CBSE 12th Psychology Question Paper 2025 (Set 1) with Answers

CBSE 12th Psychology Question Paper 2025 (Set 1)

28 questions from this Grade 12 Psychology paper. The first 5 questions are solved free; log in as a Grade 12 student to view all solutions.

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Q1 mcq 1 mark

Neena read an in-depth account of a scientist. It contained all his psychological history. This in-depth account must have been presented in his ____________.

A. Interview
B. Observation
C. Case Study
D. Data

Correct Answer: C — Solution

The correct answer is (C) Case Study. A case study is an in-depth account of a person that includes detailed psychological history, background, experiences, and behaviour. An interview is only one method of collecting such information, observation involves watching behaviour directly, and data is a general term, not a specific method.

Q2 mcq 1 mark

Which one of the following theories represents the information processing approach to understand intelligence ?

A. Structure-of-Intellect Model
B. Theory of Primary Mental Abilities
C. Triarchic Theory of Intelligence
D. Two-Factor Theory

Correct Answer: C — Solution

The correct answer is (C) Triarchic Theory of Intelligence. Sternberg's Triarchic Theory explains intelligence in terms of information processing and includes analytical, creative, and practical intelligence. The Structure-of-Intellect Model is Guilford's theory, the Theory of Primary Mental Abilities is Thurstone's, and the Two-Factor Theory is Spearman's.

Q7 mcq 1 mark

A girl student was dominating and bullying her peers in school without any provocation. Which of the following types of aggression is she exhibiting ?

A. Verbal aggression
B. Physical aggression
C. Hostile aggression
D. Proactive aggression

Correct Answer: D — Solution

The correct answer is (D) Proactive aggression. Proactive aggression is deliberate, goal-directed aggression used to dominate or obtain power/resources, and it is often seen in bullying without provocation. Hostile aggression is impulsive and meant to harm due to anger, while verbal and physical aggression refer to the form, not the motive, of aggression.

Q8 mcq 1 mark

An individual drinks large amounts of alcohol on a daily basis. Consequently, he experiences ____________ when he tries to stop drinking alcohol.

A. Addiction
B. Tolerance
C. Withdrawal responses
D. Pleasure

Correct Answer: C — Solution

The correct answer is (C) Withdrawal responses. When a person drinks alcohol regularly and then stops, they may experience withdrawal symptoms such as anxiety, tremors, sweating, nausea, and irritability. Addiction is dependence, tolerance means needing more alcohol for the same effect, and pleasure is the initial reinforcing effect of alcohol.

Q9 mcq 1 mark

In the question given below, there are two statements marked as Assertion (A) and Reason (R). Read the statements and choose the correct option. Assertion (A) : Classifications are useful because they enable users like psychologists, psychiatrists and social workers to communicate with each other about the disorders. Reason (R) : A classification of such disorders consists of a list of categories of specific psychological disorders grouped into various classes based on some shared characteristics. Options :

A. Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true and Reason (R) is the correct explanation of Assertion (A).
B. Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, but Reason (R) is not the correct explanation of Assertion (A).
C. Assertion (A) is true, but Reason (R) is false.
D. Assertion (A) is false, but Reason (R) is true.

Correct Answer: A — Solution

The correct answer is (A) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true and Reason (R) is the correct explanation of Assertion (A). Classification helps psychologists, psychiatrists, and social workers communicate clearly because disorders are arranged into categories based on shared characteristics. This shared structure is exactly why classification makes professional communication easier.

Q10 mcq 1 mark

Making people feel that individual contribution is important can reduce social loafing by ____________.

A. Increasing the number of group members
B. Enhancing personal accountability and motivation
C. Creating competition among group members
D. Allowing members to work alone

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Q11 mcq 1 mark

People prefer consistency and like consistent relationships. When two people have _____________, there is consistency and they start liking each other.

A. Security
B. Norms
C. Similarities
D. Status

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Q12 mcq 1 mark

Nabid views employees from his department as more hardworking than those from other departments. It indicates that Nabid is a/an ___________ member of this group.

A. Ingroup
B. Outgroup
C. Primary
D. Secondary

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Q13 mcq 1 mark

Which of the following statements is not true about complexity in an attitude system ?

A. It refers to how many attitudes there are within a broader attitude.
B. Think of an attitude as a family containing several ‘member’ attitudes.
C. Each member’s attitude that belongs to an attitude system has only one of the A-B-C components.
D. The multiple-member attitudes within an attitude system should not be confused with the three A-B-C components.

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Q14 mcq 1 mark

Socially defined expectations that individuals in a given situation are expected to fulfil are known as ____________.

A. Roles
B. Status
C. Cohesiveness
D. Norms

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Q15 short answer 2 marks

Describe, how does the nature of accountability enhance overall performance of teams in comparison-groups.

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Q16 short answer 2 marks

(a) State the difference between verbal and non-verbal tests.

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Q16 short answer 2 marks

(b) State any two characteristics of gifted children.

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Q17 short answer 2 marks

Explain any one limitation of the assessment method that employs systematic and objective procedures to record behavioural phenomena occurring naturally in real time.

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Q18 short answer 2 marks

Result of a psychological test on a particular dimension indicates that a person tends to be hostile, egocentric and antisocial. Identify and explain the test that has been used here.

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Q19 short answer 2 marks

A client is undergoing psychodynamic therapy for the treatment of his problem. What is likely to be the chief benefit of this therapy to the client ?

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Q20 short answer 3 marks

How can the goals of handling prejudice be accomplished ?

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Q21 short answer 3 marks

‘Psychological Stress is not only a symptom of stress, but it causes further stress.’ Justify the statement by explaining any three sources of psychological stress.

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Q22 short answer 3 marks

(a) Raghav belongs to a technologically advanced society. What are the qualities and skills he is likely to possess ?

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Q22 short answer 3 marks

(b) Ridit initiated a programme in his school that aimed at improving students’ emotional intelligence. How will this programme help the students ?

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Q23 short answer 3 marks

A person has psychological difficulties and complains of physical symptoms for which there is no biological cause. Identify the disorder and explain its main features.

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Q27 short answer 4 marks

Which therapy encourages the client to seek personal growth and actualise their potential ? Write about the therapies based on this principle.

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Q28 long answer 6 marks

(a) Explain the various types of anxiety disorders. OR (b) Explain any three approaches used to explain abnormal behaviour.

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Q29 long answer 6 marks

(a) Explain the key propositions of any three Post-Freudian theorists. OR (b) Explain how projective techniques assess personality. Which projective tests of personality are widely used by psychologists ?

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Reading Passage

Aman, a 15-year-old teenager, leads a largely sedentary lifestyle and shows little enthusiasm for engaging in regular physical activity. Additionally, he spends an excessive amount of time on electronic devices, which has become a major concern for his parents regarding his overall health and well-being. Concerned about the potential negative effects on Aman’s physical fitness and social interactions, his parents decided to seek professional help from a therapist. The therapist devises a comprehensive behavioural intervention to address Aman’s lack of physical activity and excessive screen time. Over the course of several months, Aman’s behaviour begins to change noticeably. Initially motivated by the reward system, he starts to engage more regularly in physical activities. As he becomes more involved, he begins to appreciate the benefits of exercise and starts to enjoy activities he previously avoided. His screen time decreases as he finds himself increasingly absorbed in his new hobbies and interests.

Q30 short answer 1 mark

Aman leads a largely sedentary lifestyle. Can this behaviour be an outcome of learning? Give reasons in support of your answer.

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Q31 short answer 2 marks

What are the principles of the behavioural approach that helped in modifying Aman’s behaviour? Explain any two.

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Reading Passage

Angel, a high-achieving professional, is struggling with intense anxiety and feelings of inadequacy. She believes that she “must” be perfect and loved by everyone in her social and work circles. This belief is rooted in her experiences where she was constantly praised for her achievements but rarely for her personal qualities. Whenever she encounters a minor setback or criticism, such as a less-than-perfect performance review, she feels devastated, thinking that she has failed entirely. Beliefs such as “I am stupid” and “I will not succeed” make her emotionally unstable, impacting her daily functioning.

Q32 short answer 1 mark

Explain the cause of Angel’s distress according to Albert Ellis.

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Q33 short answer 2 marks

How does RET help in reducing distress?

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