POTENTIAL VIVA QUESTIONS

1. Foundations of Psychology
What is psychology, and how has its definition evolved over time?
Psychology is the scientific study of behavior and mental processes. Earlier, it was
considered the study of the soul, later the study of the mind, and now it focuses on
both behavior and mental processes.
Name the different branches of psychology.
Clinical, counseling, developmental, educational, industrial-organizational, and social
psychology.
Explain the difference between sensation and perception.
Sensation is the process of sensing through sensory organs, while perception is the
interpretation of these sensations by the brain.
What are the principles of perceptual organization?
Figure-ground relationship, similarity, proximity, continuity, closure, and symmetry.
Define learning. What are its key characteristics?
Learning is a relatively permanent change in behavior due to experience. It involves
acquisition, retention, and application of knowledge.
What is classical conditioning? Give an example.
A type of learning where a neutral stimulus becomes associated with an
unconditioned stimulus. Example: Pavlov’s dog salivating at the sound of a bell.
Explain operant conditioning with an example.
Learning through rewards and punishments. Example: A student studies harder to
earn good grades (reward).
What is observational learning, and who proposed this concept?
Learning by observing others’ behavior. Proposed by Albert Bandura.
Define memory and explain its types.
Memory is the ability to retain and recall information. Types: Sensory, short-term,
and long-term memory.
What are the factors affecting memory?
Attention, rehearsal, interference, emotional state, and retrieval cues.

2. Developmental Psychology
Define growth and development.
Growth refers to physical changes, while development includes both physical and
psychological changes over time.
What are the stages of human development according to Erik Erikson?
Eight stages: Trust vs. mistrust, autonomy vs. shame, initiative vs. guilt, industry vs.
inferiority, identity vs. role confusion, intimacy vs. isolation, generativity vs.
stagnation, and integrity vs. despair.
Explain Piaget’s stages of cognitive development.
Sensorimotor (0-2 years): Object permanence.
Preoperational (2-7 years): Egocentrism.
Concrete operational (7-11 years): Conservation.
Formal operational (12+ years): Abstract thinking.
Differentiate between heredity and environment in development.
Heredity involves genetic factors; environment involves external influences like
family, culture, and experiences.
What is adolescence, and why is it crucial?
Adolescence (12-18 years) is a transitional phase marked by physical, emotional, and
social changes, shaping identity and independence.

3. Intelligence and Personality

Define intelligence. How is it measured?
Intelligence is the ability to learn, solve problems, and adapt. Measured using IQ tests
like the Wechsler or Stanford-Binet scales.
What is the difference between fluid and crystallized intelligence?
Fluid intelligence is reasoning and problem-solving; crystallized intelligence is
accumulated knowledge and skills.
Explain Howard Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences.
Includes linguistic, logical-mathematical, spatial, musical, bodily-kinesthetic,
interpersonal, intrapersonal, naturalistic, and existential intelligence.
What is the concept of emotional intelligence?
The ability to recognize, understand, and manage one’s emotions and empathize with
others.
Define personality. How is it assessed?
Personality refers to enduring patterns of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Assessed
through self-reports, projective tests, and behavioral observations.
Explain Freud's psychodynamic theory of personality.
Personality consists of the id (instincts), ego (reality), and superego (morality).
Development occurs through psychosexual stages.
What is the Big Five personality model?
Openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism.
What are projective techniques? Give examples.
Techniques to uncover unconscious desires. Examples: Rorschach Inkblot Test,
Thematic Apperception Test (TAT).
Differentiate between aptitude and achievement tests.
Aptitude tests assess potential; achievement tests assess knowledge and skills.

4. Psychological Disorders and Mental Health

Define psychological disorder.
A significant disturbance in thinking, emotion, or behavior causing distress or
dysfunction.
What is anxiety disorder? Mention its types.
Excessive worry or fear. Types: Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder,
phobias.
Differentiate between OCD and GAD.
OCD: Repeated thoughts and behaviors.
GAD: Excessive, uncontrollable worry about various events.
What is depression? Name its symptoms.
A mood disorder marked by persistent sadness, loss of interest, fatigue, and difficulty
concentrating.
Explain schizophrenia and its symptoms.
A severe mental disorder with delusions, hallucinations, disorganized thinking, and
impaired functioning.
What are the different types of therapies for psychological disorders?
Psychodynamic therapy
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
Humanistic therapy

5. Social Psychology
What is attitude, and how is it formed?
A tendency to respond positively or negatively toward a person, object, or idea.
Formed through experiences and socialization.
Explain the concept of prejudice with an example.
Prejudice is an unjustified negative attitude toward a group. Example: Racial
discrimination.
Define groupthink and its effects.
Groupthink is when group members prioritize harmony over critical thinking, leading
to poor decisions.
What is conformity, and how does it influence behavior?
Adjusting behavior to match group norms, influenced by peer pressure and the need
for acceptance.
Explain the concept of prosocial behavior.
Voluntary actions intended to benefit others, such as helping or sharing.
What are the factors affecting aggression?
Biological (hormones, brain structure), psychological (frustration, learning), and
social (cultural norms, media).
6. Stress and Health
Define stress. What are its types?
Stress is a response to perceived threats or challenges. Types: Eustress (positive) and
distress (negative).
Explain the General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS).
Hans Selye’s model: Alarm, resistance, and exhaustion stages of stress response.
What are coping mechanisms? Give examples.
Strategies to manage stress, such as problem-solving, relaxation, and social support.
How does stress affect physical and mental health?
Causes fatigue, high blood pressure, anxiety, depression, and weakened immunity.
What is resilience, and why is it important?
The ability to recover from stress or adversity, crucial for mental well-being.

7. Practical and Experimental Psychology

What is a case study? Explain its importance in psychology.
An in-depth analysis of an individual or group. Useful for understanding unique
cases.
Define and differentiate between independent and dependent variables.
Independent variable: Manipulated factor.
Dependent variable: Outcome measured.
Explain the concept of correlation. How is it different from causation?
Correlation shows a relationship between variables; causation indicates one variable
causes changes in another.
What is the importance of ethics in psychological research?
Ensures participant safety, informed consent, and confidentiality.
Difference between Percentage and Percentile
Percentage is an absolute measure of performance, while Percentile is a relative
measure that compares your score to others in a dataset.

What is the importance of standardization in psychological testing?

Ensures consistency, reliability, and validity of results.
How do you calculate mean, median, and mode in data analysis?
Mean: Sum of values ÷ Number of values
Median: Middle value in sorted data
Mode: Most frequently occurring value.
What are the steps involved in writing a psychological report?
AIM
• METHODOLOGY
I) Materials Required
II) Description of test
III) Procedure
a) Preparation
b) Rapport Formation
c) Preliminaries
d) Instructions
e) Precautions
f) Test Administration
g) Introspective Report
h) Behavioral Report
i) Scoring
IV) Results
 V) Interpretation & Discussion
VI) Conclusion
VII) References

Key Concepts in Practical and Experimental Psychology

a. Variables in Experiments
• Independent Variable (IV): The factor manipulated by the experimenter (e.g.,
hours of study).
• Dependent Variable (DV): The outcome measured in response to the IV (e.g.,
test scores).
• Controlled Variables: Factors kept constant to ensure accurate results.

b. Types of Research Methods

• Experimental Method: Establishes cause-and-effect relationships by
manipulating variables (e.g., studying how sleep affects memory).
• Correlational Research: Examines the relationship between two variables
without manipulation (e.g., correlation between stress and academic
performance).
• Case Study: In-depth analysis of a single individual or group (e.g., studying a
patient with rare psychological symptoms).
• Survey Method: Collects data using questionnaires or interviews to study
attitudes, opinions, or behaviors.

c. Sampling Techniques
• Random Sampling: Every individual has an equal chance of being selected.
• Stratified Sampling: Population is divided into subgroups, and samples are
taken proportionally.
• Convenience Sampling: Selecting participants who are readily available.
d. Data Analysis
• Descriptive Statistics: Mean, median, mode, and standard deviation.
• Inferential Statistics: Hypothesis testing, correlation

e. Ethical Guidelines
• Informed consent.
• Confidentiality of participants’ data.
• Protection from harm.
• Right to withdraw at any time.

*ALSO GOALS OF PSYCHOLOGICAL ENQUIRY AND STEPS IN

CONDUCTING RESEARCH

VALIDITY AND RELIABILITY