APPSC Paper I · Probation Officer Paper II: Psychology · Topic 12

12 APPSC Paper I Personality 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.

12.1Nature and approaches to personality: type, trait, eclectic, psychodynamic, humanistic; determinantsNotes

  1. Q1 DPO 2023 Psychology, Q40

    The Big Five Personality Trait includes except -

    1. AExtraversion-Introversion.
    2. BNeuroticism-Emotional Stability.
    3. CConscientiousness-Disorganized.
    4. DPhysic Development
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer D. Physic Development

    The Big Five are openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness and neuroticism; physical development is not one of them.

    Source: APPSC DPO 2023 Psychology (Notification 11/2022), Q42, final key

  2. Q2 DPO 2023 Psychology, Q107

    In which of the following the personality of an individual is reflected?

    1. ABehaviour
    2. BThinking
    3. CReasoning
    4. DLogic
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer A. Behaviour

    Personality is the characteristic pattern of a person's thoughts, feelings and actions, and it is seen most directly in behaviour across situations.

    Source: APPSC DPO 2023 Psychology (Notification 11/2022), Q111, final key

  3. Q3 DPO 2023 Psychology, Q108

    Which of the following is not the characteristics of personality?

    1. AIt has both physical and psychological components
    2. BExpression in terms of behaviour is unique
    3. CIt is dynamic and adaptive
    4. DMain features change easily over time
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer D. Main features change easily over time

    Personality has physical and psychological parts, shows itself in unique behaviour, and is dynamic and adaptive. Its main features are relatively stable over time; they do not change easily.

    Source: APPSC DPO 2023 Psychology (Notification 11/2022), Q112, final key

  4. Q4 DPO 2023 Psychology, Q109

    Which of the following approaches best describes the classification of personality into Vata, Pitta and Kapha by Charaka Samhita?

    1. Eclectic

    2. Trait

    3. Type

    1. A1 only
    2. B2 & 3 only
    3. C1 & 2 only
    4. D3 only
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer D. 3 only

    Charaka Samhita sorts people into broad categories by the dominant dosha (vata, pitta, kapha). Putting people into a few categories is the type approach.

    Source: APPSC DPO 2023 Psychology (Notification 11/2022), Q113, final key

  5. Q5 DPO 2023 Psychology, Q110

    Which of the personality approaches is very similar to our common experience in everyday life?

    1. Type

    2. Trait

    3. Eclectic

    1. A1 only
    2. B2 only
    3. C1 & 3 only
    4. D1 & 2 only
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer B. 2 only

    The trait approach describes people by specific qualities such as shy, honest or friendly, which is how we describe people in daily life (NCERT notes this similarity).

    Source: APPSC DPO 2023 Psychology (Notification 11/2022), Q114, final key

  6. Q6 DPO 2023 Psychology, Q111

    Which of the view point best describes the following statement?

    “A way of choosing the parts of different theories that seem to best fit a particular situation”.

    1. ATrait Behaviour combination approach
    2. BType Behaviour combination approach
    3. CEclectic approach
    4. DType approach
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer C. Eclectic approach

    Choosing the useful parts of several theories to suit a situation is the eclectic approach.

    Source: APPSC DPO 2023 Psychology (Notification 11/2022), Q115, final key

  7. Q7 DPO 2023 Psychology, Q112

    Choose your answer based on the statements given below:

    (A) Eysenck proposed that personality could be reduced into three broad dimensions

    (R) The dimensions are biologically and genetically based

    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

    Eysenck reduced personality to extraversion-introversion, neuroticism and psychoticism, and he held that these have a biological and genetic basis. Both are true, but the biological basis does not explain why there are three dimensions (they came from factor analysis).

    Source: APPSC DPO 2023 Psychology (Notification 11/2022), Q116, final key

  8. Q8 DPO 2023 Psychology, Q113

    According to Freud’s view on personality which of the following is energized by death and life instincts?

    1. AId
    2. BEgo
    3. CSuper Ego
    4. DLibido
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer A. Id

    In Freud's model the id is the reservoir of instinctual energy, driven by the life instinct (Eros) and the death instinct (Thanatos).

    Source: APPSC DPO 2023 Psychology (Notification 11/2022), Q117, final key

  9. Q9 DPO 2023 Psychology, Q114

    Which of the following statement is incorrect in context of Erikson’s theory of personality?

    1. AStresses on unconscious ego processes
    2. BDevelopment is life long process
    3. CEgo identity is the central to developmental process
    4. DIdentity crisis is the hallmark of adolescent age
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer A. Stresses on unconscious ego processes

    Erikson's psychosocial theory sees development as lifelong, puts ego identity at the centre, and makes the identity crisis the key task of adolescence. He stressed the rational, conscious ego rather than unconscious processes.

    Source: APPSC DPO 2023 Psychology (Notification 11/2022), Q118, final key

  10. Q10 DPO Psychology Mock 1, Q111

    Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of the Type A personality described by Friedman and Rosenman?

    1. AStrong sense of time urgency and impatience
    2. BHigh competitiveness and achievement striving
    3. CHostility and quick anger
    4. DEasy-going and relaxed about deadlines
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer D. Easy-going and relaxed about deadlines

    Friedman and Rosenman linked the Type A pattern (urgency, competitiveness, hostility) with a higher risk of coronary heart disease; Type B people are relaxed.

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

  11. Q11 DPO Psychology Mock 1, Q113

    Which of the following is NOT a socio-cultural determinant of personality?

    1. AFamily and child-rearing practices
    2. BCulture and its values
    3. CActivity of the endocrine glands
    4. DPeer group and school
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer C. Activity of the endocrine glands

    Personality is shaped by biological factors (heredity, nervous system, glands, physique) and socio-cultural factors (family, culture, school, peers).

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

  12. Q12 DPO Psychology Mock 1, Q115

    Assertion (A): Eysenck's theory is often described as a type-cum-trait (hierarchical) theory.

    Reason (R): Eysenck arranged specific responses, habitual responses, traits and broad types (super-traits) in levels.

    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)

    At the top of Eysenck's hierarchy are the broad types (E, N, P); below them are traits, habitual responses and specific responses.

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

  13. Q13 DPO Psychology Mock 1, Q117

    Cattell used factor analysis to identify the stable, underlying traits that form the core of personality. He called them

    1. ASurface traits
    2. BCardinal traits
    3. CSource traits
    4. DCommon traits
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer C. Source traits

    Cattell distinguished observable surface traits from the deeper source traits that cause them.

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

  14. Q14 DPO Psychology Mock 1, Q119

    Erikson's theory of personality differs from Freud's mainly because Erikson

    1. Aheld that personality is fixed by the end of the phallic stage
    2. Bexplained behaviour entirely by sexual drives
    3. Crejected the idea of the ego
    4. Dstressed social and cultural influences and development across the whole life span
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer D. stressed social and cultural influences and development across the whole life span

    Erikson extended psychoanalysis into a psychosocial, life-span theory centred on ego identity.

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

  15. Q15 DPO Psychology Mock 1, Q121

    Which approach to personality holds that people can be grouped into a small number of broad categories on the basis of observable characteristics such as body build or temperament?

    1. ATrait approach
    2. BPsychodynamic approach
    3. CHumanistic approach
    4. DType approach
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer D. Type approach

    Hippocrates, Sheldon and Kretschmer are classic type theorists.

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

12.1Assessment of personalityNotes

  1. Q16 DPO 2023 Psychology, Q115

    Which of the following is not the purpose of assessment of personality?

    1. APlacement
    2. BCounselling
    3. CDiagnosis
    4. DPrognosis
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer D. Prognosis

    Personality assessment is used for selection and placement, counselling and clinical diagnosis. The key treats prognosis (forecasting the course of a disorder) as not a purpose of personality assessment.

    Source: APPSC DPO 2023 Psychology (Notification 11/2022), Q119, final key

  2. Q17 DPO 2023 Psychology, Q116

    Match the following:

    NameTest Developed
    1. Morgan and MurrayA. Draw a person test
    2. Carl G JungB. Sentence completion test
    3. Florence GoodenoughC. Thematic apperception test
    4. Hermann EbbinghausD. Word association test
    1. A1-C, 2-D, 3-A, 4-B
    2. B1-B, 2-C, 3-A, 4-D
    3. C1-B, 2-C, 3-D, 4-A
    4. D1-C, 2-A, 3-B, 4-D
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer A. 1-C, 2-D, 3-A, 4-B

    Morgan and Murray made the Thematic Apperception Test (C), Jung the word association test (D), Goodenough the Draw-a-Man/person test (A), and Ebbinghaus an early sentence completion test (B).

    Source: APPSC DPO 2023 Psychology (Notification 11/2022), Q120, final key

  3. Q18 DPO Psychology Mock 1, Q112

    Which one of the following is NOT a projective technique?

    1. ARorschach inkblot test
    2. BThematic Apperception Test
    3. CSixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire
    4. DSentence completion test
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer C. Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire

    The 16PF is a self-report inventory with fixed items and objective scoring; the other three present ambiguous material for the person to interpret.

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

  4. Q19 DPO Psychology Mock 1, Q114

    Which of the following is NOT a purpose of personality assessment?

    1. ASelection of suitable candidates for a job
    2. BDiagnosis of psychological problems
    3. CPlanning guidance and counselling
    4. DPermanently changing a person's traits
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer D. Permanently changing a person's traits

    Assessment describes, understands and predicts behaviour for selection, diagnosis, counselling and research; changing behaviour is the task of therapy or training, not of assessment.

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

  5. Q20 DPO Psychology Mock 1, Q116

    Which of the following dimensions is NOT measured by the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ)?

    1. AExtraversion–introversion
    2. BNeuroticism
    3. CPsychoticism
    4. DConscientiousness
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer D. Conscientiousness

    The EPQ measures extraversion, neuroticism and psychoticism, with a lie scale to detect faking. Conscientiousness is one of the Big Five factors (NEO-PI).

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

  6. Q21 DPO Psychology Mock 1, Q118

    The tendency of respondents to give answers that make them look good rather than true answers is called

    1. AAcquiescence
    2. BCentral tendency
    3. CProjection
    4. DSocial desirability
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer D. Social desirability

    Social desirability is a major limitation of self-report inventories; many inventories include lie or validity scales to detect it.

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

  7. Q22 DPO Psychology Mock 1, Q120

    How many inkblot cards are used in the Rorschach test?

    1. A5
    2. B10
    3. C20
    4. D31
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer B. 10

    Hermann Rorschach's test (1921) uses ten symmetrical inkblots; some are black and grey and some contain colour.

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

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