Syllabus: Psychology for Class 11 | Psychology Class 11 - Humanities/Arts PDF Download

 Page 1


COURSE STRUCTURE 
CLASS XI (2023-2024) 
 
 Theory Paper                                                                                                   3 Hours 
Marks: 70  
Units Topics No. of 
periods 
Marks 
I What is Psychology? 27 11 
II Methods of Enquiry in Psychology 32 13 
IV Human Development 26 11 
V Sensory, Attentional and Perceptual 
Processes 
18 8 
VI Learning 20 9 
VII Human Memory 19 8 
VIII Thinking 14 5 
IX Motivation and Emotion 14 5 
 Total 170 70 
 
COURSE STRUCTURE 
Unit I What is Psychology? 
The topics in this unit are: 
1. Introduction 
2. What is Psychology? 
? Psychology as a Discipline 
? Psychology as a Natural Science  
? Psychology as a 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. Psychology and Other Disciplines 
9. Psychology in Everyday Life 
27 Periods  
Unit II Methods of Enquiry in Psychology                                                  
The topics in this unit are: 
1. Introduction 
2. Goals of Psychological Enquiry 
? Steps in Conducting Scientific Research 
32 Periods 
Page 2


COURSE STRUCTURE 
CLASS XI (2023-2024) 
 
 Theory Paper                                                                                                   3 Hours 
Marks: 70  
Units Topics No. of 
periods 
Marks 
I What is Psychology? 27 11 
II Methods of Enquiry in Psychology 32 13 
IV Human Development 26 11 
V Sensory, Attentional and Perceptual 
Processes 
18 8 
VI Learning 20 9 
VII Human Memory 19 8 
VIII Thinking 14 5 
IX Motivation and Emotion 14 5 
 Total 170 70 
 
COURSE STRUCTURE 
Unit I What is Psychology? 
The topics in this unit are: 
1. Introduction 
2. What is Psychology? 
? Psychology as a Discipline 
? Psychology as a Natural Science  
? Psychology as a 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. Psychology and Other Disciplines 
9. Psychology in Everyday Life 
27 Periods  
Unit II Methods of Enquiry in Psychology                                                  
The topics in this unit are: 
1. Introduction 
2. Goals of Psychological Enquiry 
? Steps in Conducting Scientific Research 
32 Periods 
? Alternative Paradigms of Research 
3. Nature of Psychological Data 
4. Some Important Methods in Psychology 
? Observational Method 
? Experimental Method  
? Correlational Research 
? Survey Research 
? Psychological Testing  
? Case Study 
5. Analysis of Data 
? Quantitative Method  
? Qualitative Method 
6. Limitations of Psychological Enquiry 
7. Ethical Issues 
Unit IV Human Development                                                                      
The topics in this unit are: 
1. Introduction 
2. Meaning of Development 
? Life-Span Perspective on Development 
3. Factors Influencing Development 
4. Context of Development 
5. Overview of Developmental Stages 
? Prenatal Stage 
? Infancy 
? Childhood 
? Challenges of Adolescence 
? Adulthood and Old Age 
26 Periods  
Unit V Sensory, Attentional and Perceptual Processes                         
The topics in this unit are: 
1. Introduction 
2. Knowing the world 
3. Nature and varieties of Stimulus 
4. Sense Modalities 
? Functional limitation of sense organs 
5. Attentional Processes 
? Selective Attention 
? Sustained Attention 
18 Periods  
Page 3


COURSE STRUCTURE 
CLASS XI (2023-2024) 
 
 Theory Paper                                                                                                   3 Hours 
Marks: 70  
Units Topics No. of 
periods 
Marks 
I What is Psychology? 27 11 
II Methods of Enquiry in Psychology 32 13 
IV Human Development 26 11 
V Sensory, Attentional and Perceptual 
Processes 
18 8 
VI Learning 20 9 
VII Human Memory 19 8 
VIII Thinking 14 5 
IX Motivation and Emotion 14 5 
 Total 170 70 
 
COURSE STRUCTURE 
Unit I What is Psychology? 
The topics in this unit are: 
1. Introduction 
2. What is Psychology? 
? Psychology as a Discipline 
? Psychology as a Natural Science  
? Psychology as a 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. Psychology and Other Disciplines 
9. Psychology in Everyday Life 
27 Periods  
Unit II Methods of Enquiry in Psychology                                                  
The topics in this unit are: 
1. Introduction 
2. Goals of Psychological Enquiry 
? Steps in Conducting Scientific Research 
32 Periods 
? Alternative Paradigms of Research 
3. Nature of Psychological Data 
4. Some Important Methods in Psychology 
? Observational Method 
? Experimental Method  
? Correlational Research 
? Survey Research 
? Psychological Testing  
? Case Study 
5. Analysis of Data 
? Quantitative Method  
? Qualitative Method 
6. Limitations of Psychological Enquiry 
7. Ethical Issues 
Unit IV Human Development                                                                      
The topics in this unit are: 
1. Introduction 
2. Meaning of Development 
? Life-Span Perspective on Development 
3. Factors Influencing Development 
4. Context of Development 
5. Overview of Developmental Stages 
? Prenatal Stage 
? Infancy 
? Childhood 
? Challenges of Adolescence 
? Adulthood and Old Age 
26 Periods  
Unit V Sensory, Attentional and Perceptual Processes                         
The topics in this unit are: 
1. Introduction 
2. Knowing the world 
3. Nature and varieties of Stimulus 
4. Sense Modalities 
? Functional limitation of sense organs 
5. Attentional Processes 
? Selective Attention 
? Sustained Attention 
18 Periods  
6. Perceptual Processes 
? Processing Approaches in Perception 
7. The Perceiver 
8. Principles of Perceptual Organisation 
9. Perception of Space, Depth and Distance 
? Monocular Cues and Binocular Cues 
10. Perceptual Constancies 
11. Illusions 
12. Socio-Cultural Influences on Perception 
Unit VI Learning                                                                                          
The topics in this unit are: 
1. Introduction 
2. Nature of Learning 
3. Paradigms of Learning 
4. Classical Conditioning 
? Determinants of Classical Conditioning 
5. Operant/Instrumental Conditioning 
? Determinants of Operant Conditioning  
? Key Learning Processes 
6. Observational Learning 
7. Cognitive Learning 
8. Verbal Learning 
9. Skill Learning 
10. Factors Facilitating Learning 
11. Learning Disabilities 
20 Periods  
Unit VII Human Memory                                                                                
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 
? Declarative and Procedural; Episodic and 
Semantic 
7. Nature and Causes of Forgetting 
19 Periods  
Page 4


COURSE STRUCTURE 
CLASS XI (2023-2024) 
 
 Theory Paper                                                                                                   3 Hours 
Marks: 70  
Units Topics No. of 
periods 
Marks 
I What is Psychology? 27 11 
II Methods of Enquiry in Psychology 32 13 
IV Human Development 26 11 
V Sensory, Attentional and Perceptual 
Processes 
18 8 
VI Learning 20 9 
VII Human Memory 19 8 
VIII Thinking 14 5 
IX Motivation and Emotion 14 5 
 Total 170 70 
 
COURSE STRUCTURE 
Unit I What is Psychology? 
The topics in this unit are: 
1. Introduction 
2. What is Psychology? 
? Psychology as a Discipline 
? Psychology as a Natural Science  
? Psychology as a 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. Psychology and Other Disciplines 
9. Psychology in Everyday Life 
27 Periods  
Unit II Methods of Enquiry in Psychology                                                  
The topics in this unit are: 
1. Introduction 
2. Goals of Psychological Enquiry 
? Steps in Conducting Scientific Research 
32 Periods 
? Alternative Paradigms of Research 
3. Nature of Psychological Data 
4. Some Important Methods in Psychology 
? Observational Method 
? Experimental Method  
? Correlational Research 
? Survey Research 
? Psychological Testing  
? Case Study 
5. Analysis of Data 
? Quantitative Method  
? Qualitative Method 
6. Limitations of Psychological Enquiry 
7. Ethical Issues 
Unit IV Human Development                                                                      
The topics in this unit are: 
1. Introduction 
2. Meaning of Development 
? Life-Span Perspective on Development 
3. Factors Influencing Development 
4. Context of Development 
5. Overview of Developmental Stages 
? Prenatal Stage 
? Infancy 
? Childhood 
? Challenges of Adolescence 
? Adulthood and Old Age 
26 Periods  
Unit V Sensory, Attentional and Perceptual Processes                         
The topics in this unit are: 
1. Introduction 
2. Knowing the world 
3. Nature and varieties of Stimulus 
4. Sense Modalities 
? Functional limitation of sense organs 
5. Attentional Processes 
? Selective Attention 
? Sustained Attention 
18 Periods  
6. Perceptual Processes 
? Processing Approaches in Perception 
7. The Perceiver 
8. Principles of Perceptual Organisation 
9. Perception of Space, Depth and Distance 
? Monocular Cues and Binocular Cues 
10. Perceptual Constancies 
11. Illusions 
12. Socio-Cultural Influences on Perception 
Unit VI Learning                                                                                          
The topics in this unit are: 
1. Introduction 
2. Nature of Learning 
3. Paradigms of Learning 
4. Classical Conditioning 
? Determinants of Classical Conditioning 
5. Operant/Instrumental Conditioning 
? Determinants of Operant Conditioning  
? Key Learning Processes 
6. Observational Learning 
7. Cognitive Learning 
8. Verbal Learning 
9. Skill Learning 
10. Factors Facilitating Learning 
11. Learning Disabilities 
20 Periods  
Unit VII Human Memory                                                                                
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 
? Declarative and Procedural; Episodic and 
Semantic 
7. Nature and Causes of Forgetting 
19 Periods  
? Forgetting due to Trace Decay, Interference and 
Retrieval Failure 
8. Enhancing Memory 
? Mnemonics using Images and Organisation 
Unit VIII Thinking                                                                                           
The topics in this unit are: 
1. Introduction 
2. Nature of Thinking 
? Building Blocks of Thought 
3. The Processes of Thinking 
4. Problem Solving 
5. Reasoning 
6. Decision-making 
7. Nature and Process of Creative Thinking 
? Nature of Creative Thinking  
? Process of Creative Thinking 
8. Thought and Language 
9. Development of Language and Language Use 
14 Periods  
Unit IX Motivation and Emotion                                                                 
The topics in this unit are: 
1. Introduction 
2. Nature of Motivation 
3. Types of Motives 
? Biological Motives  
? Psychosocial Motives 
4. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs 
5. Nature of Emotions 
6. Expression of Emotions 
? Culture and Emotional Expression  
? Culture and Emotional Labelling 
7. Managing Negative Emotions 
8. Enhancing Positive Emotions 
14 Periods  
Practical (Projects, experiments, small studies, etc.)         30 marks 
The students shall be required to undertake one project and conduct 
two experiments. The project would involve the use of different 
methods of enquiry like observation, survey, interview, questionnaire, 
small studies related to the topics covered in the course (e.g. Human 
60 Periods  
Page 5


COURSE STRUCTURE 
CLASS XI (2023-2024) 
 
 Theory Paper                                                                                                   3 Hours 
Marks: 70  
Units Topics No. of 
periods 
Marks 
I What is Psychology? 27 11 
II Methods of Enquiry in Psychology 32 13 
IV Human Development 26 11 
V Sensory, Attentional and Perceptual 
Processes 
18 8 
VI Learning 20 9 
VII Human Memory 19 8 
VIII Thinking 14 5 
IX Motivation and Emotion 14 5 
 Total 170 70 
 
COURSE STRUCTURE 
Unit I What is Psychology? 
The topics in this unit are: 
1. Introduction 
2. What is Psychology? 
? Psychology as a Discipline 
? Psychology as a Natural Science  
? Psychology as a 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. Psychology and Other Disciplines 
9. Psychology in Everyday Life 
27 Periods  
Unit II Methods of Enquiry in Psychology                                                  
The topics in this unit are: 
1. Introduction 
2. Goals of Psychological Enquiry 
? Steps in Conducting Scientific Research 
32 Periods 
? Alternative Paradigms of Research 
3. Nature of Psychological Data 
4. Some Important Methods in Psychology 
? Observational Method 
? Experimental Method  
? Correlational Research 
? Survey Research 
? Psychological Testing  
? Case Study 
5. Analysis of Data 
? Quantitative Method  
? Qualitative Method 
6. Limitations of Psychological Enquiry 
7. Ethical Issues 
Unit IV Human Development                                                                      
The topics in this unit are: 
1. Introduction 
2. Meaning of Development 
? Life-Span Perspective on Development 
3. Factors Influencing Development 
4. Context of Development 
5. Overview of Developmental Stages 
? Prenatal Stage 
? Infancy 
? Childhood 
? Challenges of Adolescence 
? Adulthood and Old Age 
26 Periods  
Unit V Sensory, Attentional and Perceptual Processes                         
The topics in this unit are: 
1. Introduction 
2. Knowing the world 
3. Nature and varieties of Stimulus 
4. Sense Modalities 
? Functional limitation of sense organs 
5. Attentional Processes 
? Selective Attention 
? Sustained Attention 
18 Periods  
6. Perceptual Processes 
? Processing Approaches in Perception 
7. The Perceiver 
8. Principles of Perceptual Organisation 
9. Perception of Space, Depth and Distance 
? Monocular Cues and Binocular Cues 
10. Perceptual Constancies 
11. Illusions 
12. Socio-Cultural Influences on Perception 
Unit VI Learning                                                                                          
The topics in this unit are: 
1. Introduction 
2. Nature of Learning 
3. Paradigms of Learning 
4. Classical Conditioning 
? Determinants of Classical Conditioning 
5. Operant/Instrumental Conditioning 
? Determinants of Operant Conditioning  
? Key Learning Processes 
6. Observational Learning 
7. Cognitive Learning 
8. Verbal Learning 
9. Skill Learning 
10. Factors Facilitating Learning 
11. Learning Disabilities 
20 Periods  
Unit VII Human Memory                                                                                
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 
? Declarative and Procedural; Episodic and 
Semantic 
7. Nature and Causes of Forgetting 
19 Periods  
? Forgetting due to Trace Decay, Interference and 
Retrieval Failure 
8. Enhancing Memory 
? Mnemonics using Images and Organisation 
Unit VIII Thinking                                                                                           
The topics in this unit are: 
1. Introduction 
2. Nature of Thinking 
? Building Blocks of Thought 
3. The Processes of Thinking 
4. Problem Solving 
5. Reasoning 
6. Decision-making 
7. Nature and Process of Creative Thinking 
? Nature of Creative Thinking  
? Process of Creative Thinking 
8. Thought and Language 
9. Development of Language and Language Use 
14 Periods  
Unit IX Motivation and Emotion                                                                 
The topics in this unit are: 
1. Introduction 
2. Nature of Motivation 
3. Types of Motives 
? Biological Motives  
? Psychosocial Motives 
4. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs 
5. Nature of Emotions 
6. Expression of Emotions 
? Culture and Emotional Expression  
? Culture and Emotional Labelling 
7. Managing Negative Emotions 
8. Enhancing Positive Emotions 
14 Periods  
Practical (Projects, experiments, small studies, etc.)         30 marks 
The students shall be required to undertake one project and conduct 
two experiments. The project would involve the use of different 
methods of enquiry like observation, survey, interview, questionnaire, 
small studies related to the topics covered in the course (e.g. Human 
60 Periods  
development, Learning, Memory, Motivation, Perception, Attention and 
Thinking). Experiments could focus on cause-and-effect relationship.  
Practical Examination  
 
? Practical (Experiments) file 05 Marks  
? Project File  05 Marks  
? Viva Voce (Project and experiments) 05 Marks  
? One experiment (05 marks for conduct of  
experiment and 10 marks for reporting) 
15 Marks  
Total 30 Marks  
 
 
QUESTION PAPER DESIGN 
CLASS –XI (2023-24) 
I. Theory 
 
Time: 3 Hours                                                                             Maximum Marks: 70  
S. 
No. 
Competencies  Total Marks % 
Weightage 
1 Remembering and Understanding: Exhibiting 
memory of previously learned material by recalling 
facts, terms, basic concepts, and answers; 
Demonstrating understanding of facts and ideas by 
organizing, comparing, translating, interpreting, giving 
descriptions and stating main ideas 
25 35% 
2 Applying: Solving problems to new situations by 
applying acquired knowledge, facts, techniques and 
rules in a different way 
31 45% 
3 Formulating, Analysing, Evaluating and 
Creating: Examining and breaking information into 
parts by identifying motives or causes; Making 
inferences and finding evidence to support 
generalizations; Presenting and defending opinions 
by making judgments about information, validity of 
ideas, or quality of work based on a set of criteria; 
Compiling information together in a different way by 
combining elements in a new pattern or proposing 
alternative solutions 
14 20% 
 Total 70 
 
100% 
 
II. Practical: 30 Marks