APPSC Paper I · Probation Officer Paper II: Psychology · Topic 1

1 APPSC Paper I Introduction to Psychology questions with answers

20 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.

1.1Nature, definitions, history and schools of psychologyNotes

  1. Q1 DPO 2023 Psychology, Q1

    According to Bagga & Singh (1990), the term Psychology was first used by ______.

    1. ABolles, 1993
    2. BRudolf Goeckle, 1950
    3. CWoodworth, 1948
    4. DFeldman, 1996
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer B. Rudolf Goeckle, 1950

    The word 'psychologia' is credited to Rudolf Goeckel (Goclenius), who used it in a book title in 1590; the paper prints the year as 1950, but Goeckel is clearly the intended answer.

    Source: APPSC DPO 2023 Psychology (Notification 11/2022), Q1, final key

  2. Q2 DPO 2023 Psychology, Q2

    Define, Psychology is a ______?

    1. ANatural science
    2. BPhysical science
    3. CBiological science
    4. DSocial science
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer D. Social science

    In this key psychology is classed as a social science: it studies human behaviour and mental processes, much of it in social settings, although it also draws on biology.

    Source: APPSC DPO 2023 Psychology (Notification 11/2022), Q2, final key

  3. Q3 DPO 2023 Psychology, Q3

    Scientific Psychology was first accepted in?

    1. A1779
    2. B1679
    3. C1879
    4. D1889
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer C. 1879

    Scientific psychology dates from 1879, when Wilhelm Wundt set up the first psychology laboratory at Leipzig.

    Source: APPSC DPO 2023 Psychology (Notification 11/2022), Q3, final key

  4. Q4 DPO 2023 Psychology, Q4

    Name the psychologist who constructed the first intelligence test?

    1. AWilliam James
    2. BJ. B. Watson
    3. CWilliam Mc Dougall
    4. DAlfred Binet
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    Answer D. Alfred Binet

    Alfred Binet, with Theodore Simon, built the first practical intelligence test (the Binet-Simon scale, 1905).

    Source: APPSC DPO 2023 Psychology (Notification 11/2022), Q4, final key

  5. Q5 DPO 2023 Psychology, Q9

    The major schools of psychological thought are structuralism, _____, functionalism, Gestalt school, psychoanalysis, humanistic psychology and cognitive psychology.

    1. AMass communication
    2. BBehaviorism
    3. CDiscipline
    4. DFine arts
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer B. Behaviorism

    Behaviourism (Watson) is one of the classical schools, alongside structuralism, functionalism, Gestalt, psychoanalysis, humanistic and cognitive psychology.

    Source: APPSC DPO 2023 Psychology (Notification 11/2022), Q9, final key

  6. Q6 DPO 2023 Psychology, Q63

    Match the following.

    Group AGroup B
    i) Structuralisma) John Watson
    ii) Functionalismb) Carl rogers
    iii) Behaviorismc) Ulric Neisser
    iv) Cognitivismd) Willim James
    e) Wilhelm Wundt
    1. Ai-e; ii-d; iii-a; iv-c
    2. Bi-a; ii-b; iii-c; iv-d
    3. Ci-c; ii-b; iii-a; iv-d
    4. Di-c; ii-d; iii-b; iv-e
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer A. i-e; ii-d; iii-a; iv-c

    Structuralism goes back to Wilhelm Wundt (his student Titchener gave it the name), functionalism to William James, behaviourism to John Watson, and Ulric Neisser is called the father of cognitive psychology. Carl Rogers (humanistic) is the extra item.

    Source: APPSC DPO 2023 Psychology (Notification 11/2022), Q66, final key

  7. Q7 DPO Psychology Mock 1, Q1

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

    List – I (School)List – II (Psychologist)
    a. Gestalt psychology1. Sigmund Freud
    b. Functionalism2. Carl Rogers
    c. Psychoanalysis3. Max Wertheimer
    d. Humanistic psychology4. William James
    1. Aa-4, b-3, c-1, d-2
    2. Ba-3, b-4, c-2, d-1
    3. Ca-1, b-4, c-3, d-2
    4. Da-3, b-4, c-1, d-2
    Show answerHide answer

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

    Gestalt – Wertheimer; functionalism – William James; psychoanalysis – Freud; humanistic psychology – Carl Rogers.

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

  8. Q8 DPO Psychology Mock 1, Q3

    Arrange the following events in the history of psychology in chronological order.

    1. Watson's paper launching behaviourism

    2. Wundt's laboratory at Leipzig

    3. The Binet–Simon intelligence scale

    4. William James's The Principles of Psychology

    1. A2, 3, 4, 1
    2. B2, 4, 1, 3
    3. C2, 4, 3, 1
    4. D4, 2, 3, 1
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer C. 2, 4, 3, 1

    Wundt's laboratory (1879) → James's Principles (1890) → Binet–Simon scale (1905) → Watson's behaviourism paper (1913).

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

  9. Q9 DPO Psychology Mock 1, Q5

    The word 'psychology' comes from two Greek words, 'psyche' and 'logos'. What did 'psyche' originally mean?

    1. ABehaviour
    2. BBrain
    3. CSoul
    4. DScience
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    Answer C. Soul

    'Psyche' meant soul (or spirit) and 'logos' meant study or discourse, so the word first meant the study of the soul.

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

  10. Q10 DPO Psychology Mock 1, Q7

    Who set up the first laboratory of psychology in the United States, at Johns Hopkins University in 1883?

    1. AWilliam James
    2. BEdward B. Titchener
    3. CG. Stanley Hall
    4. DJohn B. Watson
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer C. G. Stanley Hall

    G. Stanley Hall, who had studied with Wundt, opened the first American research laboratory of psychology at Johns Hopkins in 1883; he later became the first president of the American Psychological Association (1892).

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

  11. Q11 DPO Psychology Mock 1, Q9

    Which school of psychology was mainly concerned with how the mind and behaviour help an organism adapt to its environment?

    1. AStructuralism
    2. BGestalt psychology
    3. CFunctionalism
    4. DPsychoanalysis
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer C. Functionalism

    Functionalism, led by William James and later Dewey and Angell, asked what the mind does, influenced by Darwin's idea of adaptation.

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

1.2Branches and fields of psychology; psychology and social problems

  1. Q12 DPO 2023 Psychology, Q5

    Violence inflicted by an individual on self-called?

    1. ASelf-directed violence
    2. BInterpersonal violence
    3. CCollective violence
    4. DPhysical violence
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer A. Self-directed violence

    The WHO classifies violence a person directs at themselves (suicidal behaviour, self-harm) as self-directed violence.

    Source: APPSC DPO 2023 Psychology (Notification 11/2022), Q5, final key

  2. Q13 DPO 2023 Psychology, Q6

    Unfair ways of treating people on the basis of color complexion, is called?

    1. ARecapitulate
    2. BRacism
    3. CDowry
    4. DBurglary
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer B. Racism

    Treating people unfairly because of their race or skin colour is racism.

    Source: APPSC DPO 2023 Psychology (Notification 11/2022), Q6, final key

  3. Q14 DPO 2023 Psychology, Q7

    Psychologist who work in educational systems, and their roles vary according to the levels of their training is called?

    1. AOrganizational psychologists
    2. BCommunity psychologists
    3. CSchool psychologists
    4. DClinical psychologists
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer C. School psychologists

    School psychologists work inside the education system, and what they do depends on how much training they have.

    Source: APPSC DPO 2023 Psychology (Notification 11/2022), Q7, final key

  4. Q15 DPO 2023 Psychology, Q8

    _________ field of psychology focuses on the potential role of evolution in behavior.

    1. ADevelopmental Psychology
    2. BPhysiological Psychology
    3. CEvolutional Psychology
    4. DCognitive Psychology
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer C. Evolutional Psychology

    Evolutionary psychology explains behaviour in terms of adaptations shaped by natural selection.

    Source: APPSC DPO 2023 Psychology (Notification 11/2022), Q8, final key

  5. Q16 DPO Psychology Mock 1, Q2

    Which pair of field and its main focus is INCORRECTLY matched?

    1. ACommunity psychology – design of machines and control panels for safe use
    2. BCognitive psychology – memory and problem solving
    3. CForensic psychology – accuracy of eyewitness testimony
    4. DEvolutionary psychology – adaptive value of behaviour
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer A. Community psychology – design of machines and control panels for safe use

    Community psychology uses community-based approaches to prevent problems and promote well-being; machine and equipment design is the work of engineering psychology (human factors).

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

  6. Q17 DPO Psychology Mock 1, Q4

    In the WHO typology of violence, child abuse and intimate partner violence come under:

    1. AInterpersonal violence (family and partner violence)
    2. BSelf-directed violence
    3. CCollective violence
    4. DStructural violence
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer A. Interpersonal violence (family and partner violence)

    WHO (2002) splits interpersonal violence into family and intimate partner violence (child abuse, partner violence, elder abuse) and community violence (by acquaintances or strangers).

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

  7. Q18 DPO Psychology Mock 1, Q6

    Which professional holds a medical degree and can prescribe drugs for the treatment of mental disorders?

    1. AClinical psychologist
    2. BPsychiatrist
    3. CCounselling psychologist
    4. DPsychiatric social worker
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer B. Psychiatrist

    Only a psychiatrist, being a medical doctor, prescribes medicines; psychologists use assessment and psychological therapies.

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

  8. Q19 DPO Psychology Mock 1, Q8

    Refusing someone a job or a house because of his caste, religion or race is an example of:

    1. APrejudice
    2. BStereotype
    3. CDiscrimination
    4. DEthnocentrism
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer C. Discrimination

    Prejudice is an attitude; discrimination is the behaviour that puts it into action, such as unequal treatment in jobs, housing or services.

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

  9. Q20 DPO Psychology Mock 1, Q10

    The field that studies how machines, tools and work settings can be designed to suit human abilities and limits is:

    1. AIndustrial/organisational psychology
    2. BEnvironmental psychology
    3. CEngineering psychology (human factors)
    4. DPhysiological psychology
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer C. Engineering psychology (human factors)

    Engineering psychology (human factors or ergonomics) designs equipment, displays and controls to match human perception and response, to reduce error and accidents.

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

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