APPSC Paper I · Probation Officer Paper II: Psychology · Topic 5

5 APPSC Paper I Development of Human Behaviour questions with answers

22 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.

5.1Nature of development, heredity and environment, individual differences and life-span stagesNotes

  1. Q1 DPO 2023 Psychology, Q39

    The psychology of individual differences seeks to understand -

    1. AReality
    2. BIntellect
    3. CMotivation
    4. DInter and intra-individual differences
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer D. Inter and intra-individual differences

    The psychology of individual differences studies differences between people (inter-individual) and within one person across traits (intra-individual).

    Source: APPSC DPO 2023 Psychology (Notification 11/2022), Q41, final key

  2. Q2 DPO 2023 Psychology, Q41

    Developmental psychology is the branch of psychology which focuses on -

    1. APeople grow and change
    2. BPrediction
    3. CStereotype
    4. DStyle
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer A. People grow and change

    Developmental psychology studies how people grow and change across the lifespan.

    Source: APPSC DPO 2023 Psychology (Notification 11/2022), Q43, final key

  3. Q3 DPO 2023 Psychology, Q42

    Nature refers largely to our _____.

    1. AAdulthood
    2. BGenetics
    3. CChildhood
    4. DIntelligence
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    Answer B. Genetics

    In the nature-nurture debate, 'nature' means heredity or genetics and 'nurture' means environment and experience.

    Source: APPSC DPO 2023 Psychology (Notification 11/2022), Q44, final key

  4. Q4 DPO 2023 Psychology, Q43

    An individual’s phenotype is _____ and _____ be modified by a person’s experiences.

    1. Aan individual’s genetic composition; can
    2. Ban individual’s genetic composition; cannot
    3. Cthe observable expression of one’s genetic content; can
    4. Dthe observable expression of one’s genetic content; cannot
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer C. the observable expression of one’s genetic content; can

    The phenotype is the observable expression of the genotype, and it can be changed by environment and experience.

    Source: APPSC DPO 2023 Psychology (Notification 11/2022), Q45, final key

  5. Q5 DPO 2023 Psychology, Q48

    Development can be defined as ______.

    1. APrimarily reveal
    2. BProgressive series of orders, coherent changes
    3. CSpreading body
    4. DGrowth of tissues
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    Answer B. Progressive series of orders, coherent changes

    Hurlock defines development as a progressive series of orderly, coherent changes (the paper prints 'orderly' as 'orders').

    Source: APPSC DPO 2023 Psychology (Notification 11/2022), Q50, final key

  6. Q6 DPO Psychology Mock 1, Q45

    Havighurst traced the origin of developmental tasks to three sources. Which of the following is NOT one of them?

    1. APersonal values and aspirations
    2. BCultural pressure of society
    3. CPhysical maturation
    4. DReinforcement schedules
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer D. Reinforcement schedules

    Havighurst's three sources: physical maturation, cultural pressures of society, and the personal values and aspirations of the individual.

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

  7. Q7 DPO Psychology Mock 1, Q47

    Assertion (A): Identical twins reared in different homes often show similar intelligence test scores.

    Reason (R): Identical twins share the same genetic make-up.

    1. ABoth (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A)
    2. BBoth (A) and (R) are true but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A)
    3. C(A) is true but (R) is false
    4. D(A) is false but (R) is true
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer A. Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A)

    Twins reared apart share genes but not family environment, so their IQ similarity is evidence for a genetic contribution to intelligence.

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

  8. Q8 DPO Psychology Mock 1, Q49

    The idea that heredity sets upper and lower limits on a trait while the environment decides where within those limits a person ends up is called

    1. Alaw of effect
    2. Brange of reaction
    3. Cregression to the mean
    4. Dcanalisation of learning
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer B. range of reaction

    Range of reaction (Gottesman, 1963): genes set a range, and the environment determines where in that range the phenotype falls.

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

  9. Q9 DPO Psychology Mock 1, Q51

    In late adulthood, which kind of intelligence tends to remain stable or even improve?

    1. ACrystallised intelligence
    2. BFluid intelligence
    3. CProcessing speed
    4. DWorking memory capacity
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer A. Crystallised intelligence

    Cattell and Horn: fluid intelligence peaks in early adulthood and declines; crystallised intelligence is maintained or grows.

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

  10. Q10 DPO Psychology Mock 1, Q53

    Who proposed the concept of 'developmental tasks' that arise at each stage of life?

    1. AG. Stanley Hall
    2. BArnold Gesell
    3. CRobert J. Havighurst
    4. DErik Erikson
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer C. Robert J. Havighurst

    Havighurst (Developmental Tasks and Education) defined a developmental task as one arising at a certain period whose achievement leads to happiness and success with later tasks.

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

  11. Q11 DPO Psychology Mock 1, Q55

    A student is excellent in mathematics but weak in drawing. This is an example of

    1. Agroup differences
    2. Bintra-individual differences
    3. Cdevelopmental delay
    4. Dinter-individual differences
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer B. intra-individual differences

    Intra-individual differences are the strengths and weaknesses within one person; inter-individual differences are between people.

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

5.2Theories of development: Piaget, Vygotsky, Kohlberg, Erikson and attachment

  1. Q12 DPO 2023 Psychology, Q44

    Concrete operational stage:

    1. AAges 7 to 11
    2. BAges 2 to 7
    3. CBirth to 2 years
    4. DAges 12 and up
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer A. Ages 7 to 11

    Piaget's concrete operational stage runs from about age 7 to 11.

    Source: APPSC DPO 2023 Psychology (Notification 11/2022), Q46, final key

  2. Q13 DPO 2023 Psychology, Q45

    According to Jean Piaget's theory of cognitive development, children move through _____ different stages of learning.

    1. AFive
    2. BFour
    3. CSeven
    4. DThree
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer B. Four

    Piaget described four stages: sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete operational and formal operational.

    Source: APPSC DPO 2023 Psychology (Notification 11/2022), Q47, final key

  3. Q14 DPO 2023 Psychology, Q46

    ______ is developed on the basis of general rather than specific situations.

    1. ADesire
    2. BGrief
    3. CMoral Behavior
    4. DFriendship
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    Answer C. Moral Behavior

    Moral behaviour is said to develop from general principles rather than from specific situations, as children come to apply moral concepts broadly.

    Source: APPSC DPO 2023 Psychology (Notification 11/2022), Q48, final key

  4. Q15 DPO 2023 Psychology, Q49

    Which theory focuses on the deep relationships between people across their lifetime?

    1. AAttachment theory
    2. BBehavioral theory
    3. COperant theory
    4. DClassical theory
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer A. Attachment theory

    Attachment theory (Bowlby, Ainsworth) studies the deep, lasting emotional bonds between people, beginning in infancy and continuing across the lifespan.

    Source: APPSC DPO 2023 Psychology (Notification 11/2022), Q51, final key

  5. Q16 DPO 2023 Psychology, Q50

    Who created a theory of human development based on moral development concepts?

    1. AWilhelm Wundt
    2. BB. F. Skinner
    3. CAlfred Adler
    4. DLawrence Kohlberg
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer D. Lawrence Kohlberg

    Lawrence Kohlberg built a stage theory of moral development (pre-conventional, conventional and post-conventional levels) extending Piaget's work.

    Source: APPSC DPO 2023 Psychology (Notification 11/2022), Q52, final key

  6. Q17 DPO 2023 Psychology, Q126

    Who used sociocultural concepts in forming his sociocultural theory of children’s cognitive development?

    1. ASS Mathur
    2. BJean Piaget
    3. CLev Vygotsky
    4. DMargret Mead
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer C. Lev Vygotsky

    Lev Vygotsky's sociocultural theory says children's thinking develops through social interaction and cultural tools such as language.

    Source: APPSC DPO 2023 Psychology (Notification 11/2022), Q131, final key

  7. Q18 DPO Psychology Mock 1, Q46

    Match the following.

    List – I (Psychologist)List – II (Associated concept)
    a. Jean Piaget1. Strange situation
    b. Lev Vygotsky2. Heinz dilemma
    c. Lawrence Kohlberg3. Zone of proximal development
    d. Mary Ainsworth4. Schema
    1. Aa-2, b-3, c-4, d-1
    2. Ba-3, b-4, c-2, d-1
    3. Ca-4, b-3, c-2, d-1
    4. Da-4, b-3, c-1, d-2
    Show answerHide answer

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

    Piaget – schema; Vygotsky – zone of proximal development; Kohlberg – Heinz dilemma; Ainsworth – strange situation.

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

  8. Q19 DPO Psychology Mock 1, Q48

    Kohlberg studied moral reasoning mainly by asking people to respond to ______.

    1. AConservation tasks with liquids and clay
    2. BThe strange situation procedure
    3. CHypothetical moral dilemmas such as the Heinz dilemma
    4. DAmbiguous pictures for storytelling
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer C. Hypothetical moral dilemmas such as the Heinz dilemma

    Kohlberg cared about why a person gave an answer (the reasoning), not whether the answer was yes or no.

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

  9. Q20 DPO Psychology Mock 1, Q50

    Bowlby's idea that an infant forms one primary attachment that is stronger and more important than all others is called ______.

    1. AImprinting
    2. BContact comfort
    3. CStranger anxiety
    4. DMonotropism
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer D. Monotropism

    Bowlby also proposed a critical (later 'sensitive') period for attachment in the first years and the internal working model of relationships.

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

  10. Q21 DPO Psychology Mock 1, Q52

    The last of Erikson's psychosocial stages, faced in old age, is ______.

    1. AEgo integrity versus despair
    2. BIdentity versus role confusion
    3. CIntimacy versus isolation
    4. DGenerativity versus stagnation
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer A. Ego integrity versus despair

    Ego integrity vs despair is Erikson's eighth stage; its virtue is wisdom.

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

  11. Q22 DPO Psychology Mock 1, Q54

    Kohlberg's theory of moral development consists of ______.

    1. ATwo levels and four stages
    2. BThree levels and nine stages
    3. CThree levels and six stages
    4. DFour levels and eight stages
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer C. Three levels and six stages

    Kohlberg's six stages: punishment-obedience, instrumental exchange (pre-conventional); good boy–nice girl, law and order (conventional); social contract, universal ethical principles (post-conventional).

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

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