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M.Sc. PSYCHOLOGY
SCHEME OF EXAMINATION
FIRST YEAR
Paper Paper Title Hours Marks

1. Advanced General Psychology 3 100

2. Developmental Psychology 3 100
3. Quantitative Techniques for Psychology 3 100
4. Advanced Social Psychology 3 100
5. Motivation and Personality 3 100

SECOND YEAR
6. Organisational Psychology and
Consumer Behaviour 3 100
7. Psychopathology and Crime and
Delinquency 3 100
8. Guidance, Counselling and
Psychology of interpersonal
Relationship 3 100
9. Psychology Practicals 3 100

10. Class Room Psychology 3 100

PSYCHOLOGY PRACTICALS
The marks for the Psychology Practical Examination shall
be distributed as follows :
1. Plan and Procedure - 25 marks
2. Conducting the Experiment - 25 marks
3. Discussion and Interpretation - 25 marks
4. Record - 25 marks
Two external examiners will evaluate this.
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INSTITUTE OF DISTANCE EDUCATION
M.Sc. DEGREE COURSE IN PSCHOLOGY

SYLLABUS
FIRST YEAR

PAPER I - ADVANCED GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY

UNIT - 1 : THE WORLD OF PSYCHOLOGY

Definition of Psychology : Sub-fields of Psychology -

Experimental, Biological, Personality, Social, Clinical and
Counselling, Development and Quantitative Psychology.

Methods in Psychology - Survey, Case Study,

Naturalistic, Observation, Experiment.

UNIT - 2 : BIOLOGY OF BEHAVIOUR

The Nervous system : Communication in the Nervous

system and interaction between neuron.

Neurotransmitters and its functions.

The Spinal cord and its functions.
The Brain and its functions.
The Endocrine systems and its functions.

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UNIT-3: SENSORY PROCESS, PERCEPTION AND

ATTENTION

The Five senses - its characteristics.

Definition of perception.
Features of perception.
Approaches to perception.
Constructional view of perception.
Ecological view of perception.
Psychophysics.
Attention - Determinants of attention
Selective, focused and divided attention.

UNIT - 4 : LEARNING

Definition of Learning.
Classical Learning.
Instrumental and Operant conditioning Learning.
Observational Learning.
Cognitive Process in Learning.

UNIT - 5 : MEMORY AND FORETTING

Types of Memory.
Stages of Memory.
Sensory Memory.
Short-term Memory and Long-term Memory.
Causes of forgetting.
Constructing Memory.
Improving Memory.
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UNIT - 6 : EMOTIONS

Emotions and the ANS.

Theories of Emotions.
Expression of Emotions.
Stress and coping styles.
Physical, Physiological
Psycho-social basis of stress.

UNIT - 7 : TESTING AND MENTAL ABILITIES

Principles of Psychological Testing and its types.

Intelligence Tests - Definition of Intelligence.

Theories of Intelligence.

Creativity - Characteristics of Creative Person.

UNIT - 8 : THOUGHT AND LANGUAGE

Thinking process - concepts, problem solving, decision

making.

Language - Elements of Language, Understanding

sentences and conversation stages of language
development.

Acquiring of Language.

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REFERENCES
1. Bougles A. Bernstein; Edward J. Roy; Thomas K. Srull;
Christoper D. Wickens, Psychology - 2nd Edition,
Hougston, Miffin Company: Boston. 1991.
2. Clifford T, Morgan, Richard A. King, John. R. Weisz,
John Schopler (1996), Introducing to Psychology. 7th
ed. McGraw Hill International Edition : New Delhi.
3. Baron, R.A. (1995) Psychology. New York : Harpet
Collins, College Publishers.

4. Lefton, L.A. (1985) Psychology. Boston : Allyn & Baron.

PAPER II - DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY

UNIT-1 : THEORIES AND METHODS IN DEVELOPMENTAL

STUDIES

Introduction to development psychology and its research

methodologies Theories of human development.

UNIT- 2 : FOUNDATIONS OF DEVELOPMENT

Hereditary influences on development; influences on

prenatal development.

Birth and prenatal environment.

Physical and motor development.

Significance of development.

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UNIT - 3 : EARLY COGNITIVE FOUNDATIONS
Theories of cognitive development
Sensation, Perception and learning methods of studying
infant perception

Visual perception, spatial and depth perception, auditory

perception; Intersensory perception.

Environmental influence.

Language acquisition

Emotional development - etiology theories.

UNIT - 4 : SELF AND OTHERS

Emotional Development

Understanding others’ emotions and beliefs

Sex differences

Identity preference, prejudice and social stereotypes

Self-concept and self-esteem.

UNIT - 5 : SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

The development of pro-social behaviour and factors
that influence it
The development of moral reasoning
Kohlberg’s stages of moral development
The moral/conventional distinction.

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UNIT- 6 : DEVELOPMENT FROM CONCEPTION TO

SENESCENCE

Conception, pre-natal, post-natal, infancy, childhood,

puberty and adolescence, adulthood and old age.

UNIT - 7:

Future perspectives in developmental Psychology.

REFERENCE

Life-span Development by John W. Santrock. 6th Ed.

PAPER III - QUANTITATIVE TECHNIQUES FOR

PSYCHOLOGY

Unit - 1

Introduction to Quantitative Method

Object of Measurement in Psychology

Tests as a tool measurement

Measurement in Psychology

Concept of objectivity

Types of tests.

UNIT - 2 : TEST CONSTRUCTION

Topic Selection and Item Selection

Types of questionnaire

Types of responses
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 Likert’s Attitude scale construction

Item Analysis

Item total correlation

UNIT - 3 : TEST STANDARDIZATION

Inter rater reliability

Concept of reliability

Methods of Established reliability

Concept of validity

Type of validity

UNIT - 4 : RESEARCH DESIGNS

Informal research designs
Pretest - Post-test Design Before and after with control,
after control designs.
Experimental and Formal Research Designs
Randomized Group Design
Randomized Block Design
Latin Square Design

2*2 Factorial Design

UNIT - 5 : DATA PROCESSING AND DATA ANALYSIS

Introduction to Statistics

Definition and Scope of Statistics

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Classification of Data

Tabulation of Data

Frequency Distribution

UNIT - 6 : DESCRIPTIVE STATISTICS

Diagrammatic & Graphic Representation of the Data

Measures of Central Tendency

Measures of variability

Correlation Techniques

Association of Attributes

UNIT -7 : INFERENTIAL STATISTICS

Normal distribution

Concept of Statistical Inference

Probability Theory

Logic of hypothesis testing

Procedures adopted in hypothesis testing

Type 1 and Type 2 errors.

UNIT- 8 : TEST OF SIGNIFICANCE - COMPUTATION AND

INTERPRETATION
Large Sample Tests
Small Sample Tests
F Test, Analysis of Variance - One way, Two way

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REFERENCES :

1. Statistics of Psychology of Education by Garret. 1956.

2. Statistics for the Behavioural Sciences - 2nd ed. James

Jaccard, Michael and Becker, Wadsworth Publishing
Company, 1980.

3. Measurements and Evaluation of Psychology and

Education. 4th ed. by Robert L. Thorndike, Elizabeth
P.Hagen, Wiley Eastern Limited : New Delhi, 1977.

4. Quantitative Techniques by Kothari. 1996.

5. Theory and Practice of Experimental Psychology by

Freeman

6. Experimental Psychology by Edwards

7. Statistics Methods by Gupta

8. Research Methodology by Kothari

9. Statistics for Psychology and Education by Guilford.

PAPER IV - ADVANCED SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY

UNIT - 1 : INTRODUCTION

The objectives and methods of social psychology

Levels of social behaviour

Scope of social psychology in modern life.

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UNIT- 2 : SOCIAL MOTIVES, ATTITUDES AND

LEARNING IN SOCIAL CONTEXTS

Social motives and behaviour

The nature and measurement of attitude

Reinforcement and learning

Social learning through imitation

Attitude change

UNIT - 3 : COGNITIVE DISSONANCE AND PERSONALITY

AS SOCIAL PHENOMENA

Festinger’s cognitive dissonance theory

Physiological changes due to cognitive dissonance

Theories of consonance and balance (Heider’s,

Newcomb’s)

UNIT - 4 : ANTISOCIAL AND PRO-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR

Aggression and management

Altruism and helping behaviour

UNIT - 5 : GROUP PROCESSES

Group formation and maintenance

Types of group

Group task performance, problem solving

Cooperation and competition - communication - empathy

- Psycholinguistics
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UNIT - 6 : SOCIAL INFLUENCE

Social facilitation

Social Status

Social roles

Social conformity

Interpersonal attraction

UNIT - 7 : LEADERSHIP

Definition and categories of leadership

Functions of leaders, types of leaders, personal

characteristics of leaders.

UNIT - 8

Application of Social Psychology in the Educational,

Clinical and Military settings

REFERENCES

1. MC David and Harari (1976) Social Psychology

2. Moghaddan, F.M. (1998) Social Psychology

3. Abrahamson, M. (1997) Social Research Methods

4. Shaw, M.E. (1995) group Dynamics.

5. Baron, R.A. and Byran, D. (2000). Social Psychology,

New Delhi : Allyan and Bacon

6. Tedeschi and Lindskold (1978) Social Psychology

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PAPER V - MOTIVATION AN PERSONALITY

UNIT -1 : INTRODUCTION

Basic Concepts of motivation (Instinct), (drive, need,

value, motive goal)

UNIT - 2 : THEORIES OF MOTIVATION

Definitions of Personality - Functions of personality

theories (Subjective judgemental criteria, Logical-epistemic
criteria, empirical criteria) - Native theories of Personality.

UNIT - 3 : PSYCHOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF MOTIVATION

AND PERSONALITY

Roles of the Central Nervous System and the Autonomic

Nervous System in the regulation of motivation and formation
of personality.

UNIT-4: THEORIES OF MOTIVATION AND PERSONALITY

Psychoanalytic theories of S. Freud, C.G. Jung, A. Alder,

H.S. Sullivan, K. Horney, E. Erickson and E. From Cognitive
theories.

UNIT - 5

Morgan’s Central Motive State, Atkinson’s &

McClelland’s Theories of Need for Achievement.

Humanistic Theories of Carl Rogers & A Maslow

Factor Analytic theories - Eysenck’s type theory &

Cattell’s Trait theory.

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UNIT - 6

Narrow Based Theories of Personality - Rotter’s I-E

Locus of control theory, Witkin’s field dependence and
independence theory Zukerman’s sensation seeking theory.

UNIT - 7

Assessment of Motivation

Psychological measures

UNIT - 8

Personality

Projective and other paper-pencil measures.

REFERENCES

1. Hall & Lindzey (eds) Theories of Personality Longman’s

Publication, Chennai.

2. Peck & Whitlow - Approaches to Personality, Essential

Psychology Series, Penquin Publication, New Delhi.

SECOND YEAR
PAPER VI - ORGANISATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY
AND CONSUMER BEHAVIOUR
UNIT- 1 : INTRODUCTION TO ORGANISATIONAL
PSYCHOLOGY
An Overview - managing people at work
Organizational behaviour

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UNIT - 2 : INDIVIDUAL PROCESS

Foundations of Individual Behaviour
Abilities and Aptitude
Perception and Motivations
Personality and Performance
Mangaing Stress.
UNIT-3: INTERPERSONAL PROCESSES, GROUP
DYNAMICS, COMMUNICATION
Leadership and Decision Making
Human relations in Organisation
Team building development
UNIT - 4 : ORGANIZATIONAL PROCESSES
Organizational Design and Structure
Culture and Change Management
UNIT - 5 : INTRODUCTION TO CONSUMER BEHAVIOUR
The Study of Consumer Behaviour
Ethics in Marketing
Consumer Research Process
Market Segmentation.
UNIT - 6 : CONSUMER AS AN INDIVIDUAL
Consumer Needs and Motivation
Personality and Consumer Behaviour
Consumer Perception
Learning and Consumer involvement
Consumer Attitude - Nature, Formation and Change.
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UNIT-7 : CONSUMERS IN THEIR SOCIAL AND
CULTURAL SETTINGS
Family - Functions of the family
Family Decision Making
Social Class - Measurement of Social Class
Life Style Profiles of Social Classes
Group Dynamics and Consumer Reference Groups
Cultural Influences - Sub Culture - Cross cultural
consumer behaviour.

UNIT-8 : THE CONSUMER’S DECISION MAKING

PROCESS

Models of Consumer Decision Making

Communication and Persuasion

Opinion Leadership Professes

REFERENCES

1. Robbins Stephen P. Organizational Behaviour - 7th

Edition, Prentice-Hall of India, New Delhi, 1997.

2. Fred Luthans, Organizational Behaviour - 5th Edition,

(MC. Graw Hill Book Company, Singapore, 1989)

3. Gregory B. Northerft and Morgaret A. Neale.

Organizational Behaviour (Holt, Rinchart, Euinssou,
U.S.A., 1990)

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4. Doh Hellriegel, Johm W. Slocum, Jr. and Richard W.

Woodman, Organizational Behaviour - Latest Edition,
(West Publishing Company, St. Paul, Minuestoa, 1983).

5. John R.Schermorliorn, Jr., James G. Hunt, Richard N.

Osborn. Managing Organizational Behaviour - Fourth
Edition, (John Luiley and Sons, 1991).

6. Consumer Behaviour by Leon, G Leslie Lazer Kamel

7. Understanding the Consumer A Psychological Approach

by David A. Statt.

8. Consumer Behaviour by Leon, G . Schiffman and Leslie

Lazer Kanuk.

PAPER VII - PSYCHOPATHOLOGY AND CRIME

AND DELIQUENCY
UNIT - 1

Signs and symptoms of mental illness - History taking

and Mental Status Examination.

UNIT - 2

Psychological models of Psychodynamic, Behavioural

and Existential

UNIT - 3

Anxiety disorders - Panic disorder and Agoraphobia -

Specific Phobias - Social Phobia - Obessive Compulsive
Disorder - Generalizad Anxiety Disorder - Post Traumatic
Stress Disorder.

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UNIT - 4

Somatoform disorders - Dissociative disorders.

UNIT - 5

Mood disorder - Dysthymai - Schizophrenia,

Personality disorders.

UNIT - 6

Childhood disorders - learning disorders - pervasive

developmental disorders - Hyper kinetic disorders - conduct
disorders - Emotion disorders - Mixed disorders of conduct
and emotions - old age disorders .

UNIT- 7 : INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY OF CRIME

AND DELINQUENCY

Definition of crime and delinquency

Psychology applied to crime and delinquency

Relationship between criminology and psychology of

crimes as a deviant behaviour

Concept of abnormality, types of abnormalities -

Psychoses, Neuroses, Mental Retardation, anti-social
Behaviour.

Mental illness and Crime

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UNIT - 8 : FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO CRIME

Biological factors - Genetic factors

Psychological factors - learning, motivational, cognitive

and emotional factors, personality factors.

Environmental factors - Psychological Repercussions

of broken home, poverty, unemployment and under
employment, drug addiction, influence of peer group and
adult criminals on youth, mass media and their influences.

REFERENCES

1. Adams HE & Sutker PB (1984) Comprehensive

Handbook of Psychopathology. Plenum Press New York.

2. Tonge BJ, Burrows GD & Werry J.S. (Ed) (1990)

Handbook of Studies on Child Psychiatry elsevier
science, New York.

3. Gelder M. Mayou R & Cowen P (2001) : Shorter Oxford

Textbook of Psychiatry 4th Edition. Oxford University
Press, Oxford.
4. Abraham S.Blunberg (1976) - Current Perspectives on
Criminal Behaviour. The Drryden press.
5. Shanmugam T.E. (1981) Abnormal Psychology, Tata Mc
Graw Hill, New Delhi.
6. Hilgard, Atkinson and Atkinson (I1975) Introduction to
Psychology, Oxford IBH, New Delhi.

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7. Clivet Hollin (1989) Psychology and Crime-An
Introduction to Criminological psychology, Routledge
London, New York.
8. Wicks, R.T. (1969) Correctional psychology Mac Millan
New York

PAPER VIII - GUIDANCE, COUNSELLING AND

PSYCHOLOGY OF INTERPERSONAL
RELATIONSHIP
UNIT-1 : COUNSELLING - NATURE, PROCESS AND
SKILLS INVOLVED
Approaches to counselling; group counselling
characteristics of counsellor Ethical principels in counselling.
Unit - 2
Educational guidance - study skills training,
programmed learning, preparing and appearing for
examinations.
Unit - 3
Vocational guidance - choosing a vocation, Aptitude
and Interests
The role of psychological tests in guidance and
counselling.

UNIT - 4

Application of counselling - counselling adolescents

regarding sexuality and substance abuse, family counselling.

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UNIT - 5

The Nature of Interpersonal Communication and

Behaviour

Identity and Communication Behaviour

Assessment of Interpersonal Communication Style and

Behaviour

Emotion and Interpersonal Behaviours and

Communications

UNIT - 6

Perception and Interpersonal Expectations

The Assessment and Development of Listening and

Feedback Behaviour

UNIT - 7
Effective and Non-effective interactions in Everyday
Situations
Nonverbal Communication and Interactions
Relationship Development and Termination.

UNIT - 8
Maintaining Interpersonal Realtionships
Managing Conflict in Interpersonal Realtionships

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REFERENCES
1. Nelson R. & Jones (1995). Theory and Practice of
Counselling. London : Holt & Rinehart Winston Ltd.
2. Coreeg G. (1991) Theory and Practice of Counselling
and psychotherapy 4th Ed. California : Brooks Cole
Publishing Co.
3. Swaminathan VD & Kaliappan KV (1997) Psychology
for effective living - Behaviour Modification, Counselling,
Guidance and Yoga. Chennai : The Madras Psychology
Society.
4. Patterson L.E. & Welfel EF (2000) The counselling
process 5th Ed. California : Wadsworth.
5. Gudykunst, W.B., Ting-Toomey, S., Sudweeks, S., &
Stewart, L.P. (1995). Building bridges : Interpersonal
skills for a changing world. Houghton Mifflin Co.
6. Hargie O., Saunders, C., & Dickson, D. (1994). Social
skills in interpersonal communication,. (Publisher)

PAPER IX - PSYCHOLOGY PRACTICALS

OBJECTIVES

To Orient the subject to simple tests assessments,

relevant to their theoretical papers. To enable them to
understand the principles of test administration, and its
interpretation.

All practical sessions must see that the subjects take

the test themselves and administer it on others. Participation
in class activity is must.
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INTERNAL ASSESSMENT INVOLVES

Attendance, Record Work for Practical Writing,

Conducting and Interpreting Results.

TESTS TO BE COVERED

1. State and Trait Anxiety Scale by - Spielberger, D.

2. State and Trait Anger Expression Inventory (STAXI) by

- Spielberger, D.

3. 16 PF by Cattell

4. Myer-Briggs Type Indicator

5. Work Motivation - by Agarwal

6. Personal Effectiveness Scale

7. Leadership Style Inventory

8. Quality of Work Life Inventory

9. Self Concept by Mohsin

10. Global Adjustment Scale

11. Emotional Intelligence by Danial Goleman

12. Thurstone Interest Schedule

13. Study Skill Inventory

14. Assertiveness Scale

15. Communication Skills

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 PAPER X - CLASS ROOM PSYCHOLOGY

UNIT-1: CLASS ROOM BEHAVIOUR IN SCHOOL

SETTING
Social interaction between teacher and child
Influence of peer group
Conformity and non-conformity in schools
UNIT - 2 : NATURE OF COMMUNICATION
Interaction analysis is communication
Social learning and role models
Friendship patterns in the classroom and sociometry
scale.
UNIT - 3 : CLASS CONTROL AND MANAGEMENT
Defining Problem Behaviour
Behaviour Modification techniques in classroom.
Merits and drawbacks of behaviour modification
techniques
UNIT - 4 : GROUP BEHAVIOUR PROBLEMS
School refusal problems
Use of punishment and reinforcement for class room
management
UNIT- 5: EDUCATIONAL GUIDANCE AND COUNSELLING
Counselling in school - The problem of confidentiality -
The importance of sympathy - The Counselling process -
Categorizing the child’s problem - The role of the counsellor
- Problems facing the counsellor.
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UNIT - 6
Vocational Guidance - Developmental Stages in Career
Choice - The role of Counsellor in Vocational guidance.
Sex Education for moral development and appropriate
social behaviour
Role of teacher as an applied psychologist
UNIT - 7 : SKILL DEVELOPMENT
Study skills development
Oral presentation skills
Written communication skills
UNIT - 8
Assertiveness skill development
Goal setting skills
Positive thinking skills
Techniques of creative thinking.
REFERENCES
1. Training in Management Skill by Philip L. Hunsaker,
Prentice Hall, New Jersey 2001
2. Think like a Winner by Walter Doyle Staples. UBPSD,
New Delhi 1996.
3. Psychology for Teachers by David Fontana, 3rd Ed.
Palgrave : UK 1995
4. Modern Applied Psychology by Arnold P. Goldstein and
Leonard Krasner. Pergamon Press, Inc. New York 1989.
5. Psychology Applied to Life and Work. 5th Ed. By Harry
Hepner, Prentice-Hall : New Jersey, 1973.
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