Class XII Psychology NCERT Chapters 1-5 Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary definitions extracted directly from NCERT Class XII Psychology Answer Key covering key concepts across Chapters 1 to 5.

Intelligence

The global capacity to understand the world, think rationally, and use available resources effectively when faced with challenges.

Aptitude

A person's underlying potential or capacity to acquire proficiency in a particular area with training, indicating 'can do' ability.

Interest

A person's preference for engaging in one type of activity rather than another, indicating 'like to do' inclination.

Self-esteem

The evaluative component of self-concept representing the value or worth a person attaches to himself or herself, based on an assessment of qualities, abilities, and achievements.

Frustration

A source of stress arising from obstacles that prevent the attainment of a goal.

Pressure

A source of stress arising from expectations or demands to perform in a certain way, whether internal or from others.

Abnormal Behaviour

Patterns of behaviour, thought, or emotion that are maladaptive, cause personal distress or impairment, and deviate significantly from social and cultural norms.

Psychometric Approach

An approach that views intelligence as a measurable trait made up of one or more factors and studies it through standardised tests yielding a quantitative score such as IQ.

Information-Processing Approach

An approach that views intelligence as the process by which a person receives, organises, stores, and uses information to solve problems, focusing on how a person thinks.

Anxiety Disorders

Disorders characterised by excessive, persistent fear or worry along with physical symptoms such as a racing heart, sweating, or restlessness, without a physical cause.

Somatoform Disorders

Disorders involving physical symptoms such as pain or loss of function for which no medical or physiological cause can be found, linked to underlying psychological distress.

Therapeutic Relationship

A bond built on trust, warmth, and mutual respect between therapist and client that creates a safe space where the client feels understood and accepted.

Gardner's Theory of Multiple Intelligences

A theory proposing that intelligence consists of multiple independent, autonomous intelligences (such as linguistic, logical-mathematical, spatial, musical, bodily-kinesthetic, interpersonal, intrapersonal, and naturalistic).

Obsession

A recurrent, intrusive, and unwanted thought or idea that causes anxiety.

Compulsion

A repetitive behaviour or mental act performed to reduce the anxiety caused by an obsession.

'g' Factor (General Factor)

In Spearman's Two-Factor Theory, the intelligence factor common to all intellectual activities such as reasoning and problem solving, remaining constant across tasks.

's' Factor (Specific Factor)

In Spearman's Two-Factor Theory, the specific abilities required to excel in a particular task or area, varying from activity to activity.

Big Five Factor Model

A personality model identifying five broad dimensions represented by the acronym OCEAN: Openness to Experience, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism.

Openness to Experience

A personality dimension reflecting imagination, curiosity, and a preference for variety and intellectual pursuits.

Conscientiousness

A personality dimension reflecting self-discipline, organisation, dependability, and achievement orientation.

Extraversion

A personality dimension reflecting sociability, assertiveness, talkativeness, and a preference for social stimulation.

Agreeableness

A personality dimension reflecting the tendency to be cooperative, trusting, warm, and considerate towards others.

Neuroticism

A personality dimension reflecting emotional instability and the tendency to experience negative emotions such as anxiety, moodiness, and irritability.

Stress

A process in which environmental demands (stressors) tax or exceed the adaptive capacity of an organism, resulting in psychological and biological changes.

Dissociative Disorders

Disorders involving a disruption in the integration of consciousness, memory, or identity, such as dissociative amnesia and dissociative identity disorder.

Mood Disorders

Disorders involving disturbances in emotional state, such as major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder.

Schizophrenia

A severe psychological disorder involving disturbances in thought, perception (such as hallucinations), and behaviour.

Behaviour Therapy

A treatment based on classical and operant conditioning principles assuming abnormal behaviour is learned and can be unlearned, focusing directly on changing maladaptive behaviours.

Cognitive Therapy

A treatment developed by Aaron Beck based on the assumption that psychological problems arise from irrational or distorted thinking patterns, aiming to identify and restructure faulty cognitions.