CBSE Class 11 Psychology Syllabus for academic session 2026-27
This page contains the CBSE Class 11 Psychology syllabus for the academic session 2026-27, as prescribed by CBSE curriculum.
Psychology is introduced as an elective subject at the higher secondary level in school education. As a field, Psychology focuses on understanding human experiences, behaviors, and mental processes within a specific social, cultural, and historical context. This course aims to create interest and familiarize students with fundamental concepts, theories, and methods in Psychology.
The course encourages students to analyze behavior and mental processes. Students will learn to evaluate evidence and challenge assumptions, thereby developing critical thinking skills that are valuable in any field of study or career. The course emphasizes the role of socio-cultural factors in behavior, helping students appreciate diversity and sensitivity that prepares them to be inclusive and empathetic global citizens.
It is recommended that teaching methods actively engage students, helping them develop their own understanding. To achieve this, the teaching learning processes should incorporate case studies, personal narratives, experiential exercises, and reflections on everyday experiences.
Objectives:
•
To help students understand the nature of psychological knowledge and its relevance to different aspects of life.
•
To encourage students to be observant, socially aware, and reflective.
•
To reduce stigma and increase awareness of psychological well-being by educating students about mental health.
•
To help students understand their own thoughts, emotions and behaviors fostering personal growth and resilience, preparing them to become responsible global members of society.
Marking Scheme
Time: 3 Hours
Marks: 70
Units
Topics
Marks
I
Understanding Psychology
11
II
Methods of Enquiry in Psychology
11
III
Human Development
11
IV
Sensory, Attentional and Perceptual Processes
8
V
Learning
9
VI
Human Memory
8
VII
Thinking
5
VIII
Motivation and Emotion
5
Total
70
Syllabus / Course Content – Theory
Unit I : Understanding Psychology
The topics in this unit are:
1.
Introduction
2.
Nature of 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
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 III: 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
Unit IV: 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
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 V : 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
Unit VI : 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
•
Forgetting due to Trace Decay, Interference and Retrieval Failure
8.
Enhancing Memory
•
Mnemonics using Images and Organisation
Unit VII : 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 and strategies of Creative Thinking
8.
Thought and Language
9.
Development of Language and Language Use
Unit VIII : 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 Labeling
7.
Managing Negative Emotions
8.
Enhancing Positive Emotions
Practical (Projects/small study, experiments, etc.)
30 marks
The students shall be required to undertake one project /small study and conduct two experiments . The project/small study would involve the use of different methods of enquiry like observation, survey, interview, questionnaire related to the following topics:
•
Bullying/Cyberbullying
•
Mental health and wellbeing
•
Impact of social media on the youth today
•
Altruism and its impact on wellbeing
•
Peer Pressure
•
Anger management
•
Sleep Hygiene
•
Changing Gender roles and stereotypes
•
Cooperation and Competition
•
Compliance and Obedience
You may also choose to do a project on any topic covered in the course (e.g., Human development, Learning, Memory, Motivation, Perception, Attention and Thinking). Experiments could focus on cause-and-effect relationships.
•
Practical (Experiments) file
05 Marks
•
Project File
05 Marks
•
Viva Voce (Project and experiment)
05 Marks
•
One experiment (05 marks for conduction of experiment and 10 marks for reporting)
15 Marks
Total
30 Marks
Question Paper Design
I. Theory : 70 Marks
Time: 3 Hours
Maximum Marks: 70
S.
No.
No.
Competencies
Total
Marks
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
35
50%
2
Applying: Solving problems to new situations by applying acquired knowledge, facts, techniques and rules in a different way
25
35%
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
10
15%
Total
70
100%
II. Practical: 30 Marks
Prescribed Books:
1.
Psychology, Class XI, Published by NCERT
Note: The above textbook is also available in Hindi medium.