BPSC 184 - SOLVED ASSIGNMENT FOR DEC TEE 2025

 

SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGY (BPCS184)

Tutor Marked Assignments (TMA)

Course Code: BPCS 184

Assignment Code: Asst /TMA /2024-25

Assignment One

Answer the following questions in about 500 words each. Each question carries 20 marks.

1. Discuss the historical development and current trends of school psychology in India.  

Historical Development and Current Trends of School Psychology in India

1. Historical Development

The field of school psychology in India is relatively young compared to Western nations, but it has grown steadily over the last century.

1. Early Beginnings (Pre-Independence):
• The roots of psychology in India can be traced back to the 1910s–20s, with the establishment of psychology departments at universities like Calcutta and Mysore.
• Early focus was largely on educational psychology, child development, and intelligence testing, influenced by Western models.
2. Post-Independence (1947–1970s):
• After independence, India emphasized nation-building through education. Educational psychology became more relevant to designing curricula and assessing student performance.
• The NCERT (1961) was established, which provided scope for psychological testing, counseling, and research in schools.
3. Growth of Guidance and Counseling (1970s–1990s):
• School counseling began to emerge, with trained counselors addressing academic, personal, and vocational guidance.
• Universities started offering courses in applied psychology and guidance.
• The focus shifted from only testing to student welfare and adjustment in school settings.
4. Institutionalization (1990s–2000s):
• With liberalization and rapid socio-economic changes, mental health awareness increased.
• Private and international schools began hiring school counselors.
• CBSE mandated the presence of counselors in affiliated schools, strengthening the role of school psychology.

 

2. Current Trends

In recent decades, school psychology in India has seen remarkable transformations.

1. Holistic Student Support:
   The role of the school psychologist now extends beyond testing and guidance to include emotional, social, and behavioral support.
2. Focus on Mental Health:
   Rising stress, peer pressure, and issues like bullying and exam anxiety have made mental health interventions central to school psychology.
3. Integration with Curriculum:
   Life skills, social-emotional learning, and value education are being integrated into curricula with psychologists contributing actively.
4. Policy Support:
   The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 highlights the importance of psychological support systems, counseling services, and inclusive education.
5. Use of Technology:
   Online counseling, digital assessments, and tele-psychology are being increasingly adopted, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic.
6. Inclusive Education:
   School psychologists are supporting children with learning disabilities, ADHD, autism, and other special needs, promoting inclusive classrooms.
7. Parental and Teacher Involvement:
   Psychologists now work with parents and teachers, conducting workshops to build awareness about child development and mental well-being.
8. Professional Development:
   Courses in school psychology, counseling, and educational psychology are expanding. Professional associations are pushing for recognition of school psychology as a distinct field in India.

 

Conclusion

School psychology in India has grown from being a discipline focused on intelligence testing and guidance to a comprehensive support system for student well-being, learning, and adjustment. With the increasing recognition of mental health and inclusive education, the role of school psychologists is becoming indispensable. The challenge ahead lies in scaling these services across rural and government schools, ensuring that every child has access to psychological support.

 

2. Describe the principles of lifespan development according to the lifespan perspective.

Principles of Lifespan Development According to the Lifespan Perspective

The lifespan perspective, developed by psychologist Paul Baltes, views development as a lifelong, multidimensional, and multidirectional process. It emphasizes that growth and change occur at every stage of life, from conception to old age. The key principles are as follows:

 

1. Lifelong Process

Development does not stop at childhood or adolescence but continues throughout life. Every stage—infancy, childhood, adolescence, adulthood, and old age—contributes uniquely to overall development.
Example: Adults may learn new skills in midlife, and older adults may still develop coping strategies.

2. Multidimensional

Development involves changes in different dimensions:

• Biological (physical growth, brain development, health),
• Cognitive (thinking, memory, language), and
• Socio-emotional (relationships, personality, emotions).
  These dimensions interact with each other.
  Example: Puberty (biological) influences self-esteem (socio-emotional) and academic performance (cognitive).

3. Multidirectional

Development shows both gains and losses at every stage. Some abilities improve, while others decline.
Example: Vocabulary knowledge may increase in middle adulthood, while processing speed may decline.

4. Plasticity

Human development has the capacity for change; skills can be improved with effort and training.
Example: An elderly person can improve memory through mental exercises and lifestyle changes.

5. Contextual

Development is shaped by the environment in which a person lives. Contexts include:

• Normative age-graded influences (e.g., schooling, retirement),
• Normative history-graded influences (e.g., wars, pandemics), and
• Non-normative events (e.g., losing a parent early, winning a lottery).

6. Multidisciplinary

Understanding development requires inputs from psychology, sociology, anthropology, medicine, neuroscience, and education.

7. Growth, Maintenance, and Regulation of Loss

Development balances three goals:

• Growth (acquiring new knowledge or skills),
• Maintenance (preserving abilities), and
• Regulation of loss (adapting when abilities decline).
  Example: Older adults may reduce driving at night to adapt to declining vision.

8. Co-construction of Biology, Culture, and the Individual

Development results from the interaction of biological factors (genes, health), cultural factors (traditions, education), and individual choices.

 

Conclusion

The lifespan perspective views development as dynamic, continuous, and shaped by multiple influences. It highlights that no single stage is more important than another, and understanding the whole life course is essential for psychology, education, and health sciences.

 

3. Discuss the different government programmes targeted toward the holistic development of children.

Government Programmes for the Holistic Development of Children in India

Holistic child development means addressing a child’s physical, cognitive, emotional, and social needs. The Government of India has launched several programmes and schemes aimed at ensuring health, nutrition, education, protection, and overall well-being of children.

 

1. Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) – 1975

• One of the world’s largest community-based outreach programmes.
• Provides supplementary nutrition, health check-ups, immunization, pre-school education, and referral services through Anganwadi centers.
• Targets children under 6 years, along with pregnant and lactating mothers.

2. Mid-Day Meal Scheme (MDMS) – 1995

• Provides free cooked meals to children in government and aided schools.
• Aims to improve nutritional levels, encourage school attendance, and reduce dropouts.
• Also promotes social equity by bringing children of different backgrounds together.

3. National Health Mission (NHM) – 2013

• Includes Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, and Adolescent Health (RMNCH+A) strategy.
• Provides services like Janani Suraksha Yojana, immunization drives (Mission Indradhanush), and nutrition programmes.

4. Right to Education Act (RTE) – 2009

• Provides free and compulsory education to children aged 6–14 years.
• Emphasizes quality education, inclusive classrooms, and reduction of child labor by keeping children in schools.

5. Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) – 2015

• Launched to address the declining child sex ratio and empower the girl child.
• Focuses on awareness, education, and protection of girl children.

6. National Nutrition Mission (POSHAN Abhiyaan) – 2018

• Aims to reduce malnutrition, stunting, and anemia among children under 6 years.
• Converges various schemes like ICDS, NHM, and Mid-Day Meal for maximum impact.

7. Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) – 2013

• Provides early detection and management of defects at birth, deficiencies, diseases, and developmental delays in children up to 18 years.

8. Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) & Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan

• Focus on universal elementary education and later extended to cover pre-school to senior secondary levels.
• Emphasizes inclusive education, special training for out-of-school children, and facilities for children with disabilities.

9. Child Protection Services (CPS) under ICPS

• Aims to create a safety net for vulnerable children, especially those in difficult circumstances (street children, orphans, victims of abuse).
• Provides institutional and non-institutional care like foster care and adoption

10. Digital Initiatives for Education (DIKSHA, SWAYAM, PM e-Vidya)

• Post-COVID, government launched digital learning platforms to ensure continuity of education.
• Provides e-content, teacher support, and interactive learning resources for schoolchildren.

 

Conclusion

The Government of India has adopted a multi-dimensional approach to child development, combining health, nutrition, education, and protection. While challenges like malnutrition, school dropouts, and child labor persist, these programmes provide a strong framework to ensure that children not only survive but also grow, learn, and thrive holistically.

 

Assignment Two

Answer the following questions in about 100 words each. Each question carries 5 marks.

4. What are the key developmental theories?

5. Continuous-Discontinuous development.

6. Role of environmental factors in individual differences.

7. Social learning theory.

8. Classification of disabilities.

9. Types of specific learning disabilities.

10. Indian Government Funded Schemes for the Gifted and Talented Children Social withdrawal.

4. Key Developmental Theories

Developmental psychology has been shaped by several key theories. Freud’s psychoanalytic theory emphasized unconscious drives and early childhood experiences, while Erikson’s psychosocial theory highlighted eight stages of life, each with a specific conflict. Piaget’s cognitive theory described how children progress through stages of thinking, from sensorimotor to formal operations. Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory emphasized the role of social interaction and language in learning. Behavioral theories (Skinner, Watson) explained development through reinforcement and conditioning. Bandura’s social learning theory combined behaviorism with cognition, stressing observational learning. Finally, Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory considered the influence of multiple environments such as family, school, culture, and society. These theories collectively explain how biology, environment, and experiences shape growth, providing a foundation for education, parenting, and therapy.

 

5. Continuous–Discontinuous Development

Development can be understood in terms of continuity or discontinuity. Continuous development suggests growth is gradual and cumulative, where small, incremental changes build upon previous abilities. For example, a child learning to speak expands vocabulary step by step, showing steady progress. In contrast, discontinuous development involves qualitative changes, where individuals move through distinct stages with new skills emerging suddenly. Piaget’s stages of cognitive development illustrate this, as a child shifts from concrete thinking to abstract reasoning. Both perspectives are valid: physical growth, language, and some cognitive skills often show continuity, while emotional regulation, moral reasoning, or puberty highlight discontinuity. Development, therefore, is best viewed as a combination of both—gradual progress punctuated by key transitions—showing that human growth is complex and dynamic across the lifespan.

 

6. Role of Environmental Factors in Individual Differences

While heredity provides the biological foundation of personality and intelligence, environmental factors play a crucial role in shaping individual differences. The family environment influences emotional development—children raised in nurturing households often display confidence, while neglect can cause insecurity. Socioeconomic status affects access to education, healthcare, and nutrition, leading to disparities in academic achievement. Cultural factors determine values, communication styles, and worldviews, shaping social identity. Schools and peers impact self-esteem, motivation, and social skills. Life experiences such as trauma, migration, or illness also create variations in personality and coping styles. Even identical twins raised apart develop distinct characteristics due to different environments. Thus, environment interacts with heredity to produce diversity, highlighting that individual differences are not fixed but are shaped by social and cultural contexts.

 

7. Social Learning Theory

Proposed by Albert Bandura, social learning theory emphasizes that learning occurs not only through direct experience but also by observing others. Its key concepts include observational learning, imitation, and vicarious reinforcement. For example, children may copy positive behaviors like helping if they see parents rewarded, or avoid aggression if they observe punishment. Bandura’s Bobo Doll Experiment demonstrated this: children imitated aggressive actions after watching adults model them. The theory bridges behaviorism and cognitive psychology by recognizing that internal processes—like attention, memory, and motivation—affect learning. Social learning explains how values, habits, and social skills are acquired in families, schools, and media. It remains influential in fields like education, therapy, and criminology, as it shows that behavior is shaped by both the environment and cognition.

 

8. Classification of Disabilities

Disabilities are generally classified into broad categories to provide specialized interventions. Physical disabilities affect mobility and motor skills, including conditions like cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, or limb loss. Sensory disabilities include visual impairment (blindness, low vision) and hearing impairment (deafness, partial hearing loss). Intellectual disabilities involve significantly below-average intellectual functioning (IQ below 70) along with limitations in adaptive behavior. Learning disabilities refer to difficulties in specific academic areas, such as reading (dyslexia), writing (dysgraphia), or mathematics (dyscalculia). Mental health disabilities include psychological conditions such as anxiety, depression, or autism spectrum disorder. Some individuals may experience multiple disabilities, which involve combinations of impairments. This classification ensures that support systems—like inclusive education, rehabilitation, and government schemes—are tailored to individual needs, promoting equality and participation in society.

 

9. Types of Specific Learning Disabilities

Specific Learning Disabilities (SLDs) are neurological in origin and interfere with academic skills despite average or above-average intelligence. Common types include:

• Dyslexia: Difficulty in reading, decoding words, and spelling.
• Dysgraphia: Problems with handwriting, grammar, and written expression.
• Dyscalculia: Difficulty in understanding numbers, calculations, and mathematical reasoning.
• Dyspraxia: Issues with motor coordination that affect learning tasks like writing or sports.
• Auditory Processing Disorder (APD): Difficulty in processing and interpreting sounds despite normal hearing.
• Nonverbal Learning Disability (NLD): Weak visual-spatial and social skills, despite strong verbal abilities.
  SLDs affect self-confidence and academic success, but with early diagnosis, remedial teaching, assistive technology, and supportive environments, children can overcome these challenges and thrive.

 

10. Indian Government Schemes for Gifted and Talented Children

The Government of India has launched several schemes to nurture giftedness. The National Talent Search Examination (NTSE) identifies meritorious students and awards scholarships up to higher education. The INSPIRE Programme (Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research) provides scholarships and mentorship for scientific innovation. Kishore Vaigyanik Protsahan Yojana (KVPY) encourages students to pursue research in science. Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas (JNVs) provide free, high-quality education to talented rural children. The Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) sets up innovation labs to encourage creativity and problem-solving among school students. Other initiatives like Olympiads and scholarships promote excellence in mathematics and science. These schemes ensure that gifted children receive recognition, resources, and opportunities to develop their talents fully, contributing to national progress.