Introduction to Psychiatry Practice Questions

Q: Who described repression as a defense mechanism?

Freud. **Explanation:** **Sigmund Freud** is the correct answer as he is the father of psychoanalysis and the first to describe **Repression**. It is considered the "primary" or "cornerstone" defense mechanism. Repression is an **unconscious** process where the ego pushes threatening thoughts, painful memories, or unacceptable impulses out of the conscious mind and into the unconscious to reduce anxiety. **Analysis of Options:** * **B. Freud (Correct):** Beyond repression, Freud developed the structural model of the mind (Id, Ego, Superego) and psychosexual stages. His daughter, Anna Freud, later expanded and categorized the defense mechanisms further. * **A. Seligman:** Martin Seligman is known for the concept of **"Learned Helplessness,"** which is a key psychological model for understanding Depression. * **C. Lorenz:** Konrad Lorenz was an ethologist famous for describing **"Imprinting"** (a rapid form of learning occurring at a critical period). * **D. Adler:** Alfred Adler founded Individual Psychology and is best known for the concepts of the **"Inferiority Complex"** and sibling rivalry. **Clinical Pearls for NEET-PG:** * **Repression vs. Suppression:** Repression is **unconscious** (forgetting a traumatic event involuntarily), whereas Suppression is the only **conscious** defense mechanism (intentionally choosing not to think about a stressor). * **Primary Defense:** Repression is often called the "primary" defense because many other mechanisms (like Reaction Formation) rely on the initial repression of an impulse. * **High-Yield Association:** If a question mentions "forgetting" without conscious effort after a trauma, think Repression.

Q: Who proposed the "8 stages of psychosocial development"?

Erik Erikson. **Explanation:** **Erik Erikson** is the correct answer. He proposed the **Theory of Psychosocial Development**, which suggests that personality develops in a predetermined order through **eight stages** from infancy to adulthood. Unlike Freud’s psychosexual stages, Erikson’s theory emphasizes the impact of social experience and conscious thought. Each stage is characterized by a specific "psychosocial crisis" (e.g., Trust vs. Mistrust) that must be resolved for healthy personality development. **Analysis of Incorrect Options:** * **Sigmund Freud:** Proposed the **5 stages of Psychosexual Development** (Oral, Anal, Phallic, Latency, and Genital). His focus was primarily on the unconscious mind and libido. * **Carl Jung:** Founded **Analytical Psychology**. He introduced concepts like the collective unconscious, archetypes, and extraversion/introversion, but did not define an 8-stage developmental model. * **Roger Sperry:** A neuropsychologist known for his **"Split-brain" research**, which demonstrated the functional specialization of the left and right cerebral hemispheres. He won the Nobel Prize for this work. **High-Yield Clinical Pearls for NEET-PG:** * **Stage 1 (Infancy):** Trust vs. Mistrust (Virtue: **Hope**). * **Stage 5 (Adolescence):** Identity vs. Role Confusion (Virtue: **Fidelity**). This is the most frequently tested stage in exams. * **Stage 8 (Late Adulthood):** Integrity vs. Despair (Virtue: **Wisdom**). * Erikson’s theory is considered an **"Epigenetic"** model, meaning each stage builds upon the successful completion of the previous one.

Q: A psychiatrist becomes upset with a patient, only to realize the patient reminds him of his deceased father. This phenomenon is possibly called:

Countertransference. **Explanation:** The correct answer is **Countertransference (Option B)**. In psychodynamic theory, **Countertransference** refers to the unconscious emotional response of the therapist toward the patient. This occurs when the patient triggers the therapist’s own unresolved conflicts, past experiences, or feelings associated with significant figures in the therapist's life (in this case, the psychiatrist’s deceased father). It is essentially the therapist’s "transference" onto the patient. **Analysis of Incorrect Options:** * **A. Transference:** This is the opposite phenomenon, where the **patient** unconsciously redirects feelings for a significant person from their past (e.g., a parent) onto the therapist. * **C. Projection:** A defense mechanism where an individual attributes their own unacceptable thoughts, feelings, or impulses onto another person (e.g., "I don't hate him; he hates me"). * **D. Rationalization:** A defense mechanism where an individual creates logical, socially acceptable reasons to justify behavior or feelings that are actually driven by unconscious motives. **Clinical Pearls for NEET-PG:** * **Transference/Countertransference:** These are not necessarily "bad" but must be recognized and managed through supervision to maintain therapeutic boundaries. * **Positive vs. Negative:** Both transference and countertransference can be positive (affection/respect) or negative (anger/resentment). * **High-Yield Distinction:** If the patient feels it → **Transference**. If the doctor feels it → **Countertransference**. * **Therapeutic Alliance:** The collaborative relationship between the doctor and patient, which is influenced by these phenomena.

Q: Who proposed the concept of positive reinforcement?

B. F. Skinner. **Explanation:** The correct answer is **B. F. Skinner**. Skinner is the father of **Operant Conditioning**, a learning process where behavior is modified by its consequences. He introduced the concept of **Positive Reinforcement**, which occurs when a behavior is followed by a rewarding stimulus (reinforcer), thereby increasing the likelihood of that behavior being repeated. In psychiatry, this concept is fundamental to understanding substance use disorders (the "high" reinforces drug-taking) and is utilized in behavioral therapies like **Token Economies**. **Analysis of Incorrect Options:** * **A. Lorenz:** Konrad Lorenz is known for **Ethology**, specifically the concept of **Imprinting** (the rapid learning process in newborn animals to follow a parental figure). * **C. Seligman:** Martin Seligman proposed the theory of **Learned Helplessness**, which is a core psychological model for **Depression**. He observed that dogs subjected to inescapable shocks eventually stopped trying to escape even when the opportunity arose. * **D. Abraham Maslow:** Maslow is famous for the **Hierarchy of Needs**, culminating in **Self-actualization**. His work focuses on humanistic psychology rather than behavioral conditioning. **High-Yield Clinical Pearls for NEET-PG:** * **Negative Reinforcement:** Removal of an aversive stimulus to increase behavior (e.g., taking an aspirin to remove a headache). This is the primary mechanism in **OCD** (compulsions reduce anxiety). * **Punishment:** An unpleasant consequence intended to *decrease* a behavior. * **Classical Conditioning:** Proposed by **Ivan Pavlov** (learning by association/pairing), which explains the development of **Phobias**.

Q: Fetishism is a sexual perversion characterized by:

Sexual pleasure derived from inanimate objects. **Explanation:** **Fetishism** is a type of paraphilic disorder where sexual arousal, urges, or behaviors are focused on the use of **non-living (inanimate) objects** or a highly specific focus on non-genital body parts. Common fetish objects include shoes, stockings, or leather items. According to the ICD and DSM criteria, this behavior must be present for at least 6 months and cause significant clinical distress or impairment in functioning. **Analysis of Incorrect Options:** * **Option A (Sexual focus on children):** This describes **Pedophilia**, a paraphilic disorder involving sexual interest in prepubescent children (typically aged 13 or younger). * **Option B (Sexual focus on genital rubbing):** This describes **Frotteurism**, which involves touching or rubbing one's genitals against a non-consenting person, usually in crowded places like buses or trains. * **Option C (Sexual pleasure for pain):** This refers to **Sexual Masochism** (deriving pleasure from receiving pain/humiliation) or **Sexual Sadism** (deriving pleasure from inflicting pain/humiliation). **High-Yield Clinical Pearls for NEET-PG:** * **Gender Distribution:** Fetishism is diagnosed almost exclusively in **males**. * **Transvestic Fetishism:** A specific subtype where sexual arousal is derived from **cross-dressing** (wearing clothes of the opposite sex). * **Partialism:** A related concept where the fetishistic focus is on a specific **non-genital body part** (e.g., feet). * **Treatment:** Behavioral therapy (Aversion therapy, Orgasmic reconditioning) and SSRIs or anti-androgens to reduce compulsive sexual urges are the mainstays of management.

Q: Who coined the term "Oedipus complex"?

Sigmund Freud. **Explanation:** **Correct Answer: A. Sigmund Freud** The term **"Oedipus complex"** was coined by **Sigmund Freud** in his theory of psychosexual stages of development. It occurs during the **Phallic stage (3–6 years)**. Inspired by the Greek myth of Oedipus Rex, Freud described this as a developmental phenomenon where a child experiences unconscious sexual desire for the opposite-sex parent and feelings of rivalry or hostility toward the same-sex parent. In boys, this leads to **castration anxiety**, which is eventually resolved through identification with the father. **Analysis of Incorrect Options:** * **B. Konrad Lorenz:** An ethologist famous for describing **"Imprinting,"** a rapid learning process occurring in a critical period early in life (e.g., ducklings following the first moving object they see). * **C. Martin Seligman:** Known for the concept of **"Learned Helplessness,"** which serves as a psychological model for depression. * **D. Uwe Schneider:** Not a major figure in classical psychiatric theory; likely a distractor. **High-Yield Clinical Pearls for NEET-PG:** * **Electra Complex:** The female counterpart to the Oedipus complex (coined by **Carl Jung**, not Freud), involving "penis envy." * **Structural Model of Personality:** Freud also proposed the **Id** (pleasure principle), **Ego** (reality principle), and **Superego** (morality principle). * **Defense Mechanisms:** The Ego uses defense mechanisms (like repression or sublimation) to resolve the anxiety created by the Oedipus complex. * **Topographical Model:** Division of the mind into Conscious, Preconscious, and Unconscious.

Q: Who coined the term 'free association'?

Sigmund Freud. **Explanation:** **Sigmund Freud (Option A)** is the correct answer. He coined the term **'Free Association'** as a core technique in **Psychoanalysis**. Freud developed this method to replace hypnosis, which he found unreliable. In free association, the patient is encouraged to verbalize every thought that comes to mind without censorship or logical filtering. Freud believed this bypassed conscious defenses, allowing the "unconscious" mind to reveal repressed conflicts, desires, and memories. **Why other options are incorrect:** * **Alfred Adler (Option B):** Known for **Individual Psychology**, he focused on the "Inferiority Complex" and the drive for superiority. * **Erik Erikson (Option C):** Famous for the **Psychosocial Stages of Development** (8 stages) and coining the term "Identity Crisis." * **Carl Jung (Option D):** Founded **Analytical Psychology**. While he used "Word Association Tests," the specific therapeutic technique of "Free Association" is strictly Freudian. Jung is best known for concepts like the Collective Unconscious and Archetypes. **High-Yield Clinical Pearls for NEET-PG:** * **The "Fundamental Rule" of Psychoanalysis:** This refers to the instruction given to patients to practice free association. * **Transference:** A phenomenon often discovered during free association where the patient displaces feelings for a significant person onto the therapist. * **Sigmund Freud’s other "Firsts":** He also coined terms like **Psychoanalysis**, **Id/Ego/Superego**, **Libido**, and **Defense Mechanisms** (though his daughter, Anna Freud, further categorized the latter). * **Dream Analysis:** Freud called dreams the "Royal Road to the Unconscious," often using free association to interpret dream content.

Q: Displacement reaction is characteristically seen in:

Phobia. **Explanation:** **Displacement** is a defense mechanism where an individual redirects an emotional impulse (usually aggression or anxiety) from its original, threatening source to a less threatening target. **Why Phobia is Correct:** In phobic disorders, displacement is the primary defense mechanism. According to psychoanalytic theory (notably Freud’s case of "Little Hans"), anxiety arising from an internal unconscious conflict is **displaced** onto an external object or situation (the phobic stimulus). By displacing the internal fear onto something external, the individual can avoid the anxiety by simply avoiding that specific object or situation. **Analysis of Incorrect Options:** * **Mania:** Characterized by the use of **Denial** (denying the existence of problems or pain) and **Reaction Formation**. * **Conversion Disorder:** Characterized by **Repression** and **Symbolization**. The psychological conflict is converted into a physical symptom (somatization) rather than being displaced onto another object. * **Depression:** Primarily involves **Introjection** (turning anger inward against the self) and **Learned Helplessness**. **NEET-PG High-Yield Pearls:** * **Phobia Defense Mechanisms:** Displacement (primary) and Avoidance (secondary). * **Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD):** Characterized by Undoing, Isolation of Affect, and Reaction Formation. * **Paranoia/Psychosis:** Characterized by **Projection** (attributing one's own unacceptable thoughts to others). * **Reaction Formation:** Transforming an unacceptable impulse into its opposite (e.g., being excessively kind to someone you hate). This is classically seen in OCD and sometimes Mania.

Q: Who proposed the phallic stage of psychosexual development?

Freud. **Explanation:** The correct answer is **Sigmund Freud**. Freud proposed the **Theory of Psychosexual Development**, which suggests that personality develops through a series of childhood stages where the pleasure-seeking energies of the 'id' become focused on certain erogenous zones. **The Phallic Stage (3 to 6 years):** During this stage, the primary focus of the libido is on the genitals. It is characterized by the development of the **Oedipus complex** (in boys) and the **Electra complex** (in girls), involving unconscious desires for the opposite-sex parent and rivalry with the same-sex parent. Resolution of this stage leads to the development of the **Superego**. **Analysis of Incorrect Options:** * **Bleuler (Eugen Bleuler):** A Swiss psychiatrist best known for coining the term "Schizophrenia" and defining its "4 As" (Association, Affect, Ambivalence, and Autism). * **Erikson (Erik Erikson):** Proposed the **Theory of Psychosocial Development**, which consists of 8 stages (e.g., Trust vs. Mistrust) spanning from birth to old age. * **Lorenz (Konrad Lorenz):** An ethologist famous for his work on **Imprinting** (the rapid learning process in newborn animals), which is a key concept in attachment theory. **High-Yield Clinical Pearls for NEET-PG:** * **Freud’s Stages in Order:** Oral (0-1y) → Anal (1-3y) → Phallic (3-6y) → Latency (6-12y) → Genital (Puberty onwards). * **Fixation:** Freud believed that failure to resolve a conflict at a specific stage leads to "fixation" (e.g., anal-retentive personality). * **Structural Model:** Freud also proposed the tripartite model of the mind: **Id** (pleasure principle), **Ego** (reality principle), and **Superego** (moral principle).

Question 1

Who described repression as a defense mechanism?

Accepted Answer

Freud

Answer

Seligman

Answer

Lorenz

Answer

Adler

Question 2

Who proposed the "8 stages of psychosocial development"?

Accepted Answer

Erik Erikson

Answer

Sigmund Freud

Answer

Carl Jung

Answer

Roger Sperry

Question 3

A psychiatrist becomes upset with a patient, only to realize the patient reminds him of his deceased father. This phenomenon is possibly called:

Accepted Answer

Countertransference

Answer

Transference

Answer

Projection

Answer

Rationalization

Question 4

Who proposed the concept of positive reinforcement?

Accepted Answer

B. F. Skinner

Answer

Lorenz

Answer

Seligman

Answer

Abraham Maslow

Question 5

Fetishism is a sexual perversion characterized by:

Accepted Answer

Sexual pleasure derived from inanimate objects

Answer

Sexual focus on children

Answer

Sexual focus on genital rubbing

Answer

Sexual pleasure for pain

Question 6

A 20-year-old female reports that she was raised by an abusive father. Although he is no longer abusive, she still becomes anxious as soon as she sees him. What is the best explanation for her anxiety based on psychological theory?

Accepted Answer

Classical conditioning

Answer

Operant conditioning

Answer

Free association

Answer

Reaction formation

Question 7

Who coined the term "Oedipus complex"?

Accepted Answer

Sigmund Freud

Answer

Konrad Lorenz

Answer

Martin Seligman

Answer

Uwe Schneider

Question 8

Who coined the term 'free association'?

Accepted Answer

Sigmund Freud

Answer

Alfred Adler

Answer

Erik Erikson

Answer

Carl Jung

Question 9

Displacement reaction is characteristically seen in:

Accepted Answer

Phobia

Answer

Mania

Answer

Conversion disorder

Answer

Depression

Question 10

Who proposed the phallic stage of psychosexual development?

Accepted Answer

Freud

Answer

Bleuler

Answer

Erikson

Answer

Lorenz

Introduction to Psychiatry — MCQs

Introduction to Psychiatry — MCQs

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