100 Important Questions on Psychology Optional for UPSC Civil Services

Introduction

Psychology is a popular optional subject for UPSC Civil Services due to its scientific approach and applicability in real life. The subject covers various domains including cognitive processes, personality, social influences, psychological disorders, and applied fields such as organizational and clinical psychology. Below is a curated list of 100 questions divided according to the UPSC syllabus to help aspirants practice and revise effectively.

For UPSC Coaching , Join FIRST IAS INSTITUTE (India’s Top IAS Coaching)

Chapter 1: Foundations of Psychology

1. Define psychology and explain its scope as a scientific discipline.
2. Discuss the contributions of Wilhelm Wundt in establishing psychology as a science.
3. Compare and contrast structuralism and functionalism.
4. What is the significance of introspection in early psychology?
5. Explain the importance of scientific methods in psychological research.
6. Describe the major schools of psychology and their key contributions.
7. What is the relevance of psychology to social sciences?
8. Explain the role of experimentation in psychological research.
9. Discuss ethical issues in psychological research.
10. Explain the scope and limitations of laboratory research in psychology.

Chapter 2: Methods of Psychology

11. Explain the case study method in psychology with its merits and demerits.
12. Differentiate between correlation and causation in psychological studies.
13. What is the importance of psychometric testing in psychology?
14. Explain the significance of longitudinal studies in psychological research.
15. Discuss survey methods in psychology and their applications.
16. Describe naturalistic observation with examples.
17. Explain experimental design and its importance in psychology.
18. What are projective techniques in psychology?
19. Discuss qualitative versus quantitative research methods.
20. Describe reliability and validity in psychological testing.

3: Biological Basis of Behavior

21. Discuss the structure and function of the human nervous system.
22. Explain the role of neurons in information processing.
23. Describe the structure and functions of the brain’s lobes.
24. What is the role of neurotransmitters in behavior?
25. Explain the functions of the endocrine system in behavior.
26. Discuss the role of heredity and environment in human behavior.
27. Explain the role of hormones in stress and emotion.
28. What are the effects of brain injuries on behavior?
29. Discuss the importance of sleep and biological rhythms.
30. Explain methods of studying brain and behavior.

Chapter 4: Development of Human Behavior

31. Explain Piaget’s theory of cognitive development.
32. Discuss Erikson’s stages of psychosocial development.
33. What is the role of heredity and environment in human development?
34. Explain Vygotsky’s theory of social development.
35. Discuss Kohlberg’s theory of moral development.
36. Explain the role of play in child development.
37. What are the stages of prenatal development?
38. Explain factors influencing adolescence development.
39. Discuss aging and its psychological aspects.
40. Explain the importance of early childhood experiences in personality development.

Chapter 5: Sensation, Perception, Attention

41. Define sensation and perception and explain the difference between them.
42. Explain the Gestalt principles of perception.
43. Discuss depth perception and its determinants.
44. Explain illusions and their importance in psychology.
45. Discuss the role of attention in perception.
46. Explain selective and divided attention with examples.
47. Describe perceptual constancy and its types.
48. What are the physiological bases of sensation?
49. Explain subliminal perception and its relevance.
50. Discuss cultural influences on perception.

6: Learning and Memory

51. Discuss Pavlov’s theory of classical conditioning.
52. Explain Skinner’s theory of operant conditioning.
53. Compare classical and operant conditioning.
54. What is observational learning? Discuss Bandura’s theory.
55. Explain insight learning with examples.
56. Discuss factors affecting learning.
57. Explain short-term and long-term memory.
58. Discuss encoding, storage, and retrieval in memory.
59. Explain causes of forgetting.
60. Discuss techniques of memory improvement.

Chapter 7: Intelligence and Aptitude

61. Define intelligence and discuss Spearman’s two-factor theory.
62. Explain Thurstone’s theory of primary mental abilities.
63. Discuss Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences.
64. Explain Sternberg’s triarchic theory of intelligence.
65. Discuss emotional intelligence and its applications.
66. Explain aptitude and its difference from intelligence.
67. Discuss the role of heredity and environment in intelligence.
68. Explain IQ tests and their limitations.
69. Discuss the reliability and validity of intelligence tests.
70. Explain the significance of creativity in intelligence.

Chapter 8: Personality

71. Define personality and explain its determinants.
72. Discuss Freud’s psychoanalytic theory of personality.
73. Explain Jung’s analytical psychology.
74. Discuss Adler’s theory of individual psychology.
75. Explain humanistic theories of personality.
76. Discuss trait theories of personality.
77. Explain the Big Five model of personality.
78. What are projective tests of personality?
79. Discuss the role of self-concept in personality.
80. Explain the importance of personality assessment.

9: Motivation and Emotion

81. Define motivation and explain its types.
82. Discuss Maslow’s hierarchy of needs.
83. Explain intrinsic and extrinsic motivation.
84. Discuss theories of achievement motivation.
85. Explain the role of physiological factors in motivation.
86. Define emotion and explain its characteristics.
87. Discuss James-Lange theory of emotion.
88. Explain Cannon-Bard theory of emotion.
89. Discuss Schachter-Singer’s two-factor theory of emotion.
90. Explain the role of culture in emotional expression.

Chapter 10: Applied Psychology

91. Discuss the role of psychology in education.
92. Explain the applications of psychology in health.
93. Discuss the role of psychology in organizations.
94. Explain psychological aspects of leadership.
95. Discuss psychology in sports performance.
96. Explain the role of psychology in counseling and guidance.
97. Discuss the importance of psychology in law and crime prevention.
98. Explain stress management techniques in psychology.
99. Discuss the role of psychology in environmental conservation.
100. Explain applications of psychology in military settings.

Conclusion

Psychology Optional for UPSC Civil Services is both scientific and practical, covering areas from theoretical foundations to applied fields. Practicing these 100 questions will help aspirants gain conceptual clarity and prepare effectively for both Paper I and Paper II. Consistent practice, along with answer writing, will ensure better retention and performance in the mains examination.

Also Visit – Best IAS Coaching in India

For Answer Writing Techniques – Join FIRST IAS INSTITUTE