UK Board Class 12 Psychology Syllabus

Psychology is introduced as an elective subject at the higher secondary stage of school education. As a discipline, psychology specializes in the study of experiences, behaviours, and mental processes of human beings within a socio-cultural-historical context. This course purports to introduce the learners to the basic ideas, principles, and methods in Psychology. The emphasis is to create interest and exposure needed by
learners to develop their own knowledge base and understanding.

The course deals with psychological knowledge and practices which are contextually rooted. It emphasizes the complexity of behavioral processes and discourages simplistic cause-effect thinking. This is pursued by encouraging critical reasoning, allowing students to appreciate the role of cultural factors in behavior and illustrating how biology and experiences shape behaviour.

It is suggested that the teaching-learning processes should involve students in evolving their own understanding, therefore, the teaching of Psychology should be based on the use of case studies, narratives, experiential exercises, analysis of common everyday experiences, etc.
Objectives To:

• Develop appreciation about the human mind and behaviour in the context of learners’ immediate society and environment.
• Develop in learners an appreciation of the nature of psychological knowledge and its application to various aspects of life.
• Enable learners to become perceptive, socially aware and self-reflective.
• Facilitate students’ quest for personal growth and effectiveness, and to enable them to become responsive and responsible citizens

CLASS–XII (THEORY) (2018-19)

One Theory Paper Marks 70

Unit-I: Variations in Psychological Attributes: 20 periods
The topics in this unit are:

1. Introduction
2. Individual Differences in Human Functioning
3. Assessment of Psychological Attributes
4. Intelligence
5. Theories of Intelligence
   1. Theory of Multiple Intelligences
   2. Triarchic Theory of Intelligence
   3. Planning, Attention-arousal, and Simultaneous successive Model of Intelligence
6. Individual Differences in Intelligence
   1. Variations of Intelligence
7. Culture and Intelligence
8. Emotional Intelligence
9. Special Abilities
   1. Aptitude: Nature and Measurement
10. Creativity

Unit-II Self and Personality: 24 periods
The topics in this unit are:

1. Introduction
2. Self and Personality
3. Concept of Self
4. Cognitive and Behavioural Aspects of Self
   1. Self-esteem, Self-efficacy and Self-regulation
5. Culture and Self
6. Concept of Personality
7. Major Approaches to the Study of Personality
   1. Type Approaches
   2. Trait Approaches
   3. Psychodynamic Approach
   4. Behavioural Approach
   5. Cultural Approach
   6. Humanistic Approach
8. Assessment of Personality
   1. Self-report Measures
   2. Projective Techniques
   3. Behavioural Analysis

Unit-III: Meeting Life Challenges: 14 periods
The topics in this unit are:

1. Introduction
2. Nature, Types and Sources of Stress
3. Effects of Stress on Psychological Functioning and Health
   1. Stress and Health
   2. General Adaptation Syndrome
   3. Stress and Immune System
   4. Lifestyle
4. Coping with Stress
   1. Stress Management Techniques
5. Promoting Positive Health and Well-being
   1. a) Life Skills

Unit-IV: Psychological Disorders: 24 periods
The topics in this unit are:

1. Introduction
2. Concepts of abnormality and Psychological Disorders
3. Classification of Psychological Disorders
4. Factors Underlying Abnormal Behaviour
5. Major Psychological Disorders
   1. Anxiety Disorders
   2. Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders
   3. Trauma-and Stressor-Related Disorders
   4. Somatic Symptom and Related Disorders
   5. Dissociative Disorders
   6. Depressive Disorder
   7. Bipolar and Related Disorders
   8. Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders
   9. Neurodevelopmental Disorders
   10. Disruptive, Impulse-Control and Conduct Disorders
   11. Feeding and Eating Disorders
   12. Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders

Unit-V: Therapeutic Approaches: 20 periods
The topics in this unit are:

1. Nature and process of psychotherapy
   1. Therapeutic relationship
2. Types of therapies
   1. Psychodynamic Therapy
   2. Behaviour Therapy
   3. Cognitive Therapy
   4. Humanistic-existential Therapy
   5. Biomedical Therapy
   6. Alternative Therapies
3. Rehabilitation of the Mentally Ill

Unit-VI: Attitude And Social Cognition: 20 periods
The topics in this unit are:

1. Introduction
2. Explaining Social Behaviour
3. Nature and Components of Attitudes
4. Attitude Formation and Change
   1. Formation
   2. Change
   3. Attitude-Behaviour Relationship
5. Prejudice and Discrimination
6. Strategies for Handling Prejudice
7. Social Cognition
8. Schemas and Stereotypes
9. Impression Formation and Explaining
10. Behaviour of Others through Attributions
    1. Impression Formation
    2. Attribution of Causality
11. Behaviour in the Presence of Others
12. Pro-social Behaviour
    1. Factors Affecting Pro-social Behaviour

Unit-VII: Social Influence And Group Processes: 22 periods
The topics in this unit are:

1. Introduction
2. Nature and Formation of Groups
3. Type of Groups
4. Influence of Group on Individual Behaviour
   1. Social Loafing
   2. Group Polarisation
5. Conformity, Compliance, and Obedience
6. Cooperation and Competition
   1. Determinants of Cooperation and Competition
7. Social Identity
8. Intergroup Conflict: Nature and Causes
9. Conflict Resolution Strategies

Unit-VIII: Psychology and Life: 13 periods
The topics in this unit are:

1. Introduction
2. Human-Environment Relationship
   1. Different Views of the Human-Environment Relationship
3. Environmental Effects on Human Behaviour
   1. Human Influence on the Environment
   2. Noise
   3. Pollution
   4. Crowding
   5. Natural Disasters
4. Promoting Pro-environmental Behaviour
5. Psychology and Social Concerns
   1. Poverty and Discrimination
   2. Aggression, Violence, and Peace
   3. Mahatma Gandhi on Non-violence
   4. Health
   5. Impact of Television on Behaviour

Unit-IX: Developing Psychological Skills: 13 periods
The topics in this unit are:

1. Introduction
2. Developing as an effective Psychologist
3. General Skills
4. Observational Skills
5. Specific Skills
   1. Communication Skills
   2. Psychological Testing Skills
6. Interviewing Skills
7. Counselling Skills

Practicals 30 Marks 60 Periods

1. Development of case profile:
   Using appropriate methods like interview, observation and psychological tests.
2. Test administration:
   Students are required to administer and interpret five tests.
3. In Practical examination, the student will be required to administer and interpret two psychological tests.

Distribution of Marks:

1. Practical File: 10 Marks
2. Viva Voce (Case profile and practical) 05 Marks
3. Two practicals (5 for conduct and 10 for reporting) 15 Marks

Prescribed Books:

1. Psychology, Class XI, Published by NCERT
2. Psychology, Class XII, Published by NCERT

Note: The above textbooks are also available in Hindi medium.