QUESTION 3(b)
GS4
10 marks
"The greatest discovery of my generation is that a human being can alter his life by altering his attitudes." – William James
WRITE IN
7 min
150 words
What the examiner wants
Explain James's claim that people can change their lives by changing their attitudes, and its use in personal and public life.
Explain the quoteAnswer exactly what the question asks.
Demand-wise check
- 1Meaning: attitude shapes behaviour, effort and results≈30 words
- 2Psychology: attitude components (cognitive, affective, behavioural); growth mindset≈30 words
- 3Examples: individuals overcoming adversity; officers changing work culture≈30 words
- 4Limit: structural barriers also matter; attitude is necessary, not sufficient≈30 words
Open in about 20 words and close in about 20.
Answer plan
MeaningHow attitude changes lifeExamplesLimitConclusion
Where marks usually go
- No examples
- Ignoring structural limits entirely
Draw this
- Triangle: attitude → behaviour → outcome
Value addition
- ThinkerCarol Dweck's 'growth mindset' research shows belief in improvement raises effort and results.Carol Dweck, Mindset (2006)
- ExampleSwachh Bharat Mission focused on behaviour change, not only toilet building.Ministry of Jal Shakti
Mapped topper copies
Reviewed public-source references related to this PYQ. Same-syllabus references are labelled separately.
- Vidushi Singh · AIR 13 · Page 5 ↗Same syllabus reference
- G Sanjana · AIR 55 · Page 3 ↗Same syllabus reference
- Aakash Garg · AIR 5 · Page 7 ↗Same syllabus reference
- Shakti Dubey · AIR 1 · Page 3 ↗Same syllabus reference
Links open original public sources. MainsBuddy does not host these answer sheets.
Next: plan for one minute, write it in 7 minutes, then get it checked.