Self-Regulation refers to -
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → Ability to organize and monitor one’s behaviour
Option (1) Ability to control one’s emotions — Incorrect. Controlling oneself is part of self-regulation, but the concept is wider: it is about organising and monitoring one’s whole behaviour, not emotions alone. Learning to delay or defer the gratification of needs is called self-control.
Option (2) Ability to organize and monitor one’s behaviour — Correct. Self-regulation refers to our ability to organise and monitor our own behaviour. People who can change their behaviour according to the demands of the external environment are high on self-monitoring.
Option (3) Ability to instruct oneself about emotions and behaviour — Incorrect. This is self-instruction, one of the techniques of self-control: we tell ourselves to do something and to behave the way we want. It is a tool that helps self-regulation, not its meaning.
Option (4) Ability to reward oneself for good behaviour — Incorrect. This is self-reinforcement, another technique of self-control: rewarding behaviours that have pleasant outcomes, such as going to a movie after doing well in an examination.
NCERT (2025-26): “Self-regulation … Self-regulation refers to our ability to organise and monitor our own behaviour. People, who are able to change their behaviour according to the demands of the external environment, are high on self-monitoring. Many situations of life require resistance to situational pressures and control over ourselves. This becomes possible through what is commonly known as ‘will power’. As human beings we can control our behaviour the way we want. We often decide to delay or defer the satisfaction of certain needs. Learning to delay or defer the gratification of needs is called self-control.…” “Self-regulation … A number of psychological techniques of self-control have also been suggested. Observation of own behaviour is one of them. This provides us with necessary information that may be used to change, modify, or strengthen certain aspects of self. Self-instruction is another important technique. We often instruct ourselves to do something and behave the way we want to. Such instructions are quite effective in self-regulation. Self-reinforcement is the third technique. This involves rewarding behaviours that have pleasant outcomes. For example, you may go to see a movie with friends, if you have done well in an examination.…” |