Psychology Optional

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

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

Major steps in psychological research

• Problem statement

• Hypothesis formulation

• Research designs

• Sampling

• Tools of data collection

• Analysis and interpretation

• Report writing

Fundamental versus applied research

Methods of data collection — interview, observation, questionnaire

Research designs — ex-post facto and experimental

Application of statistical techniques — t-test, two-way ANOVA, correlation, regression and factor analysis

Item response theory

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 of the major stages of the life span

• Developmental tasks

• Promoting psychological well-being across major stages of the life span

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

Concept and theories of learning — behaviourists, Gestaltists 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

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

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

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

Concept of intelligence and aptitude

Nature and theories of intelligence — Spearman, Thurstone, Guilford, 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

Definition and concept of personality

Theories of personality

• Psychoanalytical approach

• Sociocultural approach

• Interpersonal approach

• Developmental approach

• Humanistic approach

• Behaviouristic approach

• Trait and type approaches

Measurement of personality — projective tests, pencil-paper tests

The Indian approach to personality

Training for personality development

Latest approaches like Big Five factor theory

The notion of self in different traditions

Definitions 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

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

Computer application in the psychological laboratory and psychological testing

Artificial intelligence

Psychocybernetics

Study of consciousness

• Sleep-wake schedules

• Dreams

• Stimulus deprivation

• Meditation

• Hypnotic and drug-induced states

Extrasensory perception

Intersensory perception

Simulation studies

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

Concept of health and 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

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

Personnel selection and training

Use of psychological tests in the industry

Training and human resource development

Theories of work motivation — Herzberg, Maslow, Adam's 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

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

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

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

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

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 such conflicts and prejudices

Psychological strategies for handling the conflicts and prejudices

Measures to achieve social integration

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

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

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

Military psychology

• Devising psychological tests for defence personnel for use in selection, training, counselling

• Training psychologists to work with defence personnel in promoting positive health

• Human engineering in defence

Sports psychology

• Psychological interventions in improving performance of athletes and sports persons in individual and team games

Media influences on pro and antisocial behaviour

Psychology of terrorism

Issues of discrimination

Management of diversity

Glass ceiling effect

Self-fulfilling prophecy

Women and Indian society