Psychology
Subject code 324 · domain paper
Each of those rules names Psychology outright — no combination of the other papers reaches them. That is the whole case for spending one of five slots on it.
The paper at a glance
Psychology carries the subject code 324. The syllabus described here is the one published for 2026-27.
The document is a single list of units, each opening with an item called Introduction and then working through numbered sub-topics, some of which carry their own bulleted lists. It is more finely itemised than most CUET syllabi.
How the syllabus is organised
The document is laid out in seven units, numbered Unit 1 to Unit 7. There are no parts or sections above the unit level; the units simply run in order across three pages.
The syllabus itself is a list of topics only. It does not print question counts, marks, negative marking or timing, and it does not say how many questions come from each unit. Read it alongside the exam pattern.
The seven units
The first two units are about the individual, the middle three about stress, disorder and therapy, and the last two about people in social settings.
| Unit | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Unit 1: Variations in Psychological Attributes | Introduction; individual differences in human functioning; assessment of psychological attributes; intelligence; theories of intelligence; individual differences in intelligence; culture and intelligence; emotional intelligence; special abilities — aptitude, its nature and measurement; creativity |
| Unit 2: Self and Personality | Introduction; self and personality; concept of self; cognitive and behavioural aspects of self — self-esteem, self-efficacy, self-regulation; culture and self; concept of personality; major approaches to the study of personality — type, trait, psychodynamic, behavioural, cultural and humanistic approaches; assessment of personality — self-report measures, projective techniques, behavioural analysis |
| Unit 3: Meeting Life Challenges | Introduction; nature, types and sources of stress; effects of stress on psychological functioning and health — stress and health, general adaptation syndrome, stress and the immune system, lifestyle; coping with stress — stress management techniques; promoting positive health and well-being — life skills |
| Unit 4: Psychological Disorders | Introduction; concepts of abnormality and psychological disorders; classification of psychological disorders; factors underlying abnormal behaviour; major psychological disorders — anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive and related disorders, trauma- and stressor-related disorders, somatic symptom and related disorders, dissociative disorders, depressive disorders, 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 5: Therapeutic Approaches | Introduction; nature and process of psychotherapy — therapeutic relationship; types of therapies — behaviour therapy, cognitive therapy, humanistic-existential therapy, factors contributing to healing in psychotherapy, ethics in psychotherapy, alternative therapies; rehabilitation of the mentally ill |
| Unit 6: Attitude and Social Cognition | Introduction; explaining social behaviour; nature and components of attitudes; attitude formation and change; prejudice and discrimination; strategies for handling prejudice |
| Unit 7: Social Influence and Group Processes | Introduction; nature and formation of groups; types of groups; influence of group on individual behaviour — social loafing, group polarization |
Unit 4 is the most specific in the document: it lists twelve named categories of disorder, so the vocabulary of classification is clearly expected. Unit 7, by contrast, is the shortest, with only two named group effects.
What this syllabus does not tell you
The document is a topic list and nothing more. From it you cannot learn:
- how many questions come from each unit, or the marks, negative marking and duration — those are on the exam pattern;
- the weightage of any unit, so treat every unit as examinable rather than ranking them;
- which theories of intelligence or which classification system for disorders is meant; the document names categories but not their source;
- how difficult the questions will be, or whether they will test terms, theorists or applied cases;
- which books to use; the syllabus names no textbook;
- how much weight a university gives this paper once you qualify — the programmes that accept it are listed below, but the marks or ranking rule each one applies sits in its own admission bulletin.
For anything about attempt rules or numbers of questions, go to the NTA information bulletin and the exam pattern rather than to this list.
Where this paper can take you
Programmes whose rule can use Psychology, from the 14 universities whose documents we have read. 8 of them cannot be reached any other way.
B Design (Fashion) [ 2+2 with international credit transfer option] · B Sc (IT) [2+2 with international credit transfer option] · B. Arch. · and 104 more
B.A. (Hons.) Political Science · B.A. (Programme) · B.A. (Hons.) Psychology · and 45 more
Bachelor of Arts (Global Studies) · Bachelor of Arts (Hons.) - Economics · Bachelor of Arts (Hons.) - English · and 11 more
Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) · B.A. LL.B. (Hons.) · Five Year Integrated Programme in Management (BBA & MBA) · and 7 more
Bachelor of Arts (Applied Psychology) (Honours/Honours with Research) · Bachelor of Arts (Hons) - Applied Psychology · Bachelor of Arts (Hons) - Applied Psychology (3 Continent) · and 2 more
Bachelor of Arts (Journalism and Mass Communication) · Bachelor of Business Administration
Five Year Integrated Post Graduate Programme in Applied Psychology