Introduction – Psychology Optional PYQs (1995–2026)

Here are all 51 Introduction questions asked in UPSC Psychology Optional Paper I from 1995 to 2026, arranged under the 4 topics of the official syllabus. Within each topic the latest questions come first.

Each question ends with a code such as [2024/15m/3b] – the year, the marks, the word limit (where UPSC set one) and the question number in the paper.

1.2] Historical antecedents of Psychology and trends in the 21st century

24 questions

1. Why did behaviourists avoid the topics of thought and knowledge? Discuss. [2025/10m/150w/1a]

2. When psychologists label their perspective ‘humanistic’, what does this term mean to you? What is its relevance in the modern era? [2025/15m/2b]

3. Describe the diversity in the disciplinary thoughts with special reference to structuralism, functionalism and behaviourism. [2024/20m/2a]

4. Citing relevant studies, describe the emergence and development of cognitive psychology. [2024/15m/2b]

5. Comment on: “Mental health study is the major trend in Psychological studies in the 21st century.” — Discuss. [2023/10m/150w/1b]

6. Discuss the contribution of structuralism and functionalism in shaping psychology as a discipline. [2022/15m/3b]

7. Explain the importance of cognitive neuropsychology and socio-cultural perspective in understanding human behaviour. [2021/15m/3c]

8. Explain five most important perspectives to define human behaviour. [2020/15m/3b]

9. The edifice of behaviourism was built on the loopholes of the teleological approach in psychoanalysis. Evaluate. [2019/10m/150w/1a]

10. How did structuralism contribute to the development of psychology as a discipline? Evaluate. [2019/10m/150w/5d]

11. How have neuroscientists and evolutionary scientists contributed to modern psychology? [2018/15m/2b]

12. Critically evaluate the cognitive approach to the study of psychological phenomena. [2013/10m/150w/1a]

13. What is ethnocentrism? How is it reflected in psychological research? [2013/10m/150w/1b]

14. Elucidate the contributions of Sir Francis Galton in shaping psychology. [2012/12m/150w/1a]

15. What is social constructionism? How does it challenge the mainstream psychology? [2011/20m/2a]

16. The History of psychology show ‘mind-body’ approach as one of the popular ways of explaining behaviour. Discuss how this is being revisited in modern psychology. [2009/20m/200w/1b]

17. What is the impact of multiculturalism and globalisation on psychological studies? Discuss the question with the help of salient contemporary trends in psychology. [2007/20m/200w/1b]

18. Give an evaluative account of the behaviouristic, psychoanalytic and humanistic perspectives of psychology. [2004/20m/200w/1a]

19. ‘Psychology is a science.’ Discuss the statement in the light of its historical development. [2003/20m/200w/1c]

20. Explain why is the humanistic perspective called the third force in psychology. [2001/20m/200w/1c]

21. Discuss the view that the mechanistic model of man is an oversimplification of the facts of behaviour. Examine the concept of integrated model with a view to present a balanced picture. [1998/60m/8]

22. What do you mean by the S-O-R paradigm? [1995/20m/200w/1a]

23. Evaluate critically the contribution of the Gestalt school to the development of psychology as a science with special reference to the study of perception. [1995/60m/3]

24. Man as viewed from the standpoint of humanistic psychology. [1995/20m/200w/5d]

1.3] Psychology and scientific methods

10 questions

1. What makes psychology a more scientific discipline in comparison to other disciplines of social sciences? Elucidate your answer with examples and evidences. [2026/15m/2b]

2. What makes psychology a science? Discuss. [2024/10m/150w/1a]

3. “Human behaviour is affected by multiple factors that tend to overlap. As a result of which it is difficult to analyse the cause of behaviour.” — Discuss. [2023/15m/8c]

4. What are the limits of intuition and common sense? Why do psychologists emphasize on scientific methods? Discuss. [2021/10m/150w/1a]

5. Psychology is the scientific study of behaviour. Evaluate. [2017/10m/150w/1e]

6. Describe the key assumptions on which psychology claims to be a science. [2011/10m/100w/1a]

7. Why should psychology be called a science? Justify your answer with the support of the methodology it adopts to study behaviour. [2004/20m/200w/1b]

8. ‘Psychology is a science.’ Discuss the statement in the light of its historical development. [2003/20m/200w/1c]

9. Comment on: ‘Psychology is called a science not because of its subject matter but because of the scientific method used in studying its subject matter.’ Write a detailed explanatory note. [2002/20m/200w/1c]

10. Give your arguments in support of claiming psychology a science. [1999/20m/200w/1d]

1.4] Psychology in relation to other social sciences and natural sciences

5 questions

1. What makes psychology a more scientific discipline in comparison to other disciplines of social sciences? Elucidate your answer with examples and evidences. [2026/15m/2b]

2. Why is it important to understand psychological processes for other disciplines of social science? [2015/10m/150w/1a]

3. Do you think that natural sciences provide a good model for psychological studies? Give arguments in favour of your answer. [2014/20m/4a]

4. The discipline of psychology has grown and developed through debate between those who held that it should be modelled on natural science and those who subscribed to the view that it has to follow the model of social science. What arguments you envision for or against these views? What position you would like to endorse and why? [2013/25m/400w/3a]

5. In the present modern age there is a wide range of application of Psychology and consequently the present status of psychology is that of exporter of knowledge. Discuss the statement highlighting your point of view. [2003/20m/200w/1a]

1.5] Application of Psychology to societal problems

12 questions

1. Discuss various applications of psychology with reference to war and peace. [2026/10m/150w/1a]

2. “Knowledge without use is useless.” Discuss the statement focussing on the application of psychology in resolving societal problems. [2023/10m/150w/5e]

3. Describe the applications of psychological principles in managing drug abuse in adolescents. [2022/10m/150w/1a]

4. State the role of psychologist in resolving interpersonal conflicts and social unrest. [2021/10m/150w/1b]

5. How can a psychologist contribute to the society during COVID-19? [2020/10m/150w/5a]

6. Discuss how psychology can be applied in solving the problem of global climate change. [2018/10m/150w/1a]

7. Describe how you used psychology to solve a social problem. [2017/10m/150w/1a]

8. Explain how the fundamental understanding of psychology is helpful in the resolution of societal problems. [2016/10m/150w/1a]

9. Keeping in view the strife in current social situation, discuss how a psychologist can contribute towards providing interventions for such problems. [2015/15m/2a]

10. Poverty and level of economic achievement as a social problem can only be explained from the psychological perspective. Comment with relevant research studies. [2008/20m/200w/1a]

11. How could the knowledge of psychology be used in developing a national character? Answer with appropriate examples. [2004/20m/200w/1c]

12. In the present modern age there is a wide range of application of Psychology and consequently the present status of psychology is that of exporter of knowledge. Discuss the statement highlighting your point of view. [2003/20m/200w/1a]

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Last updated: 30 October 2026