Maharashtra HSC Psychology study plan
Maharashtra HSC Psychology · Give each week a clear focus.
8 weeks · About 6 hours per week
Introduction to Psychology: Nature, Scope, Schools and Methods
Define psychology and distinguish it from related fields like philosophy and psychiatry
Compare the five major schools of psychology (structuralism, functionalism, behaviourism, psychoanalysis, humanistic) in a table
Explain the scope of psychology across different areas (clinical, educational, industrial, etc.)
Describe the steps of the scientific method and list at least three research methods used in psychology
Identify ethical considerations in psychological research
Your checkpoint
Create a one-page summary sheet covering definitions, schools, methods, and ethical guidelines, and score at least 8/10 on a self-made quiz
Personality: Theories and Assessment
Outline Freud's psychoanalytic theory of personality, including the id, ego, and superego
Compare trait theories of Allport, Cattell, and the Big Five model
Explain humanistic (Rogers, Maslow) and social-cognitive (Bandura) perspectives on personality
Describe at least three methods of personality assessment (e.g., MMPI, TAT, interview) and their strengths/limitations
Apply personality concepts to analyse a fictional character or case study
Your checkpoint
Write a 300-word case analysis applying two personality theories to a character, and create a comparison chart of major personality theories
Sensation, Attention and Perception & Learning: Classical and Operant Conditioning, Observational Learning
Differentiate between sensation and perception, and explain the role of attention
Describe Gestalt principles of perceptual organization and depth perception cues
Explain classical conditioning (Pavlov) and operant conditioning (Skinner) with key terminology
Compare reinforcement schedules and their effects on behaviour
Outline Bandura's observational learning and the role of modelling
Your checkpoint
Design a behaviour modification plan using operant conditioning principles for a hypothetical scenario, and explain the perceptual process in a real-life example
Memory and Forgetting & Biological Bases of Behaviour: Nervous System, Endocrine System and Genetics
Describe the multi-store model of memory (sensory, short-term, long-term) and its features
Explain encoding, storage, and retrieval processes and factors affecting them
Discuss theories of forgetting (decay, interference, retrieval failure) with examples
Identify the major structures and functions of the nervous system (central and peripheral)
Explain the role of the endocrine system and genetics in behaviour
Your checkpoint
Create a concept map linking memory processes and forgetting theories, and label a diagram of the nervous system with functions; complete a 20-question mixed quiz with 80% accuracy
Motivation and Emotion & Intelligence and Aptitude
Differentiate between needs, drives, and motives, and explain Maslow's hierarchy
Describe theories of emotion (James-Lange, Cannon-Bard, Schachter-Singer) and their criticisms
Define intelligence and compare theories (Spearman, Gardner, Sternberg)
Explain the concept of aptitude and its measurement
Discuss the nature-nurture debate in intelligence and the role of IQ testing
Your checkpoint
Prepare a table summarizing theories of emotion and intelligence, and write a short essay (200 words) on the controversy surrounding IQ testing
Social Psychology: Attitude, Prejudice, Group Processes and Interpersonal Relations
Define attitude and explain its components (cognitive, affective, behavioural)
Describe factors in attitude formation and change, including cognitive dissonance
Explain the nature and causes of prejudice and discrimination
Outline group processes: conformity, obedience, and group decision-making
Discuss interpersonal attraction and relationship formation
Your checkpoint
Analyse a real-world scenario (e.g., a social media campaign) using attitude change and prejudice concepts, and present a 5-minute oral summary
Adjustment, Stress, Health and Psychological Disorders
Define adjustment and describe strategies for coping with stress
Explain the physiological and psychological effects of stress on health
Identify characteristics of major psychological disorders (anxiety, mood, schizophrenia)
Discuss the biopsychosocial model of mental health
Outline common therapeutic approaches (e.g., CBT, psychoanalysis) and their goals
Your checkpoint
Create a stress management plan for a student during exams, and prepare a chart of psychological disorders with symptoms and treatments
Introduction to Psychology: Nature, Scope, Schools and Methods & Sensation, Attention and Perception & Learning: Classical and Operant Conditioning, Observational Learning & Personality: Theories and Assessment
Review and integrate key concepts from the heaviest domains (1,3,4,8) through practice questions
Identify personal weak areas using self-assessment and revise them
Simulate exam conditions by completing a full-length mock test
Analyse mistakes and create a concise revision sheet for each domain
Develop a time-management strategy for the exam
Your checkpoint
Score at least 70% on a full-length mock exam (covering all domains) and produce a one-page 'cheat sheet' of key terms and theories
Milestones
Week 2: Complete a 10-question quiz on personality theories with at least 80% accuracy, and explain one theory in your own words without notes
Week 4: Achieve 80% on a mixed quiz covering domains 2, 3, 4, and 5, and correctly label a diagram of the nervous system
Week 6: Deliver a 5-minute presentation on a social psychology topic, demonstrating understanding of attitude and group processes
Week 8: Score at least 70% on a full-length mock exam and submit a completed revision sheet for all domains