Class 12 Psychology: Self and Personality - Questions and Answers
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) - 1 Mark Each
Choose the most appropriate answer from the given options.
The term that refers to the totality of an individual's conscious experiences, ideas, thoughts, and feelings about themselves is:
a) Personality
b) Self
c) Identity
d) Ego
Answer: b) Self
Which of the following approaches to personality emphasizes the role of unconscious drives and conflicts?
a) Humanistic Approach
b) Psychodynamic Approach
c) Trait Approach
d) Behavioural Approach
Answer: b) Psychodynamic Approach
The Big Five personality model includes all of the following traits EXCEPT:
a) Openness to Experience
b) Conscientiousness
c) Self-esteem
d) Agreeableness
Answer: c) Self-esteem
A person who is typically sociable, outgoing, and enjoys being around others would likely score high on which of the Big Five traits?
a) Neuroticism
b) Extraversion
c) Conscientiousness
d) Openness to Experience
Answer: b) Extraversion
Projective techniques are a type of personality assessment that involves:
a) Direct questioning about one's traits
b) Observing behavior in natural settings
c) Presenting ambiguous stimuli to elicit responses
d) Using standardized questionnaires
Answer: c) Presenting ambiguous stimuli to elicit responses
The Rorschach Inkblot Test is an example of a:
a) Self-report measure
b) Behavioural rating scale
c) Projective technique
d) Situational test
Answer: c) Projective technique
Which of the following is NOT generally considered a characteristic of a "Type A" personality?
a) High competitiveness
b) Impatience
c) Relaxed and easygoing
d) Hostility
Answer: c) Relaxed and easygoing
The term used to describe an individual's characteristic way of responding to situations, including thoughts, emotions, and actions, is:
a) Self-concept
b) Self-esteem
c) Personality
d) Self-efficacy
Answer: c) Personality
Stress refers to:
a) Only negative experiences
b) Any event or situation that causes physical or psychological strain
c) A feeling of happiness and contentment
d) A specific mental disorder
Answer: b) Any event or situation that causes physical or psychological strain
The first stage of the General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS) is:
a) Resistance
b) Exhaustion
c) Alarm reaction
d) Appraisal
Answer: c) Alarm reaction
Which of the following is an example of a problem-focused coping strategy?
a) Seeking social support
b) Practicing relaxation techniques
c) Directly confronting the source of stress
d) Distracting oneself from the problem
Answer: c) Directly confronting the source of stress
The ability to bounce back from stressful situations and adapt to changes is known as:
a) Resilience
b) Optimism
c) Self-actualization
d) Internal locus of control
Answer: a) Resilience
Emotion-focused coping strategies are most effective when:
a) The stressor is controllable
b) The stressor is uncontrollable or long-term
c) There is a clear solution to the problem
d) One needs to avoid the problem entirely
Answer: b) The stressor is uncontrollable or long-term
Which of the following is a potential physiological effect of chronic stress?
a) Improved immune function
b) Decreased blood pressure
c) Increased susceptibility to illness
d) Enhanced digestive processes
Answer: c) Increased susceptibility to illness
Self-efficacy refers to:
a) How much one values oneself
b) One's belief in their ability to succeed in specific situations
c) One's overall positive or negative evaluation of themselves
d) The consistency of one's personality traits
Answer: b) One's belief in their ability to succeed in specific situations
Short Answer Questions - 2 Marks Each
Answer the following questions briefly.
Differentiate between 'self-concept' and 'self-esteem'.
Answer: Self-concept refers to the way we perceive ourselves, encompassing our beliefs, thoughts, and feelings about who we are. Self-esteem, on the other hand, is the evaluative component of self-concept, representing how much we value and approve of ourselves.
Name two key differences between personality types and personality traits.
Answer: Personality types categorize individuals into distinct groups based on shared characteristics (e.g., Type A/B), suggesting qualitative differences. Personality traits describe stable and enduring characteristics along a continuum (e.g., Extraversion), suggesting quantitative differences.
What is the main objective of using projective techniques in personality assessment?
Answer: The main objective of using projective techniques is to uncover unconscious desires, conflicts, and motivations by having individuals respond to ambiguous stimuli, thereby projecting their inner thoughts and feelings onto the stimuli.
Briefly explain the 'trait approach' to personality.
Answer: The trait approach to personality focuses on identifying and measuring stable, enduring psychological characteristics (traits) that predispose individuals to behave in consistent ways across different situations. Examples include the Big Five traits.
Define stress and provide one example of a 'daily hassle' that can cause stress.
Answer: Stress is a state of mental or emotional strain or tension resulting from adverse or demanding circumstances. An example of a daily hassle causing stress could be getting stuck in a traffic jam on the way to school or work.
What are the three stages of the General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS) as proposed by Hans Selye?
Answer: The three stages of the General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS) are: Alarm reaction, Resistance, and Exhaustion.
Give two examples of psychological effects of stress.
Answer: Two examples of psychological effects of stress are anxiety, depression, irritability, and difficulty concentrating. (Any two are acceptable).
Distinguish between problem-focused and emotion-focused coping strategies.
Answer: Problem-focused coping involves directly addressing and changing the source of stress (e.g., studying for an exam). Emotion-focused coping aims to manage the emotional responses to stress when the stressor is uncontrollable (e.g., meditating to reduce anxiety).
Why is 'locus of control' an important concept in understanding how individuals cope with stress?
Answer: Locus of control is important because it refers to an individual's belief about who or what controls the outcomes of their life. Those with an internal locus of control believe they can influence outcomes and are more likely to use problem-focused coping, while those with an external locus of control may feel helpless and use more emotion-focused coping.
Mention two limitations of self-report measures in personality assessment.
Answer: Two limitations of self-report measures include: social desirability bias (tendency to respond in a socially acceptable way) and lack of insight (individuals may not accurately know themselves).
Long Answer Questions - 5 Marks Each
Answer the following questions in detail.
Explain the concept of self and discuss the major components that contribute to an individual's self-concept. How does self-efficacy contribute to personal development?
Answer:
The concept of self refers to the totality of an individual's conscious experiences, ideas, thoughts, and feelings about themselves. It is a dynamic and multifaceted construct that develops throughout life.
Major components that contribute to an individual's self-concept include:
Self-Identity: This is the awareness of being a unique individual, distinct from others. It includes our personal characteristics, roles, and values.
Personal Identity: This consists of those attributes that make us unique individuals, such as our name, personal history, and unique experiences.
Social Identity: This refers to the aspects of our self-concept that derive from our membership in various social groups (e.g., family, school, nation, religion). It includes the values and characteristics associated with these groups.
Self-Esteem: This is the overall evaluative component of the self, reflecting how much we value or like ourselves. It can be high or low, stable or unstable, and plays a crucial role in psychological well-being.
Self-Efficacy: This refers to an individual's belief in their capacity to execute behaviors necessary to produce specific performance attainments. It is not about whether one has the skills, but whether one believes they can use those skills effectively.
Self-efficacy contributes to personal development significantly in several ways:
Motivation and Persistence: High self-efficacy motivates individuals to set challenging goals and persist in the face of obstacles. They believe their efforts will lead to success.
Performance: Individuals with strong self-efficacy are more likely to perform better on tasks because they approach them with confidence and are less likely to be deterred by difficulties.
Resilience: It fosters resilience, enabling individuals to bounce back from setbacks and failures, viewing them as learning opportunities rather than insurmountable obstacles.
Well-being: Higher self-efficacy is often associated with lower levels of stress and anxiety, as individuals feel more in control of their lives and better equipped to handle challenges.
Goal Setting: Individuals with high self-efficacy tend to set higher and more ambitious goals for themselves, leading to greater personal growth and achievement.
Describe the different approaches to studying personality (e.g., Trait, Psychodynamic, Humanistic). Choose any two approaches and explain their key assumptions and a prominent theory associated with each.
Answer:
Personality is typically studied through various approaches, each offering a unique perspective on human behavior and individual differences.
The Trait Approach:
Key Assumptions: This approach assumes that personality consists of stable and enduring characteristics or dispositions called traits, which predispose individuals to behave in consistent ways across different situations and over time. Traits are often viewed as internal structures that influence behavior.
Prominent Theory: The Big Five Factor Model (OCEAN) is a prominent theory. It proposes that personality can be largely described by five broad dimensions:
Openness to Experience: Imaginative, curious, independent vs. practical, conforming.
Conscientiousness: Organized, disciplined, careful vs. disorganized, careless.
Extraversion: Sociable, outgoing, energetic vs. solitary, reserved.
Agreeableness: Trusting, cooperative, kind vs. suspicious, uncooperative.
Neuroticism: Anxious, insecure, moody vs. calm, secure.
The Psychodynamic Approach:
Key Assumptions: This approach, largely stemming from Sigmund Freud, emphasizes the role of unconscious psychological processes and early childhood experiences in shaping personality. It posits that inner conflicts, unresolved desires, and defense mechanisms significantly influence behavior.
Prominent Theory: Freud's Psychoanalytic Theory is the foundational theory. Key concepts include:
Levels of Consciousness: Conscious, preconscious, and unconscious mind, with the unconscious being the largest and most influential part.
Structure of Personality: Id (pleasure principle, unconscious desires), Ego (reality principle, mediates Id and Superego), and Superego (morality principle, internalized societal rules).
Psychosexual Stages of Development: Oral, Anal, Phallic, Latency, and Genital stages, where fixation at any stage can lead to specific personality traits in adulthood.
Defense Mechanisms: Unconscious strategies used by the ego to reduce anxiety arising from conflicts between the id and superego (e.g., repression, rationalization, projection).
The Humanistic Approach:
Key Assumptions: This approach emphasizes the inherent goodness of people, their innate drive for self-actualization (achieving one's full potential), and the importance of free will and personal responsibility. It focuses on subjective experiences, personal growth, and self-determination.
Prominent Theory: Carl Rogers's Self Theory is a prime example. Rogers proposed that personality is centered around the self-concept, which includes our perceptions, values, and ideals. Key ideas include:
Unconditional Positive Regard: The acceptance and love from others, regardless of one's behavior, is crucial for healthy development.
Conditions of Worth: When positive regard is conditional, individuals may develop conditions of worth, leading to incongruence between their real self and ideal self.
Self-Actualization: The innate drive to become the best version of oneself.
Fully Functioning Person: A person who is open to experience, lives in the present, trusts their feelings, and is engaged in continuous personal growth.
What is stress? Discuss the various sources of stress that individuals commonly experience. Elaborate on different coping strategies that can be employed to manage stress effectively.
Answer:
Stress is a state of mental or emotional strain or tension resulting from adverse or demanding circumstances. It is the body's natural response to any demand or threat, whether real or perceived, involving physiological, psychological, and behavioral changes. While some stress (eustress) can be beneficial, chronic or overwhelming stress (distress) can be detrimental to health and well-being.
Various sources of stress commonly experienced by individuals include:
Life Events: Significant and discrete events that require major adjustments. These can be positive (e.g., marriage, new job) or negative (e.g., death of a loved one, divorce, serious illness, job loss).
Daily Hassles: Minor, chronic, and recurring irritations that accumulate over time. Examples include traffic jams, long queues, arguments with family members, financial worries, or school/work deadlines.
Environmental Stressors: Aspects of the physical environment that can cause stress. These include noise pollution, overcrowding, extreme temperatures, air pollution, and natural disasters.
Occupational/Academic Stress: Pressures related to one's job or studies. This can include heavy workload, tight deadlines, job insecurity, poor work-life balance, academic pressure, fear of failure, or interpersonal conflicts at work/school.
Social Stressors: Difficulties in interpersonal relationships. This can involve family conflicts, peer pressure, loneliness, social isolation, discrimination, or relationship breakdowns.
Psychological Stressors: Internal factors such as personal beliefs, attitudes, and ways of thinking. These can include perfectionism, negative self-talk, low self-esteem, anxiety about the future, or feeling a lack of control.
Role Conflict: When an individual has to fulfill multiple roles simultaneously that have conflicting demands (e.g., being a student, an employee, and a caregiver).
Different coping strategies that can be employed to manage stress effectively:
Coping strategies are efforts, both behavioral and psychological, to master, tolerate, reduce, or minimize stressful events. They are generally categorized into:
Problem-Focused Coping: These strategies aim to directly address and alter the source of stress. They are most effective when the stressor is controllable.
Information Seeking: Gathering knowledge about the stressor to better understand and manage it.
Problem Solving: Identifying the problem, brainstorming solutions, evaluating them, and implementing the best one.
Time Management: Organizing tasks and prioritizing them to reduce feelings of overwhelm.
Assertiveness: Directly communicating needs and boundaries to others.
Taking Direct Action: Confronting the problem head-on (e.g., studying harder for an exam, discussing an issue with a colleague).
Emotion-Focused Coping: These strategies aim to manage the emotional responses to stress, especially when the stressor is uncontrollable or ongoing.
Emotional Venting/Expression: Expressing feelings through talking, writing, or creative outlets.
Seeking Social Support: Confiding in friends, family, or support groups to gain emotional comfort and perspective.
Positive Reappraisal: Changing one's interpretation of the stressful situation to find a more positive meaning or outcome.
Distraction/Avoidance: Temporarily engaging in activities that take one's mind off the stressor (e.g., hobbies, entertainment). (While sometimes useful short-term, excessive avoidance can be maladaptive).
Relaxation Techniques: Practicing methods like deep breathing, meditation, yoga, or progressive muscle relaxation to calm the body and mind.
Exercise: Physical activity is a powerful stress reducer, releasing endorphins and improving mood.
Effective stress management often involves a combination of both problem-focused and emotion-focused strategies, adapted to the specific nature of the stressor and the individual's resources.
