my answers-psycho+socio

A LONG ANSWER (PSYCHOLOGY):






(THIS IS THE ANSWER I WROTE IN MUKUL SIR'S CLASS TEST HELD DURING PSYCHO COACHING IN JUNE 2008.I SCORED 34 OUT OF 60.THIS HAD BASICS+CASE STUDIES+EXAMPLE +INNOVATION+LINK WITH SOCIOLOGY(feminism n social change)+INTERLINKING VARIOUS TOPICS IN PSYCHO TOPICS.AS MANY HAV ASKED TO POST THIS,I WITH HELP OF MY SISTER'S PERSONAL STAFF IN OFFICE COULD GET IT TYPED. YA,DO NOTICE SMALL PARAGRAPHS MY ANSWER IS BROKEN INTO,IT MAKES ONE POINT IN A PARA, AND SMALL PARA MAKES READING EASIER N COMFORTABLE FOR EXAM.)







Stereotype are the rigid categorization of people owing to overgeneralisation and their membership to a particular group.



the cognition miser behaviour of human being preempts to make these short-cuts to their understanding of behaviour of other people.



the examples of sterotype abound in the socio-psychological reality around us. one of the most obvious and universally prevalent ,atleast until few decades ago,was the gender sterotype,i.e. sterotyping the male and female gender.



The Indian society has been patriarchal for centuries and this has percolated in the psyche of the people.the sterotype of emotionally unstable ,submissive,docile,incapable of rational decision making,superstitious,gullible to easy influence etc. are the attributes attached to female gender while masculinity,confidence,assertiveness,capability of decision making,dominence has been attached to male.



these sterotype gender finds their similar role models eg: for indian female,the role model being sati,sita,parvati,which tries to incorporate the belief that female are meant to be docile and submissive.



These gender sterotypes leads to self full-filling prophecies-i.e. when the person behaves towards others in a manner which leads the other person to adjust her behaviour according to male's expectation,thus the assumption of the first person is provred right.Thus,when the society expects them to underperfom n they r told that ,they actually underperform and hence,the views are further consolidated.



Rao and Rao are of the opinion that these stereotypes are internalised by the children and later manifested in actions in their adult age.



Studies have shown that children also attribute particular occupations to particular gender eg:policeman to males and grow up to play these roles respectively.



Thus,Socialisation plays an important role in the formation of these stereotypes and these become crystallised and manifested in the behaviour.



The stereotypes also lead to glass-ceiling effect,where the treatment of discrimination against women leads to their inability to secure higher posts.



According to Sudhir Kakkar,the Indian females lack their own identity and their identity is described by their relationship with others.This is because of the stereotype of inferiority that they are not given equal status and freedom to establish the identity of their own.The tantrums thrown by female gender,at times,is the result of persistent dissonance present which explodes into intermittent tantrums.This leads to another stereotype formation of emotional stability and thus the inability to take decisions.



Discriminations abound in the socio-psychological sphere of Indian women especially the rural illiterate women.The cultural preference for the male child has lead to extreme actions as the demonstrations of prejudice towards the girl child as infanticide.



The sterotype of inferiority and less capability has led to sterotyping of occupations and discrimination during salary payment where females are given less wages.



though,indian constitution guarantees equal rights to both the genders but the discrimination persist in real social sphere. eg: the boy child is given priviledge to go to school,while the girl is asked to look after the home.this is a type of glass ceiling and self-full filling prophecise where the girl child is shown as inferior because she couldnot study and didn't have experiences of facing outside world n thus is inferior,further strengthening the sterotype.



FLOWCHART



Thus,Indian female is undergoing gender discrimination and identity crisis.



with the wave of Feminism and modern education as more females are becoming educated and showing their acumen ,the gender sterotypa are slowly ameiorating,atleast in the urban sphere.with the advent of mass media ,Television and Internet ,the increase in the easy access of pornographic material and the commodification of women leads to development of the objectified beauty consciousness in females(Mc kinley).thus,the modern ways of communication are also reinforcing the sterotypes.



the television serials usually demonstrate the gender sterotype in their presentations and thus further reinforce them eg:the ideal daughter-in-law is shown to have sacrifice her career,dreams and freedom for her husband and family.thus the discrimination persists n gets stronger.



the increase involvement of women in the workforce of the country,has led to emergence of gender specific problems like sexual harrasement and child rearing difficulties.which can be countered by the gender friendly policies,male senstivity programmes,seeding,etc.



The values have to be changed,the complete renewal of society has to be undertaken to improve the deep rooted discrimination.The only solution lies in changing the child rearing practices and socialisation by giving democratic and equal treatment to male n female child at home, co-education at school and fostering mutual interdependence among them.Thus,facilitating increased inter group contact and thus slowly weakening of stereotypes n further,then,reduction in discrimination.













SHORT NOTE :

Question:Examine the statement- Gestalt psychology and behaviourism as two contrasting traditions in contemporary psychology



Answer:Psychology has evolved out of a subjective and speculative discipline of philosophy,In its pursuit of objectivity & becoming a pure science,it started with behaviouristic tradition.



But its limitation has led to emergence of Gestaltic & hence cognitive psychology.



The two traditions explain the reality in opposing ways:-



Firstly, Behaviourist look at human behaviour as more reflexive whereas Gestalts emphasizes on perceptive way of learning.



DIAGRAM



Secondly Behaviourist emphasizes on S-R approach whereas Gestalts emphasise on S-O-R approach.



Also,no importance to cognitive information processing by behaviourist.Infact behaviourist has the emphasis on the reflexes and instincts-animal-like behaviour.On the other hand,Gestalt,\s approach is based on the working of human brain.



The limitation of the Behaviourist, led to the cognitive psychology development and the development of Gestalts led to the growth of cognitive psychology.



Though both are opposing but can be complementary to explain the features in learning especially ;where conditioning plays an important role and Gestalts add an important dimension in it too.



Thus though they are different and have contrasting points of views,still both enrich psychology equally.





SOCIOLOGY LONG ANSWER:

Pluralism is basically defined as the existence of multi-lingual,multi-religious and multi -ethnic groups peacefully in the society.



it has been possible,due to mutual respect and acceptance of groups towards different communities.In such a society the religious,ethnic or lingual identity is not exploited for the political,economic or social gains.thus,this identity does not form the central focus of any group's self identity.



Montesque had studied pluralism and explained it as peaceful existence of various groups of different identities in a society.



sociologists have tried to explain the emergence of pluralism as a consequence of history as :-



1)Emergence of Modern state-was due to territorial invasion of various communities and emergence of the new state led to recognition of presence of identity of different communities.



2) colonialism-led to the increased contact between the people of different religious faith,identities and cultures to come closer.



3)wars-had enevitably led to mixing of different communities and the acceptance of their way of life to ensure the territorial integrity of newly acquired area to the conquerer's nation.



In the indian context, the pluralism had been seen as being present from ancient times. the Composite culture of the society,with mutual respect and liking for other's customs,festivals and ways of life fostered the feeling of pluralism.



sociologist have also tried to place pluralism as an evolutionary stage in the growth of the society.the initial one-religion state slowly evolved into multi-religious state which in course of time which in course of time with the development of toleration and respect for each other grow into plural societies.



The contemporary Indian society from this view point,can only be placed in the multi-religious category as the regular incidences of communal tension,riots have marred the development of plural character in recent times.



The controversy over Burqua,the Sikh turban or Bangle in the west european countries have also made one question `their plural character. The sociologists are of the opinion that this plural character is developed as a result of scientific,logical and rational nature of modernity.At best, it can be stated that plural character in these societies is also in evolution,despite well established modernity.



Undoubtedly,the last few decades have seen the growth of fundamentalism resulting in the terrorist attacks and formation of organisations to this effect. it is the reflection of growing intolerance in the individuals in the name of religion.



also, the religious revitalisation and revivalism has been on rise.The reasons for its emergence has been evaluated by many scholars as it was seen as an unexpected phenomenon.Most of the positivist and evolutionary theorist had predicted the demise of the institution of religion with the growth of science and technology,but in reality, the reversal is being witnessed.



Few causes have been postulated-Malcom Turf had emphasised on the following causes :-



1) Trans-border Nationalism-the religious community today is not confined to only one nation,rather is diffused over multiple nations. Thus in case of any crisis involving community members,the transborder nationalism is witnessed. EG: the plight of indian muslims discussed by various muslim countries leaders, the problems of Tamils in Sri lanka has become a national issue in India,though it could have been considered as the internal matter of Sri lanka.



2)Failure of capitalism- capitalism promised prosperity and happiness for all and having failed in the delivery of the same,has caused the vaccum where the individuals are searching happiness in religion.



3) Decline of the West-excessive materialism has made the yputh search for the means to assert their identity and search for values. in this,the ethnic and religious identities are glorified.



Since,the above mentioned causes have been prevalent in our contemporary societies on a large scale, thus the religious revitalism has become the reality.



This revivalism,results in excessive assertion of one's exclusive identity and potrayal of other community's interest as antagonistic to other communities,thus breeding intolerance.this will,in turn,affect the plural fabric of the society with increasing distrust and decreased respect.



The formation of political parties on the basis of religion,ethnic,linguistic identities is also corroding the plural fabric.Recently,comments by few politicians that north indians are responsible for the slow development of maharashtra,clearly demonstrates how the ethnic identities can be exploited to get political mileage.



Another aspect of growing tendency of revivalism has been Saffronisation ,which even was manifested in the trial to alter the syllabus of N.C.E.R.T books. such moves,will breed insecurity in the minorties and further deteorating the situation.



The inclusive development of all communities,emphasis of mutual co-existence and respect will only help in peaceful presence of various linguistic,ethnic or religious communities in a single society. with the multi-cultural nature of indian society, pluralism as a tool to tackle growing religious fundamentalism and revivalism is a necessity.



(I SCORED 58% IN THIS ANSWER IN MOHOPATRA SIR'S TEST SERIES.THERE HAS BEEN SOCIOLOGICAL INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO TOPIC AND ALSO CONTEMPORARY EGS TO STRENGTHEN ARGUMENTS. THE ANALYSIS,ARGUMENT,COUNTER-ARGUMENT AND BALANCE TOWARDS END IS EMPHASISED IN THIS ANSWER.)









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