Assignment Code: BPCG-175/ Asst /TMA /2021-22

Course Code: BPCG-175

Assignment Name: Psychology For Living

Year: 2021-2022

Verification Status: Verified by Professor

NOTE: All questions are compulsory.

Assignment One

Answer the following descriptive category questions in about 500 words each. Each question carries 20 marks. 2 x 20 = 40

Q1. Differentiate between individualism and collectivism. Explain the influence of culture on psychological functioning.

Ans) For example, in the Asian, African, and Latin American environments, individualism and collectivism are emphasised as cultural ideals. [Collectivism and individualism] are just emphasised differently in each society, says Triandis. Globalization, migration, and intercultural mixing have transported these cultural beliefs to geographical locations beyond their beginnings, resulting in co-existence and self-mixtures. Individualistic and collectivist impulses coexist in the Indian self, for example. Individualism and collectivism are reversible.

A young person in India encountering parental opposition to pursuing an individualistic objective may resort to collectivist measures. He/she may cry, beg, or stop talking to parents to get their consent. The tactics used here are collectivist, seeking parental approval, while the purpose is individualistic, i.e., personal fulfilment. The other option is to defy parental expectations and study what one wants to study, bringing glory to the family. The means are personal, but the purpose is collective.

Influence of Culture on Psychological Functioning

a) Influence on Cognition

When asked: Is self-comparable to others? They frequently find little in common. The reason is because self-knowledge is more distinct, complex, and accessible than knowledge about others. Contrarily, Indian individuals judged themselves as more similar to others. Shweder and Bourne discovered that Indian participants tend to describe close friends in terms of actions, when, how, and who. “He has no land to cultivate but enjoys cultivating others' land,” or “When a conflict occurs, he cannot resist the temptation of saying a word,” focus on the behaviour rather than the inherent trait that underpins it. Because self is seen to be situational and thus very flexible in collectivist cultures, global conclusions about people are often deemed useless.

b) Influence on Emotions

Anger, for example, is considered extremely dysfunctional in collectivist cultures because it disturbs relationship harmony, an important communal goal. Roland claims that Asians are socialised to suppress their inner feelings of hate and hostility, particularly their outward expression.

Pride and guilt, for example, vary depending on how society and self-interact. It is difficult to be proud of one's own successes in collectivist cultures because it demands focusing on one's performance and talents. Concerns of garnering jealously and the ‘evil eye' from others may also exist. Often in such civilizations, pride is aimed towards a collective. To bring honour to her family, coaching institute, educational institutions, and city. These are the important categories that one wishes to improve. Similarly, hurting others psychologically or bringing a poor name to significant ones causes guilt. In collectivist cultures, a family member who has soiled the reputation of the clan is ostracised. Thus, pride is felt in boosting the self-esteem of the groups to which one belongs. One feels guilty for injuring others' pride and feelings.

c) Influence on Motivation

Individualistic cultures encourage independent selves to express their wants, ideas, and abilities and oppose excessive societal pressure. People are motivated to be responsive to others and adjust their wants and expectations to others in psychology and collectivism. In such cultures, achievement orientation is more social. It is not so much a drive to feel good about oneself as it is to meet expectations of others to be successful and bring them honour. In the West, attitudes and behaviours must be consistent. However, personal ideas and beliefs are not key determinants of behaviour in eastern civilizations. Iwao asked respondents to determine whether responses would be appropriate for the individual portrayed in each scenario. In one case, the daughter brings home a stranger.

Q2. Describe various theories of personality. Highlight the Indian approach to personality.

Ans) The various theories of personality are:

Sigmund Freud- Psychoanalytic Theory of Personality

Sigmund Freud is considered to have given first formal theory of personality. He explained personality as a complex part of our existence which is webbed into many facets like biological, cultural, and social. In his Psychoanalytic theory, he explained personality comprising of three components known as Id, Ego and Superego that work together to influence human behaviours.

These are explained briefly as follows:

The issue is that we cannot constantly satisfy all our needs. We learn to manage our urges as we grow up. And that inherent regulating mechanism in us is ego. A socially acceptable ego arises from id. The conscious ego manages the unconscious id impulse motives. It balances the id and the superego. The ego seeks a balance between fulfilling desires in acceptable ways, thereby adopting delayed gratification.

A temple of our personality that works on moral principles or ideals taught by our parents. We all have a conscience or moral compass that guides us in right and bad actions. The ego ideal also influences our aspirations and the best we may be in life. The superego reduces id impulses and guides the ego to act idealistically.

Abraham Maslow- Humanistic Theory of Personality

Maslow examined personality through examining people's experiences and desire to use free choice to improve themselves. Maslow discovered that successful people were all open, creative, caring, and most importantly, accepting of themselves. He came to feel that we need a hierarchy of needs to build our personalities, from basic needs to be met to higher self-esteem and self-actualization needs. These demands range from basic survival needs to higher levels of self-actualization. The pyramid below nicely illustrates these needs, with the most basic physiological demands at the bottom and the most advanced self-actualization wants at the top. Each tier of the pyramid must be met before progressing up the pyramid to greater needs.

Raymond Cattell- Trait Theory of Personality

Personality is viewed as having some traits or characteristics that can be utilised to define how people behave similarly. Introvert or extrovert, optimistic or pessimistic are some of their features. Cattell defined characteristics as patterns of behaviour that can be perceived as individual distinctions or grouped into personality groups. Cattell discussed 16 personality traits and devised the 16PF personality evaluation, where traits are ranked from high to low for everyone. Profiles on bipolar “source-traits” or “primary factors” (16 in adults, 14 in adolescents, 12 in children) explain the individual's personality structure. Cattell discussed 16 features to help you comprehend it.

Indian Approach on Personality

The Indian perspective on personality is studied in scriptures in the form of ‘Swabhaaya', considered as the inherent characteristic in a creature. Purushottama, as the Supreme truth into which we must evolve, the Self, and the Jiva were all described as spiritual personalities by Sri Aurobindo in his Essays on the Gita. Yoga promotes ego-lessness and desire-lessness, which are prerequisites for spiritual personality development.

The Upanishads describe the pancha kosha paradigm of “personality” as having ‘five' sheaths or koshas. The food sheath, the vital air sheath, the mental sheath, the intellectual sheath, and the Anandamaya sheath (bliss sheath). ‘Annamaya'; a part of the human system sustained by food. Pranamaya is the segment fed by ‘prana', or ‘bioenergy'. ‘Education' nourishes ‘Manomaya'. This part is fed by the ego, whereas the emotions feed the Anandamaya segment.

Assignment Two

Answer the following middle category questions in about 250 words each. Each question

carries 10 marks. 3 x 10 = 30

Q3. Explain the ABC components in attitude.

Ans) Attitudes are a combination of three crucial components as explained below:

1. Emotion’s component: It refers to how we feel and the emotions we have towards the subject of our attitude. It's also known as the attitude's affect component. Emotions in our attitude can influence our decision-making and behaviour in both positive and bad ways.

2. Behaviour component: It relates to how we act in relation to the focal point of our attitude. For example, having a favourable attitude about people with disabilities will cause us to act positively when we encounter one in our college or workplace.

3. Thought’s component: It refers to the ideas that are linked to the attitude's focal point and how we mentally store information about it. It's also known as the cognitive component of attitude because it involves our attitudes' concepts and beliefs.

According to research, not all three of these elements are required for the establishment of an attitude. Because our attitudes are built on our previous experiences and learnings, they do influence our behaviour. Our thoughts and actions are also influenced by how we are supposed to act. Studies have shown, however, that attitudes do not always predict behaviour. A variety of elements can determine whether a person's attitude will convert into actual behaviour. People in general, for example, may have an environmentally friendly mindset and discuss pro-environmental measures such as not using plastic/polythene bags. However, people may utilise it to buy veggies or dispose of domestic rubbish, citing convenience or a lack of alternatives.

Q4. Describe the types of emotions and the components of emotional process.

Ans) Emotions can mainly be of two types:

1. Basic emotions:

Basic emotions are a set of feelings that all humans share. Anger, contempt, joy, fear, sadness, and surprise These emotions are natural and shared by all humans. Though humans can feel a wide range of emotions, studies on emotions show that all emotions are a result of combinations of several basic emotions. Even people with visual impairments who have never seen others' emotional expressions may show the same type of facial expressions as those who have seen them before, according to Charles Darwin.

2. Self-conscious emotions:

In contrast, self-conscious emotions necessitate a sense of self and the ability to reflect on one's behaviour. Moreover, these emotions are based on whether or not societal standards and rules are satisfied. Self-conscious emotions include shame, guilt, pride, and humiliation. The inability to meet one's own or others' expectations or social norms causes the self-conscious emotions.

Components Of Emotional Process

The six main components of the emotion process are:

1. Cognitive appraisal: 

The first element is cognition. It is dependent on the personal meaning. For example, if a cricket team wins, a person's personal meaning is assessed, whether they support the team or not. If the person is a die-hard supporter of the team, the incident is deemed to have personal significance. Cognitive assessment leads to additional emotional components.

2. Subjective experience: 

This is related to the affective state or the feeling tone that is brought by the emotion.

3. Thought and action tendencies:

At this stage the individual will display an urge to think in a particular manner or take certain actions. For example, when an individual is angry, s/he may act in a manner that is aggressive.       

4. Internal bodily changes:

There are physiological reactions mainly involving the autonomic nervous system. Thus, there could be changes in heart rate or the individual may start perspiring. For example, when a person is angry, s/he may breathe faster.

5. Facial expressions: 

In this there is movement in the facial landmarks like cheeks, lips, noses and so on. For example, when an individual is happy, s/he will smile.

6. Response to emotion:

This is related to how an individual cope and react with one’s own emotions.

Any emotion is a result of these six components. Broadly, we can say that any emotion will have the physiological, cognitive and behavioural components.

Q5. Describe the types of eating disorders.

Ans) There are three types of eating disorders which include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder.

1. Anorexia Nervosa

An eating disorder in which a person restricts food intake to the point where they lose 15% or more of their optimal body weight. Anorexia nervosa is characterised by extreme dietary restriction, excessive anxiety of being overweight or persistent behaviour that prevents weight gain, and disturbed body image. They may also forcefully vomit or use laxatives to lose weight. Alterations in hormone release, particularly in the thyroid and adrenal glands, can have long-term physical implications. Heart muscle weakness and irregular heartbeats. Anorexia causes diarrhoea, loss of body tissue, sleep loss, low blood pressure, and lack of menstruation in females.

2. Bulimia Nervosa

It is an eating disorder in which an individual begins by “bingeing,” or ingesting huge amounts of food in one sitting, and then employs hazardous methods to avoid weight gain. Bulimia nervosa is characterised by binge eating, unhealthy compensatory behaviours to minimise weight gain, and self-evaluation impacted by body look and weight. Symptoms must occur at least once per week for three months. Bulimia nervosa sufferers might be underweight, overweight, or obese. Others with bulimia choose other hazardous weight-loss tactics like fasting for a day or two after a binge or excessive exercise instead of purging.

3. Binge-Eating Disorder

Binge eaters lose control of their eating. Unlike bulimia nervosa, binge eating is not followed by purging, extreme exercise, or fasting. As a result, binge-eating disorder commonly leads to obesity. Binge eating disorder symptoms include eating enormous amounts of food in a short period of time, eating even when not hungry, eating alone or in secret to avoid embarrassment, and feeling upset, ashamed, or guilty about eating later.

Assignment Three

Answer the following short category questions in about 100 words each. Each question

carries 6 marks. 5 x 6 = 30

Q6. Biopsychosocial model of health

Ans) The biopsychosocial model of health, established by George L. Engel in 1977, is a comprehensive approach to health that includes all of the above biological, psychological, and sociocultural techniques to explain disordered thinking and behaviour. It offers a comprehensive approach to the different elements (biological, psychological, and social) that influence human growth, adjustment, and health. Biological variables, for example, may predispose an individual to aggression, while environmental circumstances may cause it to appear. Similarly, while environmental variables may make a person vulnerable, social one may protect them. From the limiting construct of 'disease,' the biopsychosocial model seeks to explain the human experience of 'sickness' from the patient's perspective. 'It is acknowledged that the mind must not be disregarded or underestimated in any effort to deal with breakdowns, whether from stress or pathogenic organisms,' argues Cousins.

Q7. Types of self-concept

Ans) Self-concept refers to our understanding of ourselves in many dimensions, such as physical traits. One way to visualise the multidimensionality of the self-concept is to think of it as being made up of:

1. Physical Self-concept – It covers one's body image, appearance, and attractiveness, for example, how do I look? Is it true that I am attractive? Which portion of my body makes me the happiest? Which area of my physique am I dissatisfied with?

2. Psychological Self-concept – It contains information about a person's personality traits, abilities, weaknesses, and level of adjustment, for example. Is it true that I am intelligent, rude, anxious, honest, outgoing, talented in chess and art, or terrible in sports? Is it possible for me to look for myself?

3. Attitudinal Self-concept–It encompasses one's values, ideas, convictions, aspirations, and life philosophy, for example, am I a careful spender or a spend thrift? Do I choose a life full of adventure and change or a life that is safe and secure? Do I believe in intercaste weddings or caste marriages?

Q8. Primary motivation and secondary motivation

Ans) Motivation can be broadly of two types:

1. Primary motivation -  also known as basic motivation, is concerned with basic requirements such as food, thirst, sleep, sex, pain avoidance, and so on. These primarily have a basic influence on an individual's behaviour. These are also known as biological reasons because they are linked to the fundamental urge for self-preservation.

2. Secondary motivation -  is also known as learnt motivation, and it varies from person to person. They are linked to a person's personality traits and value system. According to David McClelland, three psychological demands associated to secondary motivation are the need for achievement, affiliation, and power.

Q9. Cognitive appraisal

Ans) The first of these components is cognitive evaluation. In this case, the situation is evaluated in light of the individual's meaning. An individual's cognitive evaluation will be influenced by whether or not his or her favourite cricket team wins a match, as well as the situation's personal importance for that individual. If the individual supports this team and is a die-hard supporter of this team, the circumstance will be deemed to have personal significance or to have personal significance for the individual. The other components of emotion are triggered by the cognitive evaluation process.

Q10. Approaches to optimism

Ans) Research studies indicate two major approaches to optimism:

1. Dispositional Optimism:

The term "dispositional optimism" refers to optimism as an individual trait or propensity to act in a positive manner. It's a universal expectation, according to Scheier and Carver, that the future will bring a lot of pleasant things and fewer terrible things. As a result, they created the Life Orientation Test (LOT) to assess people's dispositional optimism. Individuals with dispositional optimism are more self-assured, have more self-control, and have higher self-esteem. It has been proved in studies to have a favourable effect on one's mental health and well-being.

2. Optimism as an explanatory style

The typical method of perceiving things/situations/events in one's life is referred to as optimism as an explanatory style. People's typical technique of explaining unfavourable situations, according to Seligman. It relates to how we explain bad and good events in our lives using stable-unstable, global-specific, and internal/external cause variables. Internal causes refer to features within the individual rather than external environmental influences, and stable causes are those that do not vary over time. Global causes apply to a person in general.