UGC NET Psychology Syllabus 2025: Latest Unit Wise Topics, Free PDF, Exam Pattern & More

The candidates can check the unit-wise detailed syllabus for the UGC NET Psychology exam below

Unit 1: Emergence of Psychology 

Based on the development of psychology in India, the study of human behaviour and mental processes is used to address societal concerns and disciplinary identity crises. This subject covers the history of psychology, including its development in the Western, Greek, medieval, and contemporary eras, as well as various knowledge paradigms and the importance of self-awareness in Indian psychology. Check the topics and subtopics of the UGC NET Psychology unit 1 syllabus

Topic 1: Psychological Thought in some Major Eastern Systems

• Bhagavad Gita
• Buddhism
• Sufism
• Integral yoga

Topic 2: Academic Psychology in India

• Pre-independence era; post-independence era; 1970s
• The move to addressing social issues; 1980s
• Indigenization; 1990s
• Paradigmatic concerns
• Disciplinary Identity Crisis; 2000s
• Emergence of Indian Psychology in Academia
• Issues: The colonial encounter; Postcolonialism and psychology
• Lack of distinct disciplinary identity

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Topic 3: Western 

• Greek Heritage
• The Medieval Period and the Modern Period
• Structuralism
• Functionalism
• Psychoanalytical
• Gestalt
• Behaviorism
• Humanistic Existential
• Transpersonal
• Cognitive Revolution
• Multiculturalism
• Four founding paths of academic psychology - Wundt, Freud, James, Dilthey

Topic 3: issues 

• Crisis in Psychology due to strict adherence to experimental analytical paradigm (logical empiricism)
• Indic Influences on Modern Psychology

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Topic 4: Essential Aspects of Knowledge Paradigms

• Ontology
• Epistemology and Methodology
• Paradigms of Western Psychology: Positivism, Post-Positivism, Critical Perspective, Social Constructionism, Existential Phenomenology, and Co-operative Enquiry
• Paradigmatic controversies
• Science and Spirituality (Avidya and Vidya)
• The primacy of self-knowledge in Indian Psychology

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Unit 2: Research Methodology and Statistics

This Unit in the UGC NET Psychology syllabus deals with the research methodologies and statistical methods of researching for investing the concepts of Psychology. Check the topic-wise syllabus. 

Topic 1: Research

• Meaning of Research Purpose, and Dimensions
• Research Problems
• Variables and Operational Definitions
• Hypothesis
• Sampling
• Ethics in Conducting and Reporting Research

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Topic 2: Paradigms of Research

• Quantitative
• Qualitative
• Mixed Methods Approach

Topic 3: Methods of Research

• Observation Survey [interview, questionnaires]
• Experimental
• Quasi-Experimental
• Field Studies
• Cross-Cultural Studies
• Phenomenology
• Grounded Theory
• Focus Groups
• Narratives
• Case Studies
• Ethnography

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Topic 4: Statistics in Psychology

• Measures of Central Tendency and Dispersion
• Normal Probability Curve
• Parametric [t-test] and Non-Parametric tests [Sign Test, Wilcoxon Signed Rank test, Mann-Whitney test, Kruskal-Wallis test, Friedman]
• Power Analysis
• Effect Size

Topic 5: Correlational Analysis

• Correlation [product moment, rank order]
• Partial Correlation
• Multiple Correlations

Topic 6: Special Correlation Methods

• Biserial
• Point Biserial
• Tetrachoric
• Phi Coefficient

Topic 7: Regression 

• Simple Linear Regression
• Multiple Regression

Topic 8: Factor Analysis

• Assumptions
• Methods
• Rotation and Interpretation

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Topic 9: Experimental Designs

• ANOVA [One-way, factorial]
• Randomized Bloock Designs
• Repeated Measures Design
• Latin Square
• Cohort Studies
• Time series
• MANOVA
• ANCONA
• Single-subject designs

Unit 3: Psychological Testing 

Check the UGC NET Unit 3 Psychology syllabus below in the table:

Topics	Sub-topics
Types of Tests	Test construction: Item writing, item analysis
Test Standardization	Reliability, validity and norms
Areas of Testing	Intelligence, creativity, neuropsychological tests, aptitude, personality assessment, interest inventories
Attitude Scales	Semantic differential, staples, Likert scale. Computer-based psychological testing
Applications of Psychological Testing in Various Settings	Clinical, organizational and business, education, counseling, military, career guidance

Unit 4: Biological Basis of Behaviour

The candidates can check the topic and subtopic wise syllabus for the UGC NET Psychology exam below in the table:

Topics	Sub-topics
Sensory Systems	General and specific sensations, receptors and processes
Neurons	Structure, functions, types, neural impulse, synaptic transmission, neurotransmitters
The Central and Peripheral Nervous Systems	Structure and functions, neuroplasticity
Methods of Physiological Psychology	Invasive methods – Anatomical methods, degeneration techniques, lesion techniques, chemical methods, microelectrode studies. Non-invasive methods – EEG, scanning methods
Muscular and Glandular system	Types and functions
The Biological Basis of Motivation	Hunger, thirst, sleep and sex
The Biological Basis of Emotion	The limbic system, hormonal regulation of behaviour
Genetics and behaviour	Chromosomal anomalies; nature-nurture controversy [Twin studies and adoption studies]

Unit 5: Attention, Perception, Learning, Memory, and Forgetting

The candidates can check the UGC NET Psychology syllabus for unit 5 below in the table:

Topics	Sub-topics
Attention	Forms of attention, models of attention
Perception	Approaches to the study of perception; gestalt and physiological approaches, perceptual organization: gestalt, figure and ground, law of organization perceptual constancy: size, shape, and color; illusions perception of form, depth and movement role of motivation and learning in perception
Signal Detection Theory	Assumptions and applications of subliminal perception and related factors, information processing approach to perception, culture and perception, perceptual styles, pattern recognition, ecological perspective on perception
Learning Process and Fundamental Theories	Thorndike, Guthrie, Hull Classical Conditioning: procedure, phenomena and related issues instrumental learning: phenomena, paradigms and theoretical issues; reinforcement: basic variables and schedules; behaviour modification and its applications of cognitive approaches in learning: latent learning, observational learning. Verbal learning and discrimination learning recent trends in learning: Neurophysiology of learning
Memory and Forgetting Memory Processes	Encoding, storage, retrieval stages of memory: sensory memory, short-term memory (Working memory), long-term memory (Declarative – Episodic and Semantic; Procedural) theories of forgetting: Interference, retrieval failure, decay, motivated forgetting

Unit 6: Thinking, Intelligence and Creativity

The candidates can check the UGC NET Psychology Unit 6 syllabus for Paper 2 in the table below:

Topics	Sub-topics
Theoretical Perspectives on Thought Processes	Associationism, gestalt, information processing, feature integration model concept formation: Rules, Types, and Strategies; Role of concepts in thinking types of reasoning language and thought
Problem-Solving	Type, strategies, and obstacles
Decision-Making	Types and models
Metacognition	Metacognitive knowledge and metacognitive regulation
Intelligence	Spearman; Thurstone; Jensen; Cattell; Gardner; Stenberg; Goleman; Das, Kar & Parrila
Creativity	Torrance, Getzels & Jackson, Guilford, Wallach & Kogan Relationship between intelligence and creativity

Unit 7: Personality, Motivation, Emotion, Stress, and Coping

The candidates can check the UGC NET Psychology Unit 7 syllabus for Paper 2 in the table below:

Topics	Sub-topics
Determinants of Personality	Biological and socio-cultural approaches to the study of personality: Psychoanalytical, neo-Freudian, social learning, trait, and type, cognitive, humanistic, existential, and transpersonal psychology. Other theories: Rotter's Locus of Control, Seligman's Explanatory styles, Kohlberg’s theory of moral development
Basic Motivational Concepts	Instincts, needs, drives, arousal, incentives, motivational cycle. Approaches to the study of motivation: Psychoanalytical, ethological, S-R cognitive, humanistic
Exploratory Behaviour and Curiosity Zuckerman's Sensation seeking Achievement, affiliation, and power motivational competence self-regulation flow
Emotions	Physiological Correlates Theories of Emotions: James-Lange, Canon-Bard, Schachter and Singer, Lazarus, Lindsley emotion regulation
Conflicts	Sources and types of stress and coping: Concept, models, type A, B, C, D behaviours, stress management strategies [biofeedback, music therapy, breathing exercises, progressive muscular relaxation, guided imagery, mindfulness, meditation, yoga asana, stress inoculation training]

Unit 8: Social Psychology

The candidates can check the UGC NET Psychology Unit 8 syllabus for Paper 2 in the table below:

Topics	Sub-topics
Social Psychology	Nature, scope and history of social psychology
Traditional Theoretical Perspectives	Field theory, cognitive dissonance, sociobiology, psychodynamic approaches, social cognition
Social Perception	Communication, Attributions, attitude and its change within a cultural context, prosocial behaviour
Group and Social influence	Social Facilitation; Social loafing, Social influence [Conformity, Peer Pressure, Persuasion, Compliance, Obedience, Social Power, Reactance]. Aggression, Group dynamics, leadership style and effectiveness. Theories of intergroup relations [Minimal Group Experiment and Social Identity Theory, Relative Deprivation Theory, Realistic Conflict Theory, Balance Theories, Equity Theory, Social Exchange Theory]
Applied Social Psychology	Health, environment and law; personal space, crowding, and territoriality

Unit 9: Human Development and Interventions

The candidates can check the UGC NET Psychology Unit 9 syllabus for Paper 2 in the table below:

Topics	Sub-topics
Developmental Processes	Nature, principles, factors in development, stages of development. Successful ageing. Theories of development: Psychoanalytical, behavioristic, and cognitive various aspects of development: Sensory-motor, cognitive, language, emotional, social and moral
Psychopathology	Concept, mental status examination, classification, causes
Psychotherapies	Psychoanalysis, person-centered, Gestalt, existential, acceptance commitment therapy, behavior therapy, REBT, CBT, MBCT, play therapy, positive psychotherapy, transactional analysis, dialectic behaviour therapy, art therapy, performing art therapy, family therapy
Applications of theories of motivation and learning in school factors in educational achievement teacher effectiveness guidance in schools: needs, organizational setup and techniques.
Counselling	Process, skills, and techniques

Unit 10: Emerging Areas

The candidates can check the UGC NET Psychology Unit 10 syllabus for Paper 2 in the table below:

Topics	Sub-topics
Issues of Gender, Poverty, Disability, and Migration: Cultural bias and discrimination. Stigma, marginalization, and social suffering; Child abuse and domestic violence.
Peace Psychology	Violence, non-violence, conflict resolution at the macro level, the role of media in conflict resolution
Wellbeing and self-growth	Types of wellbeing [Hedonic and Eudemonic], character strengths, resilience and post-traumatic growth
Health	Health-promoting and health-compromising behaviours, lifestyle and chronic diseases [Diabetes, Hypertension, Coronary Heart Disease], psychoneuroimmunology [Cancer, HIV/AIDS]
Psychology and Technology Interface	Digital learning; Digital etiquette: cyberbullying; Cyber pornography: Consumption, implications; Parental mediation of digital usage

UGC NET Psychology Paper 1 Syllabus 2025

The candidates appearing for the UGC NET exam can check the Paper 1 syllabus below in the table. The UGC NET Paper 1 syllabus is common paper for all the subjects that comprises topics from Teaching Aptitude, Research Aptitude, Maths, Reasoning & more:

• Research Aptitude  
• Reading Comprehension  
• Communication  
• Reasoning  
• Logical Reasoning 
• Data Interpretation  
• Information and Communication Technology  
• People and Environment  
• Higher Education System: Governance, Polity and Administration  

UGC NET Psychology Exam Pattern 2025

The exam pattern for the NTA NET Psychology exam is provided below in the table:

UGC NET Paper	Number of Questions	Marks
Paper 1	50	100
Paper 2	100	200
Total	150	300

UGC NET Marking Scheme 

The UGC NET does not follow any negative marking scheme. The candidates are awarded +2 marks for every correct answer whereas no marks are deducted for incorrect answers or unanswered questions. The candidates can check the marking scheme below:

UGC NET Marking Parameters	Marks Allotted
Correct answer	+2
Incorrect answer	0
Un-attempted question	0

UGC NET Psychology Exam Preparation Tips 2025

The candidates can check the preparation tips for the UGC NET Psychology exam below. It will help the candidates to secure maximum marks in the exam:

• Go through the detailed UGC NET Psychology exam pattern and syllabus thoroughly.
• Undertake deep studies initially to cover the whole syllabus.
• Prepare study notes for quick revision at a later stage.
• Practice more with the help of UGC NET previous year’s question papers
• Solve more and more UGC NET mock tests 2025
• Revise the UGC NET important topics on a daily basis.

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