UPSC Mains 2026 Psychology Optional Paper I questions

28 questions from the Civil Services (Main) Examination 2026. Official UPSC paper (PDF) · All Psychology Optional PYQs

1. Discuss various applications of psychology with reference to war and peace.

2. Discuss the role of environmental factors in prenatal development.

3. Differentiate among descriptive, evaluative, diagnostic and prognostic research.

4. "Negative reinforcement and punishment are different." Justify your point of view with relevant examples.

5. How do the 'leaky bucket' and 'working memory' approaches differ in their explanation of the short-term memory?

6. Critically examine the top-down and bottom-up processing in perception. How can we make the combined use of both the processing in everyday life? Support your answer with appropriate examples.

   20 marks

7. What makes psychology a more scientific discipline in comparison to other disciplines of social sciences? Elucidate your answer with examples and evidences.

   15 marks

8. In what ways can sampling bias affect the accuracy of research outcomes? Discuss the role of data analysis and interpretation in generating meaningful research findings.

   5 marks

9. Discuss various types of long-term memory. Explain how primacy and recency effect illustrate the serial position effect in transferring information from short- term memory to long-term memory.

   20 marks

10. "The aim of grounded theory analysis is to develop inductive theory which is closely derived from the data." Elaborate upon the statement with respect to the analytic procedures followed in the grounded theory approach.

    5 marks

11. Under what research conditions would you choose multiple regression over simple linear regression? Explain the assumptions of multiple regression with the help of examples.

12. Explain how learning takes place through classical conditioning. Discuss the role of reflexive behaviour and contingency in the acquisition of conditioned behaviour.

    20 marks

13. What do you understand by 'inattentional blindness'? How can subliminal stimulus affect our behaviour?

    5 marks

14. Highlight the developmental milestones as per the Piaget's stages of cognitive development.

    5 marks

15. How does knowledge influence deductive reasoning? Give suitable examples.

16. Explain the relationship between emotion and cognition. Examine how feelings shape our thoughts.

17. Examine the role of causal attribution in the formation of prejudice and discrimination.

18. How does the critical period hypothesis support the idea of biological predisposition?

19. Do our dreams represent unconscious wish fulfillment? Discuss the meaning and functions of dreams.

20. What do you mean by defense mechanism? Distinguish between healthy and unhealthy defense mechanisms. Explain how it influences personality of an individual.

    20 marks

21. What kind of heuristics is used by the people while making decisions? Also, discuss the errors and biases in group decision making.

    5 marks

22. How is crystallized intelligence different from fluid intelligence? Discuss their relation to ageing and memory.

    5 marks

23. Discuss the nature and functions of attitudes and values with reference to development of human behaviour. Suggest relevant strategies for attitude change and development.

    20 marks

24. What do you mean by 'motivational cycle'? Analyze and answer with reference to psychological and physiological basis of motivation.

    5 marks

25. Differentiate between surface and deep structure of language. Describe the hierarchy of language.

    5 marks

26. Why do the people in almost every culture use psychoactive drugs? Discuss the effects of various stimulants and depressants on central nervous system.

    20 marks

27. Distinguish between projective tests and psychometric tests of personality along with their advantages and disadvantages.

    5 marks

28. Does IQ predict mental retardation? Explain the classification of mental retardation with regard to IQ scores given by Stanford-Binet.