Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → Supernatural
Option (1) Biological — Incorrect. The biological or organic approach holds that people behave strangely because their bodies and brains are not working properly; correcting the faulty biological process improves functioning. Exorcism does not try to treat the body.
Option (2) Supernatural — Correct. One ancient theory, still found today, holds that abnormal behaviour is caused by supernatural and magical forces such as evil spirits (bhoot-pret) or the devil (shaitan). Exorcism, removing the evil that resides in the individual through counter-magic and prayer, follows from this belief.
Option (3) Interactional — Incorrect. The interactional or bio-psycho-social approach is the recent convergence of the older views: biological, psychological and social factors together influence psychological disorders. It is a scientific view and has no place for evil spirits.
Option (4) Psychological — Incorrect. The psychological approach holds that problems are caused by inadequacies in the way a person thinks, feels or perceives the world. It looks for the cause inside the mind, not in spirits.
NCERT (2025-26): “Historical Background … One ancient theory that is still encountered today holds that abnormal behaviour can be explained by the operation of supernatural and magical forces such as evil spirits (bhoot-pret), or the devil (shaitan). Exorcism, i.e. removing the evil that resides in the individual through counter-magic and prayer, is still commonly used.…” “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.…” “Historical Background … In recent years, there has been a convergence of these approaches, which has resulted in an interactional, or bio-psycho-social approach. From this perspective, all three factors, i.e. biological, psychological and social play important roles in influencing the expression and outcome of psychological disorders.” |