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What is Psychology? — Syllabus

CBSE · Class 11 · Psychology

What What is Psychology? covers in CBSE Class 11 Psychology: 4 topics, for the 2026-27 session. Part of the CBSE Class 11 Psychology syllabus.

101 questions80 flashcards5 concepts

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4 Topics · CBSE Class 11 Psychology · 2026-27

Topics in What is Psychology?

1

1. Meaning and Nature of Psychology

  • Psychology comes from two Greek words: psyche meaning soul and logos meaning science or study of a subject.
  • Psychology is formally defined as a science which studies mental processes, experiences and behaviour in different contexts.
  • Psychology is generally categorised as a social science, but it is also offered as a subject in the faculty of science.
2

2. Mind, Behaviour, and Experience

  • Mind is not identical to brain activity, though both are interdependent.
  • Unlike the brain, the mind does not have a physical structure or a location.
  • Mental activities and neural activities are mutually overlapping but not the same.
3

3. Popular Notions and Scientific Psychology

  • Common sense explanations of behaviour are based on hindsight and explain very little.
  • Popular sayings can be used to explain behaviour after it happens, but they do not give scientific prediction.
  • Psychology looks for patterns of behaviour that can be predicted.
4

4. Evolution of Modern Psychology

  • Modern psychology is traced to 1879, when the first experimental laboratory was established in Leipzig, Germany by Wilhelm Wundt.
  • Wundt studied conscious experience and analysed the structure of the mind through introspection.
  • His approach was called structuralism.

Key Concepts

Central concept: Psychology

Meaning and definitionMind and behaviourPsychology as a disciplinePsychology as natural sciencePsychology as social sciencePopular notions about psychologyEvolution of psychologyStructuralism

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the important topics in What is Psychology? for CBSE Class 11 Psychology?
Key topics in What is Psychology? include Meaning and Nature of Psychology, Mind, Behaviour, and Experience, Popular Notions and Scientific Psychology, Evolution of Modern Psychology. Study these first, then practise questions on each for Class 11 exams.
How should I revise What is Psychology? for Class 11 exams?
Learn the core ideas first, then work through the 101 practice questions on What is Psychology?. Revise definitions regularly and use flashcards for quick recall before the exam.

Sources & Official References

Content is aligned to the official syllabus. Refer to the board website for the latest curriculum.

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All CBSE Class 11 Psychology Syllabus

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