Rohan works in a multi-national company in the US and in order to avoid racism, he makes everyone call him Ronnie. Identify the aspect of self he is trying to hide:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → Social identity
Option (1) Familial self — Incorrect. The familial or relational self is another name for the social self, which emerges in relation with others and values family and social relationships, cooperation and sharing. Rohan is not hiding anything about his family ties; he is hiding where he comes from.
Option (2) Social identity — Correct. Social identity refers to those aspects of a person that link her/him to a social or cultural group or are derived from it, as when someone says she is a Hindu or a South Indian. Racism is directed at a person’s racial or cultural group. By calling himself Ronnie, Rohan hides the Indian origin that his name reveals, that is, his social identity.
Option (3) Personal identity — Incorrect. Personal identity refers to the attributes that make a person different from others: her/his name, qualities, capabilities and beliefs. A name is normally a mark of personal identity, but Rohan changes it only because it shows the group he belongs to; what he wants to hide is the group link, not what sets him apart as an individual.
Option (4) Moral self — Incorrect. The moral self is the part of the self concerned with one’s values and sense of right and wrong. A change of name to escape racism does not touch his values.
Note 1: NCERT gives a person’s name as an example of personal identity (‘I am Sanjana or Karim’), so one can argue for Option (3), because Rohan changes his name. NTA has probably interpreted the question as asking what the change of name hides. Rohan’s name shows his racial and cultural group, and racism is directed at that group, so what he is trying to hide is his social identity, which is Option (2) in the NTA answer key.
Note 2: The term in Option (4), ‘moral self’, is not in the pre-rationalised NCERT, which NTA followed in 2023, nor in the NCERT book (2025-26); explained here for the benefit of the students.
NCERT: Psychology — Chapter 2: Self and Personality, Concept of Self (2025-26)
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