UGC NET Psycology Human Development and Interventions Syllabus

What does attachment theory (Bowlby) say about social-emotional development?

Infants form an innate emotional bond with primary caregivers; a secure attachment provides a safe base for exploration and shapes later social and emotional relationships through internal working models.

Name the attachment styles identified by Ainsworth's Strange Situation.

Secure, Insecure-Avoidant, Insecure-Resistant/Ambivalent, and (later added by Main & Solomon) Disorganized attachment.

What is the focus of social development theory by Vygotsky?

Vygotsky's sociocultural theory emphasizes that cognitive/social development arises through social interaction and culture, using the Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD) and scaffolding by more knowledgeable others.

State the three levels of Kohlberg's theory of moral development.

Level 1 Preconventional (obedience/punishment and self-interest); Level 2 Conventional (good-boy/girl and law-and-order); Level 3 Postconventional (social contract and universal ethical principles). Each level has two stages.

What was Carol Gilligan's critique of Kohlberg's moral development theory?

Gilligan argued Kohlberg's theory was male-biased, emphasizing a 'justice' orientation; she proposed women often reason from an 'ethic of care' emphasizing relationships and responsibility.

In psychopathology, what is the 'concept' of abnormality based on?

Abnormality is commonly defined by the 'four Ds': Deviance (from social norms), Distress, Dysfunction (impaired functioning), and Danger (to self or others).

What is a Mental Status Examination (MSE)?

The MSE is a structured clinical assessment of a patient's current psychological functioning, evaluating appearance, behavior, speech, mood/affect, thought process/content, perception, cognition, insight and judgment.

List the major components assessed in a Mental Status Examination.

Appearance and behavior; speech; mood and affect; thought process and content; perceptual disturbances; cognition (orientation, attention, memory); insight; and judgment.

What are the two major classification systems for mental disorders?

The DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, by the APA) and the ICD-11 (International Classification of Diseases, by the WHO).

What are the broad categories of 'causes' of psychological disorders?

Biological (genetics, neurochemistry, brain structure), psychological (cognitive distortions, learning, unresolved conflicts), and socio-cultural/environmental factors; integrated in the biopsychosocial model.

What are the goals and core technique of Psychoanalysis as therapy?

To make unconscious conflicts conscious and resolve them. Core techniques: free association, dream analysis, interpretation, analysis of transference and resistance, aiming at insight.

What are the core conditions of Carl Rogers' Person-Centered therapy?

Three therapist conditions: unconditional positive regard, empathic understanding, and congruence (genuineness), which foster the client's self-actualizing tendency.

What is the central concept of Gestalt therapy and its key technique?

Gestalt therapy (Fritz Perls) emphasizes present-moment awareness, the 'here and now', and taking responsibility. A key technique is the empty-chair technique to integrate unfinished business.

What are the central themes of Existential therapy?

It addresses the 'givens' of existence: death, freedom and responsibility, isolation, and meaninglessness; helping clients confront anxiety and create authentic, meaningful lives.

What are the six core processes of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)?

Acceptance, cognitive defusion, being present (contact with the present moment), self-as-context, values, and committed action—together fostering psychological flexibility.

What is the basic premise of Behavior Therapy?

Maladaptive behaviors are learned and can be unlearned/modified through conditioning principles. Techniques include systematic desensitization, exposure, aversion therapy, token economy, and modeling.

What is the ABC model in Albert Ellis's REBT?

A = Activating event, B = Beliefs (especially irrational beliefs), C = emotional/behavioral Consequences. REBT adds D = Disputing irrational beliefs and E = Effective new philosophy.

How does REBT differ from CBT?

REBT (Ellis) focuses on identifying and forcefully disputing irrational 'must' beliefs as the core of disturbance; CBT (Beck) focuses more broadly on identifying and testing automatic thoughts and cognitive distortions through collaborative empiricism.

What is the cognitive model underlying Beck's Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT)?

Dysfunctional thinking—automatic negative thoughts, cognitive distortions and maladaptive core beliefs/schemas—causes emotional distress; therapy identifies, tests and restructures these thoughts through cognitive restructuring and behavioral experiments.

What is Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) and its main use?

MBCT integrates mindfulness meditation with cognitive therapy to help individuals disengage from automatic ruminative thought patterns; it is primarily used to prevent relapse in recurrent depression.

What is Play Therapy and for whom is it used?

Play therapy uses play as the child's natural medium of expression to help children (typically 3-12 years) communicate, process emotions and resolve psychological difficulties; it may be non-directive (Axline) or directive.

What is the focus of Positive Psychotherapy?

Positive psychotherapy builds positive emotions, engagement, meaning, strengths and well-being (rather than only reducing symptoms), drawing on Seligman's positive psychology to treat depression and enhance flourishing.

What is Transactional Analysis (Eric Berne) and its three ego states?

Transactional Analysis analyzes social transactions to improve communication. Its three ego states are Parent, Adult, and Child; healthy functioning involves complementary transactions and an 'I'm OK–You're OK' life position.

What are the core skills modules of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)?

Four skills modules: Mindfulness, Distress Tolerance, Emotion Regulation, and Interpersonal Effectiveness. DBT (Marsha Linehan) balances acceptance and change, used especially for borderline personality disorder.

What is Art Therapy and how does it work?

Art therapy uses creative visual art-making (drawing, painting, sculpting) as a therapeutic medium to express and process emotions, reduce stress, and gain insight, facilitated by a trained art therapist.

What is Performing Art Therapy and its main forms?

Performing/expressive arts therapy uses performance-based modalities—drama therapy, psychodrama, dance/movement therapy, and music therapy—to promote emotional expression, catharsis and healing through enactment and movement.

What is the central concept of Family Therapy (systems approach)?

It views the family as an interactive system where an individual's problems reflect dysfunctional family patterns; therapy targets communication, boundaries, roles and structure rather than treating one member in isolation.

In counseling, what does Maslow's hierarchy of needs describe?

A five-level pyramid of human needs: physiological, safety, love/belongingness, esteem, and self-actualization, with lower needs generally requiring satisfaction before higher needs motivate behavior.

What is the typical organizational set-up of a guidance and counseling service?

A coordinated programme with trained counselor(s), a counseling cell/centre, supporting staff and infrastructure, offering individual and group counseling, testing, career/educational guidance, referral, and record-keeping, often within schools, colleges or organizations.

What are the main stages of the counseling process?

Establishing rapport/relationship, assessment and problem identification, goal setting, intervention/working stage, and termination with follow-up/evaluation.

Name essential micro-skills and techniques a counselor uses.

Attending and active listening, empathy, open and closed questioning, paraphrasing/reflection of feeling, summarizing, clarification, confrontation, silence, and structuring—building toward an effective therapeutic relationship.