UGC Net Psychology Syllabus PDF 2025 Download

• Assistant Professor 
• Junior Research Fellow (JRF)

Paper 2: Psychology

Paper 2: 200 marks

Western: Greek heritage, the medieval period, and the modern period. Structuralism, Functionalism, Psychoanalytical, Gestalt, Behaviorism, Humanistic Existential, Transpersonal, Cognitive revolution, Multiculturalism. Four founding paths of academic psychology – Wundt, Freud, James, Dilthey. Issues: Crisis in psychology due to strict adherence to experimental analytical paradigm (logical empiricism). Indic influences on modern psychology. Essential aspects of knowledge paradigms: Ontology, epistemology, and methodology.

Paradigms of Western Psychology: Positivism, Post-Positivism, Critical Perspective, Social Constructionism, Existential Phenomenology, and Co-operative Enquiry. Paradigmatic Controversies. Significant Indian paradigms on psychological knowledge: Yoga, Bhagavad Gita, Buddhism, Sufism, and Integral Yoga. Science and spirituality (avidya and vidya). The primacy of self-knowledge in Indian psychology. 

Paradigms of research: Quantitative, Qualitative, Mixed methods approach

Methods of research: Observation, Survey [Interview, Questionnaires], Experimental, Quasi-experimental, Field Studies, Cross-Cultural Studies, Phenomenology, Grounded theory, Focus groups, Narratives, Case studies, Ethnography Statistics in Psychology: Measures of Central Tendency and Dispersion. Normal Probability Curve. Parametric [t-test] and Non-parametric tests [Sign Test, Wilcoxon Signed rank test, Mann-Whitney test, Kruskal-Wallis test, Friedman].

Power analysis. Effect size. Correlational Analysis: Correlation [Product Moment, Rank Order], Partial correlation, multiple correlation. Special Correlation Methods: Biserial, Point biserial, tetrachoric, phi coefficient. Regression: Simple linear regression, Multiple regression. Factor analysis: Assumptions, Methods, Rotation and Interpretation. Experimental Designs: ANOVA [One-way, Factorial], Randomized Block Designs, Repeated Measures Design, Latin Square, Cohort studies, Time series, MANOVA, ANCOVA. Single-subject designs.

Areas of testing: Intelligence, creativity, neuropsychological tests, aptitude, Personality assessment, interest inventories

Attitude scales – Semantic differential, Staples, Likert scale. Computer-based psychological testing

Applications of psychological testing in various settings: Clinical, Organizational and business, Education, Counseling, and Military. Career guidance.

Neurons: Structure, functions, types, neural impulse, synaptic transmission. Neurotransmitters. The Central and Peripheral Nervous Systems – Structure and functions. Neuroplasticity.

Methods of Physiological Psychology: Invasive methods – Anatomical methods, degeneration techniques, lesion techniques, chemical methods, microelectrode studies. Non-invasive methods – EEG, Scanning methods.

Muscular and Glandular system: Types and functions

Biological basis of Motivation: Hunger, Thirst, Sleep, and Sex. Biological basis of emotion: The Limbic system, Hormonal regulation of behavior. Genetics and behavior: Chromosomal anomalies; Nature-Nurture controversy [Twin studies and adoption studies]

Perception: Approaches to the Study of Perception: Gestalt and physiological approaches

Perceptual Organization: Gestalt, Figure and Ground, Law of Organization Perceptual Constancy: Size, Shape, and Color; Illusions Perception of Form, Depth, and Movement Role of motivation and learning in perception

Signal detection theory: Assumptions and applications, Subliminal perception and related factors, information processing approach to perception, culture and perception, perceptual styles, Pattern recognition, Ecological perspective on perception. Learning Process: Fundamental theories: Thorndike, Guthrie,

Hull Classical Conditioning: Procedure, phenomena, and related issues. Instrumental learning: Phenomena, Paradigms and theoretical issues; Reinforcement: Basic variables and schedules; Behaviour modification and its applications

Cognitive approaches in learning: Latent learning, observational learning. Verbal Learning and Discrimination Learning Recent trends in learning: Neurophysiology of learning 

Memory and Forgetting

Memory processes: Encoding, Storage, and Retrieval

Stages of memory: Sensory Memory, Short-term memory ( Work memory ), Long term memory (declarative – Episodic and Semantic Procedural

Basic motivational concepts: Instincts, Needs, Drives, Arousal, Incentives, Motivational Cycle.

Approaches to the study of motivation: Psychoanalytical, Ethological, S-R Cognitive, Humanistic, Exploratory behavior and curiosity, Zuckerman’s Sensation seeking, Achievement, Affiliation, and Power, Motivational Competence, Self-regulation Flow, Emotions: Physiological correlates, Theories of emotions: James-Lange, Canon-Bard, Schachter and Singer, Lazarus, Lindsley, Emotion regulation, Conflicts: Sources and types

Stress and Coping: Concept, Models, Type A, B, C, D behaviors, Stress management strategies [Biofeedback, Music therapy, Breathing exercises, Progressive Muscular Relaxation, Guided Imagery, Mindfulness, Meditation, Yogasana, Stress Inoculation Training].

Decision-making: Types and models Metacognition: Metacognitive knowledge and Metacognitive regulation Intelligence: Spearman; Thurstone; Jensen; Cattell; Gardner; Stenberg; Goleman; Das, Kar & Parrila Creativity: Torrance, Getzels & Jackson, Guilford, Wallach & Kogan Relationship between Intelligence and Creativity 

Traditional theoretical perspectives: Field theory, Cognitive Dissonance, Sociobiology, Psychodynamic Approaches, Social Cognition. Social perception [Communication, Attributions]; attitude and its change within a cultural context; prosocial behavior, Group and Social influence [Social Facilitation; Social loafing];

Social influence [Conformity, Peer Pressure, Persuasion, Compliance, Obedience, Social Power, Reactance]. Aggression. Group dynamics, leadership style, and effectiveness. Theories of intergroup relations [Minimal Group Experiment and Social Identity Theory, Relative Deprivation Theory, Realistic Conflict Theory, Balance Theories, Equity Theory, Social Exchange Theory]

Applied social psychology: Health, Environment and Law; Personal space, crowding, and territoriality.

Psychopathology: Concept, Mental Status Examination, Classification, Causes Psychotherapies: Psychoanalysis, Person-centered, Gestalt, Existential, Acceptance Commitment Therapy, Behavior therapy, REBT, CBT, MBCT, Play therapy,

Positive psychotherapy, Transactional Analysis, Dialectic behavior therapy, Art therapy, Performing Art Therapy, Family therapy. Applications of theories of motivation and learning in School Factors in educational achievement Teacher effectiveness Guidance in schools: Needs, organizational setup and techniques Counselling: Process, skills, and techniques

Peace psychology: Violence, non-violence, conflict resolution at a macro level, the role of media in conflict resolution. Wellbeing and self-growth: Types of wellbeing [Hedonic and Eudemonic], Character strengths, Resilience and 

Post-Traumatic Growth. 

Health: Health-promoting and health-compromising behaviors, Lifestyle and Chronic diseases [Diabetes, Hypertension, Coronary Heart Disease], Psychoneuroimmunology [Cancer, HIV/AIDS] 

Psychology and technology interface: Digital learning; Digital etiquette: Cyberbullying; Cyber pornography: Consumption, implications; Parental mediation of Digital Usage.

UGC Net Psychology Exam Pattern 2025