UPSC Psychology Syllabus 2026 - Check UPSC IAS Syllabus for Paper 1 & 2
Union Public Service Commission released the UPSC 2026 Psychology Syllabus in the Official Notification. The UPSC Psychology Syllabus is available for download online in the form of a PDF from upsc.gov.in. Candidates preparing for the IAS exam can consult the Psychology Optional Syllabus for the IAS mains 2026 while drafting their UPSC Study Plans.
Candidates can also use the Psychology UPSC Syllabus to get an idea of what topics to cover. Along with the UPSC IAS Psychology syllabus 2026, candidates can use past question papers to get an idea of the most important chapters to revise, the topics that will be covered and the difficulty level of the questions. The UPSC Psychology Syllabus contains information about the important chapters of Papers 1 and 2.
The UPSC IAS Psychology Syllabus 2026 mentions relevant chapters such as Methods of Psychology, Research Methods, Development of Human Behaviour and Therapeutic Approaches. According to the UPSC Psychology Syllabus, the Psychology optional paper holds 500 marks distributed over 2 papers, papers 1 and 2. To find the psychology IAS mains syllabus, candidates can go through the IAS syllabus 2026.
Candidates are encouraged to download the UPSC Psychology Syllabus 2026 PDF. For more information regarding the UPSC Psychology Syllabus, go through the material below.
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IAS Psychology Syllabus PDF
The UPSC Psychology Syllabus will be available for download in the form of a PDF. Candidates who are interested in picking the UPSC Psychology Optional Exam are advised to download a copy of the UPSC Psychology Syllabus PDF for future reference. Downloading the IAS 2024 Psychology Syllabus PDF will enable candidates to easily reference it during revision.
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Download EBookIAS Psychology Optional Paper I Syllabus 2026
Subjects | Topics |
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. |
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 |
Research methods | 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 |
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 |
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 organizationinfluence 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. |
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. |
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. |
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. |
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 |
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; 141 Measurement of multiple intelligence; Fluid intelligence and crystallized intelligence. |
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-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. |
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. |
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. |
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. |
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IAS Psychology Optional Paper II Syllabus 2026
Subjects | Topics |
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. |
Psychological well-being and Mental Disorders | 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. |
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. |
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 leadersip;
Senitivity training; Power and politics in organizations. |
Application of Psychology 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. 142 Use of Psychological tests in educational institutions; Effective strategies in guidance programmes. |
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. |
Rehabilitation Psychology | 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. |
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. |
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 the conflicts and prejudices. Measures
to achieve social integration. |
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. |
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 promotion of entrepreneurship among youth including
women entreprenures. |
Application of Psychology to environment and related fields | Environmental Psychology effects of noise, pollution and 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. |
Application of psychology in other fields: | (a) Military Psychology Devising psycological 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. 143 (b) Sports Psychology Psychological interventions in improving performance of athletes and sports. Persons participating in Individual and Team Games. (c) Media influences on pro and anti-social behaviour. (d) Psychology of Terrorism. |
| Psychology of Gender | Issues of discrimination, Management of diversity; Glass ceiling effect, Self-fulfilling prophesy, Women and
Indian society. |
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UPSC Psychology Preparation Tips
Candidates must make UPSC Psychology optional preparation strategy
Applicants must also check IAS syllabus 2026 and exam pattern thoroughly.
Make short notes for last-minute revision
Practice the previous year's IAS question paper PDF.
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Why Choose Psychology as your IAS Optional?
With such a wide range of optional subjects available for the IAS exam, candidates may have a hard time picking out which paper is the most suitable for them. Let us discuss the benefits of choosing psychology as an optional subject, in order to provide more clarity.
Firstly, psychology is considered a very interesting subject by many, as it deals with the core workings of the mind.
There is also a lot of study material readily available for this subject. Candidates can also draw from real life examples when it comes to writing. The UPSC Psychology optional is recommended for candidates who prefer theory exams. Candidates are encouraged to properly weigh out the pros and cons of choosing each optional subject before applying for the exam.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: What is the age limit to apply for IAS 2026?
A:
Candidates between 21 to 32 years of age can fill out the IAS application form 2026.
Q: What are the details required to download the IAS admit card?
A:
Candidates can download the IAS admit card 2026 through their registration ID and date of birth.
Q: What is the selection process for IAS 2024?
A:
The IAS selection process 2026 comprises prelims exam, mains exam and personal interview.
Q: How will the IAS result 2026 be released?
A:
IAS result 2026 will be released in a PDF file having the roll numbers of all the qualified candidates.
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