MANAV RACHNA INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE OF RESEARCH AND

STUDIES (Deemed to be University under section 3 of the UGC Act

1956)
4.5AP111C00 - Basic Psychological Processes

Periods/week Credits
L: 2 T:1 P:0 3
Duration of Examination: 3 Hrs

Course Type: Foundation Course

Max. Marks : 200 [Continuous Evaluation : 100 End Semester Exam :
100]

Course Outcome:
1. Identify and describe the major psychological processes involved in
human behavior.
2. Explain the theoretical foundations and empirical findings related to
perception, attention, memory, language, and decision-making.
3. Analyze how basic psychological processes contribute to various
aspects of everyday life and applied contexts.
4. Apply knowledge of basic psychological processes to understand and
evaluate research studies in psychology.
5. Demonstrate critical thinking skills through discussions, presentations,
and written assignments.

Unit – 1: Concept of Psychology

1. Definition of Psychology
2. Sub-disciplines and the related field of psychology
3. Schools of Psychology: Structuralism, Functionalism, Gestalt,
Behaviourism,
Psychoanalytic perspective, Cognitive perspective, Humanistic
perspective.
4. Recent development in the field of Psychology
5. Attention: Concept, Types

Unit – 2: Sensation and Perception

1. Sensory Process: Hearing, Vision, Taste, smell, touch, and pain
2. Perception: Definition, Concept of Perception
3. Types of perception: Form perception, Depth perception, Time
perception,
Perceptual constancy
4. Theories of perception (Gestalt principles, bottom-up vs. top-down
processing)

Unit – 3: Personality

1. Definition, Determinants
2. Approaches – Dispositional approaches, Type approach –
Hippocrates, Sheldon, Kretchmer, Jung’s typology
3. Trait theory – Allport, Catell, Eysenck & BIG Five; Psychoanalytic –
Freud, Adler
Unit – 4: Learning and Memory
1. Learning: Basic principles of learning, Theories of learning (Trial and
Error theory, Gestalt theory, Classical Conditioning, Instrumental
Conditioning, Cognitive learning), Application of learning principle
2. Memory: Concept, Information processing model of memory, The
level of processing approach, The organization of long-term memory
3. Types of memory (e.g., sensory memory, short-term memory, long-
term memory)
4. Forgetting: Definition, Causes

Unit – 5: Emotion and Motivation

1. Definition, Nature, Types, Physiological responses – Arousal and

emotional intensity
2. Theories of Emotion – James Lange Theory, Cannon Bard Theory and
Schacter Singer Theory, Richard Lazarus’ theory
3. Concept of Motivation, Theories of Motivation (Drive theory,
Incentive theory, Opponent process theory, Optimal level theory)
4. Determinants of motivation and emotion

Required Reading:
● R. A. Baron. Psychology (5th Ed.). Pearson Education
● C. Morgan, R. King, J, Weisz, &J, Schopler, J. Introduction to
Psychology (7th Ed.). McGraw Hill Education
● S.K. Mangal. General Psychology (2nd Ed.). Sterling Publishers
Pvt. Limited
● Scott O. Lilienfeld, Steven J. Lynn, Laura L. Namy, Nancy J. Woolf.
Psychology:
From Inquiry to Understanding (3rd Ed.). Pearson

Distribution of Continuous Evaluation

End Sem Total

Continuous Internal Evaluation
Marks Marks
Corse
CO Attainment Rubrics
Type
Project
Sessional Assignment
Work
Theory 30 20 20 80 150

Instructions for paper setting Sessional/End Semester Examination:

Only one sessional examination/Mid-term exam to be conducted covering approx.70-75%
syllabus as per the schedule mentioned in the academic calendar. The end-semester theory
question paper should have 50% weightage of questions from the remaining syllabus that was
not evaluated/assessed.

Course Articulation Matrix

CO PO PO PO PO PO PO PSO PSO PSO

Statement 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3
1 3 3 3 3 2 3 3 3 3
2 3 3 2 3 3 3 2 2 3
3 3 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 3
4 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 2
5 3 3 2 3 2 3 3 2 3

Short Answer Questions (2 Marks Each)

Bloom's Taxonomy Levels Covered: Remember, Understand

🌟 Unit 1: Concept of Psychology

1. Define psychology. (Remember)

2. Name any two subfields of psychology. (Remember)
3. What is introspection? (Understand)
4. State any two contributions of structuralism. (Remember)
5. Mention one key idea of functionalism. (Understand)
6. Who founded Gestalt psychology? (Remember)
7. What is the main focus of behaviorism? (Understand)
8. Define the psychoanalytic perspective. (Understand)
9. What does humanistic psychology emphasize? (Understand)
10. Name any two recent developments in psychology. (Remember)
11. What is attention? (Remember)
12. Name two types of attention. (Understand)

🌟 Unit 2: Sensation and Perception

13. List any two human senses. (Remember)

14. What is the function of the retina? (Understand)
15. Define perception. (Remember)
16. What is depth perception? (Understand)
17. What do we mean by perceptual constancy? (Understand)
18. Define time perception. (Understand)
19. What is bottom-up processing? (Understand)
20. State one Gestalt principle of perception. (Remember)

🌟 Unit 3: Personality

21. Define personality. (Remember)

22. List two biological determinants of personality. (Understand)
23. Name two traits from the Big Five model. (Remember)
24. Who proposed the psychoanalytic theory of personality? (Remember)
25. Mention one major idea of Adler’s theory. (Understand)
26. What are Allport’s cardinal traits? (Understand)
27. Name the four types of Hippocrates. (Remember)
28. Mention one difference between introverts and extraverts in Jung’s theory.
(Understand)
🌟 Unit 4: Learning and Memory

29. Define learning. (Remember)

30. What is trial-and-error learning? (Understand)
31. Define classical conditioning. (Understand)
32. What is reinforcement in instrumental conditioning? (Understand)
33. Name one application of learning theory in real life. (Understand)
34. Define memory. (Remember)
35. What is sensory memory? (Understand)
36. Define short-term memory. (Understand)
37. What is forgetting? (Remember)
38. State one cause of forgetting. (Understand)

🌟 Unit 5: Emotion and Motivation

39. Define emotion. (Remember)

40. Name two physiological signs of emotional arousal. (Understand)
41. What is the Cannon-Bard theory of emotion? (Understand)
42. Define motivation. (Remember)
43. What is the drive theory of motivation? (Understand)
44. Name any two determinants of motivation. (Remember)
45. What is the difference between emotion and mood? (Understand)
46. State one key idea of Lazarus’ cognitive theory of emotion. (Understand)
47. Define arousal. (Remember)
48. What is the optimal level theory of motivation? (Understand)
49. What role do incentives play in motivation? (Understand)
50. How do emotions influence decision-making? (Understand)

✅ Long Answer Questions (5 to 10 Marks Each)

Bloom’s Taxonomy Levels Covered: Apply, Analyze, Evaluate, Create

🌟 Unit 1: Concept of Psychology

1. Explain the definition and goals of psychology. (Understand)

2. Compare and contrast structuralism and functionalism. (Analyze)
3. Describe the key contributions of Gestalt psychology to modern understanding of
perception. (Understand/Apply)
4. Discuss the principles of behaviorism and its applications. (Apply)
5. Explain the major assumptions of the cognitive and humanistic perspectives.
(Analyze)
6. Evaluate the contribution of psychoanalytic theory to the understanding of human
behavior. (Evaluate)
7. Trace the evolution of psychology through different schools. (Analyze)
8. Write a short note on recent trends in psychology. (Understand)
9. Describe the concept and types of attention with examples. (Understand/Apply)
10. Compare different types of attention and explain their real-life relevance.
(Apply/Evaluate)
🌟 Unit 2: Sensation and Perception

11. Explain the sensory process for vision and hearing. (Understand)
12. Discuss the role of perception in understanding reality. (Apply)
13. Differentiate between bottom-up and top-down processing with examples. (Analyze)
14. Explain the Gestalt principles of perception with illustrations. (Understand/Apply)
15. Analyze the types of perceptual constancies with suitable examples. (Analyze)
16. How does depth perception develop? (Understand)
17. Describe the role of sensory organs in perceiving the external world. (Apply)
18. Explain how the sense of touch and pain work. (Understand/Apply)
19. Discuss time perception and its psychological implications. (Analyze)
20. Evaluate how cultural factors can influence perception. (Evaluate)

🌟 Unit 3: Personality

21. Explain the determinants of personality. (Understand)

22. Describe the dispositional and type approaches to personality. (Understand/Analyze)
23. Compare trait theories of Allport and Eysenck. (Analyze)
24. Explain the Big Five personality model with real-life examples. (Apply)
25. Discuss the psychoanalytic approach to personality with reference to Freud.
(Understand/Evaluate)
26. Evaluate the contributions of Adler to personality psychology. (Evaluate)
27. Compare Jung’s typology with Sheldon’s body-type theory. (Analyze)
28. Analyze the role of heredity and environment in shaping personality. (Analyze)
29. Explain how personality theories help in career guidance. (Apply)
30. Design a classroom activity to help students explore their personality types. (Create)

🌟 Unit 4: Learning and Memory

31. Describe the classical conditioning process with Pavlov’s experiment.

(Understand/Apply)
32. Compare classical and instrumental conditioning. (Analyze)
33. Explain cognitive learning and its classroom applications. (Apply)
34. Discuss the role of reinforcement and punishment in shaping behavior.
(Understand/Apply)
35. Describe the information processing model of memory. (Understand)
36. Differentiate between sensory memory, short-term memory, and long-term memory.
(Analyze)
37. Explain the levels of processing approach with examples. (Understand/Apply)
38. Discuss the major causes of forgetting. (Understand)
39. Analyze how organization affects memory retention. (Analyze)
40. Apply any one learning theory to explain a real-life behavioral change. (Apply)

🌟 Unit 5: Emotion and Motivation

41. Explain the nature and types of emotions with examples. (Understand)
42. Compare James-Lange and Cannon-Bard theories of emotion. (Analyze)
43. Describe Lazarus’ cognitive theory of emotion and its significance.
(Understand/Apply)
44. Discuss physiological responses associated with emotions. (Understand)
45. Define motivation and explain the drive theory and incentive theory. (Understand)
 46. Analyze the determinants of motivation in academic settings. (Apply)
47. Compare the opponent-process theory and optimal level theory of motivation.
(Analyze)
48. Evaluate the relationship between motivation and performance. (Evaluate)
49. Design a motivation plan for students during exams based on psychological
principles. (Create)
50. Apply theories of motivation to understand workplace behavior. (Apply)

Case Study 1: The Distracted Student (Attention)

Scenario:
Ria is a college student who finds it difficult to concentrate during her morning lectures. She
often gets distracted by her phone notifications or noises outside the classroom, even though
she tries to focus.

Questions:

1. Identify the type(s) of attention Ria is struggling with. (Apply)

2. What psychological strategies could help Ria improve her attention in class?
(Apply/Analyze)
3. Which psychological school of thought would focus on Ria's external environment as
the primary cause of her behavior? (Understand)

✅ Case Study 2: The Optical Illusion (Perception)

Scenario:
During an art class, students are shown an optical illusion that can be perceived either as a
vase or two faces. Each student sees something different initially.

Questions:

1. Which Gestalt principles are at work in this situation? (Apply)

2. How does top-down processing influence what the students initially perceive?
(Analyze)
3. Discuss how perceptual constancy is different from what is shown here. (Evaluate)

✅ Case Study 3: The Angry Athlete (Emotion)

Scenario:
Rahul is a competitive athlete. After losing an important match, he feels a rush of adrenaline,
increased heartbeat, and clenched fists even before realizing he’s angry.

Questions:

1. According to the James-Lange Theory, how can Rahul’s emotion be explained?

(Apply)
2. How would the Cannon-Bard Theory explain this same emotional reaction? (Analyze)
3. What physiological signs of arousal are present in Rahul's case? (Understand)
✅ Case Study 4: The Memory Lapse (Memory & Forgetting)

Scenario:
Meera studied well for her exam but blanked out when she saw the first question. After 10
minutes, she remembered everything and wrote confidently.

Questions:

1. What type of forgetting might Meera be experiencing? (Understand/Apply)

2. How does this situation relate to the concept of retrieval failure? (Analyze)
3. Which type of memory was temporarily inaccessible in Meera’s case? (Understand)

✅ Case Study 5: The Curious Child (Learning Theories)

Scenario:
A 5-year-old child learns to switch off a light after repeatedly watching her parents do it and
being praised for doing the same.

Questions:

1. Which learning theory best explains the child’s behavior? (Apply)

2. Discuss the role of reinforcement in this example. (Analyze)
3. How does this relate to observational learning? (Apply/Understand)

✅ Case Study 6: Personality and Career Choice (Personality Theories)

Scenario:
A school counselor uses the Big Five Personality Test to help students choose suitable
careers. An introverted, detail-oriented student is advised to consider research-related fields.

Questions:

1. Identify which personality traits from the Big Five model are relevant here. (Apply)
2. How can trait theories help in making career decisions? (Analyze)
3. How would Jung’s typology approach this same situation? (Evaluate)

✅ Case Study 7: The Taste Test (Sensation)

Scenario:
Two participants are asked to taste two juices blindfolded. One easily differentiates them; the
other cannot, despite having no known sensory issues.

Questions:
 1. Which sensory processes are involved in this task? (Understand)
2. What could explain the difference in their perception of taste? (Analyze)
3. How might attention or memory influence their ability to identify the juices? (Apply)

✅ Case Study 8: Motivation at Work (Motivation Theories)

Scenario:
Rajiv is a software engineer. Despite a high salary, he feels bored and unmotivated at work.
When given autonomy and new challenges, his motivation improves.

Questions:

1. Which theory of motivation explains Rajiv’s change in behavior? (Apply)

2. What role do intrinsic and extrinsic motivation play in this scenario? (Analyze)
3. How can the Optimal Level Theory be applied to Rajiv’s situation? (Apply)

✅ Case Study 9: The Social Media Scroll (Attention & Cognitive Psychology)

Scenario:
While studying, Neha keeps switching to social media every 10 minutes. She claims she can
multitask effectively, but her exam scores suggest otherwise.

Questions:

1. What type of attention is Neha attempting to use? (Understand)

2. What does cognitive psychology say about multitasking and attention span? (Analyze)
3. Suggest ways to improve Neha’s cognitive control. (Apply)

✅ Case Study 10: AI and Human Decisions (Recent Developments in

Psychology)

Scenario:
A company uses an AI-powered chatbot to analyze consumer behavior. The psychologist on
the team helps interpret data on attention span, decision-making, and emotional responses to
ads.

Questions:

1. Which sub-disciplines of psychology are relevant in this scenario? (Identify/Apply)

2. How do modern technologies contribute to understanding psychological processes?
(Analyze)
3. In what ways does this reflect recent developments in the field of psychology?
(Evaluate)