AHSEC 2nd Year Syllabus 2024-25 Psychology

PSYCHOLOGY
SYLLABUS FOR HIGHER SECONDARY FINAL YEAR COURSE

Rationale:
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 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 behavior.

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 develop appreciation about human mind and behavior in the context of
learners’immediate society and environment.
 To develop in learners an appreciation of the nature of
psychologicalknowledge and its application to various aspects of life.
 To enable learners to become perceptive, socially aware and self-reflective.
 To facilitate students’ quest for personal growth and effectiveness, and to
enable them to become responsive and responsible citizens.

PSYCHOLOGY

SYLLABUS FOR HIGHER SECONDARY FINAL YEAR COURSE 2023-2024

One Paper Time: Three hours Theory Marks: 70
Practical Marks: 30
Unit wise Distribution of Marks & Periods:

Units Topics No. of Marks
periods
I Variations in Psychological Attributes 20 10
II Self and Personality 20 10
III Meeting Life Challenges 20 10
IV Psychological Disorders 20 10
V Therapeutic Approaches 20 10
VI Attitude and Social Cognition 20 10
VII Social Influence and Group Processes 20 10
Total 140 70

Unit wise Distribution of Course Contents
Unit I Variations in Psychological Attributes 20 Periods
1. Individual Differences in Human Functioning
2. Assessment of Psychological Attributes
3. Intelligence
4. Theories of Intelligence
5. Information Processing approach of intelligence
6. Individual Differences in Intelligence
7. Culture and Intelligence
8. Emotional Intelligence
9. Special Abilities: Aptitude: Nature and Measurement
10. Creativity

Unit II Self and Personality 20 Periods
1. Concept of Self
2. Cognitive and Behavioural aspects of Self

3. Culture and Self
4. Concept of Personality
5. Major Approaches to the Study of Personality
 Type Approaches
 Trait Approaches
 Psychodynamic Approach and Post Freudian
Approaches
 Behavioural Approach
 Cultural Approach
 Humanistic Approach
6. Assessment of Personality
 Self-report Measures
 Projective Techniques
 Behavioural Analysis

Unit III Meeting Life Challenges 20 periods
1. Nature, Types and Sources of Stress
2. Effects of Stress on Psychological Functioning and
Health
 Stress and Health
 General Adaptation Syndrome
3. Coping with Stress
 Stress Management Techniques
4. Promoting Positive Health and Well-being

Unit IV Psychological Disorders 20 Periods
1. Concepts of Abnormality and Psychological Disorders
 Historical Background
2. Classification of Psychological Disorders
3. Factors Underlying Abnormal Behaviour
4. Major Psychological Disorders

 Anxiety Disorders
 Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders
 Trauma-and Stressor-Related Disorders
 Somatic symptom and related disorders
 Dissociative disorders
 Depressive Disorder
 Bipolar and Related Disorders
 Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic
Disorders
 Neurodevelopmental Disorders
 Disruptive, Impulse-Control and Conduct Disorders
 Feeding and Eating Disorders
 Substance Related and Addictive Disorders
Unit V Therapeutic Approaches 20 Periods
1. Nature and Process of psychotherapy
 Therapeutic relationship
2. Types of Therapies
 Behaviour Therapy
 Cognitive Therapy
 Humanistic-Existential Therapy
 Alternative Therapies
 Factors contributing to healing in Psychotherapy
 Ethics in Psychotherapy
3. Rehabilitation of the Mentally Ill
Unit VI Attitude and Social Cognition 20 Periods
1. Explaining Social Behaviour
2. Nature and Components of Attitudes
3. Attitude Formation and Change
 Attitude Formation
 Attitude Change
 Attitude-Behaviour Relationship
4. Prejudice and Discrimination
5. Strategies for Handling Prejudice

Unit VII Social Influence and Group Processes 20 Periods
1. Nature and Formation of Groups
2. Type of Groups
3. Influence of Group on Individual Behaviour
 Social Loafing
 Group Polarisation

Practical 30 Marks 50 Periods

A. Test administration:
Students are required to administer and interpret five
psychological tests related to various psychological attributes like
intelligence, aptitude, attitude, personality, etc.
B. In the Practical examination, the student will be required to
administer and interpret one psychological test.

Distribution of Marks:

 Practical File 10 Marks

 Viva Voce 05 Marks

 One Practical (5 marks for conduct of 15 Marks
practical and 10 marks for reporting)

Total 30 Marks

Prescribed Textbook:

1. Manobigyan, HS 2nd Year, Published by AHSEC.
2. Psychology, Class XII, Published by NCERT.