Read the text and answer the following questions
A person Y constantly complains of experiencing sudden intense fears. He says that many a times, these fears get at such a peak that he feels like he is going crazy, has shortness of breath, feels losing control or dying. Other clinical features reported are dizziness, trembling, palpitation, chest pain, choking and nausea. He was assured that he would recover, but he was unable to accept it, which caused more trouble for him. His family and friends got very concerned as his overall functioning in all the spheres of his life are being severely affected. While taking case history of person Y, it was found that his younger brother has difficulty being in a room by himself, going to school alone and clings to and shadows his parent’s every move.
Which of the following is not a characteristic feature of the 4 Ds of abnormality?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → Dilemma
Option (1) Deviance — One of the four Ds (Incorrect). Disorders are deviant: different, extreme, unusual, even bizarre.
Option (2) Dilemma — Not one of the four Ds (Correct). It sounds like the others, but it is an ordinary word for a hard choice and is not a feature of abnormality.
Option (3) Danger — One of the four Ds (Incorrect). Disorders are possibly dangerous to the person or to others.
Option (4) Dysfunction — One of the four Ds (Incorrect). Disorders are dysfunctional, interfering with the person’s ability to carry out daily activities in a constructive way. Y’s functioning ‘in all the spheres of his life’ is severely affected, which is this D.
NCERT (2025-26): “Concepts of Abnormality and Psychological Disorders … Although many definitions of abnormality have been used over the years, none has won universal acceptance. Still, most definitions have certain common features, often called the ‘four Ds’: deviance, distress, dysfunction and danger. That is, psychological disorders are deviant (different, extreme, unusual, even bizarre), distressing (unpleasant and upsetting to the person and to others), dysfunctional (interfering with the person’s ability to carry out daily activities in a constructive way), and possibly dangerous (to the person or to others).…” |