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:: PAPER - I ::
Foundations of Psychology

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.

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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.

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:: PAPER - II ::
Psychology : Issues and applications

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 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 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.

5. 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. 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 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 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
the 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
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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 promotion of
entrepreneurship among youth including women entreprenures.

12. 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.

13. 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.

(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.

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

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