1.

Introduction : Definition of Psychology; Historical antecedents of Psychology and trends in the 21st centrury;
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, brain storming, 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 well being 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, Gestaltalist and Information processing models). The
processes of extinction, discrimination and generalisation. Programmed learning, probability learning, self instructional
learning, concepts, types and the schedules of reinforcement, escape, avoidance and punishment, modelling and social
learning.
7. Memory : Encoding and remembering; Shot-term memory, Long-term memory, Sensory memory, Iconic memory,
Echoic memory: The Multistore model, levels of processing; Organization 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 the related issues.
10. Intelligence and Aptitude : Concept of intelligence and aptitude, Nature and theories of intelligence Spearman,
Thurstone, Gulford Vernon, Sternberg and J.P. Das; Emotional Intelligence, Social intelligence, measurement of
intelligence and aptitudes, concept of I Q deviation I Q, constancy of I Q; Measurement of
multiple intelligence; Fluid intelligence and crystallized intelligence.
11. Personality : Definition and concept of personality; Theories of personality (psychoanalytical, socio cultural,
interpersonal, developmental, humanistic, behaviouristic, trait and type approaches); Measurement of personality
(projective tests, pencil-paper test); The Indian approach to personality; Training for personality development; Latest
approaches like 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 other’s behaviour, Theories of attribution; Recent
trends.
13. Language and Communication : Human language—Properties, structure and linguistic hierarchy, Language
acquisition—predispotion, critical period hypothesis; Theories of Language development— Skinner and Chomsky;
Process and types of communication—effective commu-nication training.
14. Issues and Perspectives in Modern Contemporary Psychology : Computer application in the psychological
laboratory and psychological testing; Artificial intelligence; Psychocybernetics; Study of consciousnessleep-wak
schedules; dreams, stimulus deprivation, meditation, hypnotic/drug induced states; Extrasensory perception; Intersensory
perception; Simulation studies.
1. Psychological Measurement of Individual Differences: The nature of individual differences. Characteristics &
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 factores
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 centered therapy. Cognitive therapies.
Indigenous therapies (Yoga, Meditation). Biofeedback therapy. Prevention and rehabilitation of the mentally ill; Fostering
mental health.
4. Work ψ & 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 leadersip; Senitivity training; Power and
politics in organizations.
5. Application of ψ to Educational Field: Psychological principles underlying 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 ψ: 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 ψ: Primary, secondary and tertiary prevention programmes—role of psychologists. Organising of services
for rehabilitation of physically, mentally and socially challenged persons including old persons. Rehabilitation of persons
suffering from substance abuse, juvenile delinquency, criminal behaviours. Rehabilitation of victims of violence.
Rehabilitation of HIV/AIDS victims, the role of social agencies.
8. Application of ψ 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. ψcal 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 the conflicts and prejudices. Measures to achieve
social integration.
10. Application of ψ in Information Technology & 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. Ψ & 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 promotion of entrepreneurship among youth including women
entreprenures.
12. Application of ψ to environment and related fields: Environmental Psychology effects of noise, pollution & crowding.
Population Psychology : Psychological consequence of population explosion and high population density. Motivating for
small family norms. Impact of rapid scientific and technological growth on degradation of environment.
13. other fields: (a) Military ψ:Devising ψcal tests for defence personnel for use in selection, Training, counseling; training
psychologists to work , with defence personnel in promoting positive health; Human engineering in defence.
(b) Sports ψ: ψcal interventions in improving performance of athletes and sports. Persons participating in Individual and
Team Games.

(c) Media influences on pro & anti-social behaviour. (d) ψ of Terrorism.

14. Ψ of Gender: Issues of discrimination, Management of diversity; Glass ceiling effect, Self-fulfilling prophesy, Women
and Indian society.