UK Board Class 11 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, behaviors, 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 behavioural processes and discourages simplistic cause-effect thinking. This is pursued by encouraging critical reasoning, allowing students to appreciate the role of cultural factors in behaviour, 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, teaching of Psychology should be based on the use of case studies, narratives, experiential exercises, analysis of common everyday experiences, etc.
Objectives To:

• To develop appreciation about 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.

PSYCHOLOGY (Code No. 037)
CLASS–XI (2018-19)
(THEORY)

One Theory Paper 3 Hours
Marks: 70

Unit I: What is Psychology? 16 Periods

1. Introduction
2. What is Psychology as a:?
   1. Discipline
   2. Natural Science
   3. Social Science
3. Understanding Mind and Behaviour
4. Popular Notions about the Discipline of Psychology
5. Evolution of Psychology
6. Development of Psychology in India
7. Branches of Psychology
8. Themes of Research and Applications
9. Psychology and Other Disciplines
10. Psychologists at Work
11. Psychology in Everyday Life

Unit II: Methods of Enquiry in Psychology 20 Periods

The topics in this unit are:

1. Introduction
2. Goals of Psychological Enquiry
   1. Steps in Conducting Scientific Research
   2. Alternative Paradigms of Research
3. Nature of Psychological Data
4. Some Important Methods in Psychology
   1. Observational Method
   2. Experimental Method
   3. Correlational Research
   4. Survey Research
   5. Psychological Testing
   6. Case Study
5. Analysis of Data
   1. Quantitative Method
   2. Qualitative Method
6. Limitations of Psychological Enquiry
7. Ethical Issues

Unit III: The Bases of Human Behaviour 20 Periods

The topics in this unit are:

1. Introduction
2. Evolutionary Perspective
3. Biological and Cultural Roots
4. Biological Basis of Behaviour
   1. Neurons
5. Structure and Functions of Nervous System and Endocrine System and their Relationship with Behaviour and Experience
   1. The Nervous System
   2. The Endocrine System
6. Heredity: Genes and Behaviour
7. Cultural Basis : Socio-Cultural Shaping of Behaviour
   1. Concept of Culture
8. Enculturation
9. Socialisation
10. Acculturation

Unit IV: Human Development 16 Periods

The topics in this unit are:

1. Introduction
2. Meaning of Development
   1. Life-Span Perspective on Development
3. Factors Influencing Development
4. Context of Development
5. Overview of Developmental Stages
   1. Prenatal Stage
6. Infancy
7. Childhood
8. Challenges of Adolescence
9. Adulthood and Old Age

Unit-V: Sensory, Attentional, and Perceptual Processes 20 periods

The topics in this unit are:

1. Introduction
2. Knowing the world
3. Nature and varieties of Stimulus
4. Sense Modalities
   1. Visual Sensation
   2. Auditory Sensation
5. Attentional Processes
   1. Selective Attention
   2. Sustained Attention
6. Perceptual Processes
   1. Processing Approaches in Perception
7. The Perceiver
8. Principles of Perceptual Organisation
9. Perception of Space, Depth, and Distance
   1. Monocular Cues and Binocular Cues
10. Perceptual Constancies
11. Illusions
12. Socio-Cultural Influences on Perception

Unit-VI: Learning 22 periods

The topics in this unit are:

1. Introduction
2. Nature of Learning
3. Paradigms of Learning
4. Classical Conditioning
   1. Determinants of Classical Conditioning
5. Operant/Instrumental Conditioning
   1. Determinants of Operant Conditioning
   2. Key Learning Processes
6. Observational Learning
7. Cognitive Learning
8. Verbal Learning
9. Concept Learning
10. Skill Learning
11. Transfer of Learning
12. Factors Facilitating Learning
13. The Learner : Learning Styles
14. Learning Disabilities
15. Applications of Learning Principles

Unit-VII: Human Memory 20 periods

The topics in this unit are:

1. Introduction
2. Nature of memory
3. Information processing Approach : The Stage Model
4. Memory Systems : Sensory, Short-term and Long-term Memories
5. Levels of Processing
6. Types of Long-term Memory
   1. Declarative and Procedural; Episodic and Semantic
7. Knowledge Representation and Organisation in Memory
8. Memory as a Constructive Process
9. Nature and Causes of Forgetting
   1. Forgetting due to Trace Decay, Interference and Retrieval Failure
10. Enhancing Memory
    1. Mnemonics using Images and Organisation

Unit-VIII: Thinking 18 periods

The topics in this unit are:

1. Introduction
2. Nature of Thinking
   1. Building Blocks of Thought
3. The Processes of Thinking
4. Problem Solving
5. Reasoning
6. Decision-making
7. Nature and Process of Creative Thinking
   1. Nature of Creative Thinking
   2. Process of Creative Thinking
8. Developing Creative Thinking
   1. Barriers to Creative Thinking
   2. Strategies for Creative Thinking
9. Thought and Language
10. Development of Language and Language Use

Unit-IX: Motivation and Emotion 18 periods

The topics in this unit are:

1. Introduction
2. Nature of Motivation
3. Types of Motives
   1. Biological Motives
   2. Psychosocial Motives
4. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
5. Nature of Emotions
6. Physiological Bases of Emotions
7. Cognitive Bases of Emotions
8. Cultural Bases of Emotions
9. Expression of Emotions
   1. Culture and Emotional Expression
   2. Culture and Emotional Labelling
10. Managing Negative Emotions
11. Enhancing Positive Emotions

Practicals (Projects, experiments, small studies, etc.) 60 Periods

The students shall be required to undertake one project and conduct two experiments. The project would involve the use of different methods of enquiry and related skills. Practicals would involve conducting experiments and undertaking small studies, exercises, related to the topics covered in the course (e.g. Human development, Learning, Memory, Motivation, Perception, Attention and Thinking).

Practical Examination

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