses.
  • Each response is considered to reveal a significant aspect of personality.
  • Scoring and interpretation are lengthy and sometimes subjective.
Q34.SQP 2025-26 · Q172 marks

Does classifying people into personality types overlook the complexities of human behaviour? Give reasons for your answer.

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Yes

Reasons:

  • It classifies individuals into personality types and simplifies human behaviour into fixed categories. This is not possible as people do not fit into such simple categorisation.
  • Ignores the complexity and variability amongst people.
Q35.2026 Main · Q213 marks

Riya is on a strict diet because she wants to stay healthy and prepare for her upcoming school sports competition. One evening, she opens the fridge and sees a big, delicious chocolate cake that her mom made for a family dinner the next day. She immediately feels the urge to eat it, but plans to eat it after the sports competition.

As per Freud’s theory, explain Riya’s behaviour in terms of id, ego and superego.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2026 (Main)
  • Id works on pleasure principle so Riya feels the urge to eat the cake.
  • Ego works on reality principle so Riya plans to eat the cake after the sports completion.
  • Super ego works on moral values and ethics so Riya plans to eat it during the family dinner.

(1+1+1=3)

(Relating Id, ego and super ego with Riya’s behaviour in any other way.) (3)

Q36.2024 Supp. · Q233 marks

Punit is administering a self-report measure to his client for career guidance. Explain the self-report measure he is most likely to use. State any two limitations of the self-report measures.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2024 (Supplementary)

Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire (16 PF) by Cattell

The self - report measures suffer from a number of problems.

  • Social desirability is one of them. It is a tendency on the part of the respondent to endorse items in a socially desirable manner.
  • Acquiescence is another one. It is a tendency of the subject to agree with items/questions irrespective of their contents. It often appears in the form of saying "yes' to items.

Marks: 1.5 + 1.5

Q37.2024 Supp. · Q23 (OR)3 marks

Kyna is not attached with the worldly things as she can exercise a lot of self-control. What are the psychological techniques of self-control that may have helped her ?

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2024 (Supplementary)

Kyna may have adopted the following psychological techniques of self-control.

  • Observation of own behaviour is one of them. This provides us with necessary information that may be used to change, modify, or strengthen certain aspects of self.
  • Self-instruction is another important technique. We often instruct ourselves to do something and behave the way we want to. Such instructions are quite effective in self-regulation.
  • Self-reinforcement is the third technique. This involves rewarding behaviours that have pleasant outcomes.

Marks: 1+1+1

Q38.SQP 2026-27 · Q223 marks

Arum belongs to the Jarawa tribe of the Andaman Islands. These tribes largely depend upon hunting and gathering activities. How does the culture of hunting -gathering affect the personality development of a child like Arum?

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Nomadic people require a constant movement in small bands from one forest to another in search of games and other forest products.

  • Such children are allowed enormous freedom to move into forests and learn hunting gathering skills.
  • Child socialization practices are also aimed at making children independent, autonomous
  • Achievement-oriented like taking risks and challenges from an early age of life.

1+1+1=3

Q39.SQP 2025-26 · Q233 marks

Explain the levels of consciousness as stated in the psychodynamic approach.

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Levels of Consciousness

  • Conscious - which includes thoughts, feelings and actions of which people are aware
  • Preconscious, which includes mental activity of which people may become aware only if they attend to it closely.
  • Unconscious, which includes mental activity that people are unaware of.

(1+1+1= 3)

Q40.SQP 2025-26 · Q23 (OR)3 marks

Explain the Behavioural Approach to the study of personality

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Any three points:

  • The behaviourists believe in data, which they feel are definable, observable, and measurable.
  • The behaviourists focus on learning of stimulus-response connections and their reinforcement.
  • For most behaviourists, the structural unit of personality is the response. Each response is a behaviour, which is emitted to satisfy a specific need. This is accomplished through responses (behaviours) that are reinforced.

(1+1+1= 3)

Q41.2026 Supp. · Q254 marks

How is the Indian view of the self different from the Western view of the self ?

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2026 (Supplementary)
AspectIndian View of selfWestern view of self
Boundary between self and othersShifting, Flexible; Dynamic; expands and contractsRelatively fixed and rigid boundary, stable and consistent constant
DichotomiesDoes not draw sharp dichotomiesDraws clear dichotomies
Relation of self and groupSelf is not distinctly separated from the group; harmonious coexistenceSelf and group seen as separate entities
Cultural OrientationCollectivisticIndividualistic

If diagram is drawn, one mark can be given.

(2+2=4 marks)

Q42.2025 Main · Q264 marks

You are a psychologist assessing the personality and emotional state of a new client using projective techniques. You decide to use the Sentence Completion Test and Draw-a-Person Test. Describe how you would use these tests and explain what kind of information you might gain from each test.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2025 (Main)

Sentence Completion test:

  • Makes use of a member of incomplete sentences. The starting part of the sentence is presented and the subject has to provide an ending to the sentence.
  • The type of ending reflects the subject’s attitudes, motivation and conflicts.

OR

Provides subjects with several opportunities to reveal their underlined unconscious motivations.

  • Sample/ example
    My father …..

Draw-a-Person Test

  • The subject is asked to draw a person, then ask to draw the figure of an opposite sex person. Finally he/she has to make a story about the person as if he/she is a character in a novel or play.
  • Example of interpretation.

(a) Omission of facial features suggest that the person tries to evade a highly conflict – ridden interpersonal relationships.

(b) Graphic emphasis on the neck suggests lack of control over impulses.

(c) Disproportionately large head suggests organic brain disease and preoccupation with headaches.

(Brief description of both the techniques covering all relevant points).

(2+2=4)

Q43.2024 Main · Q264 marks

A psychologist used projective techniques to assess Rupa’s personality. What are the chief features and benefits of using these tests for her, when compared to the direct methods ?

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2024 (Main)

Following are the features of Projective techniques:

  • The stimuli are relatively or fully unstructured and poorly defined
  • The person being assessed is usually not told about the purpose of the assessment and the method of scoring and interpretation.
  • The person is informed that there are no correct or incorrect responses
  • Each response is considered to reveal a significant aspect of personality.
  • Scoring and interpretation are lengthy and sometimes subjective.

(Any three characteristics from above)

The chief benefit to Rupa:

  • The psychoanalytic theory tells us that a large part of human behavior is governed by unconscious motives. Direct methods of personality assessment, cannot uncover, the unconscious part of our behavior. Projective techniques help to access these unconscious motives and feelings.

(3+1=4)

Q44.2023 Main · Q294 marks

A study found that one-third of British children, at age six, are afraid of snakes even though it is rare to encounter snakes in British Isles. The children had never come in contact with snakes in a traumatic situation, but snakes still generated anxious response. How would Carl Jung’s theory of personality explain the same ? Throw some light on his theory.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2023 (Main)
  • Given example can be best understood with the help of Carl Jung’s analytical Psychology.
  • Concept of collective unconscious consisting of Archetypes or primordial images.
  • Primordial images (archetypes) are not individually acquired, but are inherited.
  • The God or the Mother Earth.
  • So the British children have the primordial images of snakes (archetype) which are inherited (or any other relevant example)

(Any other relevant feature of Carl Jung’s theory)

1+1+1+1=4

Q45.SQP 2025-26 · Q264 marks

Razia is unhappy with her career despite having a stable job and a good salary. According to the Humanistic theory of personality, what could be the reason for her dissatisfaction?

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According to the Humanistic theory, especially Carl Rogers' concept of the self, Razia's dissatisfaction might stem from a gap between her "real self" and her "ideal self." The theory suggests that when individuals' self-perceptions do not align with their true potential or inner desires, they experience incongruence, leading to feelings of frustration or discontent.

Lack of self-actualisation-inability to satisfy her potential to the fullest

Razia may feel that her current job doesn't fulfil her true aspirations or allow her to grow personally. As when social conditions are positive, self-concept and self-esteem are high. In contrast when social conditions are negative, self-concept and self-esteem are low

(2+2= 4)

Q46.SQP 2025-26 · Q26 (OR)4 marks

Harpreet, a psychologist, is interested in using self-report measures for career counselling of his client. Explain the appropriate tests that he can use.

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  • Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ)
    It initially assessed two dimensions of personality, called introverted-extraverted and emotionally stable-emotionally unstable. These dimensions are characterised by 32 personality traits. Later on, Eysenck added a third dimension, called psychoticism
  • Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire
    (16 PF) This test was developed by Cattell. On the basis of his studies, he identified a large set of personality descriptors, which were subjected to factor analysis to identify the basic personality structure. It has been found extremely useful in career guidance, vocational exploration, and occupational testing.

(2+2=4)

Q47.2026 Main · Q286 marks

Direct techniques of personality assessment come with their own drawbacks especially related to social desirability. In such a condition, suggest other methods of personality assessment which can tap the unconscious of the individual. Mention any four such effective techniques.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2026 (Main)

Identification and Explanation of Projective Technique: (2+(1x4)=6)

  • Projective Techniques tap the unconscious motive and feelings.
  • These are based on the assumption that a less structured or unstructured stimulus or situation will allow the individual to project her/his unconscious feelings, desires and needs on to that situation.

Effective Techniques:

  • Rorschach Inkblot Test
  • Thematic Apperception Test
  • Rosenzweig’s Picture Frustration study
  • Sentence Completion Test
  • Draw a Person Test

Brief explanation of any four of the above five techniques.

Q48.2026 Main · Q28 (OR)6 marks

While simple and appealing, type theories truly capturing the uniqueness of every individual or oversimplifying the rich diversity of human personality are debatable. Type theories attempt to place individuals into distinct categories based on shared characteristics. Many types of theories have shaped how we view personality. Elaborate on the theories by Type Approach.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2026 (Main)

Type Approaches (1.5x4=6)

  • Hippocrates’ classification
  • Tridosha
  • Triguna
  • Sheldon’s classification
  • Jung’s Classification
  • Type A and Type B
  • Type C
  • Type D

(Explanation of any four of the above)

Q49.2026 Supp. · Q296 marks

Personality is viewed differently by behavioural and humanistic schools of thought. Briefly explain both schools of thought.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2026 (Supplementary)

Behavioral Approach

  • Behaviorists believe in data which are definable, observable and measureable so they focus on learning of stimulus response connections and their reinforcements.
  • This approach does not give importance to the internal dynamics of behavior.
  • The theories of classical conditioning view learning and maintenance of behavior from different angles.
  • Skinner, Bandura, Pavlov.
  • A person learns new behaviors in response to new environment and stimuli.

Humanistic Approach

  • The important idea proposed by Rogers is that of a fully functioning person.
  • Rogers makes two basic assumptions about human behavior.
    (i) Behavior is goal directed and worthwhile.
    (ii) People who are innately good will almost always choose adaptive, self-actualizing behavior.
  • Rogers theory is structured around the concept of self (ideal self, real self)
  • Maslow had an optimistic and positive view of man who has the potentialities for love, joy and to do creative work.
  • Self actualization becomes possible by analyzing the motivations that govern our life.

(Explanation of any three points from each approach)

(3+3=6 marks)

Q50.2026 Supp. · Q29 (OR)6 marks

What are the different ways to assess personality ? Specify the tools, tests and techniques used in each method.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2026 (Supplementary)
  • Self-report questionnaires-to know how individuals see themselves. (eg. MMPI, EPQ, 16PF)
  • Projective techniques to reveal unconscious aspects (eg. Thematic Apperception Test or Rorschach Inkblot test, DAP test, Picture Frustration Study, Sentence Completion Test)
  • Behavioral Analysis to understand personality in real-life situations. (eg. interview, observation, ratings, nomination, and situational-tests)

(Explanation of the above)

(1 mark for naming only if no explanation is given)

(2+2+2=6 marks)

Q51.2025 Main · Q286 marks

(a) How does Freud explain the stability and potential changes in personality over a person’s lifetime ? Provide an overview of each stage and discuss the impact of encountering problems at any stage on personality development.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2025 (Main)
  • Any statement that explains Freud’s viewpoint
  • Stages of psycho-sexual development :
  1. Oral Stage
  2. Anal Stage
  3. Phallic Stage
  4. Latency Stage
  5. Genital Stage

(Explanation of all stages)

(1+5=6)

Q52.2025 Main · Q28 (OR)6 marks

(b) How do ecological and cultural environments influence personality development ? Provide concrete examples from hunting-gathering and agricultural societies to illustrate your answer.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2025 (Main)

Introduction:

  • Cultural approach attempts understand personality in relation to the features of ecological and cultural environment.
  • People develop various personality(behavioural) qualities or an attempt to adapt to the ecological and cultural features of a group’s life.
  • Economic maintenance system, climatic conditions, nature of terrain of the habitat, availability of food etc.
  • Rituals, ceremonies, religious practices, arts, recreational activities, games, plays, people’s skills, abilities, behavioural styles and value priorities etc. are the ways through which people’s personalities gets perfected in a culture.

(any two points of the above)

  • Birhor Society (Hunting and Gathering): The Birhor of Jharkhand live a nomadic lifestyle, moving between forests to hunt and gather. Children are given significant freedom to explore, learn hunting skills, and gather forest products from an early age.
    Socialization practices focus on developing independence, autonomy, and a willingness to take risks. This approach fosters self-relience and achievement-oriented behaviours essential for their subsistence lifestyle.
  • Agricultural Societies: In agricultural settings, children are socialized to be obedient to elders, nurturing towards younger siblings, and responsible for their duties. These traits are crucial for the structured, community-focused nature of agricultural work. As a result, obedience, nurturance, and responsibility are emphasized, contrasting with the independence and risk taking valued in hunting – gathering societies.

(2+2+2=6)

Q53.2025 Supp. · Q296 marks

Explain the key propositions of any three Post-Freudian theorists.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2025 (Supplementary)

Post-Freudian theorists:

  • Carl Jung : Aims and Aspirations
    Jung claimed that there was a collective unconscious consisting of archetypes or primordial images. These are not individually acquired, but are inherited. The God or the Mother Earth is a good example of archetypes. They are found in myths, dreams and arts of all mankind. Jung held that the self strives for unity and oneness
  • Karen Horney : Optimism
    She argued that psychological disorders were caused by disturbed interpersonal relationship during childhood. When parents’ behaviour toward a child is indifferent, discouraging, and erratic, the child feels insecure and a feeling called basic anxiety results.
  • Alfred Adler : Lifestyle and Social Interest
    His basic assumption is that human behaviour is purposeful and goal directed. Each one of us has the capacity to choose and create. Our personal goals are the sources of our motivation. The goals that provide us with security and help us in overcoming the feelings of inadequacy are important in our personality development. In Adler’s view, every individual suffers from the feelings of inadequacy and guilt, i.e. inferiority complex, which arise from childhood.
  • Erich Fromm : The Human Concerns In contrast to Freud’s biological orientation, Fromm developed his theory from a social orientation. He viewed human beings as basically social beings who could be understood in terms of their relationship with others. He argued that psychological qualities such as growth and realisation of potentials resulted from a desire for freedom, and striving for justice and truth.
  • Erik Erikson : Search for Identity Erikson’s theory lays stress on rational, conscious ego processes in personality development. In his theory, development is viewed as a lifelong process, and ego identity is granted a central place in this process. His concept of identity crisis of adolescent age has drawn considerable attention. Erikson argues that young people must generate for themselves a central perspective and a direction that can give them a meaningful sense of unity and purpose.

Explanation of any three Post Freudian theories in detail.

(2+2+2=6)

Q54.2025 Supp. · Q29 (OR)6 marks

Explain how projective techniques assess personality. Which projective tests of personality are widely used by psychologists ?

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2025 (Supplementary)
  • Projective techniques were developed to assess unconscious motives and feelings. These techniques are based on the assumption that a less structured or unstructured stimulus or situation will allow the individual to project her/his feelings, desires and needs on to that situation. These projections are interpreted by experts. The stimuli are relatively or fully unstructured and poorly defined.
  • The person being assessed is usually not told about the purpose of assessment and the method of scoring and interpretation.
  • The person is informed that there are no correct or incorrect responses.
  • Each response is considered to reveal a significant aspect of personality.
  • Scoring and interpretation are lengthy and sometimes subjective.

Any three points from the above

Projective techniques which are widely used by psychologists -

  • The Rorschach Inkblot Test
  • The Thematic Apperception Test (TAT)
  • Sentence Completion Test
  • Rosenzweig’s Picture-Frustration Study (P-F Study)
  • Draw-a-Person Test

Explanation of any 3 points from above

(3+ 1+1+1=6)

Q55.2024 Main · Q296 marks

Discuss the interview and observation methods used in behavioural analysis. Describe the problems we face in using these methods.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2024 (Main)
  • Interview involves talking to the person being assessed and asking specific questions face to face.
  • Diagnostic interviewing generally involves indepth interviewing which seeks to go beyond the replies given by the person.
  • These may be structured or unstructured depending on the purpose or goals of assessment.

(Any two of the above)

  • Use of observation for personality assessment is a sophisticated procedure that cannot be carried out by untrained people.
  • It requires a fairly detailed guideline about analysis of behavior in order to assess the personality of a given person.
  • A clinical psychologist may gain considerable insight into clients’ personality.

(Any two of the above)

Limitations

  • Quite demanding and time consuming as professional training required
  • Maturity of the psychologist is a precondition
  • Mere presence of the observer may contaminate the results.

(Any two of the above)

(2+2+2=6)

Q56.2024 Main · Q29 (OR)6 marks

Enumerate the structure of personality with respect to Freud’s theory of personality.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2024 (Main)

Structure of Personality

Id - Pleasure principle/ libido/ life and death instinct
-Example

Ego - Reality Principle
- Example

Superego - Morality/Ethics/Internalization of parental authority
- Example

(explanation of the above)

(2+2+2=6)

Q57.2024 Supp. · Q306 marks

Explain the humanistic approach to understand the personality of an individual.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2024 (Supplementary)

Humanistic approach:

Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow have particularly contributed to the development of a humanistic perspective on personality.

  • The idea proposed by Rogers is that of a fully functioning person. He believes that fulfillment is the motivating force for personality development.
  • Rogers makes two basic assumptions about human behaviour. One is that behaviour is goal-directed and worthwhile. The second is that people (who are innately good) will almost always choose adaptive, self-actualising behaviour.
  • Rogers suggests that each person also has a concept of an ideal self. An ideal self is the self that a person would like to be.
  • The discrepancy between the real self and the ideal self often results in unhappiness and dissatisfaction.
  • When social conditions are positive, the self-concept and self-esteem are high.
  • An atmosphere of unconditional positive regard must be created in order to ensure enhancement of people's self-concept.
  • The client-centered therapy that Rogers developed basically attempts to create this condition.
  • Maslow has given a detailed account of psychologically healthy people in terms of their attainment of self-actualisation, a state in which people have reached their own fullest potential.

Marks: 1+1+1+1+1+1

Q58.2024 Supp. · Q30 (OR)6 marks

How does Freud explain the structure of personality ? Explain with the help of suitable examples.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2024 (Supplementary)

According to Freud's theory, the primary structural elements of personality are three, i.e. id, ego, and superego. They reside in the unconscious as forces, and they can be inferred from the ways people behave.

  • Id: It is the source of a person’s instinctual energy. It deals with immediately gratification of primitive needs, sexual desires and aggressive impulses. It works on the pleasure principle.
  • Ego: It grows out of id, and seeks to satisfy an individual's instinctual needs in accordance with reality. It works by the reality principle.
  • Superego: the best way to characterize the superego is to think of it as the moral branch of mental functioning. The superego tells the id and the ego whether gratification in a particular instance is ethical.

Marks: 2+2+2

Q59.2023 Main · Q326 marks

A number of theories have been used to understand ‘personality’. Discuss how efforts have been made to categorise people into personality types since ancient times.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2023 (Main)
  • Type Approach – Attempts to comprehend human personality by examining certain broad patterns in the observed behavioural characteristics of individuals.

Type Theories

  • Hippocrates / Greek – based on fluids, humour
    Four types – Sanguine, phlegmatic, melancholic, choleric
  • Charak Samhita/ Tridosha / Ayurveda
    Categories – Vatta, Pitta, Kapha
  • Trigunas – Sattva, Rajas, Tamas
  • Sheldon – Based on body built and temperament
    Endomorphic, Mesomorphic, Ectomorphic
  • Jung’s typology – Introvert and Extrovert
  • Recent Years
    • Friedman Rosenman – Type A & Type B
    • Type C and Type D

(Any six points to be explained)

1x6=6

Q60.2023 Main · Q32 (OR)6 marks

According to Freud, individuals avoid anxiety by using mechanisms that protect the ego by distorting reality. What are these mechanisms called ? Explain its different kinds with the help of examples.

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Ego Defence Mechanism / Defence Mechanism (1)

  • Repression
  • Projection
  • Denial
  • Reaction Formation
  • Rationalization

(Brief explanation of any five defence mechanisms with relevant examples) (1x5=5)

(1+5=6)

Note: Any other defence mechanism which is relevant

Q61.2023 Supp. · Q326 marks

A person’s behaviour in variety of situations provides us with meaningful information about his/her personality. Discuss behavioural analysis as a method of personality assessment.

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Observation of behavior serves as the basis of behavioral analysis. An observer’s report may contain data obtained from interview, observation, ratings, nomination and situational tests.

  • Interview – This involves talking to the person being assessed and asking specific questions. Types - Structured and unstructured.
  • Observation – it requires careful training of the observer, and a fairly detailed guideline about analysis of behaviors in order to assess the personality of a given person. Limitation – professional training required, maturity of the psychologist are pre-conditioned, presence of the observer may contaminate the results.
  • Behavioral Ratings – used in educational and industrial settings. Behavioral ratings are generally taken from people who know the assessee intimately and have interacted with his/her over a period of time or have had a chance to observe him/her. Limitations – halo effect, middle category bias, extreme response bias.
  • Nomination – Each person is asked to choose one or more persons of the group with whom he/she would like to work, study, play or participate in any other activity. This method is used in obtaining peer assessment. Limitation – affected by the personal biases.
  • Situational tests – situational stress test provides us with information about how a person behaves under stressful situations.

1+5=6

Q62.2023 Supp. · Q32 (OR)6 marks

Explain the characteristics of a trait. Describe the trait approaches to the understanding of personality.

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  • A trait is considered as a relatively enduring attribute or quality on which one individual differ another.
    They are:
  • Relatively stable over time.
  • Generally consistent across situation;
  • Their strengths and combination vary across individuals leading to individual differences in personality.

(any three of above)

  • Trait Theories of personality-
    1. Allport’s Trait Theory
      Individuals possess a number of traits – Cardinal Tarits: highly generalized disposition, indicates the goal around whoch a person’s entire life revolves, e.g, Hitler’s Nazism, Central Traits: less pervasive in effect, but still quite generalized disposition. e.g., sincere. Secondary traits last generalized characteristics of a person, e.g., likes mangoes.
    2. Cattell’s Personality Factors; Source or Primary Traits (16): stable, building blocks of personality – described in terms of opposing tendencies. Surface Traits: result out of the interaction of source traits. Developed Sixteen Personality Factor (16PF) Questionnaire for the assessment of personality.
    3. Eysenck’s Theory: Neuroticism (anxious, moody, touchy, restless) us. Emotional stability (calm, even tempered, reliable) – the degree to which people have control over their feelings; Extraversion (active, gregarious, impulsive, thrill seeking) vs. Introversion (passive, quite, caution, reserved) – the degree to which people are socially outgoing or socially withdrawn; Later proposed a third dimension, Psychoticism (hostile, electric, and antisocial) vs. Sociability, considered to interact with other two dimensions. Developed Eysenck Personality Questionnaires to study dimensions of personality.

1 ½+(3 + 1½) = 6

Q63.SQP 2026-27 · Q286 marks

Explain the direct methods of personality assessment along with their limitations. Describe any two such tests.

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Allport suggested that the best method to assess a person is by asking about her/him about herself/himself. This led to the use of self-report measures. These are fairly structured measures that require subjects to give verbal responses using some kind of rating scale. This requires the subject to objectively report her/his feelings with respect to various items. They are scored in quantitative terms and interpreted on the basis of norms.

Limitations:

Social desirability and Acquiescence :brief description

Any two tests

MMPI, Eysenck Personality Questionnaire,16 PF (brief description of any two)

2+2+2=6

Q64.SQP 2026-27 · Q28 (OR)6 marks

Describe the Psychodynamic approach to personality with special emphasis on levels of consciousness and structure of personality.

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The Psychodynamic approach, proposed by Sigmund Freud, explains personality in terms of unconscious mental processes, inner conflicts, and early childhood experiences.

Three levels of consciousness: Conscious, preconscious and unconscious ( brief explanation)

Structure of personality: id, ego, superego

2+2+2=6

3. Meeting Life Challenges

Q1.2026 Main · Q71 mark

Match the following :

Column 1Column 2
1. Continued exposure to the same stressor or additional stressors drains the body of its resources.I. Resistance
2. The mental exhaustion appears in the form of irritability, anxiety, feeling of helplessness and hopelessness.II. Exhaustion
3. The presence of noxious stimulus or stressor leads to activation of the adrenal-pituitary-cortex system. This triggers the release of hormones producing the stress response.III. Burnout
4. The parasympathetic nervous system calls for more cautious use of the body’s resources. The organism makes efforts to cope with the threat, as through confrontation.IV. Alarm
  1. 1-I, 2-II, 3-III, 4-IV
  2. 1-II, 2-III, 3-IV, 4-I
  3. 1-IV, 2-III, 3-I, 4-II
  4. 1-IV, 2-III, 3-II, 4-I
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2026 (Main)

(B) A-2, B-3, C-4, D-1

Q2.2026 Main · Q81 mark

Use the correct option at the appropriate place.

The white blood cells ( ________ ) within the immune system identify and destroy foreign bodies ( ________ ) such as viruses.

  1. Antigens/Leucocytes
  2. Leucocytes/Antibodies
  3. Antigens/Antibodies
  4. Leucocytes/Antigens
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2026 (Main)

(D) Leucocytes/antigens

Q3.2026 Main · Q91 mark

In the following question, a statement of Assertion (A) is followed by a Statement of Reason (R). Read the Statements and choose the appropriate option.

Assertion (A) : Creative visualisation helps in managing stress by using imagination and mental imagery.

Reason (R) : It is more effective when the mind is quiet, the body is relaxed, and the eyes are closed, as this minimizes distractions and enhances focus.

Options :

  1. Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, and Reason (R) is the correct explanation of Assertion (A).
  2. Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, but Reason (R) is not the correct explanation of Assertion (A).
  3. Assertion (A) is true, but Reason (R) is false.
  4. Assertion (A) is false, but Reason (R) is true.
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2026 (Main)

(A) OR (B)

In one perspective it can be (A) and on other perspective it can be (B)

Q4.2026 Main · Q301 mark

Ritu is a high school student preparing for her final board exams. She is an academically bright student and wants to secure a scholarship for college. However, over the past few weeks, Ritu has been feeling overwhelmed and frustrated. She is constantly comparing herself to her peers who seem to be doing better, which causes her to feel caught between her wishes and desires and hence feels inadequate. At home, her parents have high expectations and remind her frequently that she must top the class, adding to her own increasing self-demands. Ritu also finds herself in a conflict of being caught between choosing a career she is passionate about (art & design) and what her parents want (engineering), leading to an intense dilemma. Additionally, she feels unspoken demands and a social pressure from her relatives and classmates, who keep asking about her future and ranks. As a result, Ritu has become irritable, experiences frequent headaches, has trouble sleeping and feels emotionally exhausted.

Based on the symptoms described, identify the types of stress Ritu is experiencing.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2026 (Main)

Type of Stress

Psychological stress. (1)

Q5.2026 Supp. · Q31 mark

_________ is considered positive and can motivate individuals to perform better, feel excited and be more productive.

  1. Distress
  2. Strain
  3. Burnout
  4. Eustress
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2026 (Supplementary)

(D) Eustress

Q6.2026 Supp. · Q41 mark

When an individual evaluates whether they have resources and abilities to cope with a perceived stressor, this process is called :

  1. Primary appraisal
  2. Tertiary appraisal
  3. Secondary appraisal
  4. Cognitive distortion
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2026 (Supplementary)

(C) Secondary appraisal

Q7.2025 Main · Q71 mark

A study finds that individuals who are regularly exposed to high stress levels have a higher incidence of infections. This observation can be explained by :

  1. Enhanced production of antibodies during stress.
  2. Increased white cell count due to stress.
  3. Impaired immune response due to stress.
  4. Reduced need for sleep due to stress.
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2025 (Main)

(C) Impaired immune response due to stress

Q8.2025 Main · Q301 mark

Social stress can be broadly defined as a situation which threatens one’s relationships, esteem, or sense of belonging within a dyad group, or larger social context. Social stress, can emerge in a number of situations. Social stress can stem from difficult social interactions, for example, a conflictual or tumultuous marital or family relationship. Social stress can also emerge in the context of evaluated performance situations, where others could be judgmental or critical, or in contexts in which one feels rejected, ostracized, or ignored. Social stress can also be more broadly construed, representing perceptions of one’s lower role or standing within a group or community. Social stress can lead to a range of observable and measurable responses related to health outcomes.

What impact can social stress have on an individual ?

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2025 (Main)

Social stress can lead to a range of observable and measurable responses related to health outcomes.

(or any other relevant impact)

(1)

(Assessment based on performance), Q30, Q31

Q9.2025 Supp. · Q41 mark

The state of physical, emotional and psychological exhaustion is known as ____________.

  1. Burnout
  2. Resistance
  3. Stress
  4. Apprehension
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2025 (Supplementary)

(A) Burnout

Q10.2025 Supp. · Q61 mark

In the question given below, there are two statements marked as Assertion (A) and Reason (R). Read the statements and choose the correct option.

Assertion (A) : Stress can produce changes in the immune system and increase the chances of someone becoming ill.

Reason (R) : Stress is caused only during extreme events such as fire, train or road accident, robbery, earthquake, tsunami, etc.

Options :

  1. Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true and Reason (R) is the correct explanation of Assertion (A).
  2. Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, but Reason (R) is not the correct explanation of Assertion (A).
  3. Assertion (A) is true, but Reason (R) is false.
  4. Assertion (A) is false, but Reason (R) is true.
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2025 (Supplementary)

(C) Assertion(A) is true, but Reason (R) is false.

Q11.2024 Main · Q41 mark

Naresh endures personal stresses due to noisy surroundings, commuting, water shortage and traffic snarls. These stresses can be reported as __________.

  1. Life events
  2. Everyday hassles
  3. Traumatic events
  4. Physical stress
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2024 (Main)

(B) Everyday hassles

Q12.2024 Main · Q51 mark

Ritika’s stress level was good for her and enhanced her performance. The term used to describe her level of stress is called __________.

  1. Strain
  2. Distress
  3. Eustress
  4. Appraisal
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2024 (Main)

(C) Eustress

Q13.2024 Main · Q61 mark

In this question, a statement of Assertion (A) is followed by a statement of Reason (R). Read the statements and choose the appropriate option.

Assertion (A): Students facing important examinations can be highly stressed.

Reason (R): Reduced levels of natural killer cell cytotoxicity have been found in people who are highly stressed.

  1. Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, and Reason (R) is the correct explanation of Assertion (A).
  2. Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, but Reason (R) is not the correct explanation of Assertion (A).
  3. Assertion (A) is true, but Reason (R) is false.
  4. Assertion (A) is false, but Reason (R) is true.
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2024 (Main)

(A) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, and Reason (R) is the correct explanation of Assertion (A)

OR

(B) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, but Reason (R) is not the correct explanation of Assertion (A)

Q14.2024 Main · Q311 mark

The fire department received a call about a fire that swept through a house. The fire started with the explosion of a gas cylinder used for cooking. The injured Suman was lying on a hospital bed. She was talking to a press reporter. She expressed that her mother was in the kitchen when the incident occurred. The cylinder burst with a loud sound and the fire spread at great speed. The exit door of the house had also caught fire. Her mother shouted in panic as if she had lost all hope, and she fainted in the kitchen. However, Suman was determined to save her mother. She said “I don’t know how I got the energy to drag my mother to the room. I broke the window there and jumped out. My back got hurt, but without wasting any time, I sought the help of my neighbour and rescued my mother. I am happy that we are both safe.” Hearing her story, the press reporter was impressed with her chivalry.

Referring to the General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS) model, what immediate impact does the fire (noxious stimulus) have on Suman’s mother ?

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2024 (Main)
  • Suman’s mother is at the alarm reaction stage

OR

  • It leads to activation of adrenal-pituitary-cortex system in her.

OR

  • This triggers the release of hormones producing the stress response.

(1)

Q15.2024 Supp. · Q51 mark

Meena denies the seriousness of completing her work in the office by talking to her friend on the phone. Which of the following strategy is she using ?

  1. Task-oriented strategy
  2. Emotion-oriented strategy
  3. Avoidance-oriented strategy
  4. Problem-focused strategy
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2024 (Supplementary)

(C) Avoidance-oriented Strategy

Q16.2024 Supp. · Q61 mark

Abdul avoids misplaced jealousy and sulking behaviour. He listens to what the other person is saying very patiently. This is the key to ____________ .

  1. Assertiveness
  2. Improving relationships
  3. Self-care
  4. Overcoming unhelpful habits
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2024 (Supplementary)

(B) Improving Relationships

Q17.2023 Main · Q51 mark

Which of the following statements is not true about coping with stress ?

  1. Coping is a dynamic situation-specific reaction to stress.
  2. It is a set of concrete responses to stressful situations or events that are intended to resolve the problem and reduce stress.
  3. People who cope poorly with stress have high level of natural killer cell cytotoxicity.
  4. Individuals show similarity in coping strategies that they use to deal with stressful situations.
  1. (ii), (iii) and (iv)
  2. (iii) only
  3. (ii) and (iii)
  4. (i) and (ii)
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2023 (Main)

(b) (iii) only

(note-if student writes iii & iv, it is marked as correct)

Q18.2023 Main · Q61 mark

Meena’s work environment is highly stressful due to unrealistic expectations by the organisation. She had been trying to balance her job as well as her home front. Since the last few months, she was not feeling well. So, she went for a check-up and was diagnosed with high blood pressure. According to General Adaptation Syndrome, at what stage does this happen ?

  1. Alarm reaction
  2. Resistance
  3. Exhaustion
  4. Adaptation
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2023 (Main)

(c) Exhaustion

Q19.2023 Main · Q71 mark

Wasim is always brushing everything under the carpet and refuses to face the stressor or even accept it. Which kind of unhelpful habit is this ?

  1. Forgetfulness
  2. Avoidance
  3. Procrastination
  4. Perfectionism
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2023 (Main)

(b) Avoidance

Q20.2023 Supp. · Q51 mark

__________ is a behaviour or skill that helps to communicate clearly and confidently, our feelings, needs, wants and thoughts.

  1. Positive attitude
  2. Perfectionism
  3. Assertiveness
  4. Rational thinking
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2023 (Supplementary)

(c) Assertiveness

Q21.2023 Supp. · Q71 mark

Sahira has joined a medical college and is overwhelmed by the syllabus out there. Her mother often complains about Sahira’s mood swings, erratic behaviour and decreased confidence. What is this effect of stress that Sahira is experiencing ?

  1. Physiological
  2. Emotional
  3. Cognitive
  4. Behavioural
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2023 (Supplementary)

(b) Emotional

Q22.SQP 2026-27 · Q41 mark

Kobasa’s concept of hardiness includes all of the following except:

  1. Commitment
  2. Control
  3. Challenge
  4. Character
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(D) Character

Q23.SQP 2026-27 · Q121 mark

Santosh has been feeling stressed for a long time due to the competition in the office to acquire the position of senior manager. His therapist started a procedure to manage his stress by monitoring his physiological functions. Identify the technique being used here.

  1. Meditation
  2. Creative visualization
  3. Biofeedback
  4. Cognitive Behaviour Technique
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(C) Biofeedback

Q24.SQP 2025-26 · Q321 mark

Neha is a project manager in a technology firm. Over the past year, her team has been tasked with launching multiple complex projects under tight deadlines. Initially, Neha thrived under the pressure, feeling energised and productive. She put in long hours, maintained high focus, and motivated her team to meet their targets. However, as the months went by, the demands continued to mount without any significant breaks or support. Neha began to experience fatigue, insomnia, irritability, and frequent headaches. Recently, she noticed that she was falling ill more often and had difficulty concentrating. Despite these warning signs, Neha pushed herself to keep up with the workload. Her colleagues have started to notice her declining performance and mood changes. If her current pace continues, it could lead to severe health consequences.

Using the General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS) model, list the stages Neha has experienced so far.

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CBSE Sample Question Paper 2025-26 · Official Marking Scheme

Alarm Stage
Resistance Stage

Q25.2026 Main · Q312 marks

Ritu is a high school student preparing for her final board exams. She is an academically bright student and wants to secure a scholarship for college. However, over the past few weeks, Ritu has been feeling overwhelmed and frustrated. She is constantly comparing herself to her peers who seem to be doing better, which causes her to feel caught between her wishes and desires and hence feels inadequate. At home, her parents have high expectations and remind her frequently that she must top the class, adding to her own increasing self-demands. Ritu also finds herself in a conflict of being caught between choosing a career she is passionate about (art & design) and what her parents want (engineering), leading to an intense dilemma. Additionally, she feels unspoken demands and a social pressure from her relatives and classmates, who keep asking about her future and ranks. As a result, Ritu has become irritable, experiences frequent headaches, has trouble sleeping and feels emotionally exhausted.

Mention one emotional and one psychological effects of stress, she may be going through.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2026 (Main)

Emotional effect – Emotional exhaustion, Irritability.

Psychological effect – Trouble sleeping, dilemma, feels inadequate.

(1+1=2)

Q26.2025 Main · Q182 marks

How can assertiveness impact an individual’s response to stress ?

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2025 (Main)
  • Assertiveness is a behaviour or skill that helps to communicate, clearly and confidently, our feelings, needs, wants, and thoughts.
  • It is the ability to say no to a request, to state an opinion without being self conscious, or to express emotions such as love, anger, etc. openly.
  • If you are assertive, you feel confident, and have high self-esteem and a solid sense of your own identity.

(Any two from the above mentioned points)

(1+1=2)

Q27.2025 Main · Q312 marks

Social stress can be broadly defined as a situation which threatens one’s relationships, esteem, or sense of belonging within a dyad group, or larger social context. Social stress, can emerge in a number of situations. Social stress can stem from difficult social interactions, for example, a conflictual or tumultuous marital or family relationship. Social stress can also emerge in the context of evaluated performance situations, where others could be judgmental or critical, or in contexts in which one feels rejected, ostracized, or ignored. Social stress can also be more broadly construed, representing perceptions of one’s lower role or standing within a group or community. Social stress can lead to a range of observable and measurable responses related to health outcomes.

State two causes of social stress in day-to-day life.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2025 (Main)
  • Difficult social interactions, for example, a conflictual or tumultuous marital or family relationship
  • Evaluated performance situations -
    One feels rejected, ostracized, or ignored.

(above points or any relevant answers)

(1+1)

(Assessment based on performance), Q30, Q31

Q28.2024 Main · Q322 marks

The fire department received a call about a fire that swept through a house. The fire started with the explosion of a gas cylinder used for cooking. The injured Suman was lying on a hospital bed. She was talking to a press reporter. She expressed that her mother was in the kitchen when the incident occurred. The cylinder burst with a loud sound and the fire spread at great speed. The exit door of the house had also caught fire. Her mother shouted in panic as if she had lost all hope, and she fainted in the kitchen. However, Suman was determined to save her mother. She said “I don’t know how I got the energy to drag my mother to the room. I broke the window there and jumped out. My back got hurt, but without wasting any time, I sought the help of my neighbour and rescued my mother. I am happy that we are both safe.” Hearing her story, the press reporter was impressed with her chivalry.

Suman and her mother were exposed to prolonged stress as the fire spread. How does the General Adaptation Syndrome model explain Suman and her mother’s condition ?

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2024 (Main)

Resistance stage: If stress is prolonged, the resistance stage begins. The para-sympathetic nervous system calls for more cautious use of the body’s resources. The organism makes efforts to cope with the threat, as through confrontation. In case of prolonged stress, the Exhaustion stage occurs continued exposure to the same stressor drains the body of its resources.

(2)

Q29.2023 Main · Q202 marks

Ranjan has faced a lot of mishaps in his life. However, he shows low levels of illness despite high levels of stress. What makes people like Ranjan resistant to stress ?

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2023 (Main)
  • Hardiness (1)
  • a set of beliefs about oneself, the world and how they interact (1)
  • 3 Cs – commitment, control, challenge (1)
  • Explanation of 3Cs (1)

(Any two points)

(1+1=2)

Q30.2023 Main · Q20 (OR)2 marks

Neerav’s parents have recently shifted to Bengaluru and have been busy settling him in the new city. Neerav misses his friends back in Nagpur and this has impacted his academic performance. What is the source of this stress ? State the other sources of stress as well.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2023 (Main)
  • Life events – changes in life from the moment we are born (1)
  • Other sources of resources
    • hassles – happening in daily lives (½)
    • traumatic events – being involved in variety of extreme events (½)

1+½+½=2

Q31.SQP 2025-26 · Q152 marks

Differentiate between life events and hassles.

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CBSE Sample Question Paper 2025-26 · Official Marking Scheme

Life Events: They include changes, both big and small, sudden and gradual that affect our life from the moment we are born. Examples: moving into a new house, break-up of a long-term relationship) etc.

Hassles: These are the personal stresses we endure as individuals, due to the happenings in our daily life, such as noisy surroundings, commuting, quarrelsome neighbours, electricity and water shortage, traffic snarls, and so on.

Q32.SQP 2025-26 · Q332 marks

Neha is a project manager in a technology firm. Over the past year, her team has been tasked with launching multiple complex projects under tight deadlines. Initially, Neha thrived under the pressure, feeling energised and productive. She put in long hours, maintained high focus, and motivated her team to meet their targets. However, as the months went by, the demands continued to mount without any significant breaks or support. Neha began to experience fatigue, insomnia, irritability, and frequent headaches. Recently, she noticed that she was falling ill more often and had difficulty concentrating. Despite these warning signs, Neha pushed herself to keep up with the workload. Her colleagues have started to notice her declining performance and mood changes. If her current pace continues, it could lead to severe health consequences.

Predict the potential stage that Neha might reach if she continues without any break. Identify the likely outcome.

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Potential Stage: Exhaustion stage if Neha's current situation continues.

Likely outcome- severe physical consequences like chronic illness and burnout- physical, emotional and psychological exhaustion.

(1+1=2)

Q33.2026 Main · Q223 marks

Individuals show consistent individual differences in the coping strategies they use to handle stressful situations. These can include both overt and covert activities. Identify the three coping strategies given by Endler and Parker.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2026 (Main)

Coping Strategies: ((0.5+0.5)x3=3)

  • Task-Oriented strategy
  • Emotion-Oriented Strategy
  • Avoidance-Oriented Strategy

Name and explanation of all the above strategies in brief.

Q34.2026 Main · Q22 (OR)3 marks

Ruchika is very stressed as she must prepare for her music competition and for medical examinations. Suggest Ruchika four techniques to manage her stress.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2026 (Main)

Techniques to manage stress: (3)

  • Relaxation Techniques
  • Meditation Procedures
  • Biofeedback
  • Creative Visualisation
  • Cognitive Behavioural Techniques
  • Exercise

Explanation of any four of the techniques mentioned above.

Q35.2026 Supp. · Q203 marks

We all live in a world where a wide range of events and conditions can generate stress. Identify the most prominent sources of stress.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2026 (Supplementary)

Prominent sources of Stress -

  • Life events
  • Hassles
  • Traumatic events

(Explanation with an example each)

(1+1+1=3 marks)

Q36.2025 Main · Q203 marks

You are working with a client who handles high stress well and remains healthy. How would you evaluate and support their ability to manage stress effectively ?

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2025 (Main)
  • Stress resistant personality / hardiness by Kobasa – Explain.
  • 3C’s – control, commitment and challenge.
  • Commitment – to work, family, hobbies and social life.
  • Control – which is a sense of purpose and direction in life.
  • Challenge – see changes in life as normal and positive.

(Any three points of the above)

Note: If the student is able to evaluate the clients ability to manage stress effectively using any model or theory, should be awarded marks accordingly.

(1+1+1 =3)

Q37.2025 Supp. · Q213 marks

‘Psychological Stress is not only a symptom of stress, but it causes further stress.’ Justify the statement by explaining any three sources of psychological stress.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2025 (Supplementary)

Important sources of psychological stress are

  • Frustration
  • Conflicts
  • Internal pressures and Social pressures

Explanation of the above points

Note: For writing below mentioned points one mark maybe awarded.

Sources of Stress

  • Life events
  • Daily hassles
  • Traumatic events

(1+1+1=3)

Q38.2024 Main · Q233 marks

Describe any three life skills that can help a person meet life’s challenges.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2024 (Main)

Life skills

  • Assertiveness
  • Time management
  • Rational thinking
  • Improving relationship
  • Self- care
  • Overcoming unhelpful habits

(Description of any three of the above or any other relevant life skills)

(1+1+1=3)

Q39.2024 Supp. · Q243 marks

Explain any three major effects of stress on psychological functioning.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2024 (Supplementary)

There are four major effects of stress associated with the stressed state, viz. emotional, physiological, cognitive, and behavioural.

  • Emotional Effects: Mood swings, Show erratic behavior, decreasing confidence, leading to more serious emotional problems. Some examples are feelings of anxiety and depression, increased physical tension etc.
  • Physiological Effects: when the human body is placed under physical or psychological stress, it increases the production of certain hormones, such as adrenaline and cortisol. These hormones produce marked changes in heart rate, blood pressure levels, metabolism and physical activity. Examples of physiological effects are release of epinephrine and nor-epinephrine, slowing down of the digestive system, expansion of air passages in the lungs etc.
  • Cognitive Effects: Mental overload, to lose their ability to make sound decisions, faulty decisions made at home, in career, or at workplace may lead to arguments, failure, financial loss or even loss of job etc.
  • Behavioural Effects: Eating less nutritional food, increasing intake of stimulants such as caffeine, excessive consumption of cigarettes, alcohol and other drugs such as tranquillisers etc.

(Explanation of any three points)

Marks: 1+1+1

Q40.2023 Supp. · Q253 marks

Explain any three life skills that will help to meet the challenges of life.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2023 (Supplementary)

Life skills

  • Assertiveness
  • Time management
  • Rational thinking
  • Improving relationships
  • Self care
  • Overcoming unhelpful habits

(explanation of any three life skills)

1+1+1=3

Q41.2023 Supp. · Q25 (OR)3 marks

How does an individual with a stress resistant personality cope with demands of everyday life ? Give examples to support your viewpoint.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2023 (Supplementary)

Stress Resistant Personality

  • Concept of Hardiness
  • Explanation of 3 C’s
  • Any relevant example

1/2+[1/2X3]+1=3

Q42.SQP 2026-27 · Q203 marks

Explain the concept of stress and describe its two major sources.

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CBSE Sample Question Paper 2026-27 · Official Marking Scheme

Pattern of responses an organism makes to a stimulus event that disturbs the equilibrium and exceeds a person’s ability to cope.

Sources of stress:

  • Life events (e.g., death, illness, marriage)
  • Daily hassles (e.g., traffic, deadlines)
  • Traumatic events (e.g., accidents, natural disasters)
  • Environmental stressors (noise, pollution, crowding)

Any two points

1+2=3

Q43.2026 Supp. · Q264 marks

Identify the connection between stress and immune system, specifying the roles of T-cells, B-cells, natural killer cells and psychoneuroimmunology.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2026 (Supplementary)
  • T cells (Which help directly attack infected cells)
  • B cells (Which produce antibodies to neutralize pathogens)
  • Natural killer (NK) cells (which target virus-infected and cancer cells)
  • Psychoneuroimmunology studies how psychological factors like stress interact with the nervous system and immune functions

(1+1+1+1=4 marks)

Q44.2025 Supp. · Q264 marks

A pregnant woman, is experiencing significant stress due to family pressures. She had to leave her job due to health concerns. Despite these challenges, she has a close friend who provides social support. Consequently, the pregnant woman reports feeling more reassured. Explain the role of social support in reducing stress for her. What specific types of support may her friend be providing ?

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2025 (Supplementary)

Role of social support for the pregnant woman mentioned in the case -

  • Social Support: Studies have revealed that women exposed to life event stresses, who had a close friend, were less likely to be depressed and had lesser medical complications during pregnancy. Social support can help to protect against stress. People with high levels of social support from family and friends may experience less stress when they confront a stressful experience, and they may cope with it more successfully. (1)

Specific types of support her friend may provide:

  • Social support may be in the form specific types of support her friend may provide –
  1. Tangible support or assistance involving material aid, such as money, goods, services, etc.
  2. Family and friends also provide informational support about stressful events.
  3. During times of stress, one may experience sadness, anxiety, and loss of self-esteem. Supportive friends and family provide emotional support by reassuring the individual that she is loved, valued, and cared for.

(1+ 1+1+1=4)

Q45.2024 Supp. · Q254 marks

Mukesh encounters a snake while on a hike. Referring to the General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS), what is the pattern of his bodily response ? State one criticism of Selye’s theory.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2024 (Supplementary)
  • According to GAS Mukesh's bodily response involves three stages:
    • alarm reaction,
    • resistance, and
    • exhaustion.
  • (explanation of these stages). (1+1+1)
  • Selye's model has been criticised for assigning a limited role to psychological factors in stress. (1)
Q46.2023 Main · Q304 marks

To deal effectively with environment, the individuals must possess the right life skills. Explain any four of these life skills.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2023 (Main)

Life Skills

  • Assertiveness
  • Time management
  • Rational Thinking
  • Improving relationships
  • Self care
  • Overcoming unhelpful habits

(Explanation of any four life skills)

1+1+1+1=4

Q47.2023 Main · Q30 (OR)4 marks

Many ailments like hypertension, ulcers, etc. could be stress related. To prevent this from happening, we need to be aware about stress management techniques. Explain any four of these techniques.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2023 (Main)

Stress management techniques

  • Relaxation techniques
  • Meditation procedures
  • Biofeedback
  • Creative Visualization
  • Cognitive behavioural techniques
  • Exercise

(Explanation of any 4 techniques)

1+1+1+1=4

Q48.2023 Supp. · Q304 marks

Explain the relationship between stress and illness. How does stress affect the immune system ? Explain.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2023 (Supplementary)
  • When stress is prolonged, it affects physical health and impairs psychological functioning. The physical exhaustion is seen in the signs of chronic fatigue, weakness and low energy. The mental exhaustion appears in the form of irritability, anxiety, feelings of helplessness and hopelessness. This state of physical, emotional and psychological exhaustion is known as burnout.
  • GAS model of stress – alarm reaction, resistance and exhaustion. Explain all the three.
    (any one point from above)
  • Psychoneuroimmunology – studies the effects of stress on the immune system. Reduced levels of natural killer cell cytotoxicity have been found in people who are highly stressed, negative emotions, release of stress hormones which lead to weakening of the immune system, thereby affecting mental and physical health.

2+2=4

Q49.2023 Supp. · Q30 (OR)4 marks

Describe any four factors that facilitate positive health and act as stress buffers too.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2023 (Supplementary)

These factors are:

  • Exercise – asanas, arobic, stretching etc
  • Diet – balanced
  • Positive thinking – accurate perception of reality, sense of purpose, acceptance, tolerance etc.
  • Positive attitude – optimism, pessimism
  • Social Support – Tangible, emotional, informational

(Any four in detail)

1+1+1+1=4

Q50.SQP 2026-27 · Q274 marks

‘The way we cope with stress often depends on rigid deep seated beliefs and also based on our experiences’. Analyse this statement by explaining any two coping strategies with suitable examples.

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CBSE Sample Question Paper 2026-27 · Official Marking Scheme

Coping strategies are:

  • Task-oriented Strategy: This involves obtaining information about the stressful situation and about alternative courses of action and their probable outcome; it also involves deciding priorities and acting so as to deal directly with the stressful situation. For example, schedule my time better, or think about how I have solved similar problems.
  • Emotion-oriented Strategy: This can involve efforts to maintain hope and to control one’s emotions; it can also involve venting feelings of anger and frustration, or deciding that nothing can be done to change things. For example, tell myself that it is not really happening to me, or worry about what I am going to do.
  • Avoidance-oriented Strategy: This involves denying or minimizing the seriousness of the situation; it also involves conscious suppression of stressful thoughts and their replacement by self-protective thoughts.
  • Problem-focused coping is useful when the stressor is controllable, such as planning better to manage academic pressure.
  • Emotion-focused coping is more effective when the stressor cannot be changed, such as dealing with the loss of a loved one through emotional expression or relaxation.

Explanation of any two

2+2=4

Q51.SQP 2025-26 · Q254 marks

Explain the internal sources of psychological stress.

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CBSE Sample Question Paper 2025-26 · Official Marking Scheme
  1. Frustration results from the blocking of needs and motives by something or someone that hinders us from achieving a desired goal. In this case her parents are not allowing her to study abroad.
  2. Conflicts may occur between two or more incompatible needs or motives.
  3. Internal pressures stem from beliefs based upon expectations from inside us to ourselves such as, ‘I must do everything perfectly’. Such expectations can only lead to disappointment.
  4. Social pressures may be brought about from people who make excessive demands on us.

(1+1+1+1= 4)

4. Psychological Disorders

Q1.2026 Main · Q101 mark

_________ is characterised by widespread impairments in social interactions and communication skills, and stereotyped patterns of behaviours, interests and activities.

  1. Dyslexia
  2. Autism Spectrum Disorder
  3. Specific Learning Disorder
  4. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2026 (Main)

(B) Autism Spectrum Disorder

Q2.2026 Main · Q321 mark

Shreya’s parents brought her to the school counsellor after noticing :

  • Noticeable weight loss over the past eight months.
  • Skipping meals and avoiding dinners.
  • Constant complaints of feeling “too fat” despite appearing underweight.
  • Loss of energy, irritability and frequent mood swings.

Shreya herself insisted that “everything is fine,” expressing frustration about being forced to discuss her eating habits.

What is Shreya suffering from ?

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2026 (Main)

Eating Disorder/Anorexia Nervosa. (1)

Q3.2026 Supp. · Q51 mark

Match the Disorders in List I with their associated Neurotransmitter imbalances in List II :

List I
(Disorder)
List II
(Neurotransmitter imbalance)
a. Anxiety disorderi. Low serotonin
b. Schizophreniaii. Excess dopamine
c. Depressioniii. Low GABA

Choose the correct answer from the options given below :

  1. a-i, b-ii, c-iii
  2. a-iii, b-ii, c-i
  3. a-ii, b-i, c-iii
  4. a-iii, b-i, c-ii
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2026 (Supplementary)

(B) 1-c, 2-b, 3-a [a-iii, b-ii, c-i]

Q4.2026 Supp. · Q61 mark

The “4 Ds” used to define abnormal behaviour or psychological disorders do not include :

  1. Deviance
  2. Distress
  3. Danger
  4. Diagnosis
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2026 (Supplementary)

(D) Diagnosis

Q5.2026 Supp. · Q301 mark

Anil, a 25-year-old college student, was brought to the psychiatric outpatient department by his parents. Over the past year, they observed that Anil had become increasingly withdrawn and had stopped meeting his friends. He often stayed alone in his room, speaking to himself and laughing without any apparent reason.

Anil complained that he could hear voices discussing his actions and sometimes giving him commands, even when nobody was around. He also showed little interest in daily activities and displayed a lack of emotional expression, rarely smiling or showing enthusiasm. His speech became brief and lacked detail, often limited to short, one-word answers.

Identify the type of hallucination Anil is experiencing.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2026 (Supplementary)

Auditory hallucinations

Q6.2025 Main · Q131 mark

Ravi constantly believes he is a failure because he once performed poorly on a test. Which cognitive problem is he exhibiting according to the Cognitive Model ?

  1. Accurate self-assessment
  2. Overgeneralisation
  3. Rational thinking
  4. Logical reasoning
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2025 (Main)

(B) Overgeneralisation

Q7.2025 Main · Q141 mark

Which of the following statements best describes how societal norms influence the perception of abnormal behaviour ?

  1. Societal norms are universally consistent and do not change over time.
  2. Behaviours, thoughts and emotions that align with societal norms are always considered abnormal.
  3. Societal norms are derived from society’s culture, including its history, values and institutions and these norms can change over time.
  4. Aggressive behaviour is universally accepted as normal behaviour across all cultures.
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2025 (Main)

(C) Societal norms are derived from society’s culture, including its history, values and institutions and these norms can change over time.

Q8.2025 Main · Q321 mark

At any one time, a diverse set of individual, family, community and structural factors may combine to protect or undermine mental health. Although most people are resilient, people who are exposed to adverse circumstances – including poverty, violence, disability and inequality – are at higher risk of developing a mental health condition. Protective and risk factors include individual, psychological and biological factors, such as emotional skills as well as genetics. Many of the risks and protective factors are influenced through changes in brain structure and/or function. People with mental disorders also require social support, including support in developing and maintaining personal, family and social relationships. People with mental disorders may also need support for educational programmes, employment, housing and participation in other meaningful activities.

According to the above paragraph, what type of people are more likely to have a psychological disorder ?

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2025 (Main)

People who are exposed to adverse circumstances – including poverty, violence, disability, inequality etc.

(or any relevant answer)

(1)

(Assessment based on performance), Q32, Q33

Q9.2025 Supp. · Q71 mark

A girl student was dominating and bullying her peers in school without any provocation. Which of the following types of aggression is she exhibiting ?

  1. Verbal aggression
  2. Physical aggression
  3. Hostile aggression
  4. Proactive aggression
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2025 (Supplementary)

(D) Proactive aggression

Q10.2025 Supp. · Q81 mark

An individual drinks large amounts of alcohol on a daily basis. Consequently, he experiences ____________ when he tries to stop drinking alcohol.

  1. Addiction
  2. Tolerance
  3. Withdrawal responses
  4. Pleasure
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2025 (Supplementary)

(C) Withdrawal response

Q11.2025 Supp. · Q91 mark

In the question given below, there are two statements marked as Assertion (A) and Reason (R). Read the statements and choose the correct option.

Assertion (A) : Classifications are useful because they enable users like psychologists, psychiatrists and social workers to communicate with each other about the disorders.

Reason (R) : A classification of such disorders consists of a list of categories of specific psychological disorders grouped into various classes based on some shared characteristics.

Options :

  1. Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true and Reason (R) is the correct explanation of Assertion (A).
  2. Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, but Reason (R) is not the correct explanation of Assertion (A).
  3. Assertion (A) is true, but Reason (R) is false.
  4. Assertion (A) is false, but Reason (R) is true.
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2025 (Supplementary)

(A) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true and Reason (R) is the correct explanation of Assertion (A)

Q12.2024 Main · Q71 mark

An ancient theory holds that abnormal behaviour can be explained by the __________.

  1. Inadequacies in thinking, feeling or perceiving the world
  2. Operation of supernatural and magical forces
  3. Disturbed interpersonal relationships
  4. Belief that individuals behave strangely because their bodies and brains are not working properly
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2024 (Main)

(B) Operation of supernatural and magical forces

Q13.2024 Main · Q81 mark

Ranjeet is unable to stop thinking about locking his house. At work, he is preoccupied with this unreasonable and repetitive thought. This is predominantly a symptom of __________.

  1. Anxiety disorder
  2. Panic disorder
  3. Obsessive behaviour
  4. Compulsive behaviour
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2024 (Main)

(C) Obsessive behaviour

Q14.2024 Main · Q91 mark

Mitali dominates and bullies others without any provocation. Thus, she exhibits which of the following type of aggression ?

  1. Verbal aggression
  2. Physical aggression
  3. Hostile aggression
  4. Proactive aggression
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2024 (Main)

(D) Proactive aggression

Q15.2024 Supp. · Q71 mark

The American Psychiatric Association publishes an official manual called ____________. This manual describes and classifies psychological disorders.

  1. Diagnostic Statistical Manuscript-V
  2. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-V
  3. International Classification of Diseases-11
  4. International Classification of Disorders-11
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2024 (Supplementary)

(B) Diagnostic Statistical Manual-V

Q16.2024 Supp. · Q81 mark

Namita had flashbacks, impaired concentration, and emotional numbing after she witnessed the damage caused by the earthquake. She is most likely to be experiencing ____________ .

  1. Post-traumatic stress disorder
  2. Anxiety disorder
  3. Somatic symptom disorder
  4. Dissociative amnesia
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2024 (Supplementary)

(A) Post-traumatic stress disorder

Q17.2024 Supp. · Q91 mark

In the following question, a statement of Assertion (A) is followed by a statement of Reason (R). Read the statements and choose the appropriate option.

Assertion (A) : When an electrical impulse reaches a neuron’s ending, the nerve ending is stimulated to release a chemical called a neurotransmitter.

Reason (R) : Studies indicate that abnormal activity by certain neurotransmitters can lead to adaptive behaviour.

  1. Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, and Reason (R) is the correct explanation of Assertion (A).
  2. Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, but Reason (R) is not the correct explanation of Assertion (A).
  3. Assertion (A) is true, but Reason (R) is false.
  4. Assertion (A) is false, but Reason (R) is true.
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2024 (Supplementary)

(C) Assertion (A) is true, but Reason (R) is false.

Q18.2024 Supp. · Q311 mark

Case Study-1

Vaishali was admitted to a hospital in the midst of a manic episode. She had been in psychotherapy for depression for several months while she was in college. She found a job in an advertising office of a local newspaper, where she had been working for a year. Vaishali’s manic episode could be traced to experiences that began three or four months prior to her admission to the hospital. She had been feeling unusually good for several weeks. At first, she didn’t think anything was wrong. In fact, her impression was quite the opposite. Everything seemed to be going right for her, except her job. She had lost all focus from her work as her energy level was extremely high. She felt a renewed confidence in herself and her relationships with other people. She was feeling particularly exhilarated. Vaishali initially welcomed these feelings, especially because she had been so lethargic and also tended to be reserved with people. Soon she realised that her moods shifted constantly. The enthusiasm of gleefully throwing herself into new and exciting activities, would soon be over. Now she started being quite normal in her behaviour. She resumed work sincerely and appeared calm.

Name and state a characteristic feature of the disorder that Vaishali is experiencing.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2024 (Supplementary)

Bipolar I disorder. It involves both mania and depression, which are alternately present and sometimes interrupted by periods of normal mood.

Marks: 1

Q19.2023 Main · Q81 mark

Which of the following statements is/are true about the diathesis-stress model ?

  1. Presence of some biological aberration which may be inherited.
  2. Physiological disorders develop due to combination of psychological predisposition and stressors.
  3. Diathesis may carry vulnerability to develop a psychological disorder.
  4. Absence of pathogenic stressors that may lead to psychopathology.
  1. Only (i) is true.
  2. (i) and (iii) are true.
  3. Only (iii) is true.
  4. (ii) and (iv) are true.
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2023 (Main)

(b) (i) and (iii) are true

Q20.2023 Main · Q91 mark

Some people are unable to prevent themselves from specific ideas or from repeatedly carrying out a set of actions that disrupts their daily functioning. These people are showing symptoms of ____________ .

  1. Manic depressive disorder
  2. Panic disorder
  3. Somatic symptom disorder
  4. Obsessive-compulsive disorder
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2023 (Main)

(d) Obsessive – Compulsive disorder

Q21.2023 Main · Q101 mark

Michael, a 10-year-old boy, was diagnosed with a disorder where he has difficulty in perceiving and processing information accurately and efficiently. This impacts his basic skills of reading, writing and doing mathematics. Identify this disorder.

  1. Autism spectrum disorder
  2. Intellectual disability
  3. Specific learning disorder
  4. Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2023 (Main)

(c) Specific learning disorder

Q22.2023 Supp. · Q81 mark

As per the American Psychiatric Association, the manual which describes and classifies mental disorders is called ___________.

  1. Diagnostic and Statistical Manuscript-V
  2. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual-V
  3. International Classification of Diseases-11
  4. International Classification of Disorders-11
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2023 (Supplementary)

(b) Diagnostic and Statistical Manual-V

Q23.2023 Supp. · Q101 mark

Majid likes all his cups and cutlery to be in proper order. He spends several hours of his day checking on the cups and cutlery position in the kitchen. This is to the extent that he has now started checking the position of cutlery even at restaurants. Majid’s behaviour indicates __________.

  1. Anxiety
  2. Obsession
  3. Compulsion
  4. Phobia
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2023 (Supplementary)

(c) Compulsion

Q24.SQP 2026-27 · Q51 mark

Anxiety disorders have been linked to low activity of the neurotransmitter ______.

  1. dopamine
  2. serotonin
  3. gamma aminobutyric acid
  4. cortisol
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CBSE Sample Question Paper 2026-27 · Official Marking Scheme

(C) gamma aminobutyric acid

Q25.SQP 2026-27 · Q101 mark

Anjali hears voices commenting on her actions when no one is around. This symptom is referred to as:

  1. delusion of reference
  2. illusion
  3. hallucination
  4. obsession
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CBSE Sample Question Paper 2026-27 · Official Marking Scheme

(C) hallucination

Q26.SQP 2026-27 · Q111 mark

Given below are two statements labelled as Assertion (A) and Reason (R).

Assertion (A): Persistent sadness, feelings of worthlessness and loss of interest indicate major depressive disorder.

Reason (R): Major depressive disorder involves a change of self-perception, and the person’s sense of reality is temporarily lost or changed.

Select the most appropriate answer from the options given below:

  1. Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
  2. Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A .
  3. A is true but R is false.
  4. A is false but R is true.
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CBSE Sample Question Paper 2026-27 · Official Marking Scheme

(C) A is true but R is false

Q27.SQP 2025-26 · Q71 mark

Wellbeing is _____.

  1. Maintenance and survival
  2. Growth and fulfilment
  3. Following the norms of society
  4. Not only maintenance and survival but also growth and fulfilment
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CBSE Sample Question Paper 2025-26 · Official Marking Scheme

(d) Not only maintenance and survival but also growth and fulfilment

Q28.SQP 2025-26 · Q81 mark

Anisha keeps washing her hand after a bout of fever. This continuous washing leads to bruises on her palm. Identify this behaviour.

  1. Compulsive behaviour
  2. Impulsive behaviour
  3. Phobic behaviour
  4. Obsessive behaviour
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CBSE Sample Question Paper 2025-26 · Official Marking Scheme

(a) Compulsive behaviour

Q29.SQP 2025-26 · Q91 mark

In the question given below, there are two statements marked as Assertion(A) and Reason (R). Read the statements and choose the correct option.

Assertion (A)-In the understanding of abnormal behaviour, the Renaissance period was the Age of Reason and Enlightenment.

Reasoning (R)- Imbalances amongst humours led to disorders, according to the organismic approach.

  1. Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
  2. Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A
  3. A is true but R is false
  4. A is false but R is true
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CBSE Sample Question Paper 2025-26 · Official Marking Scheme

(d) A is false but R is true

Q30.SQP 2025-26 · Q301 mark

Satish, a 20-year-old male, with schizophrenia, believes that the police of the area are tracking and following him. The patrolling of the police makes him believe that they are monitoring every behaviour of his. These thoughts are interfering with his studies and assignments. Satish occasionally laughs abruptly and inappropriately and sometimes stops speaking mid-sentence. He expresses concern about electronics in the room (phone, computer) potentially being monitored and asks the therapist repeatedly about patient confidentiality, stating that he wants to be sure the police won’t be informed about his treatment. His beliefs are fixed and if they are challenged, his tone becomes hostile.

Why does Satish occasionally laugh abruptly and inappropriately?

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CBSE Sample Question Paper 2025-26 · Official Marking Scheme

This is a positive symptom of schizophrenia. The characteristic is that of inappropriate affect.

Q31.2026 Main · Q172 marks

Somatic symptom disorder and illness anxiety disorder are concerned with medical illness, yet they are different. Explain using relevant example.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2026 (Main)
Somatic Symptom DisorderIllness-Anxiety Disorder
1. The expression is in terms of physical complaints.Anxiety is the main concern about the health of the individual.
2. Persistent body related symptoms are without any serious medical condition.Persistent preoccupation about developing a serious illness. Hearing about others ill health causes panic.
3. Extremely preoccupied with symptoms of illness.Anxious about health

Any relevant example mentioning any two differences from above symptoms. (1+1)

Q32.2026 Main · Q332 marks

Shreya’s parents brought her to the school counsellor after noticing :

  • Noticeable weight loss over the past eight months.
  • Skipping meals and avoiding dinners.
  • Constant complaints of feeling “too fat” despite appearing underweight.
  • Loss of energy, irritability and frequent mood swings.

Shreya herself insisted that “everything is fine,” expressing frustration about being forced to discuss her eating habits.

Identify and explain the various other forms of this disorder.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2026 (Main)
  • Bulimia Nervosa
  • Binge Eating

(0.5 for naming and 0.5 for explanation) (0.5x4=2)

Q33.2026 Supp. · Q312 marks

Anil, a 25-year-old college student, was brought to the psychiatric outpatient department by his parents. Over the past year, they observed that Anil had become increasingly withdrawn and had stopped meeting his friends. He often stayed alone in his room, speaking to himself and laughing without any apparent reason.

Anil complained that he could hear voices discussing his actions and sometimes giving him commands, even when nobody was around. He also showed little interest in daily activities and displayed a lack of emotional expression, rarely smiling or showing enthusiasm. His speech became brief and lacked detail, often limited to short, one-word answers.

Mention two common negative symptoms of schizophrenia.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2026 (Supplementary)
  • Alogia,
  • Blunted Affect,
  • Flat Affect,
  • Avolition

(Explanation of any two)

(1+1=2 marks)

Q34.2024 Supp. · Q182 marks

Zikra has a distorted body image that leads her to see herself as overweight. What can be the negative after-effect of this thought ?

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2024 (Supplementary)

Anorexia nervosa, the individual has a distorted body image that leads her to see herself as overweight. Often refusing to eat, exercising compulsively and developing unusual habits such as refusing to eat in front of others, the person with anorexia may lose large amount of weight and even starve herself to death.

In bulimia nervosa, the individual may eat excessive amounts of food, then purge her/his body laxatives or diuretics or by vomiting. The person often feels disgusted and ashamed when s/he binges and is relieved of tension and negative emotions after purging.

(explanation of any one of the above with reference to Zikra)

Marks: 2

Q35.2024 Supp. · Q322 marks

Case Study-1

Vaishali was admitted to a hospital in the midst of a manic episode. She had been in psychotherapy for depression for several months while she was in college. She found a job in an advertising office of a local newspaper, where she had been working for a year. Vaishali’s manic episode could be traced to experiences that began three or four months prior to her admission to the hospital. She had been feeling unusually good for several weeks. At first, she didn’t think anything was wrong. In fact, her impression was quite the opposite. Everything seemed to be going right for her, except her job. She had lost all focus from her work as her energy level was extremely high. She felt a renewed confidence in herself and her relationships with other people. She was feeling particularly exhilarated. Vaishali initially welcomed these feelings, especially because she had been so lethargic and also tended to be reserved with people. Soon she realised that her moods shifted constantly. The enthusiasm of gleefully throwing herself into new and exciting activities, would soon be over. Now she started being quite normal in her behaviour. She resumed work sincerely and appeared calm.

‘She had been in psychotherapy for depression for several months while she was in college.’ What are the symptoms that she may have experienced during this phase of depression ?

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2024 (Supplementary)
  • Depressed mood and/or loss of interest or pleasure in most activities,
  • Change in body weight,
  • Constant sleep problems, tiredness,
  • Inability to think clearly, agitation,
  • Greatly slowed behaviour,
  • Thoughts of death and suicide.
  • Excessive guilt or feelings of worthlessness

(Any four symptoms)

Marks: 0.5 x 4

Q36.2023 Main · Q192 marks

Adil, a young man, shows aggressive actions that threaten or cause harm to people or animals and indulges in serious rule violations. What are these symptoms indicative of ? Mention two other types of aggressive behaviour.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2023 (Main)
  • Conduct Disorder (1 mark)
  • Types of aggressive behavior
    • verbal aggression
    • physical aggression
    • hostile aggression
    • proactive aggression
    (Any two of above aggressive behaviours) (½ + ½)

(1+½+½=2)

Q37.2023 Main · Q332 marks

Mohsin, a 6-year-old boy, has difficulty in feeding and dressing himself, but training from his parents has helped him to be a little independent. He faces trouble making friends outside his family and has difficulty in dealing with people in social situations. His parents are always worried about him and are aware that he needs consistent level of supervision in daily tasks. Mohsin’s brother understands his needs and what he says but it is difficult for his peers to understand him as he lags behind them in communication and language skills.

Throughout Mohsin’s journey, psychologists and health workers focused on engaging his family in meaningful future planning using a variety of strategies and resources. This included offering them ongoing and timely information and assisting the family to understand and connect to resources.

Identify the disorder Mohsin is exhibiting. Distinguish it from autism spectrum disorder.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2023 (Main)

Disorder – Intellectual disability (1)

Distinction between intellectual disability and autism spectrum disorder (1)

Intellectual disability:

  • The child having I.Q. 70 or less than 70 suffer from intellectual disability.
  • Child deficits or impairments in adaptive behavior i.e. in areas of communication, self care, home living, social/interpersonal skills etc.

Autism Spectrum Disorder:

  • About 70% of children with this disorder have intellectual disabilities.
  • Autism spectrum disorder is characterized by wide spread impairments in social interaction and communication skills.
  • Shows restricted range of interests and strong desire for routine i.e. difficulty in socialization.

(Any one difference)

1+1=2

Q38.2023 Main · Q33 (OR)2 marks

Mohsin, a 6-year-old boy, has difficulty in feeding and dressing himself, but training from his parents has helped him to be a little independent. He faces trouble making friends outside his family and has difficulty in dealing with people in social situations. His parents are always worried about him and are aware that he needs consistent level of supervision in daily tasks. Mohsin’s brother understands his needs and what he says but it is difficult for his peers to understand him as he lags behind them in communication and language skills.

Throughout Mohsin’s journey, psychologists and health workers focused on engaging his family in meaningful future planning using a variety of strategies and resources. This included offering them ongoing and timely information and assisting the family to understand and connect to resources.

How are the symptoms that Mohsin is exhibiting different from a more severe form of that disorder ?

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2023 (Main)

Mohsin suffers from moderate intellectual disability

Severe /Profound form of intellectual disability, differs from moderate intellectual disability in respect of self – help skills, speech and communication, academics, social skills, vocational adjustment.

(Explanation of any two areas of functioning)

1+1=2

Q39.2023 Main · Q342 marks

Mohsin, a 6-year-old boy, has difficulty in feeding and dressing himself, but training from his parents has helped him to be a little independent. He faces trouble making friends outside his family and has difficulty in dealing with people in social situations. His parents are always worried about him and are aware that he needs consistent level of supervision in daily tasks. Mohsin’s brother understands his needs and what he says but it is difficult for his peers to understand him as he lags behind them in communication and language skills.

Throughout Mohsin’s journey, psychologists and health workers focused on engaging his family in meaningful future planning using a variety of strategies and resources. This included offering them ongoing and timely information and assisting the family to understand and connect to resources.

In order to understand Mohsin’s disorder, what do psychologists refer to classify psychological disorders ?

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2023 (Main)

Classification of psychological disorders

(i) DSM – 5 by APA

(ii) ICD-10 by WHO.

1+1=2

Q40.2022 Main · Q12 marks

What is well-being ?

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2022 (Main)

(a) Well being – is not simply maintenance and survival but also includes growth and fulfillment i.e. actualization of potential

(b) Conforming behavior can be seen as abnormal if it is maladaptive

(c) Any example

(Any relevant/explanation in their own words - two points) 1+1=2

Q41.2022 Main · Q1 (OR)2 marks

Differentiate between obsession and compulsion.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2022 (Main)

Obsession – is the inability to stop thinking about a particular idea or topic.

The person often finds these thoughts to be unpleasant and shameful.

Compulsion – is the need to perform certain behaviours over and over again.

e.g. counting, checking, ordering, touching and washing.

½+½ +1=2

Q42.2022 Main · Q112 marks

Sundar, a college going 20-year-old male, has moved from his home town to live in a big city. He has continuous fear of insecurity and feels that the enemy soldiers are following him. He gets very tense when he spots anyone in a uniform and feels that they are coming to catch him. This intense anxiety is interfering with his work and relationship, and his friends are extremely concerned as it does not make any sense to them. Sundar occasionally laughs abruptly and inappropriately, and sometimes stops speaking mid-sentence, scanning off in the distance as though he sees or hears something. He expresses concern about television and radio in the room potentially being monitored by the enemies. His beliefs are fixed and if they are challenged, his tone becomes hostile.

Based on the symptoms being exhibited, identify the disorder. Explain the other symptoms that can be seen in this disorder.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2022 (Main)

The psychological disorder is schizophrenia (1)

Any two symptoms of schizophrenia (1)

1+1=2

Q43.2022 Main · Q122 marks

Sundar, a college going 20-year-old male, has moved from his home town to live in a big city. He has continuous fear of insecurity and feels that the enemy soldiers are following him. He gets very tense when he spots anyone in a uniform and feels that they are coming to catch him. This intense anxiety is interfering with his work and relationship, and his friends are extremely concerned as it does not make any sense to them. Sundar occasionally laughs abruptly and inappropriately, and sometimes stops speaking mid-sentence, scanning off in the distance as though he sees or hears something. He expresses concern about television and radio in the room potentially being monitored by the enemies. His beliefs are fixed and if they are challenged, his tone becomes hostile.

Define delusion and inappropriate affect. Support it with the symptoms given in the above case study.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2022 (Main)

Delusion – False belief that is firmly held on inadequate grounds.

Symptoms from the case study (any one) (½+½)

Fear of insecurity and feels that the enemy soldiers are following him.

Expresses concern about television and radio in the room potentially being monitored by the enemies.

Very tense when he spots anyone in a uniform and feels that they are coming to catch him.

Inappropriate effect – Emotions that are unsuited to the situation. (½+½)

Symptoms from the case study (any one)

Occasionally laughs abruptly and inappropriately

Stop speaking mid-sentence

If his fixed beliefs are challenged, his tone becomes hostile.

½+½+ ½+½=2

Q44.2022 Supp. · Q12 marks

A young man shows aggressive actions that cause or threaten harm to people or animals and indulges in serious rule violations. What are these symptoms indicative of ? Mention two other types of aggressive behaviour.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2022 (Supplementary)

CBSE has not published a marking scheme for this paper, so no official answer is available.

Q45.SQP 2026-27 · Q192 marks

Explain any two changes that occurred in the understanding of psychological disorders, during the Renaissance period.

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CBSE Sample Question Paper 2026-27 · Official Marking Scheme
  • Increased humanism and curiosity about behavior
  • psychological conflict and disturbed interpersonal relationships were causes of psychological disorders.
  • ‘Witches’ were no longer considered mentally disturbed but required medical treatment.

Any two points 1+1=2

Q46.SQP 2026-27 · Q19 (OR)2 marks

Explain the symptoms of Obsessive Compulsive disorder.

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CBSE Sample Question Paper 2026-27 · Official Marking Scheme
  • Obsessive behaviour the inability to stop thinking about a particular idea or topic.
  • Compulsive behaviour the need to perform certain behaviors over and over again.

1+1=2

Q47.SQP 2025-26 · Q312 marks

Satish, a 20-year-old male, with schizophrenia, believes that the police of the area are tracking and following him. The patrolling of the police makes him believe that they are monitoring every behaviour of his. These thoughts are interfering with his studies and assignments. Satish occasionally laughs abruptly and inappropriately and sometimes stops speaking mid-sentence. He expresses concern about electronics in the room (phone, computer) potentially being monitored and asks the therapist repeatedly about patient confidentiality, stating that he wants to be sure the police won’t be informed about his treatment. His beliefs are fixed and if they are challenged, his tone becomes hostile.

“The patrolling of the police makes him believe that they are monitoring every behaviour of his.” Identify and explain the symptom of the disorder being reflected in this statement.

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CBSE Sample Question Paper 2025-26 · Official Marking Scheme

The symptom is that of delusion of persecution.

Delusion is a false belief that is firmly held on inadequate grounds. In this delusion people believe that they are being plotted against, spied, attacked, victimised and slandered upon.

(1+1=2)

Q48.2026 Supp. · Q213 marks

Classifying psychological disorders is important. Justify its importance. Discuss the contributions of the American Psychiatric Association (APA) and the World Health Organization (WHO) for the same.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2026 (Supplementary)
  • Importance of classification
  • APA – Explanation of DSM V
  • WHO – Explanation of ICD 10

(1+1+1=3 marks)

Q49.2025 Main · Q213 marks

Explain how the Age of Reason and Enlightenment influenced the treatment and perception of psychological disorders in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2025 (Main)
  • Age of Reason & Enlightenment as the scientific method replaced faith and dogma.
  • Contributed to Reform Movement.
  • Increased compassion for people who suffered from these disorders.
  • Reforms of asylums initiated in Europe and America.
  • New inclination for deinstitutionalisation focussing on community case.

(Any three points from above)

(1+1+1=3)

Q50.2025 Supp. · Q233 marks

A person has psychological difficulties and complains of physical symptoms for which there is no biological cause. Identify the disorder and explain its main features.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2025 (Supplementary)

Somatic Symptom Disorder

Features

  • It involves a person having persistent body-related symptoms which may or may not be related to any serious medical condition. People with this disorder tend to be overly preoccupied with their symptoms and they continually worry about their health and make frequent visits to doctors.
  • As a result, they experience significant distress and disturbances in their daily life.

(1+2=3)

Q51.2024 Main · Q243 marks

Can a long-standing pattern of deviant behaviour be considered abnormal ? Elaborate and state an example of the same.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2024 (Main)
  • Abnormal behavior is deviation from social norms - Society that values competition & assertiveness may accept aggressive behavior whereas one that emphasizes cooperation and family values may consider it as unacceptable.
  • Abnormal behavior is maladaptive - Many psychologists believe that best verification for determining the normality of behavior is whether it fosters the wellbeing of the individual and eventually of the group to which he belongs.

(Any other relevant explanation and example).

(1.5+1.5=3)

Q52.2024 Main · Q24 (OR)3 marks

Is separation anxiety disorder classified under neurodevelopmental disorders ? Give reasons for your answer by enumerating the symptoms of separation anxiety disorder.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2024 (Main)
  • No

Symptoms of separation anxiety disorder

  • Fearful and anxious about separation from attachment figures to an extent that is developmentally not appropriate
  • Difficulty in being in a room by themselves/going to school alone/fearful of entering new institution/ cling to & shadow their parents’ every move
  • To avoid separation they may fuss, scream, throw severe tantrum or make suicidal gestures

(any two of the above symptoms)

(1+2=3)

Q53.2023 Main · Q253 marks

Explain any three psychological models used to understand mental disorders.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2023 (Main)

Psychological Models

  1. Psychodynamic
  2. Behavioural
  3. Cognitive
  4. Humanistic – Existential

(Explanation of any three)

1+1+1=3

Q54.2023 Supp. · Q243 marks

Discuss in detail the hallucinations experienced by a person diagnosed with schizophrenia.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2023 (Supplementary)

Auditory, Tactile, Somatic, Visual, Gustatory, Olfactory hallucinations.

  • Auditory – Hear sounds or voices that speak words, phrases and sentences.
  • Tactile – Tingling, Burning
  • Somatic – Something happening inside the body
  • Visual – Vague perception of color, people or objects.
  • Gustatory – Food or drink taste strange
  • Olfactory – Smell of poison or smoke

½ X 6=3

Q55.2023 Supp. · Q273 marks

Pia has just joined school. Her teachers observed her closely during her group interactions. They noticed that she shows narrow patterns of interest and is preoccupied in flapping her hands. Pia also finds it challenging to start and maintain a conversation. What do Pia’s symptoms indicate ? List the other symptoms displayed by children diagnosed with this problem.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2023 (Supplementary)
  • Autism Spectrum Disorder

Other symptoms

  • Difficulties in relating to other people
  • Serious abnormalities in communication and language, repetitive and deviant speech patterns
  • Motor movements are self stimulatory or self injurious.

(any two of the above symptoms)

1+2=3

Q56.2022 Main · Q43 marks

Imran is a forty-year-old male who complains of difficulty in breathing and other body-related symptoms. On being examined, the doctors were unable to find any medical explanation for his reported symptoms. Explain this disorder and discuss its various types.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2022 (Main)
  1. It is a Somatic Symptom and related disorder.
    In this disorder the individual has psychological difficulties and complaints of physical symptoms for which there is no biological cause.
    Types
  2. Somatic symptom disorder
    1. People with this disorder tend to be overly pre occupied with their symptoms and they continually worry about their health and make frequent visits to doctors. (1)
    2. They experience significant distress and disturbances in their daily life. (1)
  3. Illness Anxiety Disorder
    Symptoms
    People are overly concerned about undiagnosed disease, negative diagnostic results, do not respond to assurance by doctors and are easily alarmed about someone else’s ill health or some such news. (1)
  4. Conversion disorder
    Symptoms are
    Reporting loss of all or some basic body functions e.g. paralysis, blindness, deafness and difficulty in walking.
    Relevant explanation in their own words.

1+1+1=3

Q57.2022 Main · Q4 (OR)3 marks

Richa is a young girl working as an officer in an organisation. One day she just disappeared from the city and after two years she was found on the banks of a river. Nobody there knew who she was and where she had come from. But, one day she suddenly ‘woke up’ and wanted to know how she had reached the banks of the river. Explain this disorder and list the other disorders in the same category.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2022 (Main)

The disorder is dissociative fugue

  • It is a part of dissociative amnesia characterized by
  • the assumption of new identity
  • inability to recall previous identity
  • the individual travels away from home and work place and suddenly wakes-up with no memory of the events that occurred during the fugue.
  • is often associated with overwhelming stress.

Types (list)

  • Dissociative identity disorder
  • Depersonalization/ derealisation disorder

1+1+½ +½ = 3

Q58.2022 Supp. · Q53 marks

Shahid is a thin boy but he sees himself as fat and overweight. He refuses to eat and starves himself for days. These symptoms are typical of which disorder ? Explain its other types.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2022 (Supplementary)

CBSE has not published a marking scheme for this paper, so no official answer is available.

Q59.SQP 2026-27 · Q213 marks

What are substance related and addictive disorders? Explain the consequences of alcohol abuse.

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CBSE Sample Question Paper 2026-27 · Official Marking Scheme

Maladaptive behaviors resulting from regular and consistent use of the substance involved.

or

Problems associated with the use and abuse of alcohol, cocaine, tobacco and opioids among others, which alter the way people think, feel and behave. 1mk

Consequences:

  • Interferes with social behaviour and ability to think and work. Intoxicated drivers are responsible for many road accidents.
  • tolerance ; withdrawal responses
  • Serious effects on the children of persons with this disorder. These children have higher rates of psychological problems, particularly anxiety, depression, phobias and substance-related disorders.
  • Excessive drinking can seriously damage physical health.

Any two points

1+2=3

Q60.2026 Supp. · Q274 marks

Describe different types of anxiety disorders.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2026 (Supplementary)
  • Generalized Anxiety Disorder
  • Panic Disorder
  • Phobias (Specific, Social and Agoraphobia)
  • Separation Anxiety Disorder

(Brief explanation of above)

(1+1+1+1=4 marks)

Q61.2025 Main · Q274 marks

Meera has an intense irrational fear of spiders and experiences sudden episodes of intense terror with breathlessness and dizziness. Identify the two types of anxiety disorders she might be suffering from and suggest one coping strategy for each.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2025 (Main)
  • Identification:
    a) Specific Phobia
    b) Panic Disorder
  • Any coping strategy or stress management technique or treatment explained.

NOTE: The second part of the question is worded as coping instead of treatment, giving scope for interpreting the question in different ways.

(½ +½+ 1½ +1½ = 4)

Q62.2024 Supp. · Q264 marks

How does the behavioural model help us in understanding mental disorders ? Explain.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2024 (Supplementary)

Learning can take place by classical conditioning (temporal association in which two events repeatedly occur close together in time), operant conditioning (behaviour is followed by a reward), and social learning (learning by imitating others' behaviour),

  • The behavioural model states that both normal and abnormal behaviours are learned
  • Psychological disorders are the result of learning maladaptive ways of behaving.
  • The model concentrates on behaviours that are learned through conditioning and proposes that what has been learned can be unlearned.
  • These three types of conditioning account for behaviour, whether adaptive or maladaptive.

Marks: 4

Q63.2024 Supp. · Q26 (OR)4 marks

Do you think that complaints and worries of physical symptoms may occur without any biological cause ? What are the symptoms related to this and its related conditions ?

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2024 (Supplementary)

Yes,

  • Somatic symptom disorder involves a person having persistent body-related symptoms which may or may not be related to any serious medical condition.
  • Illness anxiety disorder involves persistent preoccupation about developing a serious illness and constantly worrying about this possibility.
  • The symptoms of conversion disorders are the reported loss of part or all of some basic body functions. Paralysis, blindness, deafness etc.

Marks: 1+2+1

Q64.2023 Supp. · Q314 marks

Deepa has been diagnosed with generalised anxiety disorder. Explain the development of this disorder with the help of diathesis-stress model.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2023 (Supplementary)
  • Diathesis or the presence of some biological aberration, which may be inherited.
  • Vulnerability to develop a psychological disorder.
  • Presence of pathogenic stressors i.e. factors/ stressors that may lead to psychopathology.
  • Explanation with reference to Deepa’s disorder.

1+1+1+1=4

Q65.2022 Main · Q74 marks

Discuss the risk factors associated with suicides. What are the symptoms that help in identifying students in distress ? Examine some ways to foster positive self-esteem in students.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2022 (Main)

Risk factors associated with suicides

A result of complex interface of biological, genetic, psychological, sociological cultural and environmental factors

Others risk factors are mental disorders (depression, alcohol use disorders)

Going through natural disasters experiencing violence, abuse or loss and isolation at any stage of life previous suicidal attempt. (1½)

Identifying students in distress –

  • Any unexpected or striking change affecting the adolescent’s performances, attendance or behavior should be taken seriously, such as
  • Lack of interest in common activities
  • Declining grades
  • Decreasing effort
  • Misbehavior in the classroom
  • Mysterious or repeated absence
  • Smoking or drinking, or drug misuse

(1½)

Ways to foster Self – esteem

  • Accentuating positive life experiences to develop positive identity, increases confidence in self
  • Providing opportunities for development of physical, social and vocational skills
  • Establishing a trustful communication
  • Specific, measurable, achievable, relevant goals to be completed within a relevant time frame.

(1)

1½+1½ +1 =4

(Relevant explanation in their own words.)

Q66.2022 Main · Q7 (OR)4 marks

What are the characteristics of neurodevelopmental disorders ? Describe any three neurodevelopmental disorders.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2022 (Main)

Characteristics of Neurodevelopmental Disorders – (1)

  • They manifest in the early stage of development (before child enters school or early stage of schooling)
  • Deficits or excesses in a particular age–appropriate behavior.
  • Various disorders under this category
  1. ADHD
  2. Autism Spectrum Disorder
  3. Intellectual Disability
  4. Specific learning Disorder.

(Description of any 3 of the above.) (3)

1+3=4

Q67.2022 Supp. · Q84 marks

When does normal anxiety turn into a disorder ? Discuss any three psychological models to explain abnormal behaviour.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2022 (Supplementary)

CBSE has not published a marking scheme for this paper, so no official answer is available.

Q68.2022 Supp. · Q8 (OR)4 marks

What are neurodevelopmental disorders ? Explain the symptoms associated with Autism spectrum disorder.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2022 (Supplementary)

CBSE has not published a marking scheme for this paper, so no official answer is available.

Q69.2022 Supp. · Q104 marks

Abdul believes that his actions are being controlled by a satellite through a chip implanted in his brain by some aliens. Identify the disorder and explain its other symptoms.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2022 (Supplementary)

CBSE has not published a marking scheme for this paper, so no official answer is available.

Q70.SQP 2026-27 · Q254 marks

Reminder’s parents report that she frequently fidgets, squirms, and lacks concentration. Her teachers have expressed concerns about her inability to complete tasks and participate in classroom activities. Explain the neurodevelopmental disorder being referred to here.

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CBSE Sample Question Paper 2026-27 · Official Marking Scheme

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity disorder

Symptoms:

  • Inattentive: cannot concentrate, disorganized, forgetful, does not follow instructions
  • Impulsive : unable to control their immediate reactions or to think before, find it difficult to wait or take turns, difficult to delaying gratification, minor mishaps and accidents are common
  • Hyperactivity: in constant motion, ‘driven by a motor’, always on the go, and talk incessantly.

1+3=4

Q71.2026 Main · Q296 marks

Ravi has been showing signs of extreme social withdrawal and erratic mood swings. As a psychology student, how would you apply different approaches/models/factors to understand and explain any abnormal behaviour ?

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2026 (Main)

Models/Factors underlying abnormal behaviour – (1.5x4=6)

  • Biological Factors
  • Genetic Factors
  • Psychological Models
    a) Psychodynamic
    b) Behavioral
    c) Humanistic – Existential
    d) Cognitive Model
  • Socio-cultural Model
  • Diathesis Stress model

(Explanation of any four)

OR

Approaches: (3+3=6)

  • Abnormal Behavior as deviation from Social Norms
  • Abnormal behavior as maladaptive.

(Explanation of above)

Q72.2026 Main · Q29 (OR)6 marks

Psychological Disorders have come a long way in their journey of understanding and treatment of disorders. To understand psychological disorders, we would require a brief historical account of how these disorders have been viewed over the ages. When we study the history of abnormal psychology, we find that certain theories have occurred repeatedly. Trace the history of disorders to understand their origin and leading to the latest developments.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2026 (Main)

History of Psychological Disorders to understand their origin and leading to latest developments – (1x6=6)

  • Biological or Organic Approach.
  • Psychological Approach
  • Organismic Approach
  • Middle Ages
  • Renaissance period
  • Age of reason and Enlightenment
  • Reform Movement – deinstitutionalization
  • Interactional or bio psycho social approach.

Any 6 points of the above to be explained.

Q73.2025 Supp. · Q286 marks

Explain the various types of anxiety disorders.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2025 (Supplementary)

There are many types of anxiety disorders:

  • Generalized Anxiety Disorder, which consists of prolonged, vague, unexplained and intense fears that are not attached to any particular object.
  • Panic Disorder, which consists of recurrent anxiety attacks in which the person experiences intense terror. A panic attack denotes an abrupt surge of intense anxiety rising to a peak when thoughts of particular stimuli are present.
  • Phobias - People who have phobias have irrational fears related to specific objects, people, or situations. Phobias often develop gradually or begin with a generalised anxiety disorder. Phobias can be grouped into three main types, i.e. specific phobias, social phobias, and agoraphobia.
  • Separation Anxiety Disorder (SAD) is another type of anxiety disorder. Individuals with separation anxiety disorder are fearful and anxious about separation from attachment figures to an extent that is developmentally inappropriate.

Explanation of any three of the above

(2+2+2=6)

Q74.2025 Supp. · Q28 (OR)6 marks

Explain any three approaches used to explain abnormal behaviour.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2025 (Supplementary)

Approaches to explain abnormal behaviour -

  • Biological factors influence all aspects of our behavior. A wide range of biological factors such as faulty genes, endocrine imbalances, malnutrition, injuries and other conditions may interfere with the normal development and functioning of the human body.
    Genetic factors have been linked to bipolar and related disorders, schizophrenia, intellectual disability and other psychological disorders. Researchers have not, however, been able to identify the specific genes that are the culprits. In most cases, no single gene is responsible for a particular behaviour or a psychological disorder.
  • Psychological models, which provide a psychological explanation of mental disorders. These models mention that psychological and interpersonal factors have a significant role to play in abnormal behaviour. These factors include maternal deprivation (separation from the mother, or lack of warmth and stimulation during early years of life). The psychological models include the psychodynamic, behavioural, cognitive, and humanistic-existential models.
  • Socio-cultural factors such as war and violence, group prejudice and discrimination, economic and employment problems, and rapid social change, put stress on most of us and can also lead to psychological problems in some individuals. According to the socio-cultural model, abnormal behaviour is best understood in light of the social and cultural forces influencing an individual.
  • Diathesis-Stress model – This model states that psychological disorders develop when a stressful situation sets off a diathesis (biological predisposition to the disorder). This model has three components:
    Presence of some biological aberration.
    Diathesis may carry a vulnerability to develop a psychological disorder.
    Presence of pathogenic stressors.

Explanation of any three points in detail

(2+2+2=6)

Q75.2024 Main · Q306 marks

What do you understand by the term ‘dissociation’ ? Explain its various forms.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2024 (Main)
  • Dissociation can be viewed as severance of the connections between ideas and emotions
  • It involves feeling of unreality, estrangement, depersonalization and sometimes a loss or shift of identify.

Types of Dissociative Disorders

  • Dissociative Amnesia including Dissociative Fugue
  • Dissociative Identify Disorder
  • Depersonalization/Derealization Disorder

(Explanation of above)

(1+2+1.5+1.5=6)

Q76.2024 Main · Q30 (OR)6 marks

What are the common features of neurodevelopmental disorders ? Describe any three neurodevelopmental disorders.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2024 (Main)

Features of Neurodevelopmental disorders

  • They manifest in the early stages of development/ symptoms appear before the child enters school or during the early stages of schooling
  • They result in hampering personal, social, academic and occupational functioning
  • They get characterized as deficits or excesses in a particular behavior or delays in achieving a particular age-appropriate behavior.

Types of Neurodevelopmental disorders:

  • Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
  • Autism Spectrum Disorder
  • Intellectual Disability
  • Specific learning Disorder

(Detailed explanation of any three disorders)

(1.5+1.5+1.5+1.5=6)

Q77.SQP 2025-26 · Q286 marks

Describe the characteristics of individuals with different levels of intellectual disability.

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CBSE Sample Question Paper 2025-26 · Official Marking Scheme

Mild, Moderate, Severe and Profound-indicate levels of IQ

Areas of functioning for each level on the basis of self-help skills, speech and communication, academics, social skills, vocational adjustment and adult living

A detailed description of each level of intellectual disability

(1+1+1+1=4)

Q78.SQP 2025-26 · Q28 (OR)6 marks

When does anxiety turn into a disorder? Explain the different types of anxiety disorders.

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CBSE Sample Question Paper 2025-26 · Official Marking Scheme

High levels of anxiety that are distressing and interfere with effective functioning indicate the presence of an anxiety disorder or 4Ds. 1mk

Types of anxiety disorders:

-Generalised anxiety disorder
-Phobia
-Panic disorder
-Separation anxiety disorder

A brief description of any three

(1+3=4)

5. Therapeutic Approaches

Q1.2026 Main · Q111 mark

Your friend failed an important test. You sit with him/her, listen to his/her feelings, and try to understand the experience without judgement. Which quality are you demonstrating and why ?

  1. Sympathy – because you feel sorry for your friend’s situation.
  2. Empathy – because you are trying to understand your friend’s feeling from their perspective.
  3. Assertiveness – because you are confidentially telling them what to do.
  4. Motivation – because you are pushing them to study harder next time.
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2026 (Main)

(B) Empathy - because you are understanding and sharing your friend’s emotions from perspective rather than just feeling sorry for them

Q2.2026 Main · Q121 mark

A therapist working with children with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) gives them a star sticker each time they complete a task without distraction. After collecting five stars, they can exchange it with a small toy. What psychological technique is being used here ?

  1. Classical conditioning
  2. Token economy
  3. Systematic desensitization
  4. Free association
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2026 (Main)

(B) Token Economy

Q3.2026 Supp. · Q71 mark

‘Unconditional positive regard’ as proposed by Carl Rogers indicates :

  1. Accepting a person only when they behave correctly
  2. Valuing a person regardless of their behaviour or flaws
  3. Praising someone excessively to boost self-esteem
  4. Using punishment to correct unwanted behaviour
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2026 (Supplementary)

(B) Valuing a person regardless of their behavior or flaws

Q4.2026 Supp. · Q81 mark

Aversive conditioning is most accurately described as :

  1. Learning desirable behaviours through imitation of role models
  2. Strengthening desired behaviour by rewarding it constantly
  3. Reducing unwanted behaviour by associating it with an unpleasant stimulus
  4. Encouraging self-awareness through open dialogue and regular discussion
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2026 (Supplementary)

(C) Reducing unwanted behavior by associating it with an unpleasant stimulus.

Q5.2026 Supp. · Q321 mark

Ananya, a 22-year-old college student, was diagnosed with a severe disorder two years ago. After her symptoms were brought under control with medication and therapy, her doctors suggested that she join a rehabilitation program. As part of this program, Ananya attended occupational therapy, participated in social skills training and enrolled in vocational therapy. All the above helped her.

Explain the term rehabilitation.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2026 (Supplementary)

Rehabilitation is required to help such patients become self-sufficient. The aim of rehabilitation is to empower the patient to become productive member of society to the extent possible.

Q6.2025 Supp. · Q321 mark

Angel, a high-achieving professional, is struggling with intense anxiety and feelings of inadequacy. She believes that she “must” be perfect and loved by everyone in her social and work circles. This belief is rooted in her experiences where she was constantly praised for her achievements but rarely for her personal qualities. Whenever she encounters a minor setback or criticism, such as a less-than-perfect performance review, she feels devastated, thinking that she has failed entirely. Beliefs such as “I am stupid” and “I will not succeed” make her emotionally unstable, impacting her daily functioning.

Explain the cause of Angel’s distress according to Albert Ellis.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2025 (Supplementary)

Antecedent events and irrational thoughts cause the psychological distress to Angel/ Relevant answer from the case.

(1)

Q7.2024 Main · Q101 mark

Hina’s therapist at the rehabilitation centre administers __________ to improve the basic functions of her attention and memory.

  1. Social skills training
  2. Vocational training
  3. Cognitive retraining
  4. Occupational therapy
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2024 (Main)

(C) Cognitive retraining

Q8.2024 Supp. · Q101 mark

Sabina seems to be preoccupied with the question of why she is in this world here. She is often plagued with questions about the meaning and purpose of life. Thus, she may be experiencing ___________ .

  1. Existential anxiety
  2. Stress
  3. Unconscious anxiety
  4. Intrapsychic conflict
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2024 (Supplementary)

(A) existential anxiety

Q9.2024 Supp. · Q111 mark

‘Systematic desensitisation is a technique introduced by Wolpe for treating phobias or irrational fears.’

Referring to the above therapy, arrange the following in the correct sequence :

  1. Together with the client, the therapist prepares a hierarchy of anxiety-provoking stimuli with the least anxiety-provoking stimuli at the bottom of the hierarchy.
  2. The client is interviewed to elicit fear-provoking situations.
  3. Over sessions, the client is able to imagine more severe fear-provoking situations while maintaining the relaxation.
  4. The therapist relaxes the client and asks the client to think about the least anxiety-provoking situation.
  1. (i) – (iv) – (iii) – (ii)
  2. (iii) – (iv) – (i) – (ii)
  3. (iv) – (i) – (ii) – (iii)
  4. (ii) – (i) – (iv) – (iii)
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2024 (Supplementary)

(D) ii---i--iv--iii

Q10.2024 Supp. · Q121 mark

Which of the following are not true about therapeutic approaches ?

  1. Therapeutic approaches are corrective and helping in nature.
  2. Therapeutic approaches do not involve an interpersonal relationship between the therapist and the client.
  3. Some therapeutic approaches such as client-centred therapy are directive in nature.
  4. Some therapeutic approaches are non-directive such as humanistic-existential therapy.
  1. (i) and (ii)
  2. (ii) and (iii)
  3. (i) and (iii)
  4. (ii) and (iv)
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2024 (Supplementary)

(B) ii and ii

Q11.2023 Main · Q111 mark

In the following question, a statement of Assertion (A) is followed by a statement of Reason (R). Select the correct choice from (a), (b), (c), (d).

Assertion (A) : According to cognitive therapy, childhood experiences provided by the family and society develop core schemas in the child which include beliefs and action patterns in individual.

Reason (R) : In this therapy, irrational beliefs mediate between antecedent events and their consequences.

  1. Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, and Reason (R) is correct explanation of Assertion (A).
  2. Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, but Reason (R) is not the correct explanation of Assertion (A).
  3. Assertion (A) is true, but Reason (R) is false.
  4. Assertion (A) is false, but Reason (R) is true.
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2023 (Main)

(b) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, but Reason (R) is not the correct explanation of Assertion (A)

Q12.2023 Main · Q121 mark

Ritik is undergoing a therapy where he is being taught to recognise bodily processes and the emotions that are being blocked out from his awareness. Which therapy is being applied here ?

  1. Client-centred therapy
  2. Logotherapy
  3. Cognitive behaviour therapy
  4. Gestalt therapy
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2023 (Main)

(d) Gestalt therapy

Q13.2023 Main · Q131 mark

Why is behavioural analysis conducted to overcome stress ?

  1. To find malfunctioning behaviour
  2. To find the consequent operations of the adaptive behaviour
  3. To identify the antecedents of faulty learning
  4. To identify factors that maintain faulty learning
  1. (i), (iii) and (iv)
  2. Only (iii)
  3. (ii) and (iii)
  4. (i) and (ii)
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2023 (Main)

(a) (i), (iii) and (iv)

Q14.2023 Supp. · Q111 mark

Systematic desensitisation is a technique introduced by Wolpe for treating phobias or irrational fears.

Referring to the above therapy, arrange the following in correct sequence :

  1. Together with the client, the therapist prepares a hierarchy of anxiety-provoking stimuli with the least anxiety-provoking stimuli at the bottom of the hierarchy.
  2. The client is interviewed to elicit fear-provoking situations.
  3. Over sessions, the client is able to imagine more severe fear-provoking situations, while maintaining the relaxation.
  4. The therapist relaxes the client and asks the client to think about the least anxiety-provoking situation.
  1. (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv)
  2. (iii), (iv), (i) and (ii)
  3. (iv), (i), (ii) and (iii)
  4. (ii), (i), (iv) and (iii)
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2023 (Supplementary)

(d) (ii), (i), (iv) and (iii)

Q15.2023 Supp. · Q121 mark

After undergoing therapy for mental illness, Kavita was admitted into a rehabilitation centre to become a responsible and productive member of society. After improvement, she was helped to gain skills necessary to undertake productive employment. This is a part of

  1. Cognitive training
  2. Social skills training
  3. Occupational therapy
  4. Vocational training
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2023 (Supplementary)

(d) Vocational Training

Q16.2023 Supp. · Q131 mark

In the following question, a statement of Assertion (A) is followed by a statement of Reason (R). Mark the correct choice.

Assertion (A) : In client-centred therapy, unconditional positive regard indicates that the positive warmth of the therapist is not dependent on what the client reveals.

Reason (R) : Empathy sets up an emotional resonance between the therapist and the client which helps the client to feel secure.

  1. Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, and Reason (R) is the correct explanation of Assertion (A).
  2. Assertion (A) is true, but Reason (R) is false.
  3. Assertion (A) is false, but Reason (R) is true.
  4. Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, but Reason (R) is not the correct explanation of Assertion (A).
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2023 (Supplementary)

(a) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, and Reason (R) is the correct explanation of Assertion (A).

Q17.SQP 2026-27 · Q91 mark

Given below are two statements labelled as Assertion (A) and Reason (R).

Assertion: Behavioural analysis is conducted to find malfunctioning behaviours, the antecedents of faulty learning, and the factors that maintain or continue faulty learning.

Reason: The aim of the treatment in behavioural therapy is to extinguish or eliminate the faulty behaviours and substitute them with adaptive behaviour patterns.

Select the most appropriate answer from the options given below:

  1. Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
  2. Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A
  3. A is true but R is false.
  4. A is false but R is true.
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CBSE Sample Question Paper 2026-27 · Official Marking Scheme

(A) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.

Q18.SQP 2025-26 · Q41 mark

In logotherapy, which of the following is considered essential for coping with life's challenges?

  1. Identifying and altering negative thought patterns to develop a more positive mindset
  2. Finding a personal sense of meaning or purpose, even in difficult situations
  3. Using reinforcement to increase desired behaviours and reduce problematic ones
  4. Replacing irrational beliefs with logical, realistic ones to improve emotional well-being
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CBSE Sample Question Paper 2025-26 · Official Marking Scheme

(b) Finding a personal sense of meaning or purpose, even in difficult situations

Q19.SQP 2025-26 · Q51 mark

Sachin often calls out answers in class without raising his hand. To change this behaviour, the teacher starts ignoring him when he calls out but praises him every time, he raises his hand before speaking. What strategy is the teacher using?

  1. Positive reinforcement
  2. Punishment
  3. Differential reinforcement
  4. Negative reinforcement
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CBSE Sample Question Paper 2025-26 · Official Marking Scheme

(c) Differential reinforcement

Q20.SQP 2025-26 · Q61 mark

Which of the following best demonstrates the concept of empathy in a therapeutic setting?

  1. A therapist offers advice to the client on how to resolve their issues based on personal experiences.
  2. A therapist encourages the client to move past their emotions and focus only on logical solutions to their problems.
  3. A therapist remains neutral and detached to maintain professionalism, avoiding emotional involvement in the client’s experiences.
  4. A therapist carefully listens to the client’s experiences and expresses understanding of the client’s emotions, allowing the client to feel heard and valued.
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CBSE Sample Question Paper 2025-26 · Official Marking Scheme

(d) A therapist carefully listens to the client’s experiences and expresses understanding of the client’s emotions, allowing the client to feel heard and valued.

Q21.2026 Supp. · Q172 marks

Riya was advised to undergo systematic desensitisation to overcome her fear of closed spaces. How will systematic desensitisation help Riya ?

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2026 (Supplementary)
  1. Systematic desensitization will help Ria by gradually exposing her to anxiety-provoking situations (like elevators) while teaching her relaxation techniques so the fear response is replaced by a calm response. This step-by-step process reduces her anxiety over time.
  2. The therapist prepares a hierarchy of anxiety provoking stimuli with the least anxiety provoking stimuli at the bottom of hierarchy.
  3. The principle of reciprocal inhibition operates here.

(Any two points from the above)

(1+1=2 marks)

Q22.2026 Supp. · Q182 marks

Vishal went for a health check-up and the doctor recommended Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT). CBT is an effective way of treating disorders. Explain the process involved in this therapy.e

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2026 (Supplementary)
  • CBT adopts a bio-psychosocial approach to the delineation of psychotherapy. It combines cognitive therapy with behavioral techniques.
  • The rationale is that the client’s distress has its origins in the biological, psychological and social realms.
  • Hence, addressing the biological aspects through relaxation procedures, the psychological ones through behavior therapy and cognitive therapy techniques and the social ones with environmental manipulations makes CBT a comprehensive technique which is easy to use, applicable to a variety of disorders and has proven efficacy.

(Any two points from the above)

(1+1 =2 marks)

Q23.2026 Supp. · Q332 marks

Ananya, a 22-year-old college student, was diagnosed with a severe disorder two years ago. After her symptoms were brought under control with medication and therapy, her doctors suggested that she join a rehabilitation program. As part of this program, Ananya attended occupational therapy, participated in social skills training and enrolled in vocational therapy. All the above helped her.

It has been observed that occupational therapy, social skills training and vocational therapy are very effective. Elaborate on any two.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2026 (Supplementary)
  • In occupational therapy, skills are taught such as candle making, paper bag making and weaving to help them to form a work discipline.
  • Social skills training - Given to develop interpersonal skills through role play, imitation and instruction to function in a social group
  • Vocational training - To gain skills necessary to undertake productive employment
Q24.2025 Main · Q332 marks

At any one time, a diverse set of individual, family, community and structural factors may combine to protect or undermine mental health. Although most people are resilient, people who are exposed to adverse circumstances – including poverty, violence, disability and inequality – are at higher risk of developing a mental health condition. Protective and risk factors include individual, psychological and biological factors, such as emotional skills as well as genetics. Many of the risks and protective factors are influenced through changes in brain structure and/or function. People with mental disorders also require social support, including support in developing and maintaining personal, family and social relationships. People with mental disorders may also need support for educational programmes, employment, housing and participation in other meaningful activities.

State two steps which are helpful in addressing the concerns of mentally-ill people.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2025 (Main)
  • Social support, including support in developing and maintaining personal, family, and social relationships.
  • Support for educational programmes, employment, housing, and participation in other meaningful activities.

(above points or any relevant answer)

(1+1)

(Assessment based on performance), Q32, Q33

Q25.2025 Supp. · Q192 marks

A client is undergoing psychodynamic therapy for the treatment of his problem. What is likely to be the chief benefit of this therapy to the client ?

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2025 (Supplementary)

Psychodynamic therapy values emotional insight as the important benefit that the client derives from the treatment. Emotional insight is present when the client understands his conflicts intellectually, can accept the same emotionally, and can change his emotions towards the conflicts. The client’s symptoms and distress reduce as a consequence of this emotional insight.

(2)

Q26.2025 Supp. · Q332 marks

Angel, a high-achieving professional, is struggling with intense anxiety and feelings of inadequacy. She believes that she “must” be perfect and loved by everyone in her social and work circles. This belief is rooted in her experiences where she was constantly praised for her achievements but rarely for her personal qualities. Whenever she encounters a minor setback or criticism, such as a less-than-perfect performance review, she feels devastated, thinking that she has failed entirely. Beliefs such as “I am stupid” and “I will not succeed” make her emotionally unstable, impacting her daily functioning.

How does RET help in reducing distress ?

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2025 (Supplementary)

RET for reducing distress-

  • Irrational beliefs are assessed through questionnaires and interviews.
  • In the process of RET, the irrational beliefs are refuted by the therapist through a process of non-directive questioning.
  • The nature of questioning is gentle, without probing or being directive.
  • The questions make the client to think deeper into her/his assumptions about life and problems.
  • Gradually the client is able to change the irrational beliefs by making a change in her/his philosophy about life.

Any two points from the above.

(2)

Q27.2024 Main · Q192 marks

Mukesh is preparing for an entrance examination and is anxious. He has a persistent irrational thought that he would not succeed. Explain the therapy that can help him understand and overcome his anxiety.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2024 (Main)
  • Rational Emotive therapy – ABC Antecedent Belief Consequence

OR

  • Cognitive therapy by Aaron Beck

OR

  • Cognitive- Behavioral therapy

(Brief explanation of any one)

(2)

Q28.2024 Main · Q19 (OR)2 marks

Wasim has a phobia of lizards. What causes will a behaviour therapist assign to Wasim’s phobia ?

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2024 (Main)
  • Faulty behavior patterns or thought patterns
  • Faulty conditioning pattern, learning, thinking and beliefs

(Any 2 points)

(2)

Q29.2024 Main · Q202 marks

The therapy which considers a person as a whole entity consisting of body, mind and emotions, also explains the alleviation of the client’s problems. Identify the therapy and state any two key features of this therapy.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2024 (Main)

Humanistic Existential/Gestalt Therapy

Key features (any two)

  • The goal of Gestalt Therapy is to increase an individual’s self awareness and self acceptance.
  • The client is taught to recognize, the bodily processes and the emotions that are being blocked out from awareness.
  • The therapist does this by encouraging the client to act out fantasies about feelings and conflicts.
  • This therapy can also be used in group settings

(Brief explanation of one of above)

(1 + 1=2)

Q30.2024 Supp. · Q192 marks

Can one transform the therapeutic relationship into a healing relationship by understanding the plight of others ? If yes or no, explain.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2024 (Supplementary)

Yes

Empathy is present when one is able to understand the plight of another person and feel like the other person. It means understanding things from the other person's perspective.

Marks: 2

Q31.2024 Supp. · Q19 (OR)2 marks

Do behavioural and psychodynamic therapists view the cause of psychological problems as being the same ? Give reasons for your answer.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2024 (Supplementary)

No

Psychodynamic therapy is of the view that intrapsychic conflicts, i.e. the conflicts that are present within the psyche of the person, are the source of psychological problems. According to behaviour therapies, psychological problems arise due to faulty learning of behaviours and cognitions.

Marks: 1+1

Q32.2023 Main · Q212 marks

Explain cognitive distortions. Give an example of cognitive distortion that a client might be experiencing.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2023 (Main)
  • Cognitive distortion – Ways of thinking general in nature but which disturb reality in a negative manner. (1)
  • Example – “I am ugly”, I am stupid” or any other relevant example. (1)

(1+1=2)

Q33.2023 Supp. · Q212 marks

What is meant by the term ‘therapist and patient variables’ in the context of psychotherapy ?

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2023 (Supplementary)
  • Patient Variable
    • Non-specific factors attributed to the client/patient
    • Motivation for change, expectation of improvement due to the treatment etc. (Any one)
  • Therapist Variable
    • Non-specific factors attributed to the therapist
    • Positive nature, absence of unresolved emotional conflicts presence of good mental health. (Any one)

1+1=2

Q34.2023 Supp. · Q332 marks

Read the case study and answer the questions (Q. 33 – 34) that follow :

Sameera was referred to a clinical psychologist for anger issues pertaining to differences with her parents. Initially, Sameera kept denying any such concerns and said, it is nothing but an adolescent phase. The clinical psychologist was not convinced and decided to probe deeper. She knew that Sameera was hesitating to share her private feelings and thoughts. The clinical psychologist started by creating an environment where there was trust, empathy, genuineness and warmth. This helped Sameera to develop a positive relationship with the clinical psychologist. Soon Sameera was sharing her inner turmoils and the reasons of her anger towards her parents. The psychologist challenged her faulty thought patterns and substituted them with adaptive and positive thoughts. This helped to reduce her distress.

Identify the nature of this relationship between the clinical psychologist and Sameera. What are its components ?

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2023 (Supplementary)
  • This is a therapeutic relationship or alliance which is neither a passing acquaintance nor a permanent one.
  • Two components – contractual nature of the relationship with two willing individuals. Second is the limited duration of the therapy. It lasts till the distress reduces.

1+ ½ + ½ = 2

Q35.2023 Supp. · Q33 (OR)2 marks

Read the case study and answer the questions (Q. 33 – 34) that follow :

Sameera was referred to a clinical psychologist for anger issues pertaining to differences with her parents. Initially, Sameera kept denying any such concerns and said, it is nothing but an adolescent phase. The clinical psychologist was not convinced and decided to probe deeper. She knew that Sameera was hesitating to share her private feelings and thoughts. The clinical psychologist started by creating an environment where there was trust, empathy, genuineness and warmth. This helped Sameera to develop a positive relationship with the clinical psychologist. Soon Sameera was sharing her inner turmoils and the reasons of her anger towards her parents. The psychologist challenged her faulty thought patterns and substituted them with adaptive and positive thoughts. This helped to reduce her distress.

How is this relationship unique in nature ? Differentiate between empathy and intellectual understanding.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2023 (Supplementary)
  • This relationship is unique in nature because it is trusting and confiding. The therapist shows warmth, unconditional positive regard and authenticity.
  • Empathy understands the plight of the other person and to feel their pain. Intellectual understanding is cold. Person is unable to feel like the other person nor do they feel sympathy for the others.

1+ ½ + ½ =2

Q36.2023 Supp. · Q342 marks

Read the case study and answer the questions (Q. 33 – 34) that follow :

Sameera was referred to a clinical psychologist for anger issues pertaining to differences with her parents. Initially, Sameera kept denying any such concerns and said, it is nothing but an adolescent phase. The clinical psychologist was not convinced and decided to probe deeper. She knew that Sameera was hesitating to share her private feelings and thoughts. The clinical psychologist started by creating an environment where there was trust, empathy, genuineness and warmth. This helped Sameera to develop a positive relationship with the clinical psychologist. Soon Sameera was sharing her inner turmoils and the reasons of her anger towards her parents. The psychologist challenged her faulty thought patterns and substituted them with adaptive and positive thoughts. This helped to reduce her distress.

‘The psychologist challenged her faulty thought patterns and substituted them with adaptive and positive thoughts.’ Which therapeutic approach has been used here ? Explain the chief benefit to Sameera.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2023 (Supplementary)
  • Cognitive therapy has been used here.
  • The chief benefit to Sameera is that her faulty thought patterns were substituted with adaptive ones. This reduced her distress and resolved her issues with her parents.

1+1=2

Q37.2023 Supp. · Q362 marks

Read the case study and answer the questions (Q. 35 – 36) that follow :

Anna first came to the attention of psychoanalyst, Joseph Breuer, in 1880 when he was called to her house in Vienna where she was lying in bed, almost entirely paralysed. Her other symptoms included hallucinations, personality changes and rambling speech, but doctors could not find any physical cause. Breuer visited her almost daily and talked to her about her thoughts and feelings, including her grief for her father. The more she talked, the more her symptoms seem to fade — this was apparently one of the first ever instances of psychoanalysis or “the talking cure”. Although Freud never met Anna, he wrote about her case, including the notion that she had a hysterical pregnancy, although this was also disputed later.

‘The more she talked, the more her symptoms seem to fade.’ What are the methods used in psychoanalysis to bring the unconscious to the conscious realm ? Explain.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2023 (Supplementary)

Free association, Dream analysis, analysis of error.

(any two)

1+1=2

Q38.SQP 2026-27 · Q182 marks

Anjan is undergoing therapy for anxiety. During the sessions, the therapist shares details of Anjan’s problems with Anjan’s colleagues without his permission. Which ethical principle is being violated here? Why is it important to follow this principle in therapy?

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CBSE Sample Question Paper 2026-27 · Official Marking Scheme
  • Confidentiality
  • protects the client’s privacy and builds trust

1+1=2

Q39.2026 Main · Q233 marks

Reena constantly thinks, “I must succeed at everything, or I am a failure,” which causes her distress when she makes small mistakes. How can Rational Emotive Therapy (RET) help Reena overcome her psychological distress ? Mention three steps involved in the Rational Emotive Therapy (RET).

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2026 (Main)

Brief explanation of Rational Emotive Therapy – ABC analysis (A-Antecedent, B-Belief and C-Consequence) (1+1+1=3)

Q40.2025 Main · Q233 marks

Ashok, who suffers from obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), is considering alternative therapies to complement his current treatment. Recommend and justify which approach might be most beneficial for Ashok.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2025 (Main)
  • Kundalini Yoga
  • Mindfulness based meditation
  • Cognitive-behavior therapy
  • Sudarshan Kriya Yoga

(Naming and justifying any one of the above)

(1½+1½=3)

Q41.2022 Main · Q53 marks

Shyam believes that he should be loved by everybody, all the time. Most of his beliefs have a ‘must’ or ‘should’ component. When things don’t go his way, he feels distressed. Suggest a suitable therapy that will make Shyam think deeper into his irrational belief system and help him to feel better.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2022 (Main)

RET by Albert Ellis /Cognitive therapy by Aaron Beck (½)

The appropriate therapy is (RET) Rational Emotive Therapy

  • In this therapy the cause of psychological distress is irrational thoughts and beliefs are located
  • Antecedent – Belief – Consequence (ABC) analysis
  1. Antecedent event which caused psychological distress are noted
    The client is interviewed to find the irrational beliefs which distort the present reality
  2. Irrational beliefs are characterized by beliefs in must’s and should’s, which are not based on reality such as – one should be loved by everybody, all the times.
  3. Consequences – the distorted perception of the antecedent events due to the irrational beliefs leads to the consequences i.e. negative emotion and behavior.
  • In the process of RET, the irrational beliefs are refuted by the therapist through the process non – directive questioning.
  • The question make the client to think deeper into client’s assumption about life and problems.
  • Gradually the client is able to change the irrational beliefs

(2½)

OR

Beck’s cognitive therapy –

Core schemas

Dysfunctional cognitive structures

Role of therapist

Cognitive restructuring

Any one therapy with relevant explanation

½+2½ =3

Q42.2022 Supp. · Q43 marks

Due to the present challenges in her life, Alvira finds herself quite often asking questions like – What is her aim in life or the purpose of her life ? She consults a therapist as she finds her present life meaningless and inauthentic. How will the humanistic-existential therapist alleviate her distress and help her to achieve a sense of wholeness ? Explain.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2022 (Supplementary)

CBSE has not published a marking scheme for this paper, so no official answer is available.

Q43.SQP 2025-26 · Q213 marks

Analyse the importance of rehabilitation in the recovery of individuals with severe mental illness.

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CBSE Sample Question Paper 2025-26 · Official Marking Scheme
  • Improving the level of functioning or quality of life.
  • Helping patients become self-sufficient.
  • Empowering the patient to become a productive member of society to the extent possible.
Q44.SQP 2025-26 · Q223 marks

Aman is experiencing anxiety due to academic pressure. He often thinks, “I am not good enough” and “I am a failure.” These thoughts cause him to withdraw from social activities and friends. How would Rational Emotive Therapy (RET) help Aman manage his anxiety?

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CBSE Sample Question Paper 2025-26 · Official Marking Scheme

Rational Emotive Therapy by Albert Ellis:

The first step in RET is the antecedent belief-consequence (ABC) analysis. 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.

In the process of RET, the irrational beliefs are refuted by the therapist through a process of non-directive questioning. The questions make the client think deeper into her/his assumptions about life and problems.

Gradually the client is able to change the irrational beliefs by making a change in her/his philosophy about life. The rational belief system replaces the irrational belief system and there is a reduction in psychological distress.

(1+1+1= 3)

Q45.2026 Main · Q254 marks

Ritika has been feeling anxious, socially withdrawn and unable to manage her daily routine. She decides to see a psychotherapist. Over the course of several sessions, she begins to feel heard and supported. Based on this case, elaborate on the factors that contributed to Ritika’s psychological healing through psychotherapy.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2026 (Main)

Factors contributing to Ritika’s psychological healing through psychotherapy – (1+1+1+0.5+0.5=4)

  • Techniques adopted by the therapist and their implementation.
  • Therapeutic Alliance-availability of the therapist, warmth and empathy provided by the therapist.
  • Process of emotional unburdening or catharsis that has heading properties.
  • Non specific factors –
    a) Attributable to therapist
    b) Attributable to client (Ritika)
Q46.2025 Supp. · Q274 marks

Which therapy encourages the client to seek personal growth and actualise their potential ? Write about the therapies based on this principle.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2025 (Supplementary)
  • The Humanistic-Existential therapies postulate that psychological distress arises from feelings of loneliness, alienation, and an inability to find meaning and genuine fulfilment in life.
  • Human beings are motivated by the desire for personal growth and self-actualisation, and an innate need to grow emotionally. When these needs are curbed by society and family, human beings experience psychological distress.
  • Self-actualization is defined as an innate or inborn force that moves the person to become more complex, balanced, and integrated, i.e. achieving the complexity and balance without being fragmented. Integrated means a sense of whole, being a complete person, being in essence the same person despite the variety of experiences that one is subjected to.
  • Just as lack of food or water causes distress, frustration of self-actualisation also causes distress.
  • The therapy creates a permissive, non-judgmental and accepting atmosphere in which the client’s emotions can be freely expressed and the complexity, balance and integration could be achieved.
  • The fundamental assumption is that the client has the freedom and responsibility to control her/his own behaviour.
  • The therapist is merely a facilitator and a guide. It is the client who is responsible for the success of therapy.

Any four points from the above

OR

Any other relevant explanation

(1+1+1+1=4)

Q47.2024 Main · Q274 marks

Explain any four techniques used in behaviour therapy.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2024 (Main)

Techniques used in Behavior Therapy:

  • Negative Reinforcement
  • Aversive Conditioning
  • Positive Reinforcement
  • Token Economy
  • Systematic Desensitization
  • Modeling

(Any four of the above techniques)

(1+1+1+1=4)

Q48.2024 Supp. · Q274 marks

Vihan is treating his client. What are the ethical standards that he has to keep in mind when he is administering psychotherapy ? Discuss.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2024 (Supplementary)

Some of the ethical standards that need to be practiced by professional psychotherapists are:

  • Informed consent needs to be taken.
  • Confidentiality of the client should be maintained.
  • Alleviating personal distress and suffering should be the goal of all attempts of the therapist.
  • Integrity of the practitioner-client relationship is important.
  • Respect for human rights and dignity.
  • Professional competence and skills are essential.

(Any four points)

Marks: 1+1+1+1

Q49.2023 Main · Q314 marks

An eight-year-old child is showing aggressive and disruptive behaviour in the class. As a student of Psychology, what techniques would you suggest to help modify the child’s behaviour ?

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2023 (Main)

Behaviour modification techniques

  • Positive reinforcement
  • Negative reinforcement
  • Aversive conditioning
  • Token Economy
  • Differential reinforcement
  • Modelling/ Vicarious learning

(Relevant explanation of any two of the above techniques)

(2+2=4)

Q50.2022 Main · Q84 marks

Describe the process of rehabilitation of the mentally ill in detail.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2022 (Main)

Process of rehabilitation of the mentally ill

  • Many patients of mental disorders suffer from negative symptoms like disinterest and lack of motivation to do work or to interact with people
  • Rehabilitation is required here to help such patients become self sufficient.
  • The aim is to empower the patient to become a productive member of society to the extent possible.
  • Patients are given occupational therapy, social skills training and vocational therapy
  • Occupational therapy – patients are taught skills, like candle making, paper bag making and weaving, etc to help them form a work discipline.
  • Social skills training helps the patients to develop interpersonal skills through role play, imitation and instruction. The objective is to teach the patient to function in a social group.
  • Cognitive retraining is given to improve the basic cognitive functions of attention, memory and executive functions.
  • After the patient improves sufficiently, vocational training is given wherein the patient is helped to gain skills necessary to undertake productive employment.
  • Any four points.

1+1+1+1=4

Q51.2022 Main · Q8 (OR)4 marks

Discuss the various techniques used in behaviour therapy to eliminate faulty behaviours.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2022 (Main)

Behaviour therapy techniques

  • Negative reinforcement
  • Aversive conditioning
  • Positive reinforcement
  • Differential reinforcement
  • Token economy
  • Systematic desensitization
  • Modeling and vicarious learning

List all and explain any three techniques with examples. 1+3 = 4

OR

Explanation any four with example techniques in their own words. 1+1+1+1=4

Q52.2022 Supp. · Q74 marks

A seven-year-old child is showing disruptive and aggressive behaviour in the class. What techniques can her/his teachers use to help modify the child’s behaviour ? Discuss.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2022 (Supplementary)

CBSE has not published a marking scheme for this paper, so no official answer is available.

Q53.2022 Supp. · Q7 (OR)4 marks

Explain the main characteristics and unique properties of a therapeutic relationship.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2022 (Supplementary)

CBSE has not published a marking scheme for this paper, so no official answer is available.

Q54.2025 Main · Q296 marks

(a) Discuss the role of core schemas, negative automatic thoughts, cognitive distortions and irrational beliefs in cognitive therapies.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2025 (Main)

Aaron Beck’s therapy

  • Fundamental Principle/ Irrational Belief
  • Explanation of core schema – Childhood experience, with example
  • Negative automatic thoughts- irrational thoughts, with example
  • Cognitive distortion- define or explanation – Dysfunctional cognitive structure
  • Non-threatening disputation
  • Cognitive restructuring

(6)

OR

Rational Emotive Therapy (RET) : Developed by Albert Ellis, RET focuses on identifying and challenging irrational beliefs that distort reality and cause psychological distress. Through antecedent-belief-consequence (ABC) analysis and nondirective questioning, RET aims to replace irrational beliefs with rational ones, reducing negative emotions and behaviors.

Aaron Beck's Cognitive Therapy : Beck's approach centers on identifying core schemas formed from childhood experiences that trigger negative automatic thoughts during critical incidents. These thoughts, marked by cognitive distortions, lead to anxiety and depression. Therapy involves gentle questioning to challenge and restructure dysfunctional beliefs, aiming to alleviate psychological distress.

Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) : CBT integrates cognitive and behavioral techniques to address psychological distress. It takes a bio-psychosocial approach, targeting biological, psychological, and social aspects through relaxation techniques, cognitive restructuring, and environmental manipulations. CBT is effective for a range of disorders and is known for its short-term efficacy.

(2+2+2=6)

Q55.2025 Main · Q29 (OR)6 marks

(b) Discuss six key ethical standards that professional psychotherapists must adhere to. Explain how each standard contributes to the effectiveness of psychotherapy and ensures the well-being of clients.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2025 (Main)

Ethical issues of Psycho-therapy

  1. Informed consent
  2. Confidentiality
  3. Alleviating personal distress and suffering should be the goal of all attempts of the therapist
  4. Integrity of the practitioner-client relationship is important
  5. Respect for human rights and dignity
  6. Professional competence and skills are essential

(6)

Q56.SQP 2026-27 · Q296 marks

Describe Rational Emotive Therapy (RET) as an effective therapy.

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CBSE Sample Question Paper 2026-27 · Official Marking Scheme

Irrational beliefs mediate between the antecedent events and their consequences

Antecedent-belief-consequence (ABC) analysis:

Antecedent events – not selected irrational

beliefs- musts, should,

consequence, i.e. negative emotions and behaviors

Process of therapy - questionnaires and interviews; non-directive questioning.

1+3+2=6

Q57.SQP 2026-27 · Q29 (OR)6 marks

What do you understand by psychotherapy? Explain the factors contributing to healing in psychotherapy.

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CBSE Sample Question Paper 2026-27 · Official Marking Scheme

Psychotherapy is a voluntary relationship between the one seeking treatment or the client and the one who treats or the therapist.

Factors contributing to healing;:

  • Technique
  • Therapeutic Alliance
  • Catharsis
  • Nonspecific factors : patient variables and therapist variables

2+4=6

6. Attitude and Social Cognition

Q1.2026 Main · Q131 mark

According to the concept of balance proposed by Fritz Heider, imbalance is found when :

(i) All three sides of the P-O-X triangle are negative.
(ii) Two sides of the P-O-X triangle are negative and one side is positive.
(iii) Two sides of the P-O-X triangle are positive and one side is negative.
(iv) All three sides of the P-O-X triangle are positive.

  1. (i) and (ii) only
  2. (ii) and (iv) only
  3. (i) and (iii) only
  4. (ii) only
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2026 (Main)

(C) (i) and (iii) only

Q2.2026 Main · Q141 mark

In an attitude change, when the change is in the same direction as the existing attitude (for example, a positive attitude may become more positive, or a negative attitude may become more negative), this is called :

  1. Congruency
  2. Constancy
  3. Incongruency
  4. Inconstancy
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2026 (Main)

(A) Congruency

Q3.2026 Supp. · Q91 mark

In the following question, a statement of Assertion (A) is followed by a statement of Reason (R). Read the statements and choose the appropriate option.

Assertion (A) : Stereotypes often originate from an element of reality.

Reason (R) : The concept of the “Kernel of truth” suggests that there may be a small factual basis behind some generalized beliefs about groups.

Options :

  1. Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true and Reason (R) is the correct explanation of Assertion (A).
  2. Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, but Reason (R) is not the correct explanation of Assertion (A).
  3. Assertion (A) is true, but Reason (R) is false.
  4. Assertion (A) is false, but Reason (R) is true.
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2026 (Supplementary)

(A) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.

Q4.2026 Supp. · Q101 mark

A self-fulfilling prophecy is best described as :

  1. Changing beliefs after experiencing new information
  2. Target group behaving in ways that justify the prejudice
  3. Rejecting stereotypes even when there is evidence
  4. Behaving in ways opposite to one’s expectations
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2026 (Supplementary)

(B) Target group behaving in ways that justify the prejudice

Q5.2026 Supp. · Q111 mark

In attitude change, the source characteristics mainly depend on ___________.

  1. Popularity of the message topic
  2. Length and duration of the message
  3. Attractiveness and credibility of source
  4. Number of times the message is repeated
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2026 (Supplementary)

(C) The attractiveness and the credibility of the source

Q6.2025 Main · Q81 mark

A person dislikes a type of food, expresses negative opinion about it, and avoids it. Which components of the A-B-C model of attitudes are illustrated in this example ?

  1. Affective and Cognitive
  2. Affective and Behavioural
  3. Cognitive and Behavioural
  4. Affective, Behavioural and Cognitive
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2025 (Main)

(D) Affective, Behavioural and Cognitive

Q7.2025 Main · Q91 mark

Which method of message transmission is likely to be most effective for creating a positive attitude towards Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS) for young children ?

  1. Mass media advertisements
  2. Pamphlets and brochures
  3. Community social workers and doctors talking to people directly
  4. Radio announcements
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2025 (Main)

(C) Community social workers and doctors talking to people directly

Q8.2025 Supp. · Q131 mark

Which of the following statements is not true about complexity in an attitude system ?

  1. It refers to how many attitudes there are within a broader attitude.
  2. Think of an attitude as a family containing several ‘member’ attitudes.
  3. Each member’s attitude that belongs to an attitude system has only one of the A-B-C components.
  4. The multiple-member attitudes within an attitude system should not be confused with the three A-B-C components.
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2025 (Supplementary)

(C) Each member’s attitude that belongs to an attitude system has only one of the A-B-C components.

Q9.2024 Main · Q111 mark

The group that is the target of prejudice is sometimes responsible for continuing the prejudice. The members of this target group may behave in a manner that proves the description to be true. This explains the concept of __________.

  1. Kernel of truth
  2. Self-fulfilling prophecy
  3. Scapegoating
  4. Ingroup bias
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2024 (Main)

(B) Self- fulfilling prophecy

Q10.2024 Main · Q131 mark

In this question, a statement of Assertion (A) is followed by a statement of Reason (R). Read the statements and choose the appropriate option.

Assertion (A): A person’s behaviour is never contrary to her/his attitude towards a particular topic.

Reason (R): There would be consistency between attitudes and behaviour when the attitude is strong.

  1. Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, and Reason (R) is the correct explanation of Assertion (A).
  2. Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, but Reason (R) is not the correct explanation of Assertion (A).
  3. Assertion (A) is true, but Reason (R) is false.
  4. Assertion (A) is false, but Reason (R) is true.
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2024 (Main)

(D) Assertion (A) is false, but Reason (R) is true

Q11.2024 Main · Q331 mark

Sophia Duleep Singh was the daughter of Maharaja Duleep Singh — the last Sikh emperor of Punjab. Sophia was a long-time supporter of the Women’s Suffrage movement (right to vote) and a leading campaigner for changing attitudes about women’s rights in Britain. However, she remains a little-known figure.

In 1910, she was part of a delegation of 300 suffragettes who marched towards the Parliament in London. The Prime Minister refused to meet the women and the demonstration turned violent as policemen and men in the crowd outside the building beat them. Many of the demonstrators were seriously injured and the day came to be called Black Friday in the UK. Sophia was among the 119 women who were arrested.

Sophia transcended her heritage to devote herself to battling injustice and inequality. Her main causes were the struggle for Indian Independence, the welfare of Indian soldiers in the First World War — and, above all, the fight for female suffrage. Princess Sophia supported Indians, particularly women, throughout her life.

‘Her causes were the struggle for Indian independence, the welfare of Indian soldiers in the First World War — and, above all, the fight for female suffrage.’ All of these attitudes were present within a broader attitude, i.e., the attitude against injustice and inequality. Explain the feature specified here.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2024 (Main)

The feature of attitude against injustice and inequality possessed by Sophia is

  • Complexity (Multiplexity) – refers to how many attitudes there are within a broader attitude

    OR

  • Centrality – refers to the role of a particular attitude in the attitude system

(Any other explanation of the above two attitude features)

(1)

Q12.2024 Supp. · Q141 mark

Vikas has a somewhat positive attitude towards empowerment of women. When he read about Kalpana Chawla’s achievements, his attitude became more positive. This would be a/an ______________ change.

  1. Extreme
  2. Simple
  3. Congruent
  4. Incongruent
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2024 (Supplementary)

(C) Congruent

Q13.2023 Main · Q141 mark

In the following question, a statement of Assertion (A) is followed by a statement of Reason (R). Select the correct choice from (a), (b), (c), (d).

Assertion (A) : Cognitive consistency means that two components in an attitude system must be in the opposite direction.

Reason (R) : If the two elements are not logically in consonance with each other, it leads to distress in the individual.

  1. Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, and Reason (R) is correct explanation of Assertion (A).
  2. Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, but Reason (R) is not the correct explanation of Assertion (A).
  3. Assertion (A) is true, but Reason (R) is false.
  4. Assertion (A) is false, but Reason (R) is true.
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2023 (Main)

(d) Assertion (A) is false, but Reason (R) is true

Q14.2023 Main · Q151 mark

Ashwin’s roommate at college, who belonged to a particular State, was always rude and selfish towards him. Ashwin now does not befriend or employ people from this State as he feels that they are all impolite. This is an example of

  1. Self-fulfilling prophecy
  2. Kernel of truth
  3. Scapegoating
  4. Social cognition
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2023 (Main)

(a) Self – fulfilling prophecy / (d) Social Cognition

Q15.2023 Main · Q161 mark

Which one of the following is not a factor that will lead to attitude change ?

  1. Message characteristics
  2. Environmental characteristics
  3. Source characteristics
  4. Target characteristics
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2023 (Main)

(b) Environmental characteristics

Q16.2023 Supp. · Q141 mark

There will be a consistency between attitude and behaviour only when

  1. The attitude is not very strong.
  2. The person is unaware of his/her attitude.
  3. There is a lot of external pressure to behave in a particular way.
  4. The person’s behaviour is not being watched or evaluated by others.
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2023 (Supplementary)

(d) The person's behavior is not being watched or evaluated by others

Q17.2023 Supp. · Q151 mark

Ritesh buys groceries from a store that advertises its responsibility towards protection of the environment by providing free reusable cloth bags to its customers. This is an example of changing attitude through

  1. Emotional appeal
  2. Attractiveness
  3. Rational appeal
  4. Persuasibility
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2023 (Supplementary)

(c) Rational Appeal

Q18.2023 Supp. · Q161 mark

In the following question, a statement of Assertion (A) is followed by a statement of Reason (R). Mark the correct choice.

Assertion (A) : Beliefs are the cognitive components of attitudes and form the ground on which attitudes stand, such as belief in God.

Reason (R) : It has all the three components of an attitude.

  1. Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, and Reason (R) is the correct explanation of Assertion (A).
  2. Assertion (A) is true, but Reason (R) is false.
  3. Assertion (A) is false, but Reason (R) is true.
  4. Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, but Reason (R) is not the correct explanation of Assertion (A).
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2023 (Supplementary)

(b) Assertion (A) is true, but Reason (R) is false.

Q19.SQP 2026-27 · Q61 mark

Attitudes are best described as:

  1. Temporary emotional reactions that have cognitive and affective components
  2. A state of the mind, a set of views, or thoughts, regarding some topic.
  3. Personality traits which are rooted firmly.
  4. Genetic dispositions which are not developed through experiences or social learning
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CBSE Sample Question Paper 2026-27 · Official Marking Scheme

(B) A state of the mind, a set of views, or thoughts, regarding some topic.

Q20.SQP 2026-27 · Q81 mark

A charity organization is trying to encourage donations for children’s education. They create an advertisement which presents statistics and facts about how education improves communities and future job prospects. Which of the following factors is being used to influence attitude change in this advertisement?

  1. attractiveness
  2. credibility
  3. rational appeal
  4. emotional appeal
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CBSE Sample Question Paper 2026-27 · Official Marking Scheme

(C) rational appeal

Q21.SQP 2025-26 · Q131 mark

According to the two-step concept proposed by Mohsin, attitude change will take place when:

i. The source has a positive attitude towards the target
ii. The source shows an attitude change, by changing other’s behaviour
iii. The target of change identifies with the source
iv. The target is the person through whose influence change takes place.

  1. iii and iv
  2. i and iii
  3. ii and iii
  4. ii and iv
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CBSE Sample Question Paper 2025-26 · Official Marking Scheme

(b) i and iii

Q22.2026 Main · Q182 marks

Specify any two processes, that help in attitude formation and explain how it occurs.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2026 (Main)

Process of attitude formation: (1+1)

(i) Learning attitudes by association.
(ii) Learning attitudes by being rewarded.
(iii) Learning attitudes through modeling (observing others)
(iv) Learning attitudes through group or cultural norms.
(v) Learning through exposure to information.

Brief explanation of any two.

Q23.2026 Supp. · Q192 marks

Attitudes are sometimes confused with beliefs. Explain the concept of beliefs using a relevant example.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2026 (Supplementary)

Beliefs refer to the cognitive component of attitudes, and form the ground on which attitudes stand, such as belief in God, or belief in democracy as a political ideology.

Q24.2025 Main · Q162 marks

(a) Discuss the difference between a simple and a complex attitude system using the example of attitude towards health and well-being versus attitude towards a particular person.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2025 (Main)
  • A simple attitude system contains only one or a few attitudes, such as attitude towards a person.
  • Complex attitude is made of many attitudes. For example attitude towards health and well-being consists of several ‘member’ attitudes, such as one’s concept of physical and mental health views about happiness and well-being and beliefs about how one should achieve health and happiness.
  • Example

(1½ + ½ =2)

Q25.2025 Main · Q16 (OR)2 marks

(b) Assess and write the impact of family and school environment on attitude formation.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2025 (Main)

In the early years of life, parents and other family members play a significant role in shaping attitude formation. Later, the school environment becomes an important background for attitude formation. Learning of attitudes within the family and school usually takes place by association, through rewards and punishments, and through modelling.

(1+1=2)

Q26.2024 Main · Q212 marks

Mridul feels very happy to join a group of people in his neighbourhood to start a tree plantation campaign. Explain any two components of his attitude towards a ‘green environment’.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2024 (Main)

Components of attitude (ABC component)

  • Affective/ emotional component
  • Behavioral component
  • Cognitive component

(Explanation of any two)

(1+1=2)

Q27.2024 Main · Q342 marks

Sophia Duleep Singh was the daughter of Maharaja Duleep Singh — the last Sikh emperor of Punjab. Sophia was a long-time supporter of the Women’s Suffrage movement (right to vote) and a leading campaigner for changing attitudes about women’s rights in Britain. However, she remains a little-known figure.

In 1910, she was part of a delegation of 300 suffragettes who marched towards the Parliament in London. The Prime Minister refused to meet the women and the demonstration turned violent as policemen and men in the crowd outside the building beat them. Many of the demonstrators were seriously injured and the day came to be called Black Friday in the UK. Sophia was among the 119 women who were arrested.

Sophia transcended her heritage to devote herself to battling injustice and inequality. Her main causes were the struggle for Indian Independence, the welfare of Indian soldiers in the First World War — and, above all, the fight for female suffrage. Princess Sophia supported Indians, particularly women, throughout her life.

The characteristics of the existing attitude (towards women’s right to vote) influence the attitude change. To what extent could these have helped Sophia bring about the change in attitude towards women’s right to vote ?

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2024 (Main)

The characteristics of existing attitude which influence the attitude change are

  1. Valence (positivity or negativity/ congruence or incongruence)
  2. Extremeness
  3. Simplicity or Complexity (multiplicity)
  4. Centrality

(Explanation of any one)

(1+1=2)

Q28.2023 Main · Q222 marks

Suppose you are a college student who wants to contribute towards the country’s economy. Suggest a process that you will use to bring an attitude change amongst your peers towards buying only Indian goods to support the nation’s economy.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2023 (Main)
  • Two step concept with relevant explanation.

(Any other theory of attitude change if explanation provided in relation to the given situation). (2)

Q29.2023 Supp. · Q222 marks

Athar is popular in school but very careless when it comes to managing his things. He behaves rudely when his parents ask him to take care of his things. Explain two factors that led to this type of attitude formation.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2023 (Supplementary)

Factors of attitude formation

  • Family and School environment
  • Reference groups
  • Personal experiences
  • Media related influences

(Brief explanation of any two from above)

1+1=2

Q30.2022 Main · Q22 marks

Explain the characteristics of an attitude in terms of complexity and centrality.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2022 (Main)

Complexity – (or multiplicity) refers to how many attitudes there are within a broader attitude

Or any appropriate example

Centrality – refers to the role of a particular attitude in the attitude system.

Or any appropriate example

Relevant explanation of the above.

1+1=2

Q31.2022 Main · Q32 marks

How does self-fulfilling prophecy help in strengthening prejudices ? Give an example to support your answer.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2022 (Main)

In some cases, the group that is the target of prejudice is itself responsible for continuing the prejudice.

The target group may behave in ways that justify the prejudice, that is confirm the negative expectations.

Any one example

(Any two points)

1+1=2

Q32.2022 Supp. · Q22 marks

What are the two source characteristics that affect attitude change ?

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2022 (Supplementary)

CBSE has not published a marking scheme for this paper, so no official answer is available.

Q33.2022 Supp. · Q2 (OR)2 marks

What are the steps in which attitude change takes place according to the two-step concept ?

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2022 (Supplementary)

CBSE has not published a marking scheme for this paper, so no official answer is available.

Q34.2022 Supp. · Q32 marks

How do values and beliefs differ from attitudes ?

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2022 (Supplementary)

CBSE has not published a marking scheme for this paper, so no official answer is available.

Q35.2022 Supp. · Q112 marks

All the Indian settlers were contemptuously and without distinction dubbed “coolies” and forbidden to walk on footpaths or be out at night without permits.

Mahatma Gandhi quickly discovered colour discrimination in South Africa and confronted the realisation that being Indian subjected him to it as well. At a particular train station, railway employees ordered him out of the carriage despite his possessing a first-class ticket. Then on the stagecoach for the next leg of his journey, the coachman, who was white, boxed his ears. A Johannesburg hotel also barred him from lodging there. Indians were commonly forbidden to own land in Natal, while ownership was more permissible for native-born people.

In 1894, the Natal Bar Association tried to reject Gandhi on the basis of race. He was nearly lynched in 1897 upon returning from India while disembarking from a ship moored at Durban after he, his family, and 600 other Indians had been forcibly quarantined, allegedly due to medical fears that they carried plague germs.

What is the difference between prejudice and discrimination ? On the basis of the incidents in the above case study, identify a situation for each which are examples of prejudice and discrimination.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2022 (Supplementary)

CBSE has not published a marking scheme for this paper, so no official answer is available.

Q36.2022 Supp. · Q122 marks

All the Indian settlers were contemptuously and without distinction dubbed “coolies” and forbidden to walk on footpaths or be out at night without permits.

Mahatma Gandhi quickly discovered colour discrimination in South Africa and confronted the realisation that being Indian subjected him to it as well. At a particular train station, railway employees ordered him out of the carriage despite his possessing a first-class ticket. Then on the stagecoach for the next leg of his journey, the coachman, who was white, boxed his ears. A Johannesburg hotel also barred him from lodging there. Indians were commonly forbidden to own land in Natal, while ownership was more permissible for native-born people.

In 1894, the Natal Bar Association tried to reject Gandhi on the basis of race. He was nearly lynched in 1897 upon returning from India while disembarking from a ship moored at Durban after he, his family, and 600 other Indians had been forcibly quarantined, allegedly due to medical fears that they carried plague germs.

What do you think could have been a source of these prejudices ? Explain any two sources.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2022 (Supplementary)

CBSE has not published a marking scheme for this paper, so no official answer is available.

Q37.SQP 2026-27 · Q162 marks

The genocide committed by the Nazis in Germany against Jewish people is an extreme example of mass killing of innocent people. Identify the phenomenon. Explain any one component of the phenomenon reflected in this example.

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CBSE Sample Question Paper 2026-27 · Official Marking Scheme
  • Prejudice/negative attitude
  • Behavioral component: Discrimination, violence, and genocide against Jewish people.

1+1=2

Q38.2026 Supp. · Q223 marks

With the help of an example, show how cognitive dissonance can be converted into cognitive consistency as explained by Leon Festinger.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2026 (Supplementary)
  • Dissonance – The state of an attitude system in which two cognitive elements are logically contradictory or inconsistent.
  • Cognitive Consistency – Cognitive components of an attitude must be consonant, should be logically in line with each other. If dissonance is there then one of them will be changed in the direction of consonance.
  • Any relevant example.

(1+1+1=3 marks)

Q39.2026 Supp. · Q22 (OR)3 marks

Define attitude and explain its components.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2026 (Supplementary)
  • Definition of attitude
  • Cognitive- thinking based component.
  • Affective-emotional component.
  • Behavioral-action based or conative component.

(Explanation of the above)

(1.5+0.5+0.5+0.5=3 marks)

Q40.2025 Supp. · Q203 marks

How can the goals of handling prejudice be accomplished ?

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2025 (Supplementary)
  • Education and information dissemination.
  • Increasing intergroup contact.
  • Highlighting individual identity rather than group identity.

Explanation of the above points

(1+1+1=3)

Q41.2023 Main · Q263 marks

‘An individual’s attitude towards a particular topic may be contrary to his/her behaviour.’ Justify this statement with evidence.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2023 (Main)

La Piere experiment or any other related evidence/ example (3)

Q42.2023 Main · Q26 (OR)3 marks

‘Values and beliefs are not the same as attitudes.’ Explain this statement with the help of examples.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2023 (Main)
  • Beliefs – refer to the cognitive component of attitudes and form the ground on which attitudes stand such as belief in God (or any other e.g)
  • Values – are attitudes or beliefs that contain a should or ought aspect, such as moral or ethical values. For e.g. one should work hard (or any other e.g.)

1½ + 1½

Q43.2023 Supp. · Q263 marks

Explain how the concept of balance leads to a change in attitude of an individual.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2023 (Supplementary)

Concept of balance

  • P-O-X triangle – Explanation of P, O, X
  • Attitude change takes place when there is imbalance as imbalance is logically uncomfortable.
  • Imbalance is found when all sides of P-O-X triangle are negative or two sides are positive and one is negative. Balance is found when all sides are positive or two sides are negative and one side is positive.

1+1+1=3

Q44.SQP 2025-26 · Q203 marks

An advertising company has been hired to create an advertisement for a new eco-friendly product aimed at young adults. Describe three important characteristics of the target audience that the company should keep in mind when designing the advertisement.

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CBSE Sample Question Paper 2025-26 · Official Marking Scheme

Target characteristics:(any three)

  1. Persuasibility- People, who have a more open and flexible personality,
  2. Self-esteem-Persons who have a low self-esteem, and do not have sufficient confidence in themselves,
  3. Prejudices- People with strong prejudices are less prone to any attitude change than those who do not hold strong prejudices.
  4. Intelligence-More intelligent people may change their attitudes less easily than those with lower intelligence.
Q45.2026 Main · Q264 marks

Prejudice can be difficult to change due to its deep-rooted sources. Imagine you are working on a community outreach programme aiming to reduce prejudice. How would you explain the main causes that lead to development of prejudice ?

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2026 (Main)

Main causes that lead to development of Prejudice- ((0.5+0.5)x4=4)

  • Learning
  • Strong social identity & ingroup bias
  • Scapegoating
  • Kernel of truth concept
  • Self fulfilling prophecy

Any 4 of above (0.5 for naming and 0.5 for explanation)

Q46.2025 Main · Q254 marks

Describe four methods through which attitudes are formed.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2025 (Main)

Four methods/processes of attitude formation

  • Association
  • Being Rewarded or Punished
  • Through Modelling
  • Through Group or Cultural Norms
  • Through exposure to information

(Explanation of any four points of the above)

OR

Factors influencing attitude formation:

  • Family and social environment
  • Reference groups
  • Personal experiences
  • Media related influences.

(Explanation of all four above points)

NOTE: As ‘methods’ term not being used in textbook, so might confuse students thus ‘factors’ too may be considered along with ‘process’.

(1+1+1+1=4)

Q47.2025 Supp. · Q244 marks

Sumedha supports reducing plastic use, but uses single-use plastic items for her convenience. Is her behaviour a reflection of her attitude ? Explain this Attitude-Behaviour Relationship.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2025 (Supplementary)

No, Sumedha’s behaviour is not a reflection of her attitude.

Psychologists have found that there would be consistency between attitudes and behaviour when:

  • The attitude is strong, and occupies a central place in the attitude system. The person is aware of her/his attitude.
  • There is very little or no external pressure for the person to behave in a particular way. For example, when there is no group pressure to follow a particular norm.
  • the person’s behavior is not being watched or evaluated by others, and
  • The person thinks that the behaviour would have a positive consequence, and therefore, intends to engage in that behavior.

(Relating it to Sumedha’s Case)

Explanation of any three points from above OR any other relevant explanation.

(1+1+1+1=4)

Q48.2025 Supp. · Q24 (OR)4 marks

Satish is developing a marketing strategy to enhance the sale of a new gadget. What are the important target characteristics that will influence attitude change towards the new gadget ?

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2025 (Supplementary)

Qualities of the target influence the likelihood and extent of attitude change, such as

  • Persuasibility.
  • Strong prejudices,
  • Self-esteem,
  • Intelligence

Explanation of above points in reference with Satish.

(1+1+1+1=4)

Q49.2024 Supp. · Q284 marks

Describe the relationship between prejudice and discrimination.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2024 (Supplementary)

Prejudices are examples of attitudes towards a particular group. They are usually negative.

  • Prejudice may also get translated into discrimination, the behavioural component, whereby people behave in a less positive way towards a particular target group compared to another group which they favour.
  • History contains numerous examples of discrimination based on race and social class or caste. The genocide committed by the Nazis in Germany against Jewish people is an extreme example of how prejudice can lead to hatred, discrimination and mass killing of innocent people.
  • Prejudices can exist without being shown in the form of discrimination. Similarly, discrimination can be shown without prejudice.
  • Wherever prejudice and discrimination exist, conflicts are very likely to arise between groups within the same society.
  • Our own society has witnessed many deplorable instances of discrimination, with and without prejudice, based on gender, religion, community, caste, physical handicap, and illnesses such as AIDS.
  • In many cases discriminatory behaviour can be curbed by law. But, the cognitive and emotional components of prejudice are more difficult to change.

(Any four points)

Marks: 1+1+1+1

Q50.2022 Main · Q94 marks

Quite often we see people getting themselves photographed while helping others or even when they are offering donations to the needy. Can we identify the attitudes of these people through their behaviour ? When would there be consistency between attitude and behaviour ? Explain.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2022 (Main)
  • People getting themselves photographed while helping others have the attitude of getting recognition/ attention, their attitude can be identified through their behavior. (1)
  • However an individual’s attitude may not always be exhibited through his/her behavior.

Consistency between attitude and behavior exists when

  • The attitude is strong and occupies a central place in the attitude system.
  • The person is aware of her/his attitude.
  • There is very little or no external pressure for the person to behave in a particular way. For example, when thee is no group pressure to follow a particular norm.
  • The person’s behavior is not being watched or evaluated by others, and
  • The person thinks that the behavior would have a positive consequence, and therefore, intends to engage in that behavior.
  • Explanation of any 3 points in their own words. (3)

1+3=4

Q51.SQP 2026-27 · Q264 marks

A school promotes cleanliness and students report positive attitudes towards it, yet the campus remains dirty. Does this situation show attitude–behaviour consistency? Explain the factors affecting the attitude–behaviour relationship.

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CBSE Sample Question Paper 2026-27 · Official Marking Scheme

No, this situation highlights that positive attitudes do not always lead to corresponding behaviour. (La Pierre)

Factors:

  • the attitude is strong , and occupies a central place in the attitude system
  • the person is aware of her/his attitude,
  • there is very little or no external pressure for the person to behave in a particular way. For example, when there is no group pressure to follow a particular norm,
  • the person’s behaviour is not being watched or evaluated by others, and
  • the person thinks that the behaviour would have a positive consequence, and therefore, intends to engage in that behaviour

Any three points

1+3=4

Q52.SQP 2026-27 · Q26 (OR)4 marks

The traffic police uses social media influencers to promote helmet use among two-wheeler riders. Explain this method of attitude change according to Mohsin’s theory.

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CBSE Sample Question Paper 2026-27 · Official Marking Scheme

According to Mohsin’s Two-Step Theory, attitude change occurs in two stages:

First Step –Identification

Identification

Means that the target has liking and regard for the source. S/he puts herself/himself in the place of the target, and tries to feel like her/him

The message is first communicated to popular social media influencers, who are respected, influential, and trusted individuals in society.

Second Step – Influence on the Masses:

Here the source herself/himself shows an attitude change, by actually changing her/him behaviour towards the attitude object. Observing the source’s changed attitude and behaviour, the target also shows an attitude change through behaviour. This is a kind of imitation or observational learning.

2+2=4

Q53.SQP 2025-26 · Q244 marks

Himesh is popular in school but is very rude and indifferent towards students of other schools. Explain the sources of his prejudice.

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CBSE Sample Question Paper 2025-26 · Official Marking Scheme

Sources-

  • Learning
  • Strong social identity and in group bias
  • Kernel of truth concept
  • Self-fulfilling prophecy

A brief description of all four using Himesh’s behaviour

(1+1+1+1= 4)

7. Social Influence and Group Processes

Q1.2026 Supp. · Q121 mark

Match List I with List II :

List IList II
a. Groupi. Impulsive, homogeneity of thoughts and frenzy
b. Teamii. Committed toward common goals and presence of complementary skills
c. Mobiii. Collection of people with interaction and shared identity
d. Crowdiv. Large unorganised gathering formed by chance in public places

Choose the correct answer from the options given below :

  1. a-iii, b-ii, c-i, d-iv
  2. a-ii, b-iii, c-iv, d-i
  3. a-iv, b-i, c-ii, d-iii
  4. a-i, b-iv, c-iii, d-ii
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2026 (Supplementary)

(A) A-3, B-2, C-1, D-4

Q2.2026 Supp. · Q131 mark

Which of the following are not a typical element of group structure ?

  1. Norms and roles
  2. Roles and cohesiveness
  3. Intelligence and adjustment
  4. Status and norms
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2026 (Supplementary)

(C) Intelligence and adjustment

Q3.2026 Supp. · Q141 mark

“The Bandwagon Effect” is best understood as :

  1. The tendency to oppose others’ opinions
  2. Joining something because others are also doing it
  3. Feeling isolated in a group
  4. Leading a group without authority
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2026 (Supplementary)

(B) Joining something because others are also doing it

Q4.2025 Main · Q101 mark

A peaceful audience at a sports event suddenly turns into a frenzied mob following a controversial decision by the referee. Which factors are likely responsible for this transformation ?

  1. The audience’s initial passive nature
  2. The presence of clear and enforced rules
  3. The polarisation of attention and shared emotions among the audience
  4. The diverse opinions and behaviours within the crowd
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2025 (Main)

(C) The polarisation of attention and shared emotions among the audience

Q5.2025 Main · Q121 mark

A company is forming a new committee to plan a major event. To ensure effective collaboration, they want the committee to function as a primary group. Which of the following strategies would best support this goal ?

  1. Assigning clear roles and tasks to each member
  2. Encouraging frequent, informal interactions among members
  3. Setting strict rules and guidelines for all meetings
  4. Limiting communication to official emails and reports
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2025 (Main)

(B) Encouraging frequent, informal interactions among members

Q6.2025 Supp. · Q101 mark

Making people feel that individual contribution is important can reduce social loafing by ____________.

  1. Increasing the number of group members
  2. Enhancing personal accountability and motivation
  3. Creating competition among group members
  4. Allowing members to work alone
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2025 (Supplementary)

(B) Enhancing personal accountability and motivation.

Q7.2025 Supp. · Q111 mark

People prefer consistency and like consistent relationships. When two people have _____________, there is consistency and they start liking each other.

  1. Security
  2. Norms
  3. Similarities
  4. Status
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2025 (Supplementary)

(C) Similarities

Q8.2025 Supp. · Q121 mark

Nabid views employees from his department as more hardworking than those from other departments. It indicates that Nabid is a/an ___________ member of this group.

  1. Ingroup
  2. Outgroup
  3. Primary
  4. Secondary
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2025 (Supplementary)

(A) Ingroup

Q9.2025 Supp. · Q141 mark

Socially defined expectations that individuals in a given situation are expected to fulfil are known as ____________.

  1. Roles
  2. Status
  3. Cohesiveness
  4. Norms
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2025 (Supplementary)

(A) Roles

Q10.2024 Main · Q141 mark

The relative social position given to group members by others is known as __________.

  1. Roles
  2. Norms
  3. Status
  4. Structure
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2024 (Main)

(C) Status

Q11.2024 Main · Q151 mark

The stage in which there is conflict among members about how the target of the group is to be achieved is called the __________ stage.

  1. Forming
  2. Storming
  3. Norming
  4. Performing
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2024 (Main)

(B) Storming

Q12.2024 Supp. · Q151 mark

Akhil caught his employee taking bribes. Akhil’s staff supported his decision to terminate the services of his employee. This extreme action could be taken because of __________ .

  1. Group polarisation
  2. Storming
  3. Social loafing
  4. Social facilitation
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2024 (Supplementary)

(A) Group Polarisation

Q13.2024 Supp. · Q331 mark

Case Study-2

The annual snake boat race in the southern Indian State of Kerala is a unique sporting spectacle because of its scale and popularity. Each team has many players. The participants practice for weeks before the race. On the day of the event, they bring down their oars in perfect harmony with frenzied beats of drums, creating a drizzle in mid-air as spectators go wild during the race. The boat that springs forward is one of the biggest in a water sport anywhere in the world.

When it comes to a task like rowing, does everyone perform their share of the work ? When several people work together to accomplish a task, it is probable that everyone will not exert the same amount of effort. Some will work very hard, others will do less, and perhaps a few will do nothing at all, while pretending to work hard! This pattern is quite common in situations where groups perform what are known as additive tasks — ones in which the contributions of each member are combined into a single group output. Some will contribute by taking on as much of the load as they can, while some will pretend to be working as hard as they can when, in fact, they are not. Social psychologists are interested in studying this phenomenon.

‘Social psychologists are interested in studying this phenomenon.’ Which phenomenon is being talked about here ? State a characteristic feature of this phenomenon.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2024 (Supplementary)

Social loafing

Reduction in individual effort while working on a collective task or any other characteristic.

Marks: 0.5+0.5

Q14.2023 Main · Q171 mark

We all belong to different types of groups. What type of group will the armed forces be if you join it ?

  1. Primary
  2. Secondary
  3. Formal
  4. Informal
  1. (i), (iii) and (iv)
  2. (iii) and (iv)
  3. (ii) and (iii)
  4. (i), (ii) and (iv)
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2023 (Main)

(c) (ii) and (iii)

Q15.2023 Supp. · Q91 mark

The Human Resource Manager found that as the number of employees increased in the company, the productivity reduced. What steps can be taken to reduce this phenomenon called ‘social loafing’ ?

  1. Making the effort of each person identifiable
  2. Decreasing group cohesiveness to impact motivation
  3. Making group members committed to successful task performance
  4. Making group members feel less responsible for the task being performed
  1. (i), (iii) and (iv)
  2. (iii) and (iv)
  3. (i) and (iii)
  4. (i), (ii) and (iv)
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2023 (Supplementary)

(c) (i) and (iii)

Q16.2023 Supp. · Q171 mark

We all belong to different types of groups. If you join the Armed Forces, what type of group will it be ?

  1. Primary
  2. Secondary
  3. Formal
  4. Informal
  1. (i), (iii) and (iv)
  2. (iii) and (iv)
  3. (ii) and (iii)
  4. (i), (ii) and (iv)
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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2023 (Supplementary)

(c) (ii) and (iii)

Q17.SQP 2026-27 · Q71 mark

Identify the stage of group formation, where leadership emerges?

  1. Forming
  2. Storming
  3. Norming
  4. Adjourning
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CBSE Sample Question Paper 2026-27 · Official Marking Scheme

(B) storming

Q18.SQP 2026-27 · Q321 mark

Read the following passage and answer question number 32 and 33.

The viral video on social media of a person, allegedly stealing a phone, sparked instant outrage. Some people labelled the person as a criminal and demanded harsh punishment. While others defended him, calling for a fair investigation. The groups started taking extreme views with some calling for physical punishment and revealing the person’s identity. Others blamed the accusers of mob mentality. As the debate raged on social media, the groups took extreme positions. Each side saw the other as "pro-crime" or "anti-victim", and moderate voices got drowned out. The arguments on social media reinforced each side's views, leading to a heightened sense of ‘Us vs Them’. The situation escalated to the point where authorities had to intervene to prevent real-world clashes.

Identify the phenomenon being discussed in the above paragraph.

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CBSE Sample Question Paper 2026-27 · Official Marking Scheme

Group polarization

Q19.SQP 2025-26 · Q101 mark

In the question given below, there are two statements marked as Assertion(A) and Reason (R). Read the statements and choose the correct option.

Assertion (A)-Members of teams often have complementary skills and are committed to a common goal or purpose.

Reasoning (R)- An audience is a part of a team. They are polarised in attention, and actions of persons are in a common direction.

  1. Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
  2. Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A
  3. A is true but R is false
  4. A is false but R is true
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CBSE Sample Question Paper 2025-26 · Official Marking Scheme

(c) A is true but R is false

Q20.SQP 2025-26 · Q111 mark

Togetherness, belongingness and mutual attraction among group members refers to _____________ in a group.

  1. Social Loafing
  2. Cohesiveness
  3. Competition
  4. Polarisation
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CBSE Sample Question Paper 2025-26 · Official Marking Scheme

(b) Cohesiveness

Q21.SQP 2025-26 · Q121 mark

Vikas feels stronger and less vulnerable to threats after he has joined the resident’s welfare group. The main reason for joining the group is to ________.

  1. Enhance his importance
  2. Enhance his security
  3. Achieve his power
  4. Enhance his self esteem
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CBSE Sample Question Paper 2025-26 · Official Marking Scheme

(b) Enhance his security

Q22.SQP 2025-26 · Q141 mark

How are relationships in primary groups typically characterised?

  1. They are impersonal and indirect
  2. They are cold and distant
  3. They are warm, emotional, and face-to-face
  4. They are rare and infrequent
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CBSE Sample Question Paper 2025-26 · Official Marking Scheme

(c) They are warm, emotional, and face-to-face

Q23.2026 Main · Q192 marks

Riya feels a strong sense of belonging and emotional attachment with her childhood family dance group, but when she joined the school council, she followed rules and communicated formally with its members. Identify the two types of groups Riya is part of and explain each with reference to the scenario.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2026 (Main)

Two types of groups: (0.5x4=2)

Riya feels a strong sense of belonging and emotional attachment – Primary group

Riya followed rules and communicated formally with the student council members Formal group.

It can also be interpreted as Primary and Secondary group, Formal and Informal group. 0.5 for identification and 0.5 for explanation of both the groups.

Q24.2025 Main · Q172 marks

Identify and explain two strategies to reduce social loafing within a group.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2025 (Main)

Social loafing may be reduced by:

  • Making the efforts of each person identifiable.
  • Increasing the pressure to work hard(making group members committed to task performance).
  • Increasing the apparent importance or value of a task.
  • Making people feel that their individual contribution is important.
  • Strengthening group cohesiveness which increases the motivation for successful group outcome/s.

(Any two points from above mentioned)

(1+1=2)

Q25.2025 Main · Q192 marks

Evaluate the role of common motives and goals in forming and maintaining a cohesive group, with an example.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2025 (Main)
  • When people have common motives and goals, they get together and form a group.
  • Any relevant example

(1+1=2)

Q26.2025 Supp. · Q152 marks

Describe, how does the nature of accountability enhance overall performance of teams in comparison-groups.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2025 (Supplementary)
  • Members of teams often have complementary skills and are committed to a common goal or purpose. Members are mutually accountable for their activities. In teams, there is a positive synergy attained through the co-ordinated efforts of the members.
  • In group, performance is dependent on contributions of individual members. In teams, both individual contributions and teamwork matters.
  • In groups, the leader or whoever is heading the group holds responsibility for the work. However in teams, although there is a leader, members hold themselves responsible.

Any two of the above points.

(1+1=2)

Q27.2024 Supp. · Q202 marks

Nitin forms a committee to plan for the annual day in his school. He observes how everyone goes ahead. Everyone has full autonomy to do all the planning. Members of the committee also observe each other as they function. State the stages that you feel are likely to emerge.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2024 (Supplementary)

Forming, storming, norming, performing and adjourning.

(Enlisting any four stages)

Marks: 0.5 x 4

Q28.2024 Supp. · Q212 marks

Why are norms established by a group ? Explain.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2024 (Supplementary)
  • Norms are expected standards of behaviour and beliefs established, agreed upon, and enforced by group members.
  • They may be considered as a group's 'unspoken rules'.
  • For eg, in a family, there are norms that guide the behaviour of family members.
  • These norms represent shared ways of viewing the world.

(Any two points)

Marks: 1+1

Q29.2024 Supp. · Q342 marks

Case Study-2

The annual snake boat race in the southern Indian State of Kerala is a unique sporting spectacle because of its scale and popularity. Each team has many players. The participants practice for weeks before the race. On the day of the event, they bring down their oars in perfect harmony with frenzied beats of drums, creating a drizzle in mid-air as spectators go wild during the race. The boat that springs forward is one of the biggest in a water sport anywhere in the world.

When it comes to a task like rowing, does everyone perform their share of the work ? When several people work together to accomplish a task, it is probable that everyone will not exert the same amount of effort. Some will work very hard, others will do less, and perhaps a few will do nothing at all, while pretending to work hard! This pattern is quite common in situations where groups perform what are known as additive tasks — ones in which the contributions of each member are combined into a single group output. Some will contribute by taking on as much of the load as they can, while some will pretend to be working as hard as they can when, in fact, they are not. Social psychologists are interested in studying this phenomenon.

Will this phenomenon occur more on practice days or on the day of the final race ? Give reasons for your answer.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2024 (Supplementary)

Will occur more on practice days because there is no outgroup for competition.

  • Group members feel less responsible for the overall task being performed and therefore exert less effort.
  • Motivation of members decreases because they realise that their contributions will not be evaluated on an individual basis.
  • The performance of the group is not to be compared with other groups
  • There is improper coordination (or no coordination) among members.
  • "Belonging to the same group is not important for members. It is only an aggregate of individuals.

(Any two of the above reasons)

Marks: 1+1

Q30.2023 Main · Q232 marks

Differentiate between ingroup and outgroup.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2023 (Main)

In - group (½+½)

  • Refers to one’s own group
  • Use the word “we” or “us”
  • Persons are generally supposed to be similar, viewed favourable, have desirable traits
  • Supporting example

(Any two relevant points)

Out - group (½+½)

  • Refers to another group
  • Use the word ‘they’
  • Members are viewed differently and often perceived negatively in comparison to in-group members.
  • Supporting Example

(Any two relevant points)

(½+½+½+½=2)

Q31.2023 Supp. · Q192 marks

Vivian is the Human Resource Manager of a multinational company. For a team building activity, he randomly selected a few members from different departments to form a committee for the upcoming silver jubilee celebrations of the company. He gave them full autonomy to do the planning and observed some developmental sequences in each group that formed. Discuss the stages that he observed.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2023 (Supplementary)

Four stages observed

  • Forming
  • Storming
  • Norming
  • Performing

(Brief explanation of the above)

½ X 4 = 2

Q32.2023 Supp. · Q232 marks

How are groups formed ? Explain.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2023 (Supplementary)
  • Proximity
  • Similarity
  • Common motives and goals

(Brief explanation of any two from above)

1+1=2

Q33.SQP 2026-27 · Q172 marks

How do primary groups differ from secondary groups?

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CBSE Sample Question Paper 2026-27 · Official Marking Scheme

Primary Groups: Pre-existing group, close physical proximity, face to face interaction. Eg family

Secondary group: Joins by choice, impersonal and indirect relationship, Eg Political group

1+1=2

Q34.SQP 2026-27 · Q332 marks

Read the following passage and answer question number 32 and 33.

The viral video on social media of a person, allegedly stealing a phone, sparked instant outrage. Some people labelled the person as a criminal and demanded harsh punishment. While others defended him, calling for a fair investigation. The groups started taking extreme views with some calling for physical punishment and revealing the person’s identity. Others blamed the accusers of mob mentality. As the debate raged on social media, the groups took extreme positions. Each side saw the other as "pro-crime" or "anti-victim", and moderate voices got drowned out. The arguments on social media reinforced each side's views, leading to a heightened sense of ‘Us vs Them’. The situation escalated to the point where authorities had to intervene to prevent real-world clashes.

Give any two reasons that lead to this phenomenon.

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CBSE Sample Question Paper 2026-27 · Official Marking Scheme
  1. In the company of like-minded people one hears newer arguments that favor one's viewpoints.
  2. Bandwagon effect
  3. Ingroup and outgroup phenomenon
Q35.SQP 2025-26 · Q192 marks

How can social loafing be reduced?

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CBSE Sample Question Paper 2025-26 · Official Marking Scheme

Social loafing can be reduced by the following (any two)

  • Making the efforts of each person identifiable.
  • Increasing the pressure to work hard (making group members committed to successful task performance).
  • Increasing the apparent importance or value of a task.
  • Making people feel that their individual contribution is important.
  • Strengthening group cohesiveness which increases the motivation for successful group outcome.
Q36.SQP 2025-26 · Q19 (OR)2 marks

What are the reasons for the occurrence of group polarisation? Give two reasons.

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CBSE Sample Question Paper 2025-26 · Official Marking Scheme

(any two of the following)

  • In the company of like-minded people, you are likely to hear newer arguments favouring your viewpoints. This will make you more favourable towards capital punishment.
  • When you find others also favouring capital punishment, you feel that this view is validated by the public. This is a sort of bandwagon effect.
  • When you find people having similar views, you are likely to perceive them as an ingroup. You start identifying with the group, begin showing conformity, and as a consequence your views become strengthened.
Q37.2026 Supp. · Q233 marks

People join groups for various reasons. Identify any three reasons.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2026 (Supplementary)

People join groups for following reasons –

  • Security
  • Status
  • Self-esteem
  • Satisfaction of one’s psychological and social needs.
  • Goal achievement
  • Providing knowledge and information

(Explanation of any three points from the above)

(1+1+1=3 marks)

Q38.2023 Main · Q273 marks

Mehak is an important member of her Psychology group and has recently been selected to be a member of the football team as well. What is the main difference between the group and the team that she is a part of ?

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2023 (Main)
GroupTeam
1. Performance is dependent on contribution of individual member1. Both individual contribution and teamwork matters1½
2. Leader or whoever is heading the group holds responsibility for the work2. Although there is a leader, members hold themselves responsible1½

(Any other relevant difference)

1½+1½=3

Q39.2022 Main · Q63 marks

Mary found herself very lonely when she joined a new college, but soon felt at ease when she made friends and became a member of a ‘hobby group’ too. With the help of this example, discuss the conditions that lead to group formation.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2022 (Main)

Conditions of Group Foundation

  • Proximity
  • Similarity
  • Common motives and goals

Relevant explanation in their own words.

1+1+1

Q40.2022 Supp. · Q63 marks

When groups are formed, they pass through some developmental sequences or stages. Explain these stages with the help of an example.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2022 (Supplementary)

CBSE has not published a marking scheme for this paper, so no official answer is available.

Q41.2022 Supp. · Q6 (OR)3 marks

During the process of group formation, groups also develop a structure as members interact. Discuss the important elements of group structure with the help of examples.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2022 (Supplementary)

CBSE has not published a marking scheme for this paper, so no official answer is available.

Q42.2026 Main · Q274 marks

During an inter-school science exhibition,

  • Riya, who usually works efficiently when alone, noticed a drop in her productivity while working with a team.
  • Her friend Arjun, however performed much better during the final group presentation than he did during rehearsals.
  • Meanwhile, during a debate on climate change, the group members who initially had mild views became more extreme after discussing their options together.
  • While playing tug of war, only Riya’s teammates contributed less efforts in the group task compared to working alone.

Based on the above situation, identify and explain any four psychological concepts related to group influence on individual behaviour.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2026 (Main)
  • Social Inhibition – Decline in Riya’s productivity because of presence of other people.
  • Social Facilitation – Arjun’s enhanced performance in presence of others.
  • Group Polarisation – Strengthening of group’s initial position as a result of group interaction and discussion (debate).
  • Social Loafing- Riya’s team members work less hard in a group task compared to working alone.

(1+1+1+1=4)

Note: Since first situation (Social Inhibition) is not mentioned in the textbook or syllabus, 1 mark can be given to candidates not mentioning Social Inhibition.

Q43.2024 Main · Q284 marks

Sakshi is a member of the school basketball team. Santosh is a member of a group of teachers that help with co-curricular activities in the school. State the key differences between Sakshi’s team and Santosh’s group.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2024 (Main)

Difference between Sakshi’s Team and Santosh’s Group:

GroupTeam
Performance is dependent on contribution of individual members.In team both individual contribution and teamwork matters
The leader or whoever is heading the group holds responsibility for the workAlthough there is a leader member hold themselves responsible.

(2+2=4)

Q44.2024 Main · Q28 (OR)4 marks

Madan joined the ‘Teach an Adult’ group. He could fulfil his desire to help the adults who had no opportunity to study. Because of his participation in the group, he was perceived to be generous and important. Why do you think Madan joined this group ?

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2024 (Main)

Madan joined group for the following reasons:

  • Status
  • Self-esteem
  • Satisfaction of one’s psychological and social needs
  • Goal achievement

(Name four and explain any two)

(2+2=4)

Q45.2022 Main · Q104 marks

A teacher ‘X’ found that the project that she/he gave to a group of students, when submitted to her/him, lacked quality as compared to the ones submitted by individual students. What is the reason for this phenomenon and how can it be reduced ? Discuss.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2022 (Main)

This question is based on social loafing

Social loafing occurs because

  • Group members feels less responsible for the overall task and do not put their maximum efforts
  • The members of the group realize that their contribution are not evaluated on individual basis and their motivation level decreases.
  • Performance of the particular group is not compared with the other group.
  • There may be lack of coordination amongst the members of the group.
  • Belonging to the same group is not important for members. It is only an aggregate of individual

(2)

Methods to reduce social loafing

  • Making the efforts of each person identifiable
  • Increasing the pressure to work hard (making group members committed to successful task performance).
  • Increasing the apparent importance or value of a task.
  • Making people feel that their individual contribution is important.
  • Strengthening group cohesiveness which increases the motivation for successful group outcome.

(2)

2+2=4

(Any 2 points from each part)

Q46.2022 Supp. · Q94 marks

A person may be a member of different types of groups. With the help of examples, discuss the major types of these groups that people belong to.

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Official CBSE Marking Scheme · 2022 (Supplementary)

CBSE has not published a marking scheme for this paper, so no official answer is available.