With reference to the case below, answer the following question.
Deepak is a class 12 student who is unable to decide which course to pursue after 12th. He is having difficulty in deciding between Physics and Economics as he likes to study both the subjects and wants to pursue them in undergraduation. Due to this he is unable to focus on any other goal. His friends and family are also posing demands on him which is making him feel frustrated. To overcome this he started deep breathing and following a diet.
_________ results from blocking of needs and motives by something or someone that hinders the individual from achieving a desired goal.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → Frustration
Option (1) Emotion — Incorrect. Emotion is the general name for feelings such as joy, sadness or anger. The question describes one particular source of stress that has its own name, the one that arises when a goal is blocked.
Option (2) Aggression — Incorrect. Aggression is behaviour meant to harm others. It may follow when a goal is blocked, but it is a reaction, not the blocking itself.
Option (3) Frustration — Correct. Frustration results from the blocking of needs and motives by something or someone that hinders us from achieving a desired goal. Its causes include social discrimination, interpersonal hurt and low grades in school.
Option (4) Attitude — Incorrect. An attitude is a state of mind, a set of views about a topic (the attitude object), with an evaluative feature and with emotional and action components. It is not something produced by a blocked goal.
Note 1: A similar question was also asked in CUET (UG) 2023 on 27-05-2023 (Slot 1).
Note 2: A similar question was also asked in CUET (UG) 2025 on 22-05-2025 (Slot 1).
NCERT (2025-26): “Psychological Stress … 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. This can cause even greater pressure when we have to work with them. Also, there are people with whom we face interpersonal difficulties, ‘a personality clash’ of sorts.” |