UPSC Psychology Optional Syllabus 2026

Foundations of Psychology (Paper I)

Topics

Subtopics

1. Introduction

• Definition of Psychology

• Historical antecedents of Psychology and trends in the 21st century

• Psychology and Scientific Methods Psychology in relation to other social sciences and natural sciences

• Application of Psychology to Societal Problems.

2. Methods of Psychology

• Types of research: Descriptive, evaluative, diagnostic, and prognostic

• Methods of Research: Survey, observation, case study, and experiments

• Characteristics of experimental design and non-experimental designs

• Quasi-experimental designs

• Focussed group discussions

• Brainstorming

• Grounded theory approach.

3. Research Methods

• Major steps in psychological research (problem statement, hypothesis formulation, research design, sampling, tools of data collection, analysis and interpretation, and report writing)

• Fundamental versus applied research

• Methods of data collection (interview, observation, questionnaire, and case study).

• Research Designs (Ex-post facto and experimental).

• Application of statistical techniques (t-test, two-way ANOVA, correlation and regression, and factor analysis) item response theory.

4. Development of Human Behaviour

• Growth and development

• Principles of development

• Role of genetic and environmental factors in determining human behaviour

• Influence of cultural factors in socialization Life span development —Characteristics, development tasks, promoting psychological wellbeing across major stages of the life span

5. Sensation, Attention and Perception

• Sensation: concepts of threshold, absolute, and difference thresholds, signal-detection, and vigilance

• Factors influencing attention including set and characteristics of stimulus

• Definition and concept of perception , biological factors in perception

• Perceptual organization, influence of past experiences, perceptual defence , factor influencing space and depth perception, size estimation and perceptual readiness

• The plasticity of perception

• Extrasensory perception

• Culture and perception

• Subliminal perception.

6. Learning

• Concepts and theories of learning (Behaviourists, Gestaltists, and Information processing models).

• The processes of extinction, discrimination and generalisation.

• Programmed learning

• Probability learning

• Self-instructional learning

• Concepts, types and schedules of reinforcement

• Escape, avoidance and punishment.

• Modelling and social learning.

7. Memory

• Encoding and remembering

• Short-term memory

• Long-term memory

• Sensory memory

• Iconic memory

• Echoic memory

• The Multistore model, levels of processing

• Organisation and Mnemonic techniques to improve memory

• Theories of forgetting: decay, interference and retrieval failure

• Metamemory

• Amnesia: Anterograde and retrograde.

8. Thinking and Problem Solving

• Piaget’s theory of cognitive development

• Concept formation processes

• Information processing

• Reasoning and problem-solving

• Facilitating and hindering factors in problem-solving

• Methods of problem-solving

• Creative thinking and fostering creativity

• Factors influencing decision-making and judgement

• Recent trends.

9. Motivation and Emotion

• Psychological and physiological basis of motivation and emotion

• Measurement of motivation and emotion

• Effects of motivation and emotion on behaviour

• Extrinsic and intrinsic motivation

• Factors influencing intrinsic motivation

• Emotional competence and related issues.

10. Intelligence and Aptitude

• Concept of intelligence and aptitude

• Nature and theories of intelligence (Spearman, Thurstone, Guilford, Vernon, Sternberg and J.P. Das)

• Emotional Intelligence

• Social Intelligence

• Measurement of intelligence and aptitudes, Concept of IQ, deviation IQ, and constancy of IQ

• Measurement of multiple intelligences

• Fluid intelligence and crystallised intelligence.

11. Personality

• Definition and concept of personality

• Theories of personality (psychoanalytical, sociocultural, interpersonal, developmental, humanistic, behaviouristic, trait and type approaches)

• Measurement of personality (projective tests, pencil-and-paper test)

• The Indian approach to personality

• Training for personality development

• Latest approaches like the big 5-factor theory

• The notion of self in different traditions.

12. Attitudes, Values and Interests

• Definitions of attitudes, values and interests

• Components of attitudes

• Formation and maintenance of attitudes.

• Measurement of attitudes, values, and interests.

• Theories of attitude changes

• Strategies for fostering values.

• Formation of stereotypes and prejudices

• Changing others’ behaviour

• Theories of attribution: Recent trends.

13. Language and Communication

• Human language —Properties, structure, and linguistic hierarchy

• Language acquisition —predisposition, critical period hypothesis

• Theories of Language Development —Skinner and Chomsky

• Process and types of communication —effective communication training.

14. Issues and Perspectives in Modern Contemporary Psychology

• Computer applications in the psychological laboratory and psychological testing

• Artificial intelligence

• Psycho-cybernetics

• Study of Consciousness

• Sleep-wake schedules, Dreams, Stimulus deprivation, Meditation, hypnotic/drug-induced states

• Extrasensory perception

• Intersensory perception

• Simulation studies

Psychology: Issues and Applications (Paper II)

Topics

Subtopics

1. Psychological Measurement of Individual Differences

• The nature of individual differences.

• Characteristics and construction of standardized psychological tests .

• Types of psychological tests.

• Use, misuse and limitation of psychological tests.

• Ethical issues in the use of psychological tests.

2. Psychological Well-being and Mental Disorders

• Concept of health-ill health, positive health, well-being

• Casual factors in Mental disorders (Anxiety disorders, mood disorders, schizophrenia and delusional disorders, personality disorders, substance abuse disorders).

• Factors influencing positive health, well-being

• Lifestyle and quality of life

• Happiness disposition.

3. Therapeutic Approaches

• Psychodynamic therapies.

• Behaviour therapies.

• Client-centred therapy.

• Cognitive therapies.

• Indigenous therapies (Yoga, Meditation).

• Biofeedback therapy.

• Prevention and rehabilitation of the mentally ill.

• Fostering mental health.

4. Work Psychology and Organisational Behaviour

• Personnel selection and training.

• Use of Psychological tests in the industry.

• Training and human resource development.

• Theories of work motivation. (Herzberg, Maslow, Adam, Equity theory, Porter and Lawler, Vroom).

• Leadership and participatory management

• Advertising and marketing

• Stress and its management;

• Ergonomics; consumer psychology

• Managerial effectiveness; Transformational leadership

• Sensitivity training

• Power and politics in organisations.

5. Application of Psychology to Educational Field

• Psychological principles underlying the effective teaching-learning process.

• Learning styles.

• Gifted, retarded, learning disabled and their training.

• Training for improving memory and better academic achievement.

• Personality development and value education.

• Educational, vocational guidance and Career counselling.

• Use of Psychological tests in educational institutions

• Effective strategies in guidance programmes.

6. Community Psychology

• Definition and concept of Community Psychology.

• Use of small groups in social action.

• Arousing Community consciousness and action for handling social problems.

• Group decision-making and leadership for social change.

• Effective strategies for social change.

7. Rehabilitation Psychology

• Primary, secondary and tertiary prevention programmes —role of psychologists.

• Organising of services for the rehabilitation of physically, mentally and socially challenged persons, including old persons.

• Rehabilitation of persons suffering from substance abuse, juvenile delinquency, and criminal behaviours.

• Rehabilitation of victims of violence.

• Rehabilitation of HIV/AIDS victims

• The role of social agencies .

8. Application of Psychology to Disadvantaged Groups

• The concepts of disadvantaged, deprivation social, physical, cultural, and economic consequences of disadvantaged and deprived groups.

• Educating and motivating the disadvantaged towards development

• Relative and prolonged deprivation.

9. Psychological problem of social integration

• The concept of social integration.

• The problem of caste, class, religion, and language conflicts and prejudice.

• Nature and manifestation of prejudice between the ingroup and outgroup.

• Casual factors of such conflicts and prejudices.

• Psychological strategies for handling conflicts and prejudices.

• Measures to achieve social integration.

10. Application of Psychology in Information Technology and Mass Media

• The present scenario of information technology and the mass media boom and the role of psychologists.

• Selection and training of Psychology professionals to work in the field of IT and mass media.

• Distance learning through IT and mass media.

• Entrepreneurship through e-commerce.

• Multilevel marketing.

• Impact of TV and fostering value through IT and mass media.

• Psychological consequences of recent developments in Information Technology.

11. Psychology and Economic Development

• Achievement motivation and economic development.

• Characteristics of entrepreneurial behaviour.

• Motivating and training people for entrepreneurship and economic development

• Consumer rights and consumer awareness

• Government policies for the promotion of entrepreneurship among youth, including women entrepreneurs.

12. Application of Psychology to the environment and related fields

• Environmental Psychology, effects of noise, pollution and crowding.

• Population Psychology

• Psychological consequences of population explosion and high population density.

• Motivating for small family norms.

• Impact of rapid scientific and technological growth on the degradation of the environment.

13. Application of psychology in other fields

• Military Psychology: Devising psychological tests for defence personnel for use in selection, Training, counselling, and training psychologists to work with defence personnel in promoting positive health. Human engineering in defence.

• Sports Psychology: Psychological interventions in improving the performance of athletes and sports. Persons participating in Individual and Team Games

• Media influences on pro- and anti-social behaviour.

• Psychology of Terrorism.

14. Psychology of Gender

• Issues of discrimination

• Management of diversity

• Glass ceiling effect

• Self-fulfilling prophesy

• Women and Indian society

Paper 1 Booklist

Paper 2 Booklist

NCERTs 11th and 12th

NCERTs 11th and 12th

Psychology, Fifth Edition by Robert A Baron

Applied Psychology by Smarak Swain

Psychology by Morgan and King

Abnormal Psychology and Modern Life by James C. Coleman

Psychology by Saundra Ciccarelli South Asian Edition

Social Psychology by Elliot Aronson, Timothy D. Wilson, and Robin M. Akert

Systems and Theories of Psychology by Krawiec and Chaplin

The Psychology of Small Groups by Shaw

Social Psychology by Baron and Branscombe

Research Book by AK Singh