CBSE Class 12 Psychology Syllabus 2025-26: Psychology is introduced as an elective subject in school education at the higher secondary level. As a field, Psychology focuses on understanding human experiences, behaviours, and mental processes within a specific social, cultural, and historical context. This course aims to create interest and familiarise students with fundamental concepts, theories, and methods in Psychology.
The course encourages students to analyse behaviour 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 emphasises the role of socio-cultural factors in behaviour, helping students appreciate diversity and sensitivity that prepares them to be inclusive and empathetic global citizens.
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CBSE Class 12 Psychology Syllabus 2025-26: Course-Wise Structure
Students can check the course-wise structure here:
Units | Topics | Marks |
I | Variations in Psychological Attributes | 13 |
II | Self and Personality | 13 |
III | Meeting Life Challenges | 9 |
IV | Psychological Disorders | 12 |
V | Therapeutic Approaches | 9 |
VI | Attitude and Social Cognition | 8 |
VII | Social Influence and Group Processes | 6 |
Total | 70 |
CBSE Class 12 Psychology Syllabus 2025-26: Course Content
Students can check the detailed course-wise content here:
Unit I | Variations in Psychological Attributes The topics in this unit are: 1. Introduction 2. Individual Differences in Human Functioning 3. Assessment of Psychological Attributes 4. Intelligence 5. Psychometric Theories of Intelligence, Information Processing Theory: Planning, Attention-arousal and Simultaneous Successive Model of Intelligence, Triarchic Theory of Intelligence; Theory of Multiple Intelligences. 6. Individual Differences in Intelligence 7. Culture and Intelligence 8. Emotional Intelligence 9. Special Abilities: Aptitude: Nature and Measurement 10. Creativity |
Unit II | Self and Personality The topics in this unit are: 1. Introduction 2. Self and Personality 3. Concept of Self 4. Cognitive and Behavioural Aspects of Self 5. Culture and Self 6. Concept of Personality 7. Major Approaches to the Study of Personality |
● Type Approaches ● Trait Approaches ● Psychodynamic Approach and Post-Freudian Approaches ● Behavioural Approach ● Cultural Approach ● Humanistic Approach 8. Assessment of Personality ● Self-report Measures ● Projective Techniques ● Behavioural Analysis | |
Unit III | Meeting Life Challenges The topics in this unit are: 1. Introduction 2. Nature, Types and Sources of Stress 3. Effects of Stress on Psychological Functioning and Health ● Stress and Health ● General Adaptation Syndrome ● Stress and the Immune System ● Lifestyle 4. Coping with Stress ● Stress Management Techniques 5. Promoting Positive Health and Well-being ● Life Skills ● Positive Health |
Unit IV | Psychological Disorders The topics in this unit are: 1. Introduction 2. Concepts of Abnormality and Psychological Disorders ● Historical Background 3. Classification of Psychological Disorders 4. Factors Underlying Abnormal Behaviour 5. Major Psychological Disorders ● Anxiety Disorders ● Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders ● Trauma- and Stressor-Related Disorders ● Somatic Symptom and Related Disorders ● Dissociative Disorders ● Depressive Disorder ● Bipolar and Related Disorders |
● Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders ● Neurodevelopmental Disorders ● Disruptive, Impulse-Control and Conduct Disorders ● Feeding and Eating Disorders ● Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders | |
Unit V | Therapeutic Approaches The topics in this unit are: 1. Nature and Process of Psychotherapy ● Therapeutic relationship 2. Types of Therapies ● Behaviour Therapy ● Cognitive Therapy ● Humanistic-Existential Therapy ● Alternative Therapies ● Factors contributing to healing in Psychotherapy ● Ethics in Psychotherapy 3. Rehabilitation of the Mentally Ill |
Unit VI | Attitude and Social Cognition The topics in this unit are: 1. Introduction 2. Explaining Social Behaviour 3. Nature and Components of Attitudes 4. Attitude Formation and Change ● Attitude Formation ● Attitude Change ● Attitude-Behaviour Relationship 5. Prejudice and Discrimination 6. Strategies for Handling Prejudice |
Unit VII | Social Influence and Group Processes The topics in this unit are: 1. Introduction 2. Nature and Formation of Groups 3. Type of Groups 4. Influence of Group on Individual Behaviour ● Social Loafing ● Group Polarisation |
Practical: 30 Marks
- Development of case profile: Using appropriate methods like interviews, observation & psychological tests.
- Test administration: Students are required to administer and interpret five psychological tests related to various psychological attributes like intelligence, aptitude, attitude, personality, etc.
- In the Practical examination, the student will be required to administer and interpret two psychological tests.
Distribution of Marks:
● Practical File and Case Profile | 10 Marks |
● Viva Voce (Case Profile & Two psychological tests) | 05 Marks |
● Two tests (5 marks for conducting the tests and 10 marks for reporting) | 15 Marks |
Total | 30 Marks |
CHECK THE DIRECT LINK HERE:
CBSE Class 12 Psychology Syllabus 2025-26: FREE PDF Download |
CBSE Class 12 Psychology Syllabus 2025-26: Question Paper Design
Students can check the question paper design below:
Time: 3 Hours Maximum Marks: 70 | |||
S. No. | Competencies | Total 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 organising, comparing, translating, interpreting, giving descriptions and stating main ideas | 35 | 50% |
2 | Applying: Solving problems in 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 generalisations; Presenting and defending opinions by making judgments about the information validity of ideas, or the 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% |
Practical: 30 Marks
Prescribed Books:
- Psychology, Class XI, Published by NCERT
- Psychology, Class XII, Published by NCERT
Note: The above textbooks are also available in the Hindi medium.
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