Question 1

Q1: What is self? How does the Indian notion of self differ from the Western notion?

Accepted Answer

Self Self refers to the totality of an individual's conscious experiences, ideas, thoughts, and feelings with regard to herself or himself. It represents the characteristic ways in which we define our existence. The structure of the self is formed through our interactions with others and our experie...

Question 2

Q10: Explain how projective techniques assess personality. Which projective tests of personality are widely used by psychologists?

Accepted Answer

How Projective Techniques Assess Personality Projective techniques are indirect methods of personality assessment designed to uncover the unconscious part of our behaviour, including hidden motives, feelings, and conflicts. They operate on the assumption that when an individual is presented with a l...

Question 3

Q11: Arihant wants to become a singer even though he belongs to a family of doctors. Though his family members claim to love him but strongly disapprove hi...

Accepted Answer

Using Carl Rogers' humanistic terminology, the attitudes shown by Arihant's family can be described in terms of the concepts of ideal self, real self, and unconditional positive regard. 1.  Ideal Self vs. Real Self: Rogers' theory is structured around the concept of self. Arihant's real self is who...

Question 4

Q2: What is meant by delay of gratification? Why is it considered important for adult development?

Accepted Answer

Delay of Gratification Delay of gratification, also known as self-control, refers to the ability to delay or defer the satisfaction of certain needs. It is a key aspect of self-regulation where an individual resists immediate temptations or situational pressures to achieve long-term goals. It is oft...

Question 5

Q3: How do you define personality? What are the main approaches to the study of personality?

Accepted Answer

Definition of Personality In psychological terms, personality refers to the unique and relatively stable qualities that characterize an individual's behaviour across different situations and over a period of time. It encompasses the characteristic ways we respond to individuals and situations. Perso...

Question 6

Q4: What is trait approach to personality? How does it differ from type approach?

Accepted Answer

Trait Approach to Personality The trait approach focuses on identifying the basic components or 'building blocks' of personality. A trait is defined as a relatively enduring attribute or quality on which one individual differs from another. These traits, such as honesty, shyness, or assertiveness, a...

Question 7

Q5: How does Freud explain the structure of personality?

Accepted Answer

Sigmund Freud explained the structure of personality using his psychoanalytic theory, which posits that personality is composed of three primary structural elements: the id, the ego, and the superego. These are not physical structures but concepts that represent competing forces within the unconscio...

Question 8

Q6: How would Horney's explanation of depression be different from that of Alfred Adler?

Accepted Answer

Karen Horney and Alfred Adler were both post-Freudian theorists, but they would explain depression from different perspectives based on their core theories. Karen Horney's Explanation Horney would likely attribute depression to disturbed interpersonal relationships during childhood. According to her...

Question 9

Q7: What is the main proposition of humanistic approach to personality? What did Maslow mean by self-actualisation?

Accepted Answer

Main Proposition of the Humanistic Approach The main proposition of the humanistic approach to personality is its focus on the positive aspects of human nature and the subjective experiences of individuals. It was developed in response to the perceived pessimism of psychoanalysis and the mechanistic...

Question 10

Q8: Discuss the main observational methods used in personality assessment. What problems do we face in using these methods?

Accepted Answer

Observational methods, also known as behavioural analysis, assess personality by observing an individual's behaviour in various situations. The main methods include: 1.  Interview: This involves talking to the person being assessed. It can be unstructured, where the interviewer asks open-ended quest...

Question 11

Q9: What is meant by structured personality tests? Which are the two most widely used structured personality tests?

Accepted Answer

Structured Personality Tests Structured personality tests, also known as self-report measures, are formal assessment tools that are fairly structured and often based on a specific theory. In these tests, individuals are required to give verbal responses to a series of items, often using a rating sca...

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