A person hears voices that speak to him in the absence of any external stimuli. This is an example of :
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → Hallucination
Option (1) Delusion — Incorrect. A delusion is a false belief that is firmly held on inadequate grounds and is not affected by rational argument, such as the belief that one is being plotted against. It is a wrong belief, not a perception of something that is not there.
Option (2) Hyperactivity — Incorrect. Hyperactivity is one of the two main features of ADHD: the child is always on the go, cannot sit still and fidgets. It concerns activity level, not hearing voices.
Option (3) Hallucination — Correct. Hallucinations are perceptions that occur in the absence of external stimuli. Auditory hallucinations are the most common in schizophrenia: the patient hears sounds or voices that speak words, phrases and sentences directly to her/him or talk about her/him.
Option (4) Autism — Incorrect. Autism spectrum disorder is a disorder of childhood marked by impairments in social interaction and communication and stereotyped patterns of behaviour. Hearing voices is not one of its features.
NCERT (2025-26): “Symptoms of Schizophrenia … Many people with schizophrenia develop delusions. A delusion is a false belief that is firmly held on inadequate grounds. It is not affected by rational argument, and has no basis in reality.…” “…People with schizophrenia may have hallucinations, i.e. perceptions that occur in the absence of external stimuli. Auditory hallucinations are most common in schizophrenia. Patients hear sounds or voices that speak words, phrases and sentences directly to the patient (second-person hallucination) or talk to one another referring to the patient as s/he (third-person hallucination).…” |