Psychology 2023 Paper II 50 marks Explain

Q2

(a) Discuss the biopsychosocial model of health. Suggest relevant actions to prevent illness. (15 marks) (b) Explain the assumptions of behaviour therapy. Discuss various techniques of behaviour therapy to treat phobia. (15 marks) (c) Explain the characteristics of standardized psychological tests. Highlight the limitations of psychological tests. (20 marks)

हिंदी में प्रश्न पढ़ें

(a) स्वास्थ्य के जैव मनोसामाजिक प्रारूप (मॉडल) की चर्चा कीजिए। रोगों की रोकथाम के लिए प्रासंगिक कार्रवाई का सुझाव दीजिए। (15 अंक) (b) व्यवहार चिकित्सा की अवधारणाओं की व्याख्या कीजिए। डरभीति के उपचार के लिए व्यवहार चिकित्सा की विभिन्न प्रविधियों की चर्चा कीजिए। (15 अंक) (c) मानकीकृत मनोवैज्ञानिक परीक्षणों की विशेषताओं की व्याख्या कीजिए। मनोवैज्ञानिक परीक्षणों की सीमाओं पर प्रकाश डालिए। (20 अंक)

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Directive word: Explain

This question asks you to explain. The directive word signals the depth of analysis expected, the structure of your answer, and the weight of evidence you must bring.

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How this answer will be evaluated

Approach

The question demands explanation and discussion across three parts with varying marks. Allocate approximately 30% time/words to part (a) on biopsychosocial model, 30% to part (b) on behaviour therapy, and 40% to part (c) on psychological testing given its higher weightage. Structure with a brief composite introduction, then address each part sequentially with clear sub-headings, and conclude with an integrated summary on psychology's role in health and assessment.

Key points expected

  • Part (a): Engel's biopsychosocial model components (biological, psychological, social) and their interaction; illness prevention strategies at primary, secondary, tertiary levels with Indian examples like Swachh Bharat for sanitation-related disease prevention
  • Part (b): Core assumptions of behaviour therapy (learning principles, focus on observable behaviour, present-centred, empirical); specific techniques for phobia treatment including systematic desensitization, flooding, modelling, virtual reality exposure with procedural details
  • Part (c): Standardization characteristics—norms, reliability, validity, objective scoring, standard administration; limitations including cultural bias, coaching effects, response sets, ethical concerns, applicability in Indian context with examples like MMPI or MISIC adaptation issues
  • Integration across parts showing how psychological testing informs health psychology interventions and behaviour therapy planning
  • Critical stance on Western models' applicability to Indian health systems and indigenous psychological frameworks
  • Contemporary developments: telehealth applications, digital therapeutics for phobia, computer-based testing limitations

Evaluation rubric

DimensionWeightMax marksExcellentAveragePoor
Concept correctness20%10Precisely defines Engel's biopsychosocial model distinguishing it from biomedical model; accurately states behaviour therapy assumptions distinguishing from cognitive approaches; correctly identifies all standardization characteristics with technical accuracy on psychometric propertiesBasic definitions present but conflates biopsychosocial with holistic health vaguely; behaviour therapy assumptions incomplete or confused with cognitive therapy; standardization characteristics listed without clear distinction between reliability and validity typesMisrepresents core concepts—treats biopsychosocial as merely three separate factors without interaction; fundamental errors in behaviour therapy principles; confuses standardization with normalization or uses terms incorrectly
Theory & studies cited20%10Cites Engel (1977) for biopsychosocial model; references Wolpe (systematic desensitization), Bandura (modelling), Watson & Rayner (Little Albert) for behaviour therapy; names specific Indian adaptations like ICMR norms for psychological tests; includes psychometric theorists like Cronbach for reliability/validityMentions Wolpe and Bandura without specific studies; generic reference to 'learning theories'; names standardization concepts without theorist attribution; limited Indian research citationsNo theorist names or incorrect attributions; confuses behaviour therapy with behaviourism broadly; no mention of psychometric development history or Indian standardization efforts
Application examples20%10For (a): specific Indian prevention programs—Ayushman Bharat, National Mental Health Programme, community health worker interventions; For (b): detailed phobia treatment protocol with hierarchy construction, relaxation training steps; For (c): concrete test examples (SCID, Hamilton Rating Scale, Indian adaptations) with specific limitation illustrationsGeneric health promotion examples without Indian specificity; phobia techniques named without procedural detail; psychological tests mentioned superficially without illustrating standardization features or limitationsNo concrete examples; purely theoretical treatment; irrelevant or invented applications; fails to connect techniques to phobia specifically
Multi-perspective analysis20%10Critically evaluates Western-centric health models for Indian collectivist context; compares behaviour therapy with cognitive and psychodynamic alternatives for phobia; assesses positivist assumptions in psychological testing against constructivist critiques; integrates biopsychosocial with Ayurvedic holistic concepts; addresses intersectionality (gender, caste, class) in health and testingBrief acknowledgment of cultural factors without deep analysis; mentions one alternative therapy without comparison; notes testing bias without systematic critique; limited integration across question partsUncritical acceptance of Western frameworks; no alternative perspectives presented; ignores cultural applicability issues entirely; treats three parts as isolated silos without connection
Conclusion & evaluation20%10Synthesizes how biopsychosocial assessment requires standardized tools and behaviour therapy provides evidence-based intervention; evaluates future directions—personalized medicine, AI in testing, digital health in India; balanced judgment on strengths and limitations with policy recommendations for NIMHANS or Health MinistrySummary restatement of main points without synthesis; generic future trends without Indian specificity; no clear evaluative stance or recommendationsMissing or abrupt conclusion; introduces new information in conclusion; purely descriptive ending without evaluation; no connection between the three substantive parts

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