Kavita has an irrational fear of going to the unfamiliar places. She avoids going to enjoyable picnics and excursions due to this fear. She wants to pursue psychology for which she has to move to a metropolitan city. She is worried about her fear of new places. Finally after thinking over the present situation and her goal of pursuing psychology, she decides to take help of a psychologist who uses behavioristic approach to treat her.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → Intrapsychic conflicts
Option (1) Faulty learning — Incorrect. Faulty learning of behaviours and cognitions is the cause named by behaviour therapies, the approach Kavita’s own psychologist follows. Psychodynamic therapy does not explain problems by learning.
Option (2) Intrapsychic conflicts — Correct. Psychodynamic therapy holds that intrapsychic conflicts, the conflicts present within the psyche of the person, are the source of psychological problems. These conflicts arise from unfulfilled desires of childhood and unresolved childhood fears. Seen this way, Kavita’s fear of unfamiliar places would be traced to such a hidden conflict.
Option (3) Faulty cognitions — Incorrect. Faulty cognitions, irrational beliefs and illogical thinking, are the cause stressed by the cognitive therapies, which try to change such thinking.
Option (4) Faulty living — Incorrect. No therapy names ‘faulty living’ as the cause. The nearest idea belongs to the existential therapies, for which questions about the meaning of one’s life and existence cause psychological problems.
NCERT (2025-26): “Type of Therapies … 1. What is the cause, which has led to the problem? Psychodynamic therapy is of the view that intrapsychic conflicts, i.e. the conflicts that are present within the psyche of the person, are the source of psychological problems. According to behaviour therapies, psychological problems arise due to faulty learning of behaviours and cognitions. The existential therapies postulate that the questions about the meaning of one’s life and existence are the cause of psychological problems. 2. How did the cause come into existence? In the psychodynamic therapy, unfulfilled desires of childhood and unresolved childhood fears lead to intrapsychic conflicts.…” |