IAS Mains Psychology 2002
Paper I
Section A

Answer any three of the following in not more than 200 words each:

Attention develops from unfocussed scanning to focussed planfulness. Discuss giving illustrative examples.

Is subliminal perception a myth or a reality? Answer citing relevant experimental evidence.

‘Psychology is called a science not because of its subject matter but because of the scientific method used in studying its subject matter.’ Write a detailed explanatory note.

Evaluate questionnaire as a tool for collecting data for psychological research. Offer suggestions for increasing its utility as a research tool.

What is observational learning? How does it differ from other forms of learning? Give three examples to explain its nature.

Can human memory be improved? If yes, what techniques would you recommend? Explain how each technique proposed by you can bring about improvement in memory.

Discuss fully the relative roles of genetic and environmental factors in determining human behaviour. Cite findings of related studies in support of your answer.

Section B

Answer any three of the following in not more than 200 words each:

Explain and evaluate the view that hypnosis represents ‘dissociated experience and dissociated control.’

Is aggression an innate tendency or an externally elicited behaviour? Answer with suitable examples to substantiate your view.

State and critically evaluate Slobin's cognitive theory of language development.

Describe in detail the Thurstone's method of scale-construction.

What is emotional intelligence? Has it revolutionized our knowledge of human abilities? Describe the method of measuring it.

‘Human behaviour is elicited by expectations of desirable outcomes.’ Discuss this statement to bring out the cognitive aspects of human motivation.

Elucidate Rogers ‘concept of a fully functioning person’ Indicate the importance of self-concept and anxiety in his account of human personality.