Passage Based Questions: What is Psychology? | Psychology Class 11 - Humanities/Arts PDF Download

Passage - 1

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Mind emerges and evolves as our interactions and experiences in this world get dynamically organised in the form of a system which is responsible for the occurrence of various mental processes. Brain activities provide important clues as to how our mind functions. But the consciousness of our own experiences and mental processes are much more than the neural or brain activities. Even when we are asleep some mental activities go on. We dream, and receive some information such as a knock on the door while we are asleep. Some psychologists have shown that we also learn and remember in our sleep. Mental processes, such as remembering, learning, knowing, perceiving, feeling are of interest to psychologists.

Q1: What is the relationship between mind and brain activities?
Ans:

• The mind emerges and evolves through interactions and experiences in the world, forming a dynamic system.
• Brain activities offer important clues about how the mind functions, although the mind's consciousness surpasses mere neural activities.
• Even during sleep, mental processes like dreaming, learning, and remembering occur, indicating that the mind operates independently of waking states.

Q2: How do psychologists view mental processes during sleep?
Ans:

• Psychologists have demonstrated that mental activities persist during sleep, including processes like learning and remembering.
• Individuals can receive and process information during sleep, such as responding to a knock on the door, indicating an ongoing cognitive function.
• Dreaming is another mental process that occurs during sleep, providing further evidence of the continuous activity of the mind.

Q3: What aspects of mental processes interest psychologists?
Ans:

• Psychologists focus on various mental processes such as remembering, learning, knowing, perceiving, and feeling.
• These processes are of significant interest because they provide insights into the complexities of human cognition and consciousness.
• Studying these mental activities helps psychologists understand the intricacies of human behavior and subjective experiences.

Passage - 2

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Psychologists have focused on experiences of pain being experienced by terminally ill patients or of psychological pain felt in bereavement, besides experiences which lead to positive feelings, such as in romantic encounters. There are some esoteric experiences also which attract the attention of psychologists, such as when a Yogi meditates to enter a different level of consciousness and creates a new kind of experience or when a drug addict takes a particular kind of drug to get a high, even though such drugs are extremely harmful. Experiences are influenced by internal and the external conditions of the experiencer.

Q1: What kinds of experiences have psychologists studied regarding pain and positive feelings?
Ans:

• Psychologists have examined experiences of pain in terminally ill patients and psychological pain during bereavement.
• Positive experiences, such as those occurring in romantic encounters, have also been a focus of psychological research.

Q2: What are some examples of esoteric experiences that attract psychologists' attention?
Ans:

• Psychologists study experiences arising from practices like meditation, where Yogis achieve different levels of consciousness, creating unique experiences.
• They also investigate experiences related to drug addiction, where individuals take harmful substances to attain a "high," despite the detrimental effects of such drugs.

Q3: What factors influence experiences, according to psychologists?
Ans:

• Experiences are influenced by both internal and external conditions of the experiencer.
• Internal factors include mental and emotional states, while external factors encompass environmental and social contexts.
• Understanding the interplay between these internal and external conditions helps psychologists analyze and comprehend various human experiences.

Passage - 3

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Psychology, though it is a very old knowledge discipline, is a young science, if one were to take the year of the founding of the first laboratory of psychology in 1879 in Leipzig. However, what kind of science is psychology, still remains a matter of debate, particularly because of the new interfaces of it that have emerged in recent times. Psychology is generally categorised as a social science. But it should not come to you as a surprise that, not only in other countries, but in India also, it is also a subject of study offered in the faculty of science, both at the undergraduate and post-graduate levels.

Q1: When was the first psychology laboratory founded, and why is the nature of psychology as a science a matter of debate?
Ans:

• The first psychology laboratory was founded in 1879 in Leipzig, marking the formal beginning of psychology as a science.
• The nature of psychology as a science remains debatable due to the emergence of new interfaces within the discipline, leading to ongoing discussions about its classification and methodologies.

Q2: How is psychology generally categorized, and what makes its classification challenging?
Ans:

• Psychology is generally categorized as a social science due to its focus on understanding human behavior and mental processes.
• The classification becomes challenging because psychology is also studied as a science, both at the undergraduate and post-graduate levels, not only in other countries but also in places like India, blurring the traditional boundaries between social sciences and natural sciences.

Q3: What historical event marked the formal beginning of psychology as a science, and how is psychology studied in India?
Ans:

• The founding of the first psychology laboratory in 1879 in Leipzig marked the formal beginning of psychology as a science.
• In India, psychology is offered as a subject of study in the faculty of science, both at the undergraduate and post-graduate levels, indicating its recognition as a scientific discipline alongside its classification as a social science.

Passage - 4

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Psychology was influenced by Descartes and later on by the developments in physics has grown by following what is called a hypothetico-deductive model. The model suggests that scientific advancement can take place if you have a theory to explain a phenomenon. For example, physicists have what is called a Big-bang theory to explain how the universe came to be formed. Theory is nothing else but a set of statements about how a certain complex phenomenon can be explained with the help of propositions which are interrelated. Based on a theory, scientists deduce or propose a hypothesis, that offers a tentative explanation of how a certain phenomenon takes place.

Q1: How was psychology influenced by Descartes, and what model has it followed for scientific advancement?
Ans:

• Descartes' influence on psychology is notable, shaping its early foundations.
• Psychology has followed a hypothetico-deductive model for scientific advancement, akin to developments in physics.

Q2: What does the hypothetico-deductive model propose, and how is it exemplified in physics?
Ans:

• The hypothetico-deductive model suggests that scientific progress occurs through theories explaining phenomena.
• In physics, the Big Bang theory serves as an example, explaining the formation of the universe through interconnected propositions.

Q3: How do scientists use theories and hypotheses within the hypothetico-deductive model?
Ans:

• Theories consist of interrelated statements explaining complex phenomena.
• Scientists deduce hypotheses from theories, offering tentative explanations of specific phenomena, enabling empirical testing and furthering scientific understanding.

Passage - 5

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Recent studies in affective neuroscience have clearly shown that there is a relationship between mind and behaviour. It has been shown that using positive visualisation techniques and feeling positive emotions, one can bring about significant changes in bodily processes. Ornish has shown this in a number of studies with his patients. In these studies a person with blocked arteries was made to visualise that blood was flowing through her/ his blocked arteries. After practicing this over a period of time, significant relief was obtained by these patients as the degree of blockage became significantly less. Use of mental imagery, i.e. images generated by a person in her/his mind, have been used to cure various kinds of phobias (irrational fears of objects and situations). 

Q1: What is the relationship between mind and behavior according to recent studies in affective neuroscience?
Ans:

• Recent studies in affective neuroscience have demonstrated a clear relationship between mind and behavior.
• Positive visualization techniques and experiencing positive emotions have been shown to bring about significant changes in bodily processes.

Q2: How did Ornish's studies demonstrate the influence of mental imagery on physical health?
Ans:

• Ornish conducted studies where patients with blocked arteries practiced positive visualization, imagining blood flowing through their blocked arteries.
• Over time, these patients experienced significant relief, as the degree of blockage reduced, indicating the power of mental imagery in improving physical health.

Q3: In what way has mental imagery been utilized in treating psychological conditions like phobias?
Ans:

• Mental imagery, involving images generated in a person's mind, has been employed to treat various phobias (irrational fears of objects and situations).
• Through therapies utilizing mental imagery, individuals can confront and overcome their fears, leading to effective treatment and resolution of phobic responses.

Passage - 6

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According to William James, consciousness as an ongoing stream of mental process interacting with the environment formed the core of psychology. A very influential educational thinker of the time, John Dewey, used functionalism to argue that human beings seek to function effectively by adapting to their environment.

Q1: What did William James consider as the core concept of psychology?
Ans: William James believed that consciousness, described as an ongoing stream of mental processes interacting with the environment, formed the core of psychology.

Q2: How did John Dewey use functionalism to explain human behavior?
Ans:

• John Dewey, an influential educational thinker, utilized functionalism to argue that humans strive to function effectively by adapting to their environment.
• According to Dewey, understanding how individuals adapt and interact with their surroundings is crucial in comprehending human behavior and cognition.

Passage - 7

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Cognition is the process of knowing. It involves thinking, understanding, perceiving, memorising, problem solving and a host of other mental processes by which our knowledge of the world develops, making us able to deal with the environment in specific ways. Some cognitive psychologists view the human mind as an information processing system like the computer. Mind, according to this view is like a computer and it receives, processes, transforms, stores and retrieves information. Modern cognitive psychology views human beings as actively constructing their minds through their exploration into the physical and the social world. This view is sometimes called constructivism.

Q1: What does cognition involve according to the passage?
Ans:

• Cognition encompasses processes such as thinking, understanding, perceiving, memorizing, and problem-solving.
• It involves various mental activities through which knowledge of the world develops, enabling individuals to interact effectively with the environment.

Q2: How do some cognitive psychologists compare the human mind to a computer?
Ans:

• Some cognitive psychologists liken the human mind to an information processing system, similar to a computer.
• In this perspective, the mind receives, processes, transforms, stores, and retrieves information, functioning akin to a computer system.

Q3: How does modern cognitive psychology view the development of the human mind?
Ans:

• Modern cognitive psychology sees humans as actively constructing their minds through exploration of the physical and social world.
• This perspective, often referred to as constructivism, emphasizes individuals' active engagement in shaping their mental processes based on their experiences in the physical and social environments.

Passage - 8

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The modern era of Indian psychology began in the Department of Philosophy at Calcutta University where the first syllabus of experimental psychology was introduced and the first psychology laboratory was established in 1915. Calcutta University started the first Department of Psychology in the year 1916 and another Department of Applied Psychology in 1938. The beginning of modern experimental psychology at Calcutta University was greatly influenced by the Indian psychologist Dr. N.N. Sengupta who was trained in USA in the experimental tradition of Wundt. Professor G. Bose was trained in Freudian psychoanalysis, another area which influenced the early development of psychology in India.

Q1: Where did the modern era of Indian psychology begin, and what significant developments took place there?
Ans:

• The modern era of Indian psychology commenced in the Department of Philosophy at Calcutta University.
• In 1915, the first syllabus of experimental psychology was introduced, and the first psychology laboratory was established. Calcutta University subsequently established the first Department of Psychology in 1916 and another Department of Applied Psychology in 1938.

Q2: Who were the key figures influencing the early development of psychology in India at Calcutta University?
Ans:

• Dr. N.N. Sengupta, an Indian psychologist trained in the experimental tradition of Wundt in the USA, played a significant role in shaping modern experimental psychology at Calcutta University.
• Professor G. Bose, trained in Freudian psychoanalysis, was another influential figure whose expertise contributed to the early development of psychology in India.

Q3: What areas of psychology were particularly influential in the early stages of Indian psychology at Calcutta University?
Ans:

• The early development of psychology in India was influenced by the experimental tradition of Wundt, thanks to Dr. N.N. Sengupta's training in the USA.
• Freudian psychoanalysis, represented by Professor G. Bose, also played a vital role in shaping the early landscape of psychology in India.

Passage - 9

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Cross-cultural and Cultural Psychology examines the role of culture in understanding behaviour, thought, and emotion. It assumes that human behaviour is not only a reflection of human-biological potential but also a product of culture. Therefore behaviour should be studied in its socio-cultural context. As you will be studying in different chapters of this book, culture influences human behaviour in many ways and in varying degrees.

Q1: What does Cross-cultural and Cultural Psychology study, and what does it assume about human behavior?
Ans:

• Cross-cultural and Cultural Psychology examines the role of culture in understanding behavior, thought, and emotion.
• It assumes that human behavior is not solely a result of biological potential but also a product of culture, emphasizing the importance of studying behavior within its socio-cultural context.

Q2: How does Cross-cultural and Cultural Psychology view the influence of culture on human behavior?
Ans:

• Cross-cultural and Cultural Psychology asserts that culture significantly impacts human behavior, recognizing that behavior is shaped by cultural norms, values, and practices.
• It acknowledges that culture influences human behavior in diverse ways and to varying extents, highlighting the complexity of these interactions.

Q3: Why is it important to study behavior within its socio-cultural context, according to Cross-cultural and Cultural Psychology?
Ans:

• Studying behavior within its socio-cultural context is crucial because it provides a comprehensive understanding of human behavior.
• Culture shapes behavior, thought, and emotion, and examining behavior within its cultural context allows for a nuanced analysis, capturing the intricate interplay between individual actions and cultural influences.

Passage - 10

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Clinical and Counselling Psychology deals with causes, treatment and prevention of different types of psychological disorders such as anxiety, depression, eating disorders and chronic substance abuse. A related area is counselling, which aims to improve everyday functioning by helping people solve problems in daily living and cope more effectively with challenging situations. The work of clinical psychologists does not differ from that of counselling psychologists although a counselling psychologist sometimes deals with people who have less serious problems. In many instances, counselling psychologists work with students, advising them about personal problems and career planning. Like clinical psychologists, psychiatrists also study the causes, treatment, and prevention of psychological disorders.

Q1: What are the primary concerns of Clinical and Counselling Psychology?
Ans: Clinical and Counselling Psychology focus on understanding the causes, treatment, and prevention of various psychological disorders, including anxiety, depression, eating disorders, and chronic substance abuse.

Q2: How does counselling psychology differ from clinical psychology in terms of the issues they address?
Ans:

• While the work of clinical psychologists and counselling psychologists is similar, counselling psychologists often deal with individuals facing less serious problems.
• Counselling psychologists work with people to improve everyday functioning, helping them solve daily living problems and cope effectively with challenging situations.

Q3: Besides psychological disorders, what other areas do counselling psychologists frequently work in?
Ans:

• Counselling psychologists often work with students, advising them on personal problems and career planning.
• They focus not only on treating disorders but also on enhancing individuals' overall well-being and assisting them in navigating various life challenges.

Passage - 11

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Educational Psychology studies how people of all ages learn. Educational psychologists primarily help develop instructional methods and materials used to train people in both educational and work settings. They are also concerned with research on issues of relevance for education, counselling and learning problems. A related field, school psychology, focuses on designing programmes that promote intellectual, social, and emotional development of children, including those with special needs. They try to apply knowledge of psychology in a school setting.

Q1: What is the primary focus of Educational Psychology?
Ans: Educational Psychology primarily studies how people of all ages learn and aims to understand the process of learning across different stages of life.

Q2: How do educational psychologists contribute to educational and work settings?
Ans: Educational psychologists help develop instructional methods and materials used in educational and work environments, contributing to the design of effective teaching and training methods.

Q3: What is the role of school psychologists, and how do they apply psychological knowledge in their work?
Ans:

• School psychologists focus on designing programs that promote the intellectual, social, and emotional development of children, including those with special needs.
• They apply their knowledge of psychology in school settings to address various issues related to education, counseling, and learning problems, aiming to enhance the overall well-being and development of students.

Passage - 12

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The potential of psychology in solving the problems of life is being realised more and more. Media has played a vital role in this respect. You may have seen on television counsellors and therapists suggesting solutions to a variety of problems related to children, adolescents, adults and the elderly people. You may also find them analysing vital social problems relating to social change and development, population, poverty, interpersonal or intergroup violence, and environmental degradation. Many psychologists now play an active role in designing and executing intervention programmes in order to provide people with a better quality of life. 

Q1: How has the media contributed to the realization of psychology's potential in solving life problems?
Ans:

• The media, especially television, has played a vital role in showcasing counsellors and therapists who suggest solutions to various problems related to different age groups, including children, adolescents, adults, and the elderly.
• Psychologists featured in the media analyze significant social problems such as social change, population issues, poverty, interpersonal violence, intergroup conflicts, and environmental degradation, raising awareness and offering insights.

Q2: What role do psychologists play in addressing social problems and improving the quality of life?
Ans:

• Psychologists actively engage in designing and executing intervention programs to address social issues and provide people with a better quality of life.
• They contribute to solving problems related to social change, development, violence, poverty, and environmental degradation, employing psychological expertise to create positive interventions and promote societal well-being.