APPSC Paper I · Probation Officer Paper II: Psychology · Topic 13

13 APPSC Paper I Adjustment and Stress questions with answers

18 questions from APPSC DPO 2023 Psychology question paper with answers and APPSC DPO Psychology Mock 1 with answers. Try each one, then tap Show answer.

Previous-paper questions are as in the original paper. Medha AI wrote the answers and explanations.

13.1Adjustment, frustration, conflict and stressorsNotes

  1. Q1 DPO 2023 Psychology, Q117

    The pattern of responses an organism makes to stimulus event that disturbs the equilibrium and exceeds a person’s ability to cope is known by which of the following terms?

    1. ADistress
    2. BStress
    3. CEustress
    4. DFrustration
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer B. Stress

    Stress is the pattern of responses to an event that disturbs equilibrium and taxes or exceeds a person's ability to cope.

    Source: APPSC DPO 2023 Psychology (Notification 11/2022), Q121, final key

  2. Q2 DPO 2023 Psychology, Q118

    Which of the following stressor comes under psychological category?

    1. ABreak-up
    2. BLoneliness
    3. CConflict
    4. DNoise
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer C. Conflict

    Psychological stresses arise in our own minds: frustration, conflict, internal pressure and social pressure (NCERT). Noise is an environmental stressor; break-up and loneliness relate to social stress.

    Source: APPSC DPO 2023 Psychology (Notification 11/2022), Q122, final key

  3. Q3 DPO 2023 Psychology, Q119

    Which of the following is responsible for genesis of conflicts?

    1. AExcessive personal demands
    2. BCompatible needs
    3. CIncompatible motives
    4. DExcessive Social demands
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    Answer C. Incompatible motives

    A conflict arises when two or more incompatible needs or motives are present at the same time, and satisfying one blocks the other.

    Source: APPSC DPO 2023 Psychology (Notification 11/2022), Q123, final key

  4. Q4 DPO 2023 Psychology, Q120

    Which of the following is not a source of social stress?

    1. ACrowding
    2. BIllness in family
    3. CStrained relationships
    4. DTrouble with neighbours
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer A. Crowding

    Social stresses come from interactions with other people: illness in the family, strained relationships, trouble with neighbours. Crowding is listed as an environmental stress.

    Source: APPSC DPO 2023 Psychology (Notification 11/2022), Q124, final key

  5. Q5 DPO 2023 Psychology, Q121

    According to Presumptive Stressful Life Events Scale which among the following life event has higher mean stress score?

    1. AIllness of a family member
    2. BUnexpected accident or trauma
    3. CAppearing for examination
    4. DBreakup with a friend
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    Answer B. Unexpected accident or trauma

    The Presumptive Stressful Life Events Scale (Singh, Kaur and Kaur, an Indian scale) gives higher scores to severe, sudden events. Among these options an unexpected accident or trauma carries the highest mean stress score.

    Source: APPSC DPO 2023 Psychology (Notification 11/2022), Q125, final key

  6. Q6 DPO Psychology Mock 1, Q122

    Which of the following is NOT a sign of a well-adjusted person?

    1. ARealistic perception of oneself
    2. BAbility to tolerate frustration
    3. CHabitual use of defence mechanisms to escape problems
    4. DSatisfying relationships with others
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    Answer C. Habitual use of defence mechanisms to escape problems

    Well-adjusted persons see themselves realistically, tolerate frustration and relate well to others. Relying habitually on defence mechanisms to avoid facing problems is a mark of maladjustment.

    Source: Medha AI, based on the APPSC District Probation Officer Paper II (Psychology) syllabus (12/2026)

  7. Q7 DPO Psychology Mock 1, Q124

    Match the following items given in List-I with the items given in List-II.

    List – I (Psychologist)List – II (Contribution)
    a. Kurt Lewin1. General adaptation syndrome
    b. Hans Selye2. Social Readjustment Rating Scale
    c. Holmes and Rahe3. Types of conflict
    d. Richard Lazarus4. Cognitive appraisal of stress
    1. Aa-3, b-2, c-1, d-4
    2. Ba-1, b-3, c-2, d-4
    3. Ca-3, b-1, c-2, d-4
    4. Da-4, b-1, c-2, d-3
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer C. a-3, b-1, c-2, d-4

    Lewin classified conflicts; Selye described the general adaptation syndrome; Holmes and Rahe built the Social Readjustment Rating Scale; Lazarus gave the cognitive appraisal model.

    Source: Medha AI, based on the APPSC District Probation Officer Paper II (Psychology) syllabus (12/2026)

  8. Q8 DPO Psychology Mock 1, Q126

    In Lazarus' primary appraisal, a new event may be judged in three ways. Which of the following is NOT one of them?

    1. AHarm or loss
    2. BThreat
    3. CChallenge
    4. DResistance
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    Answer D. Resistance

    Primary appraisal sorts a stressful event into harm/loss (damage already done), threat (damage expected) or challenge (a chance to grow). Resistance is the second stage of Selye's general adaptation syndrome.

    Source: Medha AI, based on the APPSC District Probation Officer Paper II (Psychology) syllabus (12/2026)

  9. Q9 DPO Psychology Mock 1, Q128

    The view that stress results from the interaction between a person and the environment, depending on how the person appraises the situation, is associated with

    1. AHans Selye
    2. BWalter Cannon
    3. CRichard Lazarus
    4. DThomas Holmes
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer C. Richard Lazarus

    Richard Lazarus (with Susan Folkman) described stress as a transaction: an event is stressful only when the person appraises it as demanding and beyond his or her resources.

    Source: Medha AI, based on the APPSC District Probation Officer Paper II (Psychology) syllabus (12/2026)

  10. Q10 DPO Psychology Mock 1, Q130

    According to Kurt Lewin, the conflict in which a person must choose between two equally attractive goals is called

    1. AAvoidance-avoidance conflict
    2. BApproach-approach conflict
    3. CApproach-avoidance conflict
    4. DDouble approach-avoidance conflict
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    Answer B. Approach-approach conflict

    When both alternatives are desirable but only one can be chosen (for example, two good films showing at the same time), it is an approach-approach conflict.

    Source: Medha AI, based on the APPSC District Probation Officer Paper II (Psychology) syllabus (12/2026)

13.1Stress reactions, coping and stress managementNotes

  1. Q11 DPO 2023 Psychology, Q122

    When I schedule my time better to avoid stress, which of the following coping from stress strategies I am using?

    1. AAvoidance-oriented Strategy
    2. BEmotion-oriented Strategy
    3. CApproach-oriented Strategy
    4. DTask oriented Strategy
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer D. Task oriented Strategy

    Endler and Parker's task-oriented coping means acting on the problem itself, such as planning and scheduling time better.

    Source: APPSC DPO 2023 Psychology (Notification 11/2022), Q126, final key

  2. Q12 DPO 2023 Psychology, Q123

    Choose your answer based on the statements given below:

    (A) Coping refers to constantly changing cognitive and behavioural efforts

    (R) Coping regulate the emotional response to the problems

    1. ABoth the A and R are true, and the R is a correct explanation of the A
    2. BBoth A and R are true, but R is not a correct explanation of A
    3. CA is true, but the R is false.
    4. DA is false, but the R is true.
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer B. Both A and R are true, but R is not a correct explanation of A

    Lazarus and Folkman define coping as constantly changing cognitive and behavioural efforts to manage demands. Coping also regulates emotional responses (emotion-focused coping). Both are true, but R describes one function and does not explain A.

    Source: APPSC DPO 2023 Psychology (Notification 11/2022), Q127, final key

  3. Q13 DPO 2023 Psychology, Q124

    The dynamic situation specific reaction to stress is known with which of the following names?

    1. AAdjustment
    2. BAdaptation
    3. CCoping
    4. DOver-riding
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer C. Coping

    Coping is a dynamic, situation-specific reaction to stress: a set of concrete responses to stressful situations.

    Source: APPSC DPO 2023 Psychology (Notification 11/2022), Q128, final key

  4. Q14 DPO 2023 Psychology, Q125

    Which of the following strategy is not meant for managing stress?

    1. APhysical exercise
    2. BCreative visualization
    3. CBiofeedback
    4. DIdentification
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer D. Identification

    Exercise, creative visualisation and biofeedback are stress-management techniques. Identification is a defence mechanism, not a technique for managing stress.

    Source: APPSC DPO 2023 Psychology (Notification 11/2022), Q130, final key

  5. Q15 DPO Psychology Mock 1, Q123

    Match List I (defence mechanism) with List II (description):

    List I

    (a) Repression

    (b) Projection

    (c) Reaction formation

    (d) Regression

    List II

    (1) Attributing one's own unacceptable feelings to others

    (2) Pushing anxiety-provoking thoughts out of conscious awareness

    (3) Returning to behaviour typical of an earlier stage of development

    (4) Showing the opposite of one's true feelings

    1. A(a)-1, (b)-2, (c)-4, (d)-3
    2. B(a)-2, (b)-1, (c)-3, (d)-4
    3. C(a)-2, (b)-1, (c)-4, (d)-3
    4. D(a)-4, (b)-1, (c)-2, (d)-3
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer C. (a)-2, (b)-1, (c)-4, (d)-3

    Repression-2, projection-1, reaction formation-4, regression-3.

    Source: Medha AI, based on the APPSC District Probation Officer Paper II (Psychology) syllabus (12/2026)

  6. Q16 DPO Psychology Mock 1, Q125

    Which of the following is NOT a life skill that helps a person manage stress?

    1. ATime management
    2. BAssertiveness
    3. CRational thinking
    4. DProcrastination
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    Answer D. Procrastination

    Procrastination is an unhelpful habit that adds to stress; overcoming it is the life skill.

    Source: Medha AI, based on the APPSC District Probation Officer Paper II (Psychology) syllabus (12/2026)

  7. Q17 DPO Psychology Mock 1, Q127

    In Selye's General Adaptation Syndrome, the stage in which the body's physiological resources are used up and the person becomes vulnerable to illness is called

    1. AAlarm stage
    2. BExhaustion stage
    3. CResistance stage
    4. DAppraisal stage
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer B. Exhaustion stage

    Continued exposure to the stressor drains resources, leading to exhaustion and stress-related illness.

    Source: Medha AI, based on the APPSC District Probation Officer Paper II (Psychology) syllabus (12/2026)

  8. Q18 DPO Psychology Mock 1, Q129

    According to Suzanne Kobasa, the personality trait of 'hardiness', which protects people against the harmful effects of stress, consists of

    1. ACompetence, confidence and courage
    2. BCommitment, control and challenge
    3. CControl, coping and calmness
    4. DCommitment, compassion and creativity
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer B. Commitment, control and challenge

    Hardy people are committed, feel in control and see change as a challenge.

    Source: Medha AI, based on the APPSC District Probation Officer Paper II (Psychology) syllabus (12/2026)

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