UPSC Mains 2021 Psychology Optional Paper I questions

28 questions from the Civil Services (Main) Examination 2021. Official UPSC paper (PDF) · All Psychology Optional PYQs

1. What are the limits of intuition and common sense? Why do psychologists emphasize on scientific methods? Discuss.

   10 marks

2. State the role of psychologist in resolving interpersonal conflicts and social unrest.

3. Discuss the challenges during group brainstorming process.

   10 marks

4. Sat SAT THAT AR Describe the role of mass media in shaping the behaviour of adolescents. Support it with appropriate examples.

   10 marks

5. Fears SAT With reference to the concept of memory construction evaluate the accuracy of eyewitness testimony in judicial trial.

   10 marks

6. How do basic and applied research differ? Explain how knowledge from basic research helps solve practical problems.

   20 marks

7. Discuss the factors causing cognitive decline in the elderly.

   15 marks

8. Describe the bottom-up and top-down processing of sensory information.

   15 marks

9. How much nature (genetic factors) and nurture (environmental factors) contribute to a person's physical, cognitive and socio-emotional development?

   20 marks

10. Describe the principles of classical conditioning. Illustrate the application of classical conditioning principles in real life.

    15 marks

11. Explain the importance of cognitive neuropsychology and socio-cultural perspective in understanding human behaviour.

12. Why is selective attention important? Discuss the theories of selective attention.

13. Which method is most appropriate to investigate gender differences in aggressive behaviour at the work place? Elaborate.

    15 marks

14. Describe the role of schemas and mnemonic devices in expertise and exceptional memory.

    15 marks

15. "Some psychological measures can be reliable but not valid". Elaborate it with examples.

    10 marks

16. FRAT He IQ scores predict success in academic, job and other life outcomes. Evaluate.

    10 marks

17. What is self-efficacy? Discuss the potential benefits of enhancing self-efficacy.

18. Formal operational thought is not universally achieved. Discuss.

    10 marks

19. Give a critical appraisal on the practice of using aptitude tests to predict professions for high school children.

    10 marks

20. Are we born with personality? Critically evaluate with theoretical interpretation.

21. Describe the strategies of effective communication training.

    15 marks

22. Discuss the physiological basis of emotion and its measurement.

    15 marks

23. Which approaches to motivation are more commonly used in an organization? How these approaches might help to sustain or increase motivation?

    20 marks

24. Describe different types of Meditation and its effect on health and well-being.

    15 marks

25. Discuss the use of computer application in the various domains of practice in Psychology.

    15 marks

26. Humans strive to assign causes to actions of self and others and fall into traps of biases and errors. Critically discuss.

    20 marks

27. Discuss the cognitive and motivational determinants of the belief in extra sensory perception.

    15 marks

28. Give a comparative analysis of the behaviouristic and nativistic perspective to language development.

    15 marks