Social and Behavioral Sciences Practice Questions

Q: All of the following are temporary social groups except?

Band. In sociology, social groups are classified based on their duration, organization, and purpose. This question tests the distinction between **transient (temporary)** and **permanent (stable)** social structures. ### **Why "Band" is the Correct Answer** A **Band** is considered a **permanent or semi-permanent social group**. It is the simplest form of human society, typically consisting of a small group of families (20–50 people) living together. Unlike temporary gatherings, a band has a stable social structure, shared kinship, and collective decision-making processes. It is a primary group that persists over time. ### **Explanation of Incorrect Options (Temporary Groups)** Temporary groups are characterized by a lack of internal organization and a short lifespan. They disperse once the immediate cause of the gathering is over. * **Crowd (B):** A temporary collection of people reacting to a common stimulus (e.g., people watching a street performance). It has no structure or future commitment. * **Mob (A):** A crowd that becomes emotionally charged and turns violent or disorderly. It is highly unstable and short-lived. * **Herd (D):** Often used interchangeably with a crowd in behavioral science, it refers to a group of people acting together without planned direction, driven by "herd mentality." ### **High-Yield Pearls for NEET-PG** * **Primary Groups:** Characterized by face-to-face association and cooperation (e.g., Family, Playgroups, **Bands**). * **Secondary Groups:** Larger, formal, and impersonal (e.g., Professional associations, Trade unions). * **Reference Group:** A group to which an individual compares themselves for self-evaluation (e.g., a medical student looking up to resident doctors). * **In-group vs. Out-group:** "We" (loyalty) vs. "They" (antagonism).

Q: Which of the following is NOT included in the Kuppuswamy scale?

Housing. The **Kuppuswamy Scale** is a widely used tool in India to assess the socioeconomic status (SES) of families, primarily in **urban** areas. It was first proposed in 1976 and is periodically updated to account for inflation. ### Why "Housing" is the Correct Answer The Kuppuswamy scale is based on three specific parameters: **Education, Occupation, and Income**. It does **not** include housing conditions, family size, or ownership of assets. In contrast, scales like the **Prasad Scale** rely solely on per capita monthly income, while the **Udair Pareek Scale** (used for rural areas) does include housing as a parameter. ### Analysis of Incorrect Options * **Education (Option D):** This refers to the educational qualification of the **Head of the Family**. Scores range from 1 (Illiterate) to 7 (Professional degree). * **Occupation (Option C):** This assesses the type of work done by the **Head of the Family**, ranging from Unskilled workers (1 point) to Professionals (10 points). * **Income (Option A):** This refers to the **Total Monthly Family Income**. This is the most dynamic component and is updated annually based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI). ### High-Yield Clinical Pearls for NEET-PG * **Target Population:** Kuppuswamy is for **Urban** families; Udair Pareek is for **Rural** families. * **Scoring:** The total score ranges from **3 to 29**. * 26–29: Upper Class (I) * 16–25: Upper Middle (II) * 11–15: Lower Middle (III) * 5–10: Upper Lower (IV) * <5: Lower (V) * **Update Frequency:** The income criteria must be updated frequently using the **AICPI (All India Consumer Price Index)** to remain valid. * **Modified BG Prasad Scale:** Only uses **Income per capita** and is applicable to both urban and rural areas.

Q: A college student caught smoking on campus was suspended for one week. He subsequently stopped smoking. What type of behavioral intervention best describes this situation?

Punishment. ### Explanation This scenario describes **Operant Conditioning**, a learning process where behavior is modified by its consequences. **1. Why Punishment is Correct:** In behavioral psychology, **Punishment** refers to any consequence that **decreases** the likelihood of a behavior recurring. * **Positive Punishment:** Adding an unpleasant stimulus (e.g., a suspension or a fine) to stop a behavior. * In this case, the student was given a "suspension" (unpleasant stimulus) to stop the "smoking" (undesirable behavior). Since the behavior subsequently stopped, it is a classic example of punishment. **2. Why the other options are incorrect:** * **Positive Reinforcement:** Adding a rewarding stimulus to **increase** a desired behavior (e.g., giving a student a medal for studying). * **Negative Reinforcement:** **Removing** an unpleasant stimulus to **increase** a desired behavior. (e.g., taking an aspirin to remove a headache makes you more likely to take aspirin in the future). It is often confused with punishment, but reinforcement always aims to *increase* behavior. * **Omission Training (Negative Punishment):** Removing a pleasant stimulus to **decrease** a behavior (e.g., taking away a child’s video games because they misbehaved). **3. High-Yield Clinical Pearls for NEET-PG:** * **B.F. Skinner** is the father of Operant Conditioning. * **Reinforcement** = Goal is to **Increase** behavior. * **Punishment** = Goal is to **Decrease** behavior. * **Positive** = **Adding** a stimulus. * **Negative** = **Removing** a stimulus. * **Extinction:** The gradual weakening and disappearance of a conditioned response when it is no longer reinforced.

Q: Loss of power or function is termed as:

Impairment. This question tests the fundamental understanding of the WHO classification of the consequences of disease (ICIDH model). **Correct Answer: A. Impairment** According to the WHO, **Impairment** is defined as any loss or abnormality of psychological, physiological, or anatomical structure or function. It occurs at the **organ level**. For example, the loss of a foot or the clouding of a lens (cataract) represents a loss of anatomical structure/function, thus qualifying as an impairment. **Explanation of Incorrect Options:** * **B. Disability:** This is any restriction or lack of ability to perform an activity in a manner considered normal for a human being. It occurs at the **personal level** (e.g., inability to walk due to the loss of a foot). * **C. Handicap:** This is the disadvantage resulting from an impairment or disability that limits or prevents the fulfillment of a role that is normal for that individual. It occurs at the **societal level** (e.g., inability to gain employment due to the inability to walk). * **D. Disease:** This is the primary pathological process (e.g., Polio or Diabetes). It is the starting point of the sequence: **Disease → Impairment → Disability → Handicap.** **NEET-PG High-Yield Pearls:** 1. **Sequence Memory Tool:** Remember **DIDH** (Disease → Impairment → Disability → Handicap). 2. **Levels of Impact:** * Impairment = Organ level. * Disability = Personal/Individual level. * Handicap = Societal level. 3. **Rehabilitation:** Aims to reduce the transition from impairment to disability and from disability to handicap. 4. **ICF Model:** Note that the older ICIDH model has been updated by the WHO to the **ICF** (International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health), which focuses on "components of health" rather than "consequences of disease."

Q: Which theory explains disease causation due to social strain?

Parsonian theory. **Explanation:** The correct answer is **Parsonian theory**, developed by sociologist Talcott Parsons. In medical sociology, Parsons introduced the concept of the **"Sick Role"** (1951). He viewed illness not just as a biological condition but as a form of social deviance that arises when an individual cannot fulfill their social obligations due to **social strain**. According to this theory, the "sick role" provides a socially sanctioned way for an individual to be excused from their normal responsibilities, provided they seek professional help and work toward recovery. **Analysis of Incorrect Options:** * **Marxist theory:** Focuses on how capitalism and socioeconomic inequalities lead to health disparities. It views disease as a result of the exploitation of the working class and unequal distribution of resources, rather than individual social strain. * **Foucauldian theory:** Michel Foucault focused on "Medical Gaze" and "Biopower." His work examines how medical knowledge is used as a tool for social control and surveillance by the state. * **Feminist theory:** Analyzes how patriarchy and gender-based power imbalances affect women’s health and their access to medical care. **High-Yield Clinical Pearls for NEET-PG:** * **Sick Role (Parsons):** Includes two rights (exemption from social roles and no responsibility for the illness) and two obligations (desire to get well and seeking competent medical help). * **Social Strain:** Refers to the tension experienced when an individual cannot meet the expectations of their social status, often manifesting as psychosomatic illness. * **Medicalization:** A concept often linked to these theories where non-medical problems (like social strain) are defined and treated as medical illnesses.

Q: Who first introduced the term 'Social Medicine'?

Jules Guerin. **Explanation:** The term **'Social Medicine'** was first introduced by the French physician **Jules Guérin** in **1848**. He used it to describe a branch of medicine that considers the social factors influencing health and disease, advocating for the state's role in improving public health through social reform. **Why the correct answer is right:** * **Jules Guérin (1848):** He divided social medicine into four pillars: social physiology, social pathology, social hygiene, and social therapy. He emphasized that medicine is a social science and politics is nothing but medicine on a grand scale. **Analysis of Incorrect Options:** * **John Snow:** Known as the **'Father of Modern Epidemiology'**. He is famous for his work on the 1854 cholera outbreak in London (Broad Street pump) and for being a pioneer in anesthesia. * **David Morley:** A renowned pediatrician known for developing the **'Under-Five Clinic'** and the **'Road to Health'** chart, focusing on child health in developing countries. * **C.E.A. Winslow:** He is famous for providing the most widely accepted **definition of Public Health** in 1920 ("the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life..."). **High-Yield NEET-PG Pearls:** * **Father of Public Health:** Cholera (the disease itself is often called the 'Father of Public Health'). * **Father of Evidence-Based Medicine:** David Sackett. * **First to use the term 'Epidemiology':** Angelerio (1598). * **Social Medicine Concept:** Later popularized by **Rudolf Virchow**, who famously stated, "Medicine is a social science, and politics is nothing else but medicine on a large scale." * **Social Psychology:** The term was coined by Auguste Comte.

Question 1

Which of the following is a true statement about society?

Accepted Answer

Society imposes constraints on individual efforts.

Answer

An individual can live without society.

Answer

A crowd can be considered a society, but a society cannot be a crowd.

Answer

Modern societies do not adhere to customs.

Question 2

All of the following are temporary social groups except?

Accepted Answer

Band

Answer

Mob

Answer

Crowd

Answer

Herd

Question 3

Which of the following is NOT included in the Kuppuswamy scale?

Accepted Answer

Housing

Answer

Income

Answer

Occupation

Answer

Education

Question 4

A college student caught smoking on campus was suspended for one week. He subsequently stopped smoking. What type of behavioral intervention best describes this situation?

Accepted Answer

Punishment

Answer

Positive reinforcement

Answer

Omission training

Answer

Negative reinforcement

Question 5

Loss of power or function is termed as:

Accepted Answer

Impairment

Answer

Disability

Answer

Handicap

Answer

Disease

Question 6

Which theory explains disease causation due to social strain?

Accepted Answer

Parsonian theory

Answer

Marxist theory

Answer

Foucauldian theory

Answer

Feminist theory

Question 7

According to the Biomedical concept, health is defined as:

Accepted Answer

The absence of disease.

Answer

The relative absence of pain and discomfort.

Answer

A sound mind in a sound body, in a sound family, in a sound environment.

Answer

None of the above.

Question 8

All of the following are taken into consideration in the Kuppuswamy scale EXCEPT?

Accepted Answer

Living/Housing conditions

Answer

Education status

Answer

Occupational status

Answer

Per capita income

Question 9

Who first introduced the term 'Social Medicine'?

Accepted Answer

Jules Guerin

Answer

John Snow

Answer

David Morley

Answer

C.E.A. Winslow

Question 10

What does the term 'movement' refer to in the context of socio-economic levels?

Accepted Answer

Social mobility

Answer

Social equality

Answer

Social mobilization

Answer

Socio-economic upliftment

Social and Behavioral Sciences — MCQs

Social and Behavioral Sciences — MCQs

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