People are hesitant and ashamed to consult a doctor or a psychologist in the case of mental illness due to -
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → Stigma
It is commonly believed that a psychological disorder is something to be ashamed of. The stigma attached to mental illness means that people are hesitant to consult a doctor or psychologist because they are ashamed of their problems. A psychological disorder, which shows a failure in adaptation, should be viewed as any other illness.
Option (1) Danger — Incorrect. Danger is one of the four Ds of abnormality: a disorder may be dangerous to the person or to others. It is a feature of some disorders, not the reason people feel ashamed to seek help.
Option (2) Social Norm — Incorrect. Social norms are stated and unstated rules of proper conduct; breaking them makes behaviour deviant. Norms do not stop a person from visiting a doctor; the shame attached to mental illness does.
Option (4) Distress — Incorrect. Distress, another of the four Ds, is the unpleasant and upsetting feeling the disorder brings. It would push a person towards help, not hold her or him back.
Note 1: A similar question was also asked in CUET (UG) 2023 on 02-06-2023 (Slot 3).
Note 2: A similar question was also asked in CUET (UG) 2022 on 25-08-2022 (Slot 2).
NCERT (2025-26): “Concepts of Abnormality and Psychological Disorders … If you talk to people around, you will see that they have vague ideas about psychological disorders that are characterised by superstition, ignorance and fear. Again it is commonly believed that psychological disorder is something to be ashamed of. The stigma attached to mental illness means that people are hesitant to consult a doctor or psychologist because they are ashamed of their problems. Actually, psychological disorder which indicates a failure in adaptation should be viewed as any other illness.…” |