UPSC Psychology Syllabus 2020 - UPSC prescribes the UPSC Psychology 2020 syllabus in its official notification. Candidates should have the in-depth syllabus of UPSC Psychology 2020 for better preparation of exams. UPSC Psychology Syllabus 2020 comprises topics and chapters that candidates should cover for the UPSC IAS exam. Here, we have shared the detailed UPSC Psychology 2020 syllabus for candidates planning to choose Psychology as one of their optional subjects. Psychology is one of the Optional Subjects with 2 papers (Optional Paper 1 and Paper 2). UPSC Psychology 2020 syllabus is of graduate level. The syllabus of UPSC IAS 2020 for Psychology focuses on Development of Human Behaviour, Thinking and Problem Solving, Attitudes, Psychological well being and Mental Disorders, Rehabilitation Psychology and much more. UPSC IAS 2020 Prelims is likely to be held in July 2020. Besides the syllabus, candidates can also check tips and tricks, preparation strategy, best books of UPSC IAS as well as the exam pattern.

UPSC Psychology Syllabus 2020 - Paper 1

The detailed syllabus of UPSC Psychology 2020 is mentioned below:

Foundations of Psychology

1. Introduction :

Psychology in relation to other social sciences and natural sciences; Application of Psychology to societal problems; Definition of Psychology; Historical antecedents of Psychology and trends

in the 21st century; Psychology and scientific methods;

2. Methods of Psychology :

Focussed group discussions, brainstorming, grounded theory approach; Methods of Research: Survey, observation, case-study and experiments; Characteristics of experimental design and non-experimental designs; Types of research: Descriptive, evaluative, diagnostic and prognostic; quasi-experimental designs

3. Research methods :

Fundamental versus applied research; Major steps in psychological research (problem statement, research design, hypothesis formulation, sampling, tools of data collection, analysis and interpretation and report writing); Methods of data collection (interview, observation, questionnaire and case study); Application of statistical techniques (t-test, two-way ANOVA, correlation and regression and factor analysis) item response theory; Research Designs (Ex-post factor and experimental).

4. Development of Human Behaviour :

Life span development—Characteristics, development tasks, promoting psychological well-being across major stages of the life span; Growth and development; Principles of development, Role of genetic and environmental factors in determining human behaviour; Influence of cultural factors in socialization;

5. Sensation, Attention and Perception :

The plasticity of perception; Definition and concept of perception, biological factors in perception; Sensation: concepts of the threshold, absolute and difference thresholds, signal-detection and vigilance; Extrasensory perception; Culture and perception, Subliminal perception. Perceptual organization-influence of past experiences, perceptual defence-factor influencing space and depth perception, size estimation and perceptual readiness; Factors influencing attention including set and characteristics of the stimulus.

6. Learning :

The processes of extinction, discrimination and generalisation. Concepts and theories of learning (Behaviourists, Gestalt List and Information processing models). Programmed learning, probability learning, self-instructional learning, concepts, escape avoidance and punishment, types and the schedules of reinforcement, modelling and social learning.

7. Memory :

Theories of forgetting: decay, interference and retrieval failure: Metamemory; Encoding and remembering; Amnesia: Anterograde and retrograde. Short-term memory, Long-term memory, Iconic memory, Sensory memory, Echoic memory: The Multistore model, levels of processing; Organization and Mnemonic techniques to improve memory.

8. Thinking and Problem Solving :

Factors influencing decision making and judgement; Piaget’s theory of cognitive development; Concept formation processes; Recent trends; Information processing, Reasoning and problem solving, Facilitating and hindering factors in problem-solving, Methods of problem-solving: Creative thinking and fostering creativity.

9. Motivation and Emotion :

Extrinsic and intrinsic motivation; Emotional competence and the related issues;

Psychological and physiological basis of motivation and emotion; Measurement of motivation and emotion; Effects of motivation and emotion on behaviour; Factors influencing intrinsic motivation

10. Intelligence and Aptitude :

Measurement of multiple intelligence; Fluid intelligence and crystallized intelligence. Concept of intelligence and aptitude, Thurstone, Nature and theories of intelligence-Spearman, Gulford Vernon, Sternberg and J.P. Das; Emotional Intelligence, Social intelligence, measurement of intelligence and aptitudes, the concept of I Q deviation I Q, the constancy of I Q;

11. Personality :

Training for personality development; The notion of self in different traditions;

Definition and concept of personality; Theories of personality (psychoanalytical, socio-cultural, interpersonal, developmental, behaviouristic, humanistic, trait and type approach); Measurement of personality (projective tests, pencil-paper test); The Indian approach to personality; Latest approaches like big 5-factor theory.

12. Attitudes, Values and Interests :

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; Definitions of attitudes, values and interests; Components of attitudes.

13. Language and Communication :

Process and types of communication—effective communication training; Theories of Language development—Skinner and Chomsky; Human language—Properties, structure and linguistic hierarchy, Language acquisition—predisposition, critical period hypothesis.

14. Issues and Perspectives in Modern Contemporary Psychology :

Extrasensory perception; Simulation studies; Computer application in the psychological laboratory and psychological testing; Intersensory perception; Artificial intelligence; Psycho Cybernetics; Study of consciousness sleep-wake schedules; stimulus deprivation, dreams, meditation, hypnotic/drug-induced states.

UPSC Psychology Syllabus 2020 - Paper 2

1. Psychological Measurement of Individual Differences :

Use, misuse and limitation of psychological tests. The nature of individual differences.

Types of psychological tests. Characteristics and construction of standardized psychological tests. Ethical issues in the use of psychological tests.

2. Psychological well being and Mental Disorders :

Factors influencing positive health, well being; Happiness disposition. Concept of health-ill health positive health, well being causal factors in Mental disorders (Anxiety disorders, mood disorders; schizophrenia and delusional disorders; personality disorders, substance abuse disorders). Lifestyle and quality of life.

3. Therapeutic Approaches :

Prevention and rehabilitation of the mentally ill; Psychodynamic therapies. Behaviour therapies. Client-centred therapy. Indigenous therapies (Yoga, Meditation). Biofeedback therapy Fostering mental health. Cognitive therapies.

4. Work Psychology and Organisational Behaviour :

Transformational leadership; Sensitivity training; 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; Power and politics in organizations. Advertising and marketing; Stress and its management; Ergonomics; consumer psychology; Managerial effectiveness. Leadership and participatory management.

5. Application of Psychology to Educational Field :

Use of Psychological tests in educational institutions; 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. Effective strategies in guidance programmes. Psychological principles underlying effective teaching-learning processes.

6. Community Psychology :

Group decision making and leadership for social change. Definition and concept of Community Psychology. Arousing Community consciousness and action for handling social problems. Effective strategies for social change.Use of small groups in social action.

7. Rehabilitation Psychology :

Primary, secondary and tertiary prevention programmes—the role of psychologists.Rehabilitation of HIV/AIDS victims, the role of social agencies. Rehabilitation of victims of violence. 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, criminal behaviours. Rehabilitation of HIV/AIDS victims, the role of social agencies.

8. Application of Psychology to disadvantaged groups :

Relative and prolonged deprivation.The concepts of disadvantaged, deprivation social, physical, cultural and economic consequences of disadvantaged and deprived groups. Educating and motivating the disadvantaged towards development.

9. The psychological problem of social integration :

Casual factors of such conflicts and prejudices.The concept of social integration.

The problem of caste, class, religion and language conflicts and prejudice. Measures to achieve social integration. Nature and manifestation of prejudice between the ingroup and outgroup. Psychological strategies for handling conflicts and prejudices.

10. Application of Psychology in Information Technology and Mass Media :

Entrepreneurship through e-commerce. Multi Level marketing. Impact of TV and fostering value through IT 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.Psychological consequences of recent developments in Information Technology. Distance learning through IT and mass media.

11. Psychology and Economic development :

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. Achievement motivation and economic development. Characteristics of entrepreneurial behaviour.

12. Application of Psychology to the environment and related fields :

Environmental Psychology effects of noise, pollution and crowding. Motivating for small family norms. Impact of rapid scientific and technological growth on degradation of the environment. Population Psychology: Psychological consequence of population explosion and high population density.

13. Application of psychology in other fields :

(a) Sports Psychology:

Psychological interventions in improving the performance of athletes and sports. Persons

participating in Individual and Team Games.

(b) Military Psychology:

Devising psychological tests for defence personnel for use in selection, Training, counselling; training psychologists to work with defence personnel in promoting positive health; Human engineering in defence.

(c) Psychology of Terrorism.

(d) Media influences on pro and anti-social behaviour.

14. Psychology of Gender :

Glass ceiling effect, Self-fulfilling prophecy, Women and Indian society. Issues of discrimination, Management of diversity.

UPSC Psychology Optional Syllabus 2020 - Preparation Tips

Qualifying India's most premium and competitive exam is no small feat. It requires a lot of effort, planning and strategy. Apart from covering the whole syllabus of UPSC Psychology 2020, candidates must also know some tips and tricks that can come in handy. Here are some quick tips to help score better in the UPSC exam:

• Always refer to the NCERT books.

• Go through the complete UPSC Psychology optional syllabus 2020.

• Make a time table to study well and prepare a perfect IAS study plan. Stick to the plan and cover all the necessary sections.

• Solve previous year question papers of UPSC CSE for better preparations.

• Get enrolled in mock tests online and attempt them.

• Do performance evaluation, it is better to do the exam analysis, to know about the previous year question paper trends, the difficulty level of exam and topper interviews etc.

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