Which does not constitute a “psychological force?” a. Intelligence b. Heredity c. Perception d. Personality
The correct answer and explanation is:
Correct Answer: b. Heredity
Explanation:
In psychology, psychological forces refer to internal factors that influence how individuals think, feel, and behave. These forces include aspects such as cognition, emotions, motivations, perceptions, and personality traits. They shape our psychological functioning and determine how we respond to our environment.
Let’s look at each option:
- a. Intelligence – Intelligence is a psychological force because it involves mental capacities such as reasoning, problem-solving, learning, and adapting to new situations. These are all internal psychological processes that influence behavior and development.
- c. Perception – Perception is a fundamental psychological process. It refers to the way we interpret and make sense of sensory information. How we perceive the world greatly affects our thoughts, emotions, and actions. Therefore, perception is clearly a psychological force.
- d. Personality – Personality includes enduring patterns of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. It influences how we interact with others and cope with different situations. Since personality involves psychological traits like introversion, openness, or conscientiousness, it is definitely a psychological force.
- b. Heredity – Heredity is not a psychological force. It refers to the genetic transmission of characteristics from parents to offspring. While heredity sets the biological foundation (such as potential for intelligence or temperament), it is biological rather than psychological. It influences psychological traits but is not itself a psychological force because it is not based on mental or emotional processes. It is considered part of the biological forces in human development, alongside others like brain development and physical health.
In developmental psychology, forces that shape an individual are often categorized into biological, psychological, sociocultural, and life-cycle forces. Heredity falls under biological forces, not psychological ones.
Summary:
Heredity is the correct answer because it represents a biological, not psychological, force.