Psychology Optional Syllabus

Here is the official UPSC Psychology Optional syllabus for Paper I and Paper II, arranged paper by paper and unit by unit. Under each unit we give the official text first, then break it into numbered topics, so you can track your preparation and match every previous year question to its topic.

Source. UPSC Civil Services Examination 2026 notification (Notif-CSP-2026-Engl-060226Rev.pdf, pp. 138–142), upsc.gov.in. The syllabus has been unchanged in recent years.

Scheme. Two papers of 250 marks each (total 500), 3 hours each. Paper I: Foundations of Psychology (14 units). Paper II: Psychology: Issues and Applications (14 units). Each paper has two sections (A and B) of four questions each, but the syllabus does not assign units to sections: questions from any unit can appear in either section, so the units are listed here in the official order without a section split.

Syllabus at a glance

Paper	Unit	Topics
Paper I	1. Introduction	5
Paper I	2. Methods of Psychology	4
Paper I	3. Research methods	6
Paper I	4. Development of Human Behaviour	4
Paper I	5. Sensation, Attention and Perception	9
Paper I	6. Learning	6
Paper I	7. Memory	7
Paper I	8. Thinking and Problem Solving	8
Paper I	9. Motivation and Emotion	5
Paper I	10. Intelligence and Aptitude	6
Paper I	11. Personality	7
Paper I	12. Attitudes, Values and Interests	8
Paper I	13. Language and Communication	4
Paper I	14. Issues and Perspectives in Modern Contemporary Psychology	6
Paper II	1. Psychological Measurement of Individual Differences	5
Paper II	2. Psychological well being and Mental Disorders	4
Paper II	3. Therapeutic Approaches	7
Paper II	4. Work Psychology and Organisational Behaviour	10
Paper II	5. Application of Psychology to Educational Field	8
Paper II	6. Community Psychology	5
Paper II	7. Rehabilitation Psychology	5
Paper II	8. Application of Psychology to disadvantaged groups	4
Paper II	9. Psychological problem of social integration	5
Paper II	10. Application of Psychology in Information Technology and Mass Media	6
Paper II	11. Psychology and Economic development	5
Paper II	12. Application of Psychology to environment and related fields	4
Paper II	13. Application of psychology in other fields	4
Paper II	14. Psychology of Gender	5

Paper I

Foundations of Psychology

1. Introduction

1.1 Definition of Psychology

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

• Historical antecedents
• Trends in the 21st century

1.3 Psychology and scientific methods

1.4 Psychology in relation to other social sciences and natural sciences

• Other social sciences
• Natural sciences

1.5 Application of Psychology to societal problems

2. Methods of Psychology

2.1 Types of research: descriptive, evaluative, diagnostic and prognostic

• Descriptive
• Evaluative
• Diagnostic
• Prognostic

2.2 Methods of research: survey, observation, case-study and experiments

• Survey
• Observation
• Case-study
• Experiments

2.3 Experimental, non-experimental and quasi-experimental designs

• Experimental designs
• Non-experimental designs
• Quasi-experimental designs

2.4 Focussed group discussions, brain storming, grounded theory approach

• Focussed group discussions
• Brain storming
• Grounded theory approach

3. Research methods

3.1 Major steps in psychological research

• Problem statement
• Hypothesis formulation
• Research design
• Sampling
• Tools of data collection
• Analysis, interpretation and report writing

3.2 Fundamental versus applied research

3.3 Methods of data collection: interview, observation, questionnaire and case study

• Interview
• Observation
• Questionnaire
• Case study

3.4 Research designs: ex-post facto and experimental

• Ex-post facto
• Experimental

3.5 Statistical techniques: t-test, two-way ANOVA, correlation and regression, factor analysis

• t-test
• Two-way ANOVA
• Correlation and regression
• Factor analysis

3.6 Item response theory

4. Development of Human Behaviour

4.1 Growth and development; principles of development

• Growth and development
• Principles of development

4.2 Role of genetic and environmental factors in determining human behaviour

• Genetic factors
• Environmental factors

4.3 Influence of cultural factors in socialization

4.4 Life span development: characteristics, development tasks, promoting psychological well-being

• Characteristics
• Development tasks
• Promoting psychological well-being across the life span

5. Sensation, Attention and Perception

5.1 Sensation: threshold, absolute and difference thresholds

• Absolute threshold
• Difference threshold

5.2 Signal-detection and vigilance

• Signal-detection
• Vigilance

5.3 Factors influencing attention including set and characteristics of stimulus

5.4 Definition and concept of perception; biological factors in perception

• Concept of perception
• Biological factors

5.5 Perceptual organization: past experience, perceptual defence, space and depth perception, size estimation, perceptual readiness

• Influence of past experiences
• Perceptual defence
• Space and depth perception
• Size estimation
• Perceptual readiness

5.6 The plasticity of perception

5.7 Extrasensory perception

5.8 Culture and perception

5.9 Subliminal perception

6. Learning

6.1 Concepts and theories of learning: behaviourist, Gestaltist and information processing models

• Behaviourist
• Gestaltist
• Information processing models

6.2 Extinction, discrimination and generalisation

• Extinction
• Discrimination
• Generalisation

6.3 Programmed learning, probability learning, self instructional learning

• Programmed learning
• Probability learning
• Self instructional learning

6.4 Reinforcement: concepts, types and schedules

• Concepts
• Types
• Schedules of reinforcement

6.5 Escape, avoidance and punishment

• Escape
• Avoidance
• Punishment

6.6 Modelling and social learning

7. Memory

7.1 Encoding and remembering

7.2 Short-term, long-term, sensory, iconic and echoic memory

• Short-term memory
• Long-term memory
• Sensory memory
• Iconic memory
• Echoic memory

7.3 The multistore model and levels of processing

• Multistore model
• Levels of processing

7.4 Organization and mnemonic techniques to improve memory

7.5 Theories of forgetting: decay, interference and retrieval failure

• Decay
• Interference
• Retrieval failure

7.6 Metamemory

7.7 Amnesia: anterograde and retrograde

• Anterograde
• Retrograde

8. Thinking and Problem Solving

8.1 Piaget’s theory of cognitive development

8.2 Concept formation processes

8.3 Information processing

8.4 Reasoning and problem solving

• Reasoning
• Problem solving

8.5 Facilitating and hindering factors in problem solving; methods of problem solving

• Facilitating and hindering factors
• Methods of problem solving

8.6 Creative thinking and fostering creativity

8.7 Factors influencing decision making and judgement

8.8 Recent trends

9. Motivation and Emotion

9.1 Psychological and physiological basis of motivation and emotion

• Motivation
• Emotion

9.2 Measurement of motivation and emotion

9.3 Effects of motivation and emotion on behaviour

9.4 Extrinsic and intrinsic motivation; factors influencing intrinsic motivation

• Extrinsic and intrinsic motivation
• Factors influencing intrinsic motivation

9.5 Emotional competence and the related issues

10. Intelligence and Aptitude

10.1 Concept of intelligence and aptitude

• Intelligence
• Aptitude

10.2 Theories of intelligence: Spearman, Thurstone, Guilford, Vernon, Sternberg and J.P. Das

• Spearman
• Thurstone
• Guilford
• Vernon
• Sternberg
• J.P. Das

10.3 Emotional intelligence and social intelligence

• Emotional intelligence
• Social intelligence

10.4 Measurement of intelligence and aptitudes; IQ, deviation IQ, constancy of IQ

• Measurement of intelligence and aptitudes
• IQ and deviation IQ
• Constancy of IQ

10.5 Measurement of multiple intelligence

10.6 Fluid intelligence and crystallized intelligence

11. Personality

11.1 Definition and concept of personality

11.2 Theories of personality: psychoanalytical, socio-cultural, interpersonal, developmental, humanistic, behaviouristic, trait and type

• Psychoanalytical
• Socio-cultural
• Interpersonal
• Developmental
• Humanistic
• Behaviouristic
• Trait and type approaches

11.3 Measurement of personality: projective tests, pencil-paper tests

• Projective tests
• Pencil-paper tests

11.4 The Indian approach to personality

11.5 Training for personality development

11.6 Latest approaches like big 5 factor theory

11.7 The notion of self in different traditions

12. Attitudes, Values and Interests

12.1 Definitions of attitudes, values and interests

• Attitudes
• Values
• Interests

12.2 Components, formation and maintenance of attitudes

• Components
• Formation and maintenance

12.3 Measurement of attitudes, values and interests

12.4 Theories of attitude change; strategies for fostering values

• Theories of attitude change
• Strategies for fostering values

12.5 Formation of stereotypes and prejudices

• Stereotypes
• Prejudices

12.6 Changing other’s behaviour

12.7 Theories of attribution

12.8 Recent trends

13. Language and Communication

13.1 Human language: properties, structure and linguistic hierarchy

• Properties
• Structure
• Linguistic hierarchy

13.2 Language acquisition: predisposition, critical period hypothesis

• Predisposition
• Critical period hypothesis

13.3 Theories of language development: Skinner and Chomsky

• Skinner
• Chomsky

13.4 Process and types of communication; effective communication training

• Process and types of communication
• Effective communication training

14. Issues and Perspectives in Modern Contemporary Psychology

14.1 Computer application in the psychological laboratory and psychological testing

14.2 Artificial intelligence

14.3 Psychocybernetics

14.4 Study of consciousness: sleep-wake schedules, dreams, stimulus deprivation, meditation, hypnotic/drug induced states

• Sleep-wake schedules
• Dreams
• Stimulus deprivation
• Meditation
• Hypnotic/drug induced states

14.5 Extrasensory perception and intersensory perception

• Extrasensory perception
• Intersensory perception

14.6 Simulation studies

Paper II

Psychology: Issues and Applications

1. Psychological Measurement of Individual Differences

1.1 The nature of individual differences

1.2 Characteristics and construction of standardized psychological tests

• Characteristics
• Construction

1.3 Types of psychological tests

1.4 Use, misuse and limitation of psychological tests

• Use
• Misuse
• Limitation

1.5 Ethical issues in the use of psychological tests

2. Psychological well being and Mental Disorders

2.1 Concept of health-ill health, positive health, well being

• Health-ill health
• Positive health
• Well being

2.2 Causal factors in mental disorders

• Anxiety disorders
• Mood disorders
• Schizophrenia and delusional disorders
• Personality disorders
• Substance abuse disorders

2.3 Factors influencing positive health and well being; lifestyle and quality of life

• Factors influencing positive health and well being
• Lifestyle and quality of life

2.4 Happiness disposition

3. Therapeutic Approaches

3.1 Psychodynamic therapies

3.2 Behaviour therapies

3.3 Client centered therapy

3.4 Cognitive therapies

3.5 Indigenous therapies (Yoga, Meditation)

• Yoga
• Meditation

3.6 Biofeedback therapy

3.7 Prevention and rehabilitation of the mentally ill; fostering mental health

• Prevention and rehabilitation of the mentally ill
• Fostering mental health

4. Work Psychology and Organisational Behaviour

4.1 Personnel selection and training; use of psychological tests in the industry

• Personnel selection
• Training
• Use of psychological tests in the industry

4.2 Training and human resource development

4.3 Theories of work motivation: Herzberg, Maslow, Adam Equity theory, Porter and Lawler, Vroom

• Herzberg
• Maslow
• Adam Equity theory
• Porter and Lawler
• Vroom

4.4 Leadership and participatory management; transformational leadership

• Leadership
• Participatory management
• Transformational leadership

4.5 Advertising and marketing; consumer psychology

• Advertising and marketing
• Consumer psychology

4.6 Stress and its management

4.7 Ergonomics

4.8 Managerial effectiveness

4.9 Sensitivity training

4.10 Power and politics in organizations

5. Application of Psychology to Educational Field

5.1 Psychological principles underlying effective teaching-learning process

5.2 Learning styles

5.3 Gifted, retarded and learning disabled and their training

• Gifted
• Retarded
• Learning disabled

5.4 Training for improving memory and better academic achievement

5.5 Personality development and value education

5.6 Educational and vocational guidance and career counselling

• Educational guidance
• Vocational guidance
• Career counselling

5.7 Use of psychological tests in educational institutions

5.8 Effective strategies in guidance programmes

6. Community Psychology

6.1 Definition and concept of community psychology

6.2 Use of small groups in social action

6.3 Arousing community consciousness and action for handling social problems

6.4 Group decision making and leadership for social change

• Group decision making
• Leadership for social change

6.5 Effective strategies for social change

7. Rehabilitation Psychology

7.1 Primary, secondary and tertiary prevention programmes: role of psychologists

• Primary prevention
• Secondary prevention
• Tertiary prevention

7.2 Rehabilitation of physically, mentally and socially challenged persons including old persons

• Physically challenged
• Mentally challenged
• Socially challenged
• Old persons

7.3 Rehabilitation of persons suffering from substance abuse, juvenile delinquency, criminal behaviours

• Substance abuse
• Juvenile delinquency
• Criminal behaviours

7.4 Rehabilitation of victims of violence

7.5 Rehabilitation of HIV/AIDS victims; the role of social agencies

• HIV/AIDS victims
• Role of social agencies

8. Application of Psychology to disadvantaged groups

8.1 The concepts of disadvantaged and deprivation

• Disadvantaged
• Deprivation

8.2 Social, physical, cultural and economic consequences of disadvantage and deprivation

• Social
• Physical
• Cultural
• Economic

8.3 Educating and motivating the disadvantaged towards development

8.4 Relative and prolonged deprivation

• Relative deprivation
• Prolonged deprivation

9. Psychological problem of social integration

9.1 The concept of social integration

9.2 The problem of caste, class, religion and language conflicts and prejudice

• Caste
• Class
• Religion
• Language

9.3 Prejudice between the ingroup and outgroup; causal factors of conflicts and prejudices

• Nature and manifestation of ingroup–outgroup prejudice
• Causal factors

9.4 Psychological strategies for handling the conflicts and prejudices

9.5 Measures to achieve social integration

10. Application of Psychology in Information Technology and Mass Media

10.1 The present scenario of IT and mass media boom; the role of psychologists

10.2 Selection and training of psychology professionals for IT and mass media

10.3 Distance learning through IT and mass media

10.4 Entrepreneurship through e-commerce; multilevel marketing

• E-commerce
• Multilevel marketing

10.5 Impact of TV and fostering value through IT and mass media

• Impact of TV
• Fostering value through IT and mass media

10.6 Psychological consequences of recent developments in information technology

11. Psychology and Economic development

11.1 Achievement motivation and economic development

11.2 Characteristics of entrepreneurial behaviour

11.3 Motivating and training people for entrepreneurship and economic development

11.4 Consumer rights and consumer awareness

• Consumer rights
• Consumer awareness

11.5 Government policies for promotion of entrepreneurship among youth including women entrepreneurs

• Youth
• Women entrepreneurs

12. Application of Psychology to environment and related fields

12.1 Environmental psychology: effects of noise, pollution and crowding

• Noise
• Pollution
• Crowding

12.2 Population psychology: consequences of population explosion and high population density

• Population explosion
• High population density

12.3 Motivating for small family norms

12.4 Impact of rapid scientific and technological growth on degradation of environment

13. Application of psychology in other fields

13.1 Military psychology

• Psychological tests for selection, training and counseling of defence personnel
• Training psychologists to promote positive health of defence personnel
• Human engineering in defence

13.2 Sports psychology: interventions for athletes in individual and team games

• Individual games
• Team games

13.3 Media influences on pro and anti-social behaviour

13.4 Psychology of terrorism

14. Psychology of Gender

14.1 Issues of discrimination

14.2 Management of diversity

14.3 Glass ceiling effect

14.4 Self-fulfilling prophecy

14.5 Women and Indian society

Total: 162 numbered topics across 28 units.

Last updated: 30 October 2026