UPSC Psychology Optional Syllabus: Check IAS Mains Psychology Optional Syllabus PDF
By Balaji
Updated on: March 21st, 2023
Psychology Optional Syllabus for UPSC measures the candidates’ capacity to comprehend the topic as science and use that knowledge to resolve issues. The topics included in the UPSC Psychology Optional Syllabus are related to both theoretical and applied psychology. Applicants who select psychology for UPSC as an optional subject will realize that the course material is engaging and heavily focuses on practical psychology. Candidates who are practicing psychologists should choose this optional in their UPSC IAS Mains Exam.
The Psychology Optional is one of the most opted subjects for UPSC Mains as the syllabus is short and easy to cover. Aspirants with the Psychology optional can also download the latest Psychology Optional Syllabus PDF in both English and Hindi to get started.
Table of content
-
1. Psychology Optional Syllabus for UPSC
-
2. UPSC Mains Psychology Optional Syllabus PDF
-
3. UPSC Psychology Syllabus – Paper 1
-
4. Psychology Optional Syllabus for UPSC Paper 2
-
5. How to Prepare for Psychology Optional Syllabus?
-
6. Best Books for IAS Mains Psychology Syllabus
-
7. UPSC Mains 2022 Questions from Psychology Optional Syllabus
Psychology Optional Syllabus for UPSC
The UPSC Psychology Syllabus includes topics like methods of research, human behavior, personality, attitude, and more. Like all other UPSC optional subjects, the Psychology Syllabus for UPSC Mains is divided into two papers, Paper 1 and Paper 2. Each paper holds 250 marks and totals 500.
The performance in the optional paper will highly impact the final score of the UPSC Exam. That’s why aspirants must understand each topic of the UPSC Psychology Syllabus and prepare accordingly.
| UPSC Psychology Syllabus | Topics |
| Psychology Optional Syllabus – UPSC Paper 1 | Methods of Psychology, Research Methods, Development of Human Behaviour, Sensation, Attention and Perception, Learning, Memory, etc |
| Psychology Optional Syllabus for UPSC Paper 2 | Psychological Measurement of Individual DifferencesPsychological well being and Mental Disorders
Therapeutic Approaches Work Psychology and Organisational Behaviour Application of Psychology to the Educational Field Community Psychology |
UPSC Mains Psychology Optional Syllabus PDF
Every candidate should download the Psychology Optional Syllabus and kickstart the preparation. The Psychology Optional is also famous among aspirants as it grooms them into better leaders and administrators. The topics provide a comprehensive understanding of human behavior and community.
UPSC Psychology Optional Syllabus PDF
Aspirants preparing for the IAS Exam in Hindi can also download the UPSC IAS Psychology Syllabus PDF in Hindi.
UPSC Psychology Syllabus – Paper 1
Paper 1 of the Psychology Optional Syllabus is more theoretical, and the topics range from Foundations of Psychology to issues and understanding of contemporary Psychology. The detailed topic-wise syllabus is given below.
Psychology Optional Syllabus for UPSC Paper 2
Paper 2 of the UPSC Psychology Syllabus is based on applied psychology and its related issues. Topics like work and community psychology also help write better answers in the Ethics paper of UPSC Mains. 
How to Prepare for Psychology Optional Syllabus?
Being familiar with the psychology optional syllabus for UPSC Mains should be the first addition to the UPSC preparation strategy. Knowing what topics to cover at the beginning will help the candidates to strengthen their foundation, and they will be able to score well. The psychology optional UPSC syllabus is vast, so candidates must keep a few aspects in mind while studying and writing their answers.
- Candidates must clarify each topic’s basic concepts from the psychology syllabus.
- Including experimental studies in your paper will add a huge advantage.
- Make sure to come up with real-life examples which will help you to boost your score
- Creating flowcharts would help you to understand the concepts in a better way
- Attempt mock tests, and practice the previous year’s questions to cover the entire UPSC Psychology Syllabus in the best possible way.
Keeping these things in check will help you effectively cover the whole UPSC Psychology Syllabus and ace the exam. However, candidates must also complete the other papers of the UPSC Mains Syllabus to increase their overall score.
Best Books for IAS Mains Psychology Syllabus
Effective preparation for the Psychology Optional Syllabus won’t be achievable without books. Even though there are many options for choosing the UPSC Books, not all of them are worth your attention. Below we have shared some of the highly recommended Psychology Optional Books by experts to perform well in the UPSC psychology optional subject.
- Understanding Psychology by Robert S. Feldman
- Psychology – Classes XI & XII NCERT textbooks
- Psychology by Robert A Baron
- Tests, Measurements, and Research Methods in Behavioural Sciences by A K Singh
- Psychology by Saundra Ciccarelli
- Applied Psychology by Smarak Swain
UPSC Mains 2022 Questions from Psychology Optional Syllabus
As per the UPSC question paper 2022, some of the questions asked in psychology optional are as follows:
- Describe the applications of psychological principles in managing drug abuse in adolescents.
- Is intelligence a univariate or multivariate concept? Discuss in the light of Spearman’s and J. P. Das’s theories of intelligence.
- What is community psychology? Mention a few skills and qualities a community psychologist should have.
- Discuss important concepts of Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy along with its applications.
