Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → Psychological stress
Option (1) Social stress — Incorrect. Social stresses are induced externally and result from our interaction with other people, such as death or illness in the family, strained relationships or trouble with neighbours. Raman’s pressure comes from his own expectations, not from others.
Option (2) Psychic stress — Incorrect. There is no such type. The three major types of stress are physical and environmental, psychological, and social.
Option (3) Psychological stress — Correct. Psychological stresses are those we generate ourselves in our minds; they are personal and unique to the person experiencing them, and are internal sources of stress. One of their sources is internal pressure, which stems from expectations from inside us to ourselves, such as ‘I must do everything perfectly’. Raman’s very high expectations of himself in competitive exams are such an internal pressure.
Option (4) Physical stress — Incorrect. Physical stresses are demands that change the state of our body, such as overexertion, lack of a nutritious diet, an injury or lack of sleep. Raman’s stress is in his mind, not in his body.
NCERT (2025-26): “Psychological Stress … These are stresses that we generate ourselves in our minds. These are personal and unique to the person experiencing them and are internal sources of stress. We worry about problems, feel anxiety, or become depressed. These are not only symptoms of stress, but they cause further stress for us. Some of the important sources of psychological stress are frustration, conflicts, internal and social pressures, etc. 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.…” “Physical and Environmental Stress … Physical stresses are demands that change the state of our body. We feel strained when we overexert ourselves physically, lack a nutritious diet, suffer an injury, or fail to get enough sleep.…” “Social Stress … These are induced externally and result from our interaction with other people.…” |