According to which approach, psychological problems are understood to be caused by inadequacies in the way an individual thinks, feels, or perceives the world?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → Psychological approach
Option (1) Organic approach — Incorrect. The organic approach holds that individuals behave strangely because their bodies and brains are not working properly. The cause it looks for is in body and brain processes, not in thinking or feeling.
Option (2) Biological approach — Incorrect. This is another name for the organic approach (‘the biological or organic approach’). Correcting defective biological processes can improve functioning in some disorders, but the cause it names is bodily.
Option (3) Psychological approach — Correct. According to this point of view, psychological problems are caused by inadequacies in the way an individual thinks, feels, or perceives the world.
Option (4) Supernatural approach — Incorrect. This approach explains abnormal behaviour by supernatural and magical forces such as evil spirits (bhoot-pret) or the devil (shaitan), and treats it with exorcism through countermagic and prayer.
Note: A similar question was also asked in CUET (UG) 2023 on 30-05-2023 (Slot 1) and 23-06-2023 (Slot 3).
NCERT (2025-26): “Historical Background … A recurring theme in the history of abnormal psychology is the belief that individuals behave strangely because their bodies and their brains are not working properly. This is the biological or organic approach. In the modern era, there is evidence that body and brain processes have been linked to many types of maladaptive behaviour. For certain types of disorders, correcting these defective biological processes results in improved functioning. Another approach is the psychological approach. According to this point of view, psychological problems are caused by inadequacies in the way an individual thinks, feels, or perceives the world.…” |