Read the following passage.
Meenal is the only girl from her village who has reached High School. For this, she has to move away from her village and stay in the city. She has made a lot of friends and every time she is invited by them to attend parties, she is unable to say 'no' to them. This leaves her with less time to study, which adds to her stress level. She has been procrastinating her work and spends more time thinking that she will not be successful in life. This has increased her tension and resulted in a lack of confidence in her. Quite often she vents out her feelings of anger and frustration at her parents. Her teacher, who had been observing her, advised her to take charge of herself and seek professional help from a psychologist who uses cognitive behavioural techniques to reduce stress.
Which of the following condition best describes a conflict?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → One has to choose between two or more incompatible needs or motives.
Option (1) There is an obstacle in the achievement of a goal. — Incorrect. This is frustration, another source of psychological stress. It results from the blocking of needs and motives by something or someone that stops us from reaching a desired goal, such as low grades or social discrimination. There is one goal and a block, not two pulls in different directions.
Option (2) There are expectations from ourselves. — Incorrect. This is internal pressure. It comes from our own beliefs and expectations, such as ‘I must do everything perfectly’. Such expectations can cause stress, but they are not a choice between motives.
Option (3) People around us make excessive demands on us. — Incorrect. This is social pressure, which is brought about by people who make excessive demands on us. The stress comes from others, not from a clash between our own needs.
Option (4) One has to choose between two or more incompatible needs or motives. — Correct. A conflict occurs when two or more incompatible needs or motives pull a person at the same time, so that satisfying one means giving up the other. Deciding whether to study dance or psychology, or whether to continue studies or take up a job, are conflicts.
NCERT (2025-26): “Types of Stress … Some of the important sources of psychological stress are frustration, conflicts, internal and social pressures, etc. Frustration results from the blocking of needs and motives by something or someone that hinders us from achieving a desired goal. There could be a number of causes of frustration such as social discrimination, interpersonal hurt, low grades in school, etc. Conflicts may occur between two or more incompatible needs or motives, e.g. whether to study dance or psychology. You may want to continue studies or take up a job. There may be a conflict of values when you are pressurised to take any action that may be against the values held by you. Internal pressures stem from beliefs based upon expectations from inside us to ourselves such as, ‘I must do everything perfectly’. Such expectations can only lead to disappointment. Many of us drive ourselves ruthlessly towards achieving unrealistically high standards in achieving our goals. Social pressures may be brought about from people who make excessive demands on us.…” |