UPSC Mains 2023 Psychology Optional Paper I questions

28 questions from the Civil Services (Main) Examination 2023. Official UPSC paper (PDF) · All Psychology Optional PYQs

1. How is descriptive type of research different from diagnostic research? Answer the question giving suitable example of each.

   10 marks

2. "Mental health study is the major trend in Psychological studies in the 21st century." — Discuss.

   10 marks

3. What do you mean by subliminal perception? Discuss its role in advertising with the help of suitable example.

   10 marks

4. Your relative is going through chemotherapy. How your knowledge about learning theories will be helpful?

   10 marks

5. Discuss the factors facilitating in problem-solving.

   10 marks

6. Explain in detail the use of computer technology in psychological studies. Give your answer citing appropriate recent work in the field.

   20 marks

7. Describe multiple intelligence theory and its measurement.

   15 marks

8. Why is research method considered to be the back-bone of any research? Discuss various steps to be undertaken in Psychological research for sound and reliable results.

   15 marks

9. Describe the factors influencing perceptual organization with reference to past experiences and perceptual readiness.

   20 marks

10. What do you understand by psychological and physiological basis of motivation? Discuss them giving suitable examples.

    15 marks

11. Discuss some key ideas from Psychocybernetics.

    15 marks

12. Compare and contrast between programmed and probability learning and also highlight their advantages and disadvantages.

    20 marks

13. Do you think that in multicultural society, socialization is a big issue? Give your opinion in this regard and suggest proper socialization mechanism.

    15 marks

14. Differentiate among a theory, a hypothesis and an operational definition.

    15 marks

15. Should the researcher always formulate a hypothesis before collecting data? Justify your answer with appropriate example.

    10 marks

16. Discuss recent trends in the field of decision-making.

    10 marks

17. How does gender differences account for behaviour?

    10 marks

18. What hypothetical ideas lead to the development of projective personality tests?

19. "Knowledge without use is useless." Discuss the statement focussing on the application of psychology in resolving societal problems.

    10 marks

20. In view of Piaget, "Intellectual development takes place through stages which occur in a fixed order and which are universal regardless of social and cultural background." Critically examine Piaget's point of view in detail.

    20 marks

21. Discuss formation of stereotypes and prejudices with the help of suitable examples.

22. Explain how a double-blind experiment is used to overcome experimenter bias and participant expectancy effects.

    15 marks

23. How do intelligence and aptitude differ? Explain the two in the light of 'g' and 's' factors of intelligence giving suitable example.

    20 marks

24. What is the meaning and significance of plasticity of perception? Discuss.

    15 marks

25. What are the steps for effective communication training? Discuss in detail.

    15 marks

26. Do childhood experiences affect us in our entire lives? — Elaborate your answer in the light of personality theories.

    20 marks

27. How can the memory be improved with the help of organization and mnemonic techniques?

    15 marks

28. "Human behaviour is affected by multiple factors that tend to overlap. As a result of which it is difficult to analyse the cause of behaviour." — Discuss.

    15 marks