Savitribai Phule Pune University

The Syllabus for

Qualifying Online Entrance Examination (OEE)
M. A. Psychology Admission
Regular & Self-Supporting
For the Academic Year 2024-2025

(G-1) FOUNDATIONS OF PSYCHOLOGY

UNIT 1: PSYCHOLOGY -INTRODUCTION
1. Psychology: A science, goals of psychology. 1.2 The brief history &
perspective of Psychology: (Structuralism, Functionalism, Gestalt,
Psychoanalysis, Behaviourism). 1.3 Career Avenues in Psychology &
Fields of Psychology: (Clinical, Industrial & Organizational, Educational,
Social, Developmental, Health, Criminal & Forensic, Military, Sports,
Neuropsychology, Environmental, Positive, Spiritual and Women & Child
psychology.). 1.4 The Indian Psychology: Past and present 1.5
Application: Understanding Behaviour through Methods in Psychology
UNIT 2: COGNITIVE PROCESSES:
2. Sensation, Attention and Perception, nature of perception, laws of
perceptual organization. 2.2 Learning- Classical and Operant conditioning,
observational learning. 2.3 Memory-processes, information processing
model(s). 2.4 Forgetting: Theories of forgetting. 2.5 Application:
Techniques for improving memory. Psychology
UNIT 3: MOTIVATION AND EMOTION
3. Motivation: Definition, Concept of Homeostasis & Maslow’s Hierarchy
of Motivation 3.2 Types of Motivation: Physiological, Psychological &
Social. 3.3 Motivational Conflicts: Intra-Conflicts & Inter-Conflicts 3.4
Emotion: Definitions, Nature & Importance, Basic Emotions (Joy,

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 Excitement, Tenderness, Sadness, Anger, Fear & Love). 3.5 Application:
Conflict Resolving Skills
UNIT 4: PERSONALITY AND INTELLIGENCE
4. Personality – Definitions, Nature. 4.2 Personality as a set of traits:
Cattell’s, Allport’s & Big Five Theory of Personality. 4.3 Freud’s
Psychoanalytical Theory of Personality and Transactional Analysis. 4.4
Intelligence: Definitions, Theories of Intelligence (Gardner's Theory,
Cattell’s Theory of Intelligence). 4.5 Applications: Testing and enhancing
Emotional intelligence.

(G-2) INTRODUCTION TO SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY

UNIT 1: INTRODUCTION:
1. Definition, Brief history of social psychology (special emphasis on India),
1.2 Scope of social psychology. 1.3 Levels of social behaviour. 1.4
Approaches towards understanding social behaviour. 1.5 Application:
Community mental health
UNIT- 2. INDIVIDUAL LEVEL PROCESSES:
2. Difference between Social Cognition & Social Perception. 2.2 Self –
Concept: Nature, Self-regulation and self-presentation. 2.3 Attitude:
Definition, components, Dimensions and formation of attitude. 2.4
Prejudice: Causes. 2.5 Application: Formation of attitude and Prejudice
eradication Psychology
UNIT 3: INTERPERSONAL PROCESSES:
3. Interpersonal attraction, love. 3.2 Pro-social behaviour. 3.3 Locus of
control, increasing our helping nature. 3.4 Aggression: Meaning, Nature
and causes of Aggression. 3.5 Application: Prevention and reducing
aggression
UNIT- 4. GROUP DYNAMICS:

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 4. Groups: When we join and when we leave, the benefits of joining. 4.2
Cooperation and Conflict. 4.3 Conformity; Factors affecting Conformity,
Obedience & Authority. 4.4 Group decision making. 4.5 Application:
Team Building

(S-1) PSYCHOLOGY OF ABNORMAL BEHAVIOR-I

UNIT-I: ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY:

1. Abnormality: Meaning, Definition, Nature. 2. Historical Background of
Abnormality. 3. Criteria of abnormal behaviour (Biological,
Psychological, Socio-cultural). Current Classification Systems: DSM-5 &
ICD-10/11 an Overview.
UNIT-II: ANXIETY DISORDERS, OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE
DISORDERS (OCD), TRAUMA & STRESSOR RELATED DISORDERS
2. Generalized Anxiety Disorders: Nature, Types, Symptoms, Diagnostic
Criteria & Causes. 2.Panic & Agoraphobia, Social Anxiety (Phobia):
Nature, Symptoms, Diagnostic Criteria & Causes. 3. Obsessive-
Compulsive Disorder and Body Dimorphic Disorders: Nature, Symptoms,
Diagnostic Criteria & Causes. 4.Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder & Acute
Stress Disorder: Nature, Symptoms, Diagnostic Criteria & Causes
UNIT-III: SOMATOFORM AND DISSOCIATIVE DISORDERS
3. Somatic symptoms Disorder: Nature, Symptoms, Diagnostic Criteria &
Causes. 2.Illness Anxiety Disorder: Nature, Symptoms, Diagnostic Criteria
& Causes. 3.Conversion Disorders: Nature, Types, Symptoms, Diagnostic
Criteria & Causes. 3Dissociative Identity Disorders: Nature, Types,
Symptoms, Diagnostic Criteria & Causes
UNIT-IV: DEPRESSIVE AND BIPOLAR DISORDERS
4. Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder, Major Depressive Disorder:
Nature, Symptoms, Diagnostic Criteria & Causes. 2- Bipolar-I Disorder:

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 Nature, Types, Symptoms, Diagnostic Criteria & Causes. 3- Bipolar-II
Disorder: Nature, Types, Symptoms, Diagnostic Criteria & Causes.
Suicide and Cyclothymic Disorder: Nature, Symptoms, Diagnostic Criteria
& Causes.
(S-2) DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY

UNIT- I: INTRODUCTION TO LIFESPAN DEVELOPMENT

1. The Life-Span Perspective: The Importance of Studying Life- Span
Development, Characteristics of the Life-Span Perspective, Some
Contemporary Concerns. 2- The Nature of Development: Biological,
Cognitive, and Socio emotional Processes, Periods of Development, The
Significance of Age, Developmental Issues. 3.Theories of Development:
Psychoanalytic Theories, Cognitive Theories, Behavioral and Social
Cognitive Theories, Ethological Theory, Ecological Theory, Eclectic
Theoretical Orientation. 4-Research in Life-Span Development: Methods
for Collecting Data, Research Designs, Time Span of Research
UNIT- II: BIOLOGICAL BEGINNINGS & PRENATAL DEVELOPMENT
2. Genetic foundation of Development: The Collaborative Genes, Genes and
Chromosomes, Genetic Principles, Chromosomal and Gene linked
Abnormalities 2- Heredity and Environment interaction: The nature ×
Nurture Debate the Teratology and Hazards to prenatal Development b)
Reproductive Challenges and Choices. 3.The Course of Prenatal
Development and Birth Process 4. Assessing the New born
UNIT - III: INFANCY PHYSICAL GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT IN
INFANCY
3. Motor, Sensory and Perceptual Development Cognitive Development 3- a)
Piaget’s Theory of Infant Development b) Learning, Remembering, and
Conceptualizing 4- Language Development
UNIT-IV: EARLY CHILDHOOD

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 4. Physical changes, Cognitive Changes 2- a) Piaget’s preoperational stages
b) Vygotsky’s Theory 3- The Self, Emotional and Moral Development 4-
Families, Peer relations and Play.

(S-3) HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY

UNIT-I: AN INTRODUCTION TO HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY

1. Health Psychology – Definitions, Nature, aims 2- Biopsychosocial Model
of Health 3- Psychology’s Role in Health - Problems in the HealthCare
System, ‘‘The Person’’ in Health and Illness, How the Role of Psychology
Emerged and Progress in Health Psychology’s Goals. 4- Application: The
Need of Health Psychology- Changing Patterns of Illness, Expanded
Health Care Services, Increased Medical Acceptance
UNIT-II: STRESS AND COPING
2. Stress – Definitions, Nature & Types 2- Sources of Stress - (Sources within
the Person, Sources in the Family & Sources in the Community and Society)
3- Responding to Stress (Physiological, Emotional & Behavioural Response)
4- Coping Behaviour – Problem Focused coping (Ellis’s rational thinking,
Positive reinterpretation & Humour as a stress reducer) & Emotion Focused
Coping (Using systematic problem solving, using time more effectively &
improving self-control)
UNIT-III: CHRONIC HEALTH PROBLEMS AND ITS MANAGEMENT
3. Personal Issues in Chronic Health Disorders - The Physical Self, Achieving
Self, Social Self & Private Self 2- Emotional Responses to Chronic Health
Disorders -Denial, Anxiety & Depression 3- Major Chronic Health
Problems- Heart Disease, Hypertension, Stroke, Cancer, Type II Diabetes
& AIDS 4- Application: Psychological Interventions for Chronic Health
Disorders (Pharmacological Interventions, Individual Therapy, Social

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 Support Interventions and Relaxation, Stress Management after COVID-
19)
UNIT-IV: PRIMARY PREVENTION & HEALTH PROMOTION
4. Quality of life and Health Behaviour - Changing Health Habits & Health
Beliefs (Attitude change & Placebo Effect) 2- Health Compromising
Behaviours (Characteristics) - Obesity, Smoking & Drinking. 3-
Developmental, Gender, and Sociocultural Factors in Health -
Development and Health, Gender and Health, Sociocultural Factors and
Health 4- Health Promoting Behaviours - Diet, Exercise, Sleep, Rest,
Vaccination and Screening, Accident prevention.

(S-4) PSYCHOLOGY OF ABNORMAL BEHAVIOR-II

UNIT-I: SCHIZOPHRENIA & OTHER PSYCHOTIC DISORDERS:

1. Schizophrenia: Nature, Types, Symptoms, Diagnostic Criteria & Causes 2-
Schizophreniform Disorder: Nature, Types, Symptoms, Diagnostic
Criteria & Causes 3- Schizoaffective Disorder: Nature, Types, Symptoms,
Diagnostic Criteria & Causes 4- Delusional Disorders: Nature, Types,
Symptoms, Diagnostic Criteria & Causes
UNIT-II: PERSONALITY DISORDERS AND IMPULSE CONTROL
DISORDERS:
2. Characteristics of Personality Disorder and Gender Differences 2-
Personality Disorders Characterized by Odd or Eccentric Behavior:
Paranoid, Schizoid & Schizotypal - Nature, Symptoms, Diagnostic Criteria
& Causes 3- Personality Disorders Characterized by Dramatic, Emotional,
or Erratic Behavior: Antisocial, Borderline, Histrionic, & Narcissistic -
Nature, Symptoms, Diagnostic Criteria & Causes 4- Personality Disorders
Characterized by Anxious or Fearful Behavior: Avoidant, Dependant, &
Obsessive- Compulsive - Nature, Symptoms, Diagnostic Criteria & Causes

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UNIT-III: EATING DISORDERS, SLEEP-WAKE DISORDERS, SEXUAL
DISORDERS, SUBSTANCE-RELATED AND ADDICTIVE DISORDERS:
3. Eating Disorders (Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, & Binge- Eating
Disorder): Nature, Symptoms, Diagnostic Criteria & Causes 2- Sleep-
Wake Disorders (Insomnia disorder, hyper somnolence disorder,
Narcolepsy. Breathing related sleep disorder, Circadian rhythm sleep-wake
Disorder): Nature, Symptoms, Diagnostic Criteria & Causes 3- Alcohol
Related Disorders (Alcohol use Disorder, Alcohol Intoxication, Alcohol
Withdrawal): Nature, Symptoms, Diagnostic Criteria & Causes 4-
Gambling Disorder, Internet and Cell phone Addiction: Nature,
Symptoms, Diagnostic Criteria & Causes
UNIT-IV: NEURODEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS:
4. Autism Spectrum & ADHD: Nature, Types, Symptoms, Diagnostic
Criteria & Causes 2- Intellectual Disability: Nature, Types, Symptoms,
Diagnostic Criteria & Causes 3- Communication Disorders: Nature, Types,
Symptoms, Diagnostic Criteria & Causes 4- Learning Disorders: Nature,
Types, Symptoms, Diagnostic Criteria & Causes

(S-5) THEORIES OF PERSONALITY

UNIT-I: INTRODUCTION TO PERSONALITY:

1. Nature and Definitions 2- Misconceptions, Determinants of personality 3-
Idiographic and nomothetic approach 4- Classification of personality
theories
UNIT-II: PSYCHODYNAMIC PERSPECTIVES:
2. Introduction to Psychodynamic perspective 2- Freud’s classical
psychodynamic theory 3- Jung’s Analytical Psychology 4- Adler’s
individual psychology
UNIT-III: BEHAVIORAL PERSPECTIVES:

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 3. Pavlov’s classical conditioning 2- Skinners operant conditioning 3-
Bandura’s social cognitive theory 4- Dollard and Millers stimulus-
response theory
UNIT-IV: TRAIT & MOTIVATION, EMOTION PERSPECTIVES
4. Allport’s traits theory, Cattells factor theory 2- Eysenck, Costa &McCrae
theory 3- Carl Rogers person Centered theory. 4- Motivation and Emotion
perspectives ● Murrays Need theory ● Lazarus cognitive mediation theory

(S-6) POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY

UNIT-I: MEANING, DEFINITION AND NATURE OF POSITIVE

PSYCHOLOGY:
1. Definitions and Nature of Positive Psychology. 2. Traditional Psychology,
Assumptions and Goals of Positive Psychology. 3. Fields of Positive
Psychology. 4. The Nun study: Living longer with positive emotions.
UNIT-II: HAPPINESS AND THE FACTS OF LIFE: 1. PSYCHOLOGY OF
WELL-BEING.
2. Positive affect and Meaningful Life 2. Subjective Well-being: Hedonic
basis of happiness. 3. Self-Realization: The Eudaimonia basis of happiness
4. Happiness Across the Life Span, Gender and happiness, Marriage and
happiness, other facts of life.
UNIT-III: POSITIVE EMOTIONS, WELLBEING AND RESILIENCE:
3. What are positive emotions? The Broaden and Build Theory of Positive
Emotions. 2. Positive Emotions and Health Resources: Physical,
Psychological and Social Resources. 3. Positive emotions & well-being,
Flow experiences and Savouring. 4. What is resilience? Perspectives of
Resilience, Resilience Research, Growth through Trauma.
UNIT-IV: PERSONAL GOALS, POSITIVE TRAITS AND LIFE ABOVE
ZERO:

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 4. What are personal goals? The Search for Universal Human Motives,
Materialism and its discontents. 2. What makes a trait positive?
Personality, Emotions and Biology. 3. Positive beliefs, Virtue and
Strengths of Character. 4. Logotherapy: Basic concepts, Contours of
positive life: Meaning and Means, Mindfulness and Well-being.

(S-7) BASIC COUNSELLING SKILLS

UNIT-I: INTRODUCTION OF COUNSELLING

1. Counselling process: counsellors and helpers 2- What are basic counselling
skills? 3- Helping relationship and helping process Unit-II: Counselling
skills 1- Starting, structuring and summarizing 2- Facilitating problem
solving 3- Improving client’s feedback
UNIT-III: CONSIDERATIONS IN COUNSELLING
2. Ethical issues and dilemmas 2. Multicultural and gender aware helping 3-
Getting support and being supervised

(S-8) INDUSTRIAL AND ORGANIZATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY

UNIT-1: INDUSTRIAL AND ORGANIZATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY-

NATURE AND SCOPE
1. Psychology: Meaning, subject matter and functions of Industrial
Psychology 1.2: The history of I/O Psychology 1.3: I/O Psychology in the
present 1.4: Future of I/O Psychology
UNIT-2: PERSONNEL SELECTION AND TRAINING
2. Job Profile, job analysis and Recruitment techniques 2.2: Interviews,
psychological testing and Needs assessment for training 2.3: Psychological
Principles in training and training for knowledge and skill 2.4: Evaluation
of Training Programme

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UNIT- 3: EVALUATING JOB PERFORMANCE
3. Uses of performance evaluation: Downsizing, promotion, seniority 3.2:
Sources of evaluation: The evaluator and performance appraisal 3.3:
Appraisal rating systems: Graphic rating scales and rating errors 3.4: Non-
rating evaluation methods: Checklists and comparison methods
UNIT-4: MOTIVATION AT THE WORKPLACE
4. Concept of work motivation 4.2: Need theories: McClelland, Herzberg 4.3:
Cognitive theories: Goal Setting Theory, Self-Efficacy Theory 4.4:
Motivation: Self-discipline – seven step process

(S-9) PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTING (THEORY)

UNIT-1: INTRODUCTION OF PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTS

1. What is psychological test? History 1.2: Classification, characteristics 1.3:
Steps in test construction 1.4: Ethical issues in test construction
UNIT-2: RELIABILITY OF TESTS
2. Reliability: Meaning, true score estimation 2.2: Types: Test-retest, Split-
half, Parallel-form and Scorer reliability 2.3: Standard error of
measurement 2.4: Reliability- Influencing factors and improvement
techniques
UNIT-3: VALIDITY OF TESTS
3. Validity: Meaning, 3.2: Types: Content, criterion and construct 3.3:
Convergent and discriminant validity 3.4: Validity: Statistical calculation
method
UNIT-4: NORMS
4. Meaning of norms, Norm-referencing and Criterion-referencing tests 4.2:
Types of norms: Age, grade, percentile and standard-score norms 4.3:
Injunctive norms, descriptive norms, consensus norms, critical norms 4.4:
Reciprocity norms, social-responsibility norms, situational norms

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 (S-10) APPLIED PSYCHOLOGY

UNIT-1: INTRODUCTION APPLIED PSYCHOLOGY

1. Definition, Nature and Scope of applied Psychology 1.2 Fields of Applied
psychology 1.3 Clinical applications (classification of mental disorders
DSM V, ICD 10, therapies – CBT, Clint Centered therapy, REBT) 1.4
Cognitive Neuro Science (nature and major applications – PNI, EEG, MRI,
CT, PET etc)
UNIT-2: APPLICATIONS IN EDUCATION
2. Definition, Nature and Scope of Educational Psychology 2.2 Effective
Teaching – Learning Methodologies / Pedagogies (group discussions,
projects, presentations, interactive methods) 2.3 Issues of Various
Categories of Challenged Students – Physically, mentally, economically
challenged, Intellectual Disabilities (ID) 2.4 Problems and Solutions to
Educational Problems – physical environment, Government policies,
school and higher education, Ashramshalas
UNIT-3: FAMILY AND DEVELOPMENTAL APPLICATIONS
3. Definition, Nature and Scope of Developmental Psychology 3.2 Issues of
Adolescents (stress and strain, identity crisis, adjustment to physiological
and psychological changes) 3.3 Family and Marital Problems and
Solutions 3.4 Love, Relationships (dating, live in) and Break Ups
UNIT-4: SOCIAL ISSUES AND NEW TRENDS IN APPLIED PSYCHOLOGY
4. Role of Psychologists in tackling Social Issues (interventions, research,
policy level work) 4.2 Psychology of Terror, Psychology of Corruption 4.3
Definition, Nature and Fields (correctional, investigative) 4.4Criminal
Psychology, Cyber Crimes, Violence (meaning and types), Investigative
Procedures (role of the psychologist) Law – contribution of Psychology to
law

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 (S-11) EXPERIMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY

UNIT-1: INTRODUCTION AND HISTORY OF EXPERIMENTAL

PSYCHOLOGY
1. What is experiment? Characteristics, types 1.2: Contribution of eminent
psychologists in experimental psychology 1.3 Scientific method:
definition, nature 1.4: Social scientific research
UNIT-2: PROBLEM AND HYPOTHESIS IN RESEARCH
2. What is problem? Definitions, origin, sources and selection 2.2: Statement
of problem 2.3: Hypothesis: Definition, formulation, sources 2.4: Types of
hypotheses
UNIT-3: VARIABLES AND SAMPLING
3. What is variable? Definitions, types 3.2: Controlling of variables 3.3:
Sampling: Meaning and types 3.4: Sampling distribution and sampling
error
UNIT-4: PSYCHOPHYSICS AND HUMAN LEARNING
4. What is psychophysics? Methods of psychophysics 4.2: Weber’s law and
Fechner’s law, Signal detection theory (SDT) 4.3: Definition and nature of
Human learning. 4.4: Methods of Human learning. 1. Serial Learning,2.
Distributed Vs Undistributed,3. Partial Vs Whole 4 Structured
(S-12) STATISTICS

1. Frequency distribution, Normal Probability curve

2. Measures of central tendency: Mean, Median, Mode for grouped and
ungrouped data
3. Measures of variability: Range, Standard Deviation and Quartile Deviation
(Q1, Q3 and Q) for grouped data.
4. Rank Difference Correlation and Chi-square.
5. Product moment correlation

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