| Psychology - Optional of Part B - Main Examination of Civil Services Exam |
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PAPER
- I
Foundations of Psychology
1.
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.
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 design, Quasi-experimental designs;
Focussed group discussions, brain storming, grounded theory approach.
3.
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.
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-factors
influencing space and depth
perception, size estimation and perceptual readiness;
The plasticity of perception; Extrasensory
perception; Culture and perception,
Subliminal perception.
6.
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.
7.
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.
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 judgment;
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.
10. 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.
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:
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.
13.
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.
14. 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
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;
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.
3.
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.
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 leadership;
Sensitivity 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 counseling;
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 behaviour;
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 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.
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 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 entrepreneurs.
12.
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.
13.
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.
14.
Psychology of Gender:
Issues of discrimination, Management of diversity; Glass ceiling effect,
Self fulfilling prophesy, Women and Indian society