Class | Subject | Book | Chapter | Session | Questions covered |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
XI | Psychology | Psychology (NCERT) | 1 – What is Psychology? | 2026-27 | 10 of 10 |
Chapter at a glance
Idea | Key point |
|---|---|
Psychology | Scientific study of mental processes, experience and behaviour in different contexts |
Origin | Greek psyche (soul) + logos (study); scientific beginning in 1879 with Wilhelm Wundt’s laboratory at Leipzig |
Behaviour | Overt (observable) and covert (internal) responses |
Schools | Structuralism, functionalism, behaviourism, Gestalt, psychoanalysis, humanism, cognitivism |
In India | First psychology department at Calcutta University (1916), Dr N.N. Sengupta |
Branches | Clinical, counselling, social, environmental, health, educational, industrial, forensic… |
Review Questions
What is behaviour? Give examples of overt and covert behaviour.
Answer
Answer
Behaviour means any response or activity of an organism to a stimulus, which may be simple or complex, and may be observed directly or inferred.
Type | Meaning | Examples |
|---|---|---|
Overt behaviour | Visible; can be observed by others | Walking, speaking, crying, writing, laughing |
Covert behaviour | Internal; cannot be observed directly | Thinking, remembering, dreaming, feeling happy or anxious |
Behaviour is any response of a person to a stimulus; overt is observable (talking), covert is internal (thinking).
How can you distinguish scientific psychology from the popular notions about the discipline of psychology?
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Answer
Basis | Scientific psychology | Popular notions |
|---|---|---|
Method | Systematic observation, experiments, surveys and tests | Casual observation and guesswork |
Evidence | Based on objective data that others can check | Based on belief, experience of a few, hearsay |
Aim | Describe, explain, predict and control behaviour | Quick judgments, often for entertainment |
Examples | Studying memory using experiments | Belief that psychology is “mind-reading” or palmistry |
Nature | Open to change when new evidence is found | Fixed, unquestioned |
Scientific psychology rests on objective, tested evidence, while popular notions rest on belief and casual impressions.
Give a brief account of the evolution of psychology.
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Answer
- Philosophical roots: ancient Greek thinkers (Plato, Aristotle) and Indian traditions asked about mind and soul; in the 17th century Descartes raised the mind–body question.
- 1879: Wilhelm Wundt set up the first psychological laboratory at Leipzig (Germany), beginning scientific psychology; Structuralism (Titchener) analysed the structure of conscious experience.
- Functionalism (William James): how the mind functions in adapting to the environment.
- Behaviourism (Watson, later Skinner): only observable behaviour is the subject.
- Gestalt psychology: the whole is more than the sum of its parts.
- Psychoanalysis (Freud): unconscious motives.
- Humanistic approach (Maslow, Rogers): growth and free will.
- Cognitive approach (from the 1950s): thinking, memory, problem-solving, along with the study of the brain.
- India: the first department of psychology at Calcutta University in 1916 (N.N. Sengupta) and the growth of Indian research on topics related to well-being and culture.
Psychology grew from philosophy to a science (Wundt, 1879) and passed through structuralism, functionalism, behaviourism, Gestalt, psychoanalysis, humanism and cognitivism.
What are the problems for which collaboration of psychologists with other disciplines can be fruitful? Take any two problems to explain.
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Answer
- Health and illness (with medicine): many diseases like heart disease, diabetes and pain are affected by stress and lifestyle. Psychologists work with doctors to design stress management, counselling and adherence to treatment, and help patients’ recovery.
- Mass media and crime (with law, sociology and mass communication): to study the effect of violence on TV or social media on children’s attitudes and behaviour, and to understand the causes of crime and eyewitness memory, so that fair decisions can be made.
(Other areas: computer science for artificial intelligence, education, environment and architecture.)
E.g. medicine (stress and illness) and law/media (crime and the effect of media) benefit from psychologists’ collaboration.
Differentiate between (a) a psychologist and a psychiatrist (b) a counsellor and a clinical psychologist.
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Answer
(a) Psychologist and psychiatrist
Basis | Psychologist | Psychiatrist |
|---|---|---|
Qualification | A degree in psychology (M.A./M.Sc., M.Phil., Ph.D.) | A medical degree (MBBS) with a specialisation in psychiatry (MD) |
Approach | Studies behaviour; uses tests and therapy | Treats mental illness as a medical condition |
Medicines | Cannot prescribe medicines | Can prescribe medicines |
(b) Counsellor and clinical psychologist
Basis | Counsellor | Clinical psychologist |
|---|---|---|
Clients | People with everyday adjustment problems (study, career, relationships) | People with serious psychological disorders |
Work | Guidance and short-term support | Diagnosis, psychological assessment and psychotherapy |
Training | Postgraduate in counselling/psychology | M.Phil. or Ph.D. in clinical psychology with supervised practice |
A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who can prescribe drugs; a clinical psychologist treats serious disorders, while a counsellor helps with everyday problems.
Describe some of the areas of everyday life where understanding of psychology can be put to practice.
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Answer
- Education: understanding how children learn, motivation, and learning difficulties.
- Health: managing stress, anxiety and lifestyle, and supporting patients.
- Workplace: selection of employees, motivation, leadership and team work.
- Sports: improving concentration and performance and handling pressure.
- Family and relationships: parenting, communication and conflict resolution.
- Environment and society: reducing pollution through changed behaviour, reducing prejudice, and promoting harmony.
- Law and media: understanding crime and persuasion.
Education, health, workplace, sports, family life, environment and law are all areas where psychology is applied.
How can knowledge of the field of environmental psychology be used to promote environment friendly behaviour?
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Answer
Environmental psychology studies how people and the physical environment affect each other. It can promote pro-environmental behaviour by:
- Changing attitudes through awareness campaigns about waste, water and energy saving.
- Using reinforcement: rewards or incentives for recycling or saving electricity, and penalties for littering.
- Using social norms and role models: if neighbours and leaders segregate waste or use public transport, others follow.
- Designing the environment for convenience (visible dustbins, cycle lanes, clear signs) so that good behaviour becomes easy.
- Reducing stressors such as noise, pollution and crowding, which also reduces aggression.
By changing attitudes, using rewards and social norms, and designing the environment to make green behaviour easy.
In terms of helping solve an important social problem such as crime, which branch of psychology do you think is most suitable. Identify the field and discuss the concerns of the psychologists working in this field.
Answer
Answer
The most suitable branch is forensic (criminal/legal) psychology, supported by social and clinical psychology.
Concerns of psychologists in this field
- Understanding the causes of criminal behaviour: family background, poverty, peer pressure and personality.
- Assessing offenders and the risk of repeat offences, and helping the court with mental fitness and responsibility.
- Studying eyewitness memory and testimony, to see how reliable witnesses are, and the factors affecting the decision of the jury.
- Rehabilitation: counselling and treatment of prisoners and helping them rejoin society.
- Prevention: programmes for youth, school counselling and community awareness against crime.
Forensic psychology: causes of crime, assessment of offenders, reliability of witnesses, rehabilitation and prevention.
Project Ideas
Question Project 1
This chapter tells you about several professionals in the field of psychology. Contact a psychologist who fits into one of the categories and interview the person. Have a list of questions prepared beforehand. Possible questions could be: (i) What kind of education is necessary for your particular job? (ii) Which college/university would you recommend for the study of this discipline? (iii) Are there many jobs available today in your area of work? (iv) What would a typical day at work be like for you – or is there no such thing as “typical”? (v) What motivated you to enter this line of work? Write a report of your interview and include your specific reactions.
Answer
Format of the report (fill with the actual interview):
- Introduction: name and field of the psychologist (e.g. school counsellor), date and place.
- Questions and answers: the five questions above, with the answers summarised in a few lines each.
- Sample entries: Education – M.A. in Psychology and a counselling diploma; Jobs – growing demand in schools and hospitals; Typical day – sessions with students, meetings with parents, writing records; Motivation – wanting to help young people.
- My reactions: what I learnt and whether I would like this career, such as the importance of listening and patience.
Interview report: introduction, answers to the five questions, and personal reflection.
Question Project 2
Go to the library or some bookstore or surf the internet and obtain names of some books (fiction/non-fiction or films), which have reference to applications of psychology. Prepare a report giving a brief synopsis.
Answer
Title | Type | Application of psychology (synopsis) |
|---|---|---|
Taare Zameen Par | Film | A teacher identifies dyslexia in a child and helps him; learning difficulties and counselling |
A Beautiful Mind | Film | A mathematician copes with schizophrenia; mental illness and support |
Man’s Search for Meaning (Viktor Frankl) | Book | Finding purpose to survive suffering; humanistic psychology |
Rain Man | Film | Autism and relationships |
Good Will Hunting | Film | Role of a therapist in healing a gifted but troubled young man |
A list of books and films with a short synopsis of the psychology in each.
Topic checklist
- ☒ Behaviour and scientific approach (Q1, Q2)
- ☒ Evolution of psychology (Q3)
- ☒ Psychology and other disciplines (Q4)
- ☒ Professionals and applications (Q5 – Q8)
- ☒ Project work (1, 2)