CBSE Class 12 Psychology 2025 — Previous-Year Question Paper

A study finds that individuals who are regularly exposed to high stress levels have a higher incidence of infections. This observation can be explained by:

A person dislikes a type of food, expresses negative opinion about it, and avoids it. Which components of the A-B-C model of attitudes are illustrated in this example?

Which method of message transmission is likely to be most effective for creating a positive attitude towards Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS) for young children?

A peaceful audience at a sports event suddenly turns into a frenzied mob following a controversial decision by the referee. Which factors are likely responsible for this transformation?

According to Sheldon’s typology, which of the following combinations correctly matches the body build with the associated temperament?

A company is forming a new committee to plan a major event. To ensure effective collaboration, they want the committee to function as a primary group. Which of the following strategies would best support this goal?

Ravi constantly believes he is a failure because he once performed poorly on a test. Which cognitive problem is he exhibiting according to the Cognitive Model?

Which of the following statements best describes how societal norms influence the perception of abnormal behaviour?

A teacher notices that Neeraj, one of her class 5 students, learns new languages very easily, loves new subjects, and is very sensitive to changes in the classroom. Comment on the intellectual abilities of Neeraj.

(a) Discuss the difference between a simple and a complex attitude system using the example of attitude towards health and well-being versus attitude towards a particular person. OR (b) Assess and write the impact of family and school environment on attitude formation.

Identify and explain two strategies to reduce social loafing within a group.

How can assertiveness impact an individual’s response to stress?

Evaluate the role of common motives and goals in forming and maintaining a cohesive group, with an example.

You are working with a client who handles high stress well and remains healthy. How would you evaluate and support their ability to manage stress effectively?

Explain how the Age of Reason and Enlightenment influenced the treatment and perception of psychological disorders in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.

(a) Analyze the relationship between intelligence and creativity, based on Terman’s research findings. OR (b) Evaluate how Gardner’s view of intelligence as an independent and interactive type challenges the traditional notions of a singular, unified intelligence.

Ashok, who suffers from obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), is considering alternative therapies to complement his current treatment. Recommend and justify which approach might be most beneficial for Ashok.

(a) Compare and contrast technological and integral approaches to intelligence. Also discuss the cultural factors that may influence these perspectives. OR (b) Manoj and Sunil are two managers in a company. State four reasons how Manoj’s higher emotional intelligence contributes to his popularity with colleagues as compared to Sunil, who lacks these qualities.

Describe four methods through which attitudes are formed.

You are a psychologist assessing the personality and emotional state of a new client using projective techniques. You decide to use the Sentence Completion Test and Draw-a-Person Test. Describe how you would use these tests and explain what kind of information you might gain from each test.

Meera has an intense irrational fear of spiders and experiences sudden episodes of intense terror with breathlessness and dizziness. Identify the two types of anxiety disorders she might be suffering from and suggest one coping strategy for each.

(a) How does Freud explain the stability and potential changes in personality over a person’s lifetime? Provide an overview of each stage and discuss the impact of encountering problems at any stage on personality development. OR (b) How do ecological and cultural environments influence personality development? Provide concrete examples from hunting-gathering and agricultural societies to illustrate your answer.

(a) Discuss the role of core schemas, negative automatic thoughts, cognitive distortions and irrational beliefs in cognitive therapies. OR (b) Discuss six key ethical standards that professional psychotherapists must adhere to. Explain how each standard contributes to the effectiveness of psychotherapy and ensures the well-being of clients.

Case Study – 1: Social stress can be broadly defined as a situation which threatens one’s relationships, esteem, or sense of belonging within a dyad group, or larger social context. Social stress can emerge in a number of situations. Social stress can stem from difficult social interactions, for example, a conflictual or tumultuous marital or family relationship. Social stress can also emerge in the context of evaluated performance situations, where others could be judgmental or critical, or in contexts in which one feels rejected, ostracized, or ignored. Social stress can also be more broadly construed, representing perceptions of one’s lower role or standing within a group or community. Social stress can lead to a range of observable and measurable responses related to health outcomes. Q. What impact can social stress have on an individual?

Case Study – 2: At any one time, a diverse set of individual, family, community and structural factors may combine to protect or undermine mental health. Although most people are resilient, people who are exposed to adverse circumstances – including poverty, violence, disability and inequality – are at higher risk of developing a mental health condition. Protective and risk factors include individual, psychological and biological factors, such as emotional skills as well as genetics. Many of the risks and protective factors are influenced through changes in brain structure and/or function. People with mental disorders also require social support, including support in developing and maintaining personal, family and social relationships. People with mental disorders may also need support for educational programmes, employment, housing and participation in other meaningful activities. Q. According to the above paragraph, what type of people are more likely to have a psychological disorder?

State two causes of social stress in day-to-day life.

State two steps which are helpful in addressing the concerns of mentally-ill people.