NIOS Class 12 Psychology Chapter 21 Answers
INTEXT QUESTIONS 21.1
State which of the following statements are ‘true’ and which are ‘false?
1. In altruistic helping we expect something in return
Ans: False
2. Cooperation is important for maintaining social order.
Ans: True
3. Blood donation is unhealthy.
Ans: False
4. One should only help humans and not animals.
Ans: False
5. Volunteering can help in choosing a career path.
Ans: True
INTEXT QUESTIONS 21.2
Match the following:
| i. Cutting Trees | 1. Natural Resource Drain |
| ii. Bursting Crackers | iii. Overfishing |
| iii. Over Fishing | 3. Deforestation |
| iv. Leaving the tap running | 4. Species Extinction |
| v. Hunting/Poaching | 5. Air Pollution |
Ans:
i) 3
ii) 5
iii) 1
iv) 2
v) 4
Multiple Choice Questions
Global Warming is:
a) Increase in temperature of Earth
b) Decrease in Temperature of Earth
c) No change in temperature of Earth
d) A healthy phenomenon
Ans: a) Increase in temperature of Earth
INTEXT QUESTIONS 21.3
1. Outline two individual and social benefits of prosocial and pro-environment behavior.
Ans:
INDIVIDUAL BENEFITS
- Individuals who volunteer report higher life satisfaction and lower depression than those who do not volunteer
- Individuals who donate money to charity report higher levels of life satisfaction than those who do not
SOCIAL BENEFITS
- Individuals with larger and more widely used networks provide more positive life evaluations.
- Communities with high social capital have been documented to recover more quickly from natural disasters, such as the Tokyo earthquake of 1923 and the 2004 tsunami in southern India
TERMINAL QUESTIONS
1. Define prosocial behaviour.
Ans: Prosocial behaviors is “a broad range of actions intended to benefit one or more people other than oneself—behaviors such as helping, comforting, sharing and cooperation.”
2. What are the various types of prosocial behaviours?
Ans: Major forms of prosocial behaviour are:
- 1. Helping
- 2. Sharing
- 3. Comforting
- 4. Cooperating
- 5. Volunteering
- 6. Donating
3. Can we develop pro-social behaviour? If yes, how?
Ans: Yes, we can. A few ways of developing prosocial behaviour are:
- 1. Encouraging prosocial behaviour in children by using techniques such as reinforcement.
- 2. Experiencing a helper’s high, that is, learning to pat your back whenever you indulge in a good deed. One should feel accomplished and hence euphoric after a helping act. You deserve to feel good!
- 3. Teaching moral behaviours to people around us, especially children and peers.
- 4. Paying attention to activities going around us. This keeps us alert to help in an emergency.
- 5. Remember, you are as responsible as anyone else to help a stranger in need.
- 6. Be willing to take a chance or risk to help others. The Government of India gives bravery awards to children who have helped others in need while risking their own lives.
4. Why is there a need for pro-environment behaviours?
Ans: Need to Exhibit Pro-Environment Behaviour
- 1) Climate Change/ Global Warming: Earth’s climate is now changing faster, primarily as a result of human activities. The temperature of Earth is rising due to activities such as deforestation. Climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of natural events like droughts, wildfires, heat waves, rainstorms, tropical cyclones, and hurricanes, which could disrupt food production and cause famines.
- 2) Species Extinction and Biodiversity Loss: Intensive agriculture, unsustainable fishing, wildlife poaching, habitat degradation and destruction, acid rain, and climate change are threatening thousands of species. Humans are clearing forests for raising livestock, agriculture or establishing industries, as a result of which animals are losing their homes.
- 3) Air and Water pollution: There are various types of pollution, but air and water pollution have the most alarming consequences. Air pollution is caused by industries, automobiles, and waste burning. Water pollution is at a rise due to plastic pollution.
- 4) Water Crisis: Though the Earth’s surface is covered 70% by water, only 2.5% is fresh water that people, plants, and animals can use to survive. Water shortage is occurring due to careless overuse. People are extracting water from groundwater-reservoirs and rivers, and demand is growing.
- 5) Natural Resources Drain: A growing population places more demands on the earth’s natural resources year after year. A prime example of higher consumption demands can be found in the fishery industry, where 63% of the world’s marine life is over-fished, with few to no renewable methods in place.
- 6) Deforestation: Deforestation disrupts the natural balance of ecological systems. It is a major cause for the extinction of various species of flora and fauna, as forests are home to 80% of animals. It increases soil erosion, leading to landslides. It is a major contributor to global warming, as trees are the only source of oxygen.
- 7) Soil Degradation: Soil degradation results from soil erosion, soil compaction, and application of agricultural chemicals. Erosion of soil can happen due to wind or water when the protective cover of forests and other vegetation is removed, and the topsoil is lost. Soil compaction occurs due to over-grazing and destruction of the soil structure due to heavy tillage that is a characteristic part of industrial agriculture.
5. How can we contribute to a healthy environment? Explain with examples.
Ans: We can contribute to a healthy environment through planting trees and reducing pollution. Turning off lights and other electrical appliances when not in use, saving more water, avoiding plastic, reducing meat consumption, and wastage of food, etc. There are many more ways, such as using family planning methods to control population explosion, switching off the car while waiting at traffic signals, and making others learn the importance of such pro-environment action.
6. What are the benefits of pro-social and pro-environment behaviours for an individual?
Ans: Individual Benefits
- People who volunteer more frequently are both healthier and happier than those who do not volunteer.
- Individuals who volunteer report higher life satisfaction and lower depression than those who do not volunteer
- Individuals who donate money to charity report higher levels of life satisfaction than those who do not
- Pro-environment behaviour improves the present and future subjective well-being of the individual.
7. Outline the three Rs of sustainability.
Ans: There are three Rs of sustainability.
- Reduce: To use fewer resources in the first place. It takes resources to manufacture, transport, and dispose of products, so reduction minimizes the use of new resources.
- Reuse: Use materials more than once in their original form instead of throwing them away after each use. Reuse keeps new resources from being used for a while longer, and old resources from entering the waste stream.
- Recycle: Converting waste materials into new products, changing them from their original form by physical and chemical processes. Although recycling uses energy, it helps to prevent new resources from being used and old materials from entering the waste stream.
8. Identify the different environmental threats.
Ans: The threats to the environment can be reduced by our little actions.
- 1) Plant Trees: Planting trees reduces air pollution by releasing oxygen. Forest cover is important to protect the Earth. Wherever we see vacant land where trees can be planted, do not hesitate. Take the help of an adult and plant a tree, nurture it, and see it bloom.
- 2) Help reduce air pollution: Do not burst crackers – Carbon fumes that are released by burning crackers are highly hazardous for the environment. The gases released in the atmosphere harm the ozone layer of Earth, in turn causing climate change. Finding a substitute for crackers for celebrations – enjoying at the expense of Earth’s health should not be acceptable to you. Even the government is trying to curb pollution by policies such as odd-even traffic movement.
- 3) Switch off the lights: Electricity is mostly produced by burning coal, which in turn contributes to air pollution. By conserving electricity, we can reduce the amount of coal being burnt and help curb air pollution.
- 4) Save Water: Water is a nonrenewable resource. Overuse of water can lead to depletion of the water table, which can lead to a water crisis. Further, water is purified for human consumption, which requires a lot of resources, such as coal burning. Therefore, it is important to save water while bathing, brushing teeth, and cleaning utensils. We should also mind that water is not wasted in public places.
- 5) Say no to Plastic: We should avoid using disposable plates, spoons, straws, and glasses made of plastic, also known as one-time use plastic products. The water bottles that we often buy without giving a second thought are one of the most common forms of plastic waste. Hence, it is in our best interest to avoid plastic products as much as possible.
- 6) Reduce meat consumption: Meat is one of the most common reasons for deforestation. Also, it requires gallons of water, which impacts the water table. If the demand for meat reduces, the supply will also reduce; as a result, the meat industry will lead to less deforestation and less depletion of valuable resources like water.
- 7) Don’t waste food: We can reduce the effect of deforestation by reducing food wastage. Food is directly proportional to the clearing of forests; thus, the more food we consume, the more deforestation.
- 8) Save Wildlife: Deforestation is a common cause for habitat loss and wildlife extinction. Every species has a role to play in the ecosystem. And ethe xtinction of even one species can impact our survival on this planet. We need to be sensitive towards wildlife and their needs.
9. How does pro social behaviour of cooperating is important for maintaining social order?
Ans: Cooperation refers to working together to achieve goals. In a society, it is important to adjust in accordance with each other for harmonious relationships. Cooperation posits acting together for mutual benefits as opposed to competition, where people act selfishly for individual benefits.
Cooperation is important for maintaining social order. It encourages adherence to societal norms so that social order is maintained. For example, not playing loud music at night is a form of cooperation.
10. What will happen to the society and environment if no one develops and acquires prosocial behaviour?
Ans: Prosocial behaviour includes actions like helping, sharing, cooperating, showing empathy, and working for the welfare of others.
- Without prosocial behaviour, it will have serious negative effects on both society and the environment.
- People will become selfish, and social relationships will weaken, trust among people will decline, and conflicts, misunderstandings, and violence may increase.
- Without prosocial values, people will not care for the poor, elderly, sick, or those in difficulty, leading to social injustice and suffering.
- For the environment, the absence of prosocial behaviour means no one will feel responsible for protecting natural resources.
- People may exploit the environment for personal gain without thinking of others or future generations. This will increase pollution, deforestation, and ecological damage.
Therefore, without prosocial behaviour, society will become disorganised, uncaring, and unsafe, and the environment will face serious destruction. Prosocial behaviour is essential for harmony, cooperation, social welfare, and environmental sustainability.
Additional Study Materials
- NIOS Class 12 Psychology Syllabus Bifurcation
- NIOS Class 12 Sample Question Paper
- Self and Personality
- Intelligence
- Group Processes
- Attitude
