Introduction: Definition of Psychology;
Historical antecedents of Psychology and trends in the 21st century;
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 design, Quasi-experimental designs; Focussed
group discussions, brain storming, grounded theory approach.
Research Methods: Major steps in Psychological
research (problem statement, hypothesis formulation, research designs,
sampling, tools of data collection, analysis and interpretation and
report writing) Fundamental versus applied research; Methods of data
collection (interview, observation, questionnaire); Research designs
(ex-post facto and experimental); Application of statistical technique
(t - test, two way ANOVA correlation, regression and factor analysis);
Item response theory.
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.
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-factors influencing space and depth perception, size
estimation and perceptual readiness; The plasticity of perception; Extrasensory
perception; Culture and perception, Subliminal perception.
Learning: Concept and theories of learning (Behaviourists,
Gestaltalist and Information processing models); The Processes of extinction,
discrimination and generalization; Programmed learning, probability
learning, self-instructional learning, concepts; Types and the schedules
of reinforcement, escape, avoidance and punishment, modeling and social
learning.
Memory: Encoding and remembering; Short 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 judgment; 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,
Gullford Vernon, Sternberg and J.P; Das; Emotional Intelligence, Social
intelligence, measurement of intelligence and aptitudes, concept of
IQ, deviation IQ, constancy of IQ; Measurement of multiple intelligence;
Fluid intelligence and crystallized intelligence.
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.
Attitudes, Values and Interests: Definition of attitudes,
values and interests; Components of attitudes; Formation and maintenance
of attitudes; Measurement of attitudes, values and interests; Theories
of attitude change; Strategies for fostering values; Formation of stereotypes
and prejudices; Changing others behaviour; Theories of attribution;
Recent trends.
Language and Communication: Human language - Properties,
structure and linguistic hierarchy, Language acquisition-predisposition,
critical period hypothesis; Theories of language development - Skinner
and Chomsky; Process and types of communication - effective communication
training.
Issues and Perspectives in Modern Contemporary Psychology:
Computer application in the psychological laboratory and psychological
testing; Artificial intelligence; Psychocybernetics; Study of consciousness-sleep-wake
schedules; dreams, stimulus deprivation, meditation, hypnotic/drug induced
states; Extrasensory perception; Intersensory perception Simulation
studies.
PAPER - II
Psychology: Issues and Applications
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: Concept
of health-ill health; Positive health, well being; Causal factors in
mental disorders (Anxiety disorders, mood disorders, schizophrenia and
delusional disorders; personality disorders, substance abuse disorders);
Factors influencing positive health, well being, life style and quality
of life; Happiness disposition.
Therapeutic Approaches: Psychodynamic therapies;
Behaviour therapies; Client centered therapy; Cognitive therapies; Indigenous
therapies (Yoga, Meditation); Bio-feedback 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 leadership; Sensitivity 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 counseling;
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 behaviour; 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 problems 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 in-group and out-group; Causal factors of social 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 entrepreneurs.
Application of psychology to environment and related fields:
Environmental psychology-effects of noise, pollution and crowding;
Population psychology: psychological consequences of population explosion
and high population density; Motivating for small family norm; Impact
of rapid scientific and technological growth on degradation of environment.
Application of psychology in other fields:
(a) Military Psychology -Devising psychological 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 antisocial behaviour.
(d) Psychology of terrorism.
Psychology of Gender: Issues of discrimination,
Management of diversity; Glass ceiling effect, Self fulfilling prophesy,
Women and Indian society
