Psychology Class 12 Chapter 4 question answers Psychological Disorders

Psychological Disorders class 12 questions and answers: Class 12 Psychology chapter 4 ncert solutions

Textbook	NCERT
Class	Class 12
Subject	Psychology
Chapter	Chapter 4
Chapter Name	Psychological Disorders class 12 ncert solutions
Category	Ncert Solutions
Medium	English

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Question 1: Identify the symptoms associated with depression and mania.

Answer 1: Depression Symptoms:

• Persistent sadness or low mood
• Loss of interest or pleasure in activities
• Fatigue or lack of energy
• Feelings of hopelessness or worthlessness
• Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
• Changes in appetite or sleep patterns
• Thoughts of death or suicide

Mania Symptoms:

• Elevated or irritable mood
• Increased energy or restlessness
• Racing thoughts or rapid speech
• Decreased need for sleep
• Impulsive or risky behavior
• Grandiose ideas or inflated self-esteem
• Distractibility

Question 2: Describe the characteristics of children with hyperactivity.

Answer 2: Children with hyperactivity often exhibit the following characteristics:

• Excessive movement: They may be constantly fidgeting, running, or unable to sit still, even in calm or quiet situations.
• Impulsivity: They often act without thinking, interrupt others, or have difficulty waiting their turn.
• Inattention: They may have trouble focusing on tasks, are easily distracted, and struggle to follow through with instructions.
• Difficulty completing tasks: They may start projects but rarely finish them or become easily frustrated by challenging tasks.
• Talkativeness: They may speak quickly or loudly and have trouble controlling their verbal outbursts.
• Restlessness: They often appear on edge, as though they cannot relax or calm down.
• Trouble with organization: Difficulty keeping track of personal belongings, assignments, and schedules.

These behaviors may interfere with daily activities, schoolwork, and social relationships.

Question 3: What are the consequences of alcohol substance addiction?

Answer 3: The consequences of alcohol addiction can be severe and affect various aspects of a person’s life:

Physical Health Issues:

• Liver damage (e.g., cirrhosis, fatty liver)
• Heart problems (e.g., high blood pressure, cardiomyopathy)
• Increased risk of cancers (e.g., liver, mouth, throat)
• Weakened immune system
• Digestive issues (e.g., pancreatitis)
• Neurological damage (e.g., memory problems, brain damage)

Mental Health Impact:

• Increased risk of depression and anxiety
• Cognitive impairments, such as poor judgment and memory loss
• Increased risk of mental health disorders like paranoia or psychosis

Social Consequences:

• Strained relationships with family and friends
• Legal issues, including DUIs or violent behavior
• Difficulty at work or in school due to impaired functioning

Financial Problems:

• Spending large amounts of money on alcohol, leading to financial strain
• Loss of income or job instability

Addiction Cycle:

• Increased tolerance leading to greater consumption
• Withdrawal symptoms, including anxiety, tremors, and seizures, when not drinking

Risk of Death:

• Alcohol poisoning or overdose
• Long-term health complications leading to premature death

Question 4: Can a distorted body image lead to eating disorders? Classify the various forms of it.

Answer 4: Yes, a distorted body image can lead to eating disorders. The various forms of eating disorders are anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating.

1. Anorexia nervosa :- In this eating disorder, the individual has a distorted body image that leads her/him to see herself/himself as overweight. Often refusing to eat, exercising compulsively and developing unusual habits such as refusing to eat in front of others, the anorexic may lose large amounts of weight and even starve herself/himself to death.

2. Bulimia nervosa :- In this disorder, the individual may eat excessive amounts of food, then purge her/his body of food by using medicines such as 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.

3. Binge eating :- In this disorder, there are frequent episodes of out-of-control eating.

Question 5: “Physicians make diagnosis looking at a person’s physical symptoms”. How are psychological disorders diagnosed?

Answer 5: Psychological disorders are diagnosed through a combination of methods, primarily focusing on the individual’s mental and emotional state rather than just physical symptoms. Here’s how it’s done:

1. Clinical Interviews: Mental health professionals (e.g., psychologists, psychiatrists) conduct in-depth interviews with the patient to gather information about their symptoms, thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and history. This helps in identifying patterns that suggest a psychological disorder.
2. Standardized Psychological Tests: These tests assess various aspects of mental health, such as mood, behavior, and cognitive function. Examples include the Beck Depression Inventory, the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale, and personality tests.
3. Observation: The clinician observes the patient’s behavior and demeanor during interactions. This can provide insights into their emotional state, thought processes, and social functioning.
4. Diagnostic Criteria: Mental health professionals rely on standardized criteria from diagnostic manuals, like the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) or ICD-10 (International Classification of Diseases). These manuals list specific symptoms and criteria that must be met for a particular disorder to be diagnosed.
5. Excluding Other Causes: Since some physical conditions (e.g., neurological issues, substance use) can mimic psychological symptoms, a thorough medical examination may be conducted to rule out any physical causes.
6. Self-Reports and Feedback: Patients may be asked to fill out questionnaires or rating scales to self-report symptoms, which can aid in understanding the severity and impact of the disorder.

Question 6: Distinguish between obsessions and compulsions.

Answer 6: Obsessions and compulsions are key features of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) but differ in their nature:

1. Obsessions:

• Definition: Recurrent, persistent, and intrusive thoughts, urges, or images that cause anxiety or distress.
• Example: A person might have a constant fear of germs or contamination, leading to repetitive, intrusive thoughts about becoming ill.
• Nature: They are unwanted and disturbing, often causing the person significant anxiety or distress. Individuals typically recognize that these thoughts are irrational but feel powerless to stop them.

2. Compulsions:

• Definition: Repetitive behaviors or mental acts performed to reduce the anxiety caused by obsessions or to prevent a feared event or situation. The compulsions are intended to neutralize the obsession or prevent a perceived negative outcome.
• Example: To alleviate the fear of contamination (obsession), a person may wash their hands repeatedly (compulsion) to reduce anxiety or ensure cleanliness.
• Nature: These behaviors are often ritualistic and time-consuming. While they may not be connected logically to the feared event, they provide temporary relief from the distress caused by obsessions.

Key Differences:

• Obsessions involve unwanted thoughts that cause anxiety, while compulsions are actions or rituals carried out to relieve that anxiety.
• Obsessions are mental, compulsions are physical actions or mental rituals.

Question 7: Can a long-standing pattern of deviant behaviour be considered abnormal? Elaborate.

Answer 7: The first approach views abnormal behaviour as a deviation from social norms. Many psychologists have stated that ‘abnormal’ is simply a label that is given to a behaviour which is deviant from social expectations. Abnormal behaviour, thoughts and emotions are those that differ markedly from a society’s ideas of proper functioning. Each society has norms, which are stated or unstated rules for proper conduct. Behaviours, thoughts and emotions that break societal norms are called abnormal.

A society’s norms grow from its particular culture its history, values, institutions, habits, skills, technology, and arts. Thus, a society whose culture  values  competition  and assertiveness may accept aggressive behaviour, whereas one that emphasises cooperation and family values (such as in India) may consider aggressive behaviour as unacceptable or even abnormal. A society’s values may change over time, causing its views of what is psychologically abnormal to change as well. Serious questions have been raised about this definition. It is based on the assumption that socially accepted behaviour is not abnormal, and that normality is nothing more than conformity to social norms.

The second approach views abnormal behaviour as maladaptive. Many psychologists believe that the best criterion for determining the normality of behaviour is not whether society accepts it but whether it fosters the well-being of the individual and eventually of the group to which s/he belongs. Well-being is not simply maintenance and survival but also includes growth and fulfilment, i.e. the actualisation of potential, which you must have studied in Maslow’s need hierarchy theory.

According to this criterion, conforming behaviour can be seen as abnormal if it is maladaptive, i.e. if it interferes with optimal functioning and growth. For example, a student in the class prefers to remain silent even when s/he has questions in her/his mind. Describing behaviour as maladaptive implies that a problem exists; it also suggests that vulnerability in the individual, inability to cope, or exceptional stress in the environment have led to problems in life.

Question 8: While speaking in public the patient changes topics frequently, is this a positive or a negative symptom of schizophrenia? Describe the other symptoms of schizophrenia.

Answer 8: The symptom of changing topics frequently while speaking in public is considered a negative symptom of schizophrenia, as it reflects a disorganized thought pattern. However, the term “negative” in schizophrenia doesn’t refer to something being bad but rather to the absence or impairment of normal functioning (such as coherent thought or speech).

In schizophrenia, symptoms are generally categorized into positive and negative:

1. Positive Symptoms (Excesses or distortions of normal functioning):

• Hallucinations: Perceptions without external stimuli, such as hearing voices (auditory hallucinations) or seeing things that aren’t there (visual hallucinations).
• Delusions: False beliefs that are strongly held despite evidence to the contrary, such as believing one has special powers or is being persecuted.
• Disorganized Thinking (Speech): This includes frequent topic changes or incoherence (often referred to as “loose associations”), making it difficult for others to follow the person’s speech or thoughts.
• Disorganized or Abnormal Motor Behavior: This can range from agitation, unpredictable movements, to catatonia (lack of movement or response).

2. Negative Symptoms (Deficits or reductions in normal functioning):

• Affective Flattening: Reduced emotional expression, such as facial expressions, voice tone, or gestures.
• Avolition: Lack of motivation to initiate or sustain purposeful activities (e.g., neglecting personal hygiene or work).
• Anhedonia: Inability to experience pleasure or interest in activities that were previously enjoyable.
• Alogia: Reduced speech output, often manifesting as poverty of speech (short, monosyllabic responses) or poverty of content (long-winded speech with little meaningful content).
• Social Withdrawal: Decreased interaction with others, resulting in social isolation.

3. Cognitive Symptoms:

• Impaired Memory: Difficulty remembering or processing information.
• Poor Executive Functioning: Trouble with planning, organizing, and making decisions.
• Attention Deficits: Difficulty focusing or sustaining attention.

Question 9: What do you understand by the term ‘dissociation’? Discuss its various forms.

Answer 9: Dissociation can be viewed as severance of the connections between ideas and emotions. Dissociation involves feelings of unreality, estrangement, depersonalisation, and sometimes a loss or shift of identity. Sudden, temporary alterations of consciousness that blot out painful experiences are a defining characteristic of dissociative disorders. Four conditions are included in this group: dissociative amnesia, dissociative fugue, dissociative identity disorder, and depersonalisation.

Its various forms are mentioned below:

1. Dissociative amnesia: It is characterised by extensive but selective memory loss that has no known organic cause (e.g. head injury). Some people cannot remember anything about their past. Others can no longer recall specific events, people, places, or objects, while their memory for other events remains intact. This disorder is often associated with an overwhelming stress.
2. Dissociative fugue: It has, as its essential feature, an unexpected travel away from home and workplace, the assumption of a new identity, and the inability to recall the previous identity. The fugue usually ends when the person suddenly ‘wakes up’ with no memory of the events that occurred during the fugue.
3. Dissociative identity disorder: It often referred to as multiple personality, is the most dramatic of the dissociative disorders. It is often associated with traumatic experiences in childhood. In this disorder, the person assumes alternate personalities that may or may not be aware of each other.
4. Depersonalisation: It involves a dreamlike state in which the person has a sense of being separated both from self and from reality. In depersonalisation, there is a change of self-perception, and the person’s sense of reality is temporarily lost or changed.

Question 10: What are phobias? If someone had an intense fear of snakes, could this simple phobia be a result of faulty learning? Analyse how this phobia could have developed.

Answer 10: Phobias are irrational fears related to specific objects, interactions with others, and unfamiliar situations. If someone had an intense fear of snakes, this simple phobia cannot be a result of faulty learning. It is a specific phobia which is most common. This group includes irrational fears such as intense fear of a certain type of animal, or of being in an enclosed space. This phobia often develop gradually or begin with a generalised anxiety disorders.

Question 11: Anxiety has been called the “butterflies in the stomach feeling”. At what stage does anxiety become a disorder? Discuss its types.

Answer 11: Anxiety becomes a disorder when it is persistent, excessive, and impairs daily functioning. While feeling anxious in certain situations (like before a test or public speaking) is normal, anxiety becomes a disorder when the intensity, duration, and impact of the anxiety become disproportionate to the situation or are chronic, leading to distress or dysfunction.

When Does Anxiety Become a Disorder?

Anxiety is considered a disorder when:

• It occurs frequently without a specific trigger or in response to non-threatening situations.
• The intensity of the anxiety is out of proportion to the actual threat or situation.
• It causes significant distress or affects daily activities (e.g., work, relationships, or social interactions).
• It leads to avoidance behaviors, where the person may avoid certain situations due to overwhelming anxiety.

Types of Anxiety Disorders:

1. Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD):
   • Description: Characterized by chronic, excessive worry about various aspects of life (e.g., work, health, social interactions) that is difficult to control.
   • Symptoms: Restlessness, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, irritability, muscle tension, and sleep disturbances.
2. Panic Disorder:
   • Description: Involves recurrent, unexpected panic attacks (sudden periods of intense fear or discomfort), often without a clear trigger.
   • Symptoms: Rapid heartbeat, sweating, chest pain, difficulty breathing, dizziness, and a fear of losing control or dying.
   • People with panic disorder may avoid places where previous attacks occurred, leading to agoraphobia.
3. Social Anxiety Disorder (Social Phobia):
   • Description: An intense fear of being judged or negatively evaluated by others in social situations.
   • Symptoms: Fear of embarrassing oneself, blushing, sweating, trembling, and avoidance of social interactions or public speaking.
4. Specific Phobias:
   • Description: An intense, irrational fear of a specific object or situation (e.g., spiders, flying, heights).
   • Symptoms: Extreme anxiety or panic attacks when confronted with the phobic stimulus, leading to avoidance behaviors.
5. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD):
   • Description: Characterized by intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors or mental acts (compulsions) performed to reduce anxiety or prevent a feared event.
   • Symptoms: Repetitive checking, washing, counting, or arranging items, and persistent intrusive thoughts.
6. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD):
   • Description: Anxiety triggered by a traumatic event, causing flashbacks, nightmares, or severe anxiety when reminded of the trauma.
   • Symptoms: Hypervigilance, avoidance of reminders, emotional numbness, and intrusive memories or thoughts.
7. Separation Anxiety Disorder (mostly in children, but can occur in adults):
   • Description: Excessive fear or anxiety about being separated from loved ones or familiar surroundings.
   • Symptoms: Distress when anticipating or experiencing separation, difficulty sleeping alone, and physical complaints like headaches or stomachaches.