CBSE Class 11 Syllabus Psychology (2025-26) | Latest Edition

COURSE STRUCTURE

Unit I  What is Psychology?                           27 Periods
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

Unit II Methods of Enquiry in Psychology     32 Periods
The topics in this unit are:
1. Introduction
2. Goals of Psychological Enquiry
- Steps in Conducting Scientific Research
- 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    26 Periods
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

Unit V Sensory, Attentional and Perceptual Processes   18 Periods
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
- 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         26 Periods
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

Unit V Sensory, Attentional and Perceptual Processes   18 Periods
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
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         20 Periods
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

Unit VII Human Memory     19 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
- Declarative and Procedural; Episodic and Semantic
7. Nature and Causes of Forgetting
- Forgetting due to Trace Decay, Interference and Retrieval Failure
8. Enhancing Memory
- Mnemonics using Images and Organisation

Unit VIII Thinking           14 Periods
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

Unit IX Motivation and Emotion  14 Periods
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

Practical (Projects, experiments, small studies, etc.) 30 marks                                  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 like observation, survey, interview, questionnaire, small studies related to the topics covered in the course (e.g. Human
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