- OCD is an anxiety disorder with uncontrollable obsessions (repeated thoughts) and compulsions (repeated actions).
- Obsessions are disturbing thoughts that keep coming back despite efforts to stop them.
- Compulsions are repetitive behaviours like washing or checking done to reduce anxiety.
- Unlike normal worry, OCD thoughts and actions are persistent and irrational.
- It interferes with daily life and may include related disorders like hoarding or hair-pulling.
Topics
Variations in Psychological Attributes
- Individual Differences in Human Functioning
- Assessment of Psychological Attributes
- Concept of Intelligence
- Theories of Intelligence
- Binet's One-Factor Theory
- Charles Spearman's Two Factor Theory
- Louis Thurstone’s Multifactor Theory
- Jensen's Hierarchical Theory of Intelligence
- Guilford's Structural Model Theory
- Howard Gardner's Multiple Intelligence Theory
- Sternberg’s Triarchic Theory
- PASS Model of Intelligence
- Individual Differences in Intelligence
- Assessment of Intelligence
- Mental Age
- Intelligence Quotient
- Variations of Intelligence
- Types of Intelligence Tests
- Individual Test
- Group Test
- Verbal Test
- Non-Verbal Test
- Performance Test
- Culture Bias and Culture Fair Tests
- Misuses of Intelligence Tests
- Intelligence Testing in India
- Culture and Intelligence
- New Trends in Intelligence> Emotional Intelligence
- Special Abilities
- Creativity
- Creativity and Intelligence
Self and Personality
- Self and Personality
- Concept of Self
- Cognitive and Behavioural Aspects of Self
- Culture and Self
- Concept of Personality
- Characteristics of Personality
- Personality Related Terms
- Descriptive Personality Theories
- Type Theories
- Trait Theories
- Trait Theory> Trait Theory of G. Allport
- Trait Theory> Cattell’s Concept of Personality
- Type Theory> Eysenck Concept of Personality
- Psychodynamic Approach
- Freud's Psychoanalytic Theory of Personality> Stages of Personality Development
- Neo-Freudian Theory of Personality
- Carl Jung’s Theory of Personality
- Karen Horney (1950)
- Psychodynamic Therapies> Alfred Adler's Psychodynamic Therapy
- Erich Fromm's Theory
- Erik Erikson's Theory of Psycho-Social Development
- Behavioural Approach
- Cultural Approach
- Humanistic Approach
- Measurement of Personality
- Self Report Inventories
- Projective Techniques
- Behavioural Analysis
Meeting Life Challenges
Psychological Disorders
- Concept of Psychological Disorders
- Concept of Abnormal Behaviour
- Classification of Psychological Disorders
- Factors Underlying Abnormal Behaviour
- Major Psychological Disorder> Anxiety Disorders
- Major Psychological Disorder> Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
- Major Psychological Disorder> Trauma and Stress Related Disorders
- Major Psychological Disorder> Somatic Symptom and Related Disorders
- Major Psychological Disorder> Dissociative Disorders
- Depressive Disorders
- Major Psychological Disorder> Bipolar Disorder
- Major Psychological Disorder> Schizophrenia
- Major Psychological Disorder> Neurodevelopmental Disorders
- Major Psychological Disorder> Disruptive, Impulse-Control and Conduct Disorders
- Major Psychological Disorder> Eating Disorders
- Major Psychological Disorder> Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders
Therapeutic Approaches
- Therapeutic Approaches in Psychology
- Concept of Psychotherapy
- Forms of Psychotherapy
- Behaviour Therapies
- Cognitive Therapy
- Humanistic-existential Therapy
- Humanistic-existential Therapy> Client Centred Therapy
- Healing Factors in Psychotherapy
- Ethics in Psychotherapy
- Alternative Therapies
- Rehabilitation of the Mentally Ill
Attitude and Social Cognition
Social Influence and Group Processes
Psychology and Life
- Introduction to Psychology and Life
- Human-environment Relationship
- Environmental Effects on Human Behaviour
- Promoting Pro-environmental Behaviour
- Psychology and Social Concerns
Developing Psychological Skills
- Introduction to Developing Psychological Skills
- Developing as an Effective Psychologist
- General Skills
- Observational Skills
- Specific Skills
- Interviewing Skills
- Counselling Skills
Estimated time: 16 minutes
- Introduction
- OCD: Normal Worry vs. Disorder
- Definition: Obsessive Behaviour
- Definition: Compulsive Behaviour
- Obsession vs. Compulsion
- Everyday Signs of OCD
- Related Disorders
- Key Points: Major Psychological Disorder> Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
CBSE: Class 12
CISCE: Class 12
CISCE: Class 12
Introduction
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a common anxiety disorder marked by uncontrollable obsessions (intrusive thoughts) and compulsions (repetitive behaviours). It disrupts daily life when these patterns persist despite self-awareness and efforts to stop them.
CISCE: Class 12
OCD: Normal Worry vs. Disorder
- A maid leaving the gas stove on overnight led to brief extra checks, which is a normal reaction.
- Locking the door wrong once made sons skip lunch, sparking short-term guilt and re-checks, still normal.
- OCD differs because intense anxiety hits without clear reasons, forcing endless thought-action repeats.
CBSE: Class 12
Definition: Obsessive Behaviour
Obsessive behaviour is the inability to stop thinking about a particular idea or topic.
CBSE: Class 12
Definition: Compulsive Behaviour
Compulsive behaviour is the need to perform certain behaviours over and over again.
CBSE: Class 12
CISCE: Class 12
CISCE: Class 12
Obsession vs. Compulsion
- Obsession refers to disturbing, recurring thoughts or images that trouble people despite efforts to ignore them.
- Compulsion means repetitive actions performed to ease anxiety, like constant checking or washing.
- Both are self-recognized as irrational but recur, making up 20-30% of psychoneurotics per Coleman (1981).
CBSE: Class 12
CISCE: Class 12
CISCE: Class 12
Everyday Signs of OCD
- People might wash their hands after every touch, scrub coins, or walk only on floor patterns.
- These behaviours prevent normal activities, unlike brief reactions to real incidents.
- Compulsions often involve counting, ordering, checking, touching, or washing repeatedly.
CBSE: Class 12
CISCE: Class 12
CISCE: Class 12
Related Disorders
- Hoarding disorder involves the inability to discard items, leading to cluttered spaces.
- Trichotillomania is compulsive hair-pulling, often causing bald patches.
- Excoriation is a skin-picking disorder, resulting in sores from repeated scratching.
CBSE: Class 12
CISCE: Class 12
CISCE: Class 12
