CBSE Class 12 Psychology Important Topics 2027
Last updated:
Every topic ranked by how often and how recently it was asked in 5 board + 2 official sample papers (2022–2026). Teal tags = board papers, orange tags = official sample papers.
Top 10 most important topics
| # | Topic | Chapter | Asked in | Importance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | rehabilitation of the mentally ill | Therapeutic Approaches | Board 2022Sample 2025Sample 2026 | ★★★★★ |
| 2 | social loafing (reducing) | Social Influence and Group Processes | Sample 2025Sample 2026 | ★★★★☆ |
| 3 | nature-nurture and intelligence | Variations in Psychological Attributes | Sample 2025Sample 2026 | ★★★★☆ |
| 4 | sources of prejudice | Attitude and Social Cognition | Sample 2025Sample 2026 | ★★★★☆ |
| 5 | empathy (therapeutic relationship) | Therapeutic Approaches | Board 2026Sample 2026 | ★★★★☆ |
| 6 | Rational Emotive Therapy (Ellis / RET) | Therapeutic Approaches | Board 2026Sample 2026 | ★★★★☆ |
| 7 | historical understanding of abnormality | Psychological Disorders | Board 2026Sample 2026 | ★★★★☆ |
| 8 | balance theory (Heider's P-O-X) | Attitude and Social Cognition | Board 2026Sample 2025 | ★★★☆☆ |
| 9 | processes of attitude formation | Attitude and Social Cognition | Board 2026Sample 2025 | ★★★☆☆ |
| 10 | neurodevelopmental disorders | Psychological Disorders | Board 2024Sample 2025 | ★★★☆☆ |
Chapter-wise important topics
Variations in Psychological Attributes · Variations in Psychological Attributes
| nature-nurture and intelligence asked 2× | Sample 2025Sample 2026 | ★★★★☆ |
| methods of assessment (structured interview) asked 1× | Sample 2026 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| convergent thinking (intelligence testing) asked 1× | Sample 2026 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| non-verbal vs performance intelligence tests asked 1× | Sample 2026 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Indian (integral) vs Western (technological) intelligence asked 1× | Sample 2026 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| levels of intellectual disability asked 1× | Sample 2026 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Sternberg's triarchic theory of intelligence asked 1× | Sample 2026 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| PASS model (planning) asked 1× | Sample 2025 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| giftedness and talent asked 1× | Sample 2025 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| psychometric vs information-processing; psychometric theories of intelligence asked 1× | Sample 2025 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| intelligence and creativity; creativity vs intelligence tests asked 1× | Sample 2025 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Sternberg's triarchic theory (componential intelligence) asked 1× | Board 2026 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| psychometric vs information-processing approaches to intelligence asked 1× | Board 2026 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| IQ (mental age / chronological age formula) asked 1× | Board 2026 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| types of intelligence tests (verbal vs non-verbal) asked 1× | Board 2026 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| intellectual disability (features) asked 1× | Board 2026 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Indian / integral concept of intelligence (buddhi) asked 1× | Board 2026 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| levels of intellectual disability (IQ ranges) asked 1× | Board 2026 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Jensen's two-level theory of intelligence asked 1× | Board 2025 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| nature-nurture (twin/kinship correlations in intelligence) asked 1× | Board 2025 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| creativity tests (divergent thinking) asked 1× | Board 2025 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| psychological testing (uses and properties) asked 1× | Board 2025 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| giftedness / talent asked 1× | Board 2025 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| intelligence and creativity (Terman) asked 1× | Board 2025 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Gardner's multiple intelligences asked 1× | Board 2025 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| technological vs integral intelligence (culture) asked 1× | Board 2025 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| emotional intelligence asked 1× | Board 2025 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| methods of assessment (interview) asked 1× | Board 2024 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| theories of intelligence (primary mental abilities) asked 1× | Board 2024 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| assessment of psychological attributes asked 1× | Board 2024 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| intelligence and creativity asked 1× | Board 2024 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Gardner's multiple intelligences (interpersonal, naturalistic) asked 1× | Board 2024 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| culture and intelligence (technological vs integral) asked 1× | Board 2024 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| aptitude tests (specialised/generalised) asked 1× | Board 2023 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| environmental influences on intelligence asked 1× | Board 2023 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Sternberg's triarchic theory / information-processing approach asked 1× | Board 2023 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| PASS model of intelligence asked 1× | Board 2023 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| culture and intelligence asked 1× | Board 2023 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Sternberg's triarchic theory (contextual/practical intelligence) asked 1× | Board 2023 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Gardner's multiple intelligences (intrapersonal) asked 1× | Board 2023 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Self and Personality · Self and Personality
| projective techniques of personality assessment asked 2× | Board 2024Board 2026 | ★★★☆☆ |
| Freud's structure of personality (id, ego, superego) asked 2× | Board 2024Board 2026 | ★★★☆☆ |
| type approaches to personality asked 2× | Board 2023Board 2026 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| self-esteem (social competence) asked 1× | Sample 2026 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| projective techniques (features) asked 1× | Sample 2026 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| type approaches (evaluation/limitations) asked 1× | Sample 2026 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Freud's levels of consciousness asked 1× | Sample 2026 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| behavioural approach to personality asked 1× | Sample 2026 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| humanistic approach (self-actualisation, Maslow/Rogers) asked 1× | Sample 2026 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| self-report measures / inventories asked 1× | Sample 2026 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Freud's defence mechanisms (denial) asked 1× | Sample 2025 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| assessment of personality (methods) asked 1× | Sample 2025 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| rating scales / self-report measures (limitations) asked 1× | Sample 2025 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Type A personality (type approach) asked 1× | Sample 2025 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| interactional approach to personality (trait consistency) asked 1× | Sample 2025 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| humanistic approach (Rogers, fully functioning person) asked 1× | Sample 2025 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| ecological-cultural influences on personality asked 1× | Sample 2025 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| projective techniques (TAT, Sentence Completion) asked 1× | Sample 2025 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| situationism (person-situation debate) asked 1× | Board 2026 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Freud's defence mechanisms (projection/rationalization) asked 1× | Board 2026 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Adler's inferiority complex asked 1× | Board 2026 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Allport's trait types (cardinal/central trait) asked 1× | Board 2026 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| self-efficacy (Bandura) asked 1× | Board 2026 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| self-report measures (social desirability bias) asked 1× | Board 2025 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| evaluation/criticism of psychodynamic theories asked 1× | Board 2025 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| type approaches to personality (Sheldon's typology) asked 1× | Board 2025 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| projective techniques (Sentence Completion, Draw-a-Person) asked 1× | Board 2025 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Freud's psychosexual stages of development asked 1× | Board 2025 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ecological/cultural influences on personality asked 1× | Board 2025 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| concept of self (emergence of self) asked 1× | Board 2024 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| self-report personality inventories (JMPI/MMPI) asked 1× | Board 2024 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| assessment methods (interview, observation / behavioural analysis) asked 1× | Board 2024 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Eysenck's personality dimensions (psychoticism) asked 1× | Board 2023 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| aspects of self (relational/social self) asked 1× | Board 2023 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Allport's trait types (cardinal trait) asked 1× | Board 2023 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| psychodynamic approach (Jung / collective unconscious) asked 1× | Board 2023 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Freud's defence mechanisms asked 1× | Board 2023 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| self-esteem; identifying students in distress asked 1× | Board 2022 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Meeting Life Challenges · Meeting Life Challenges
| stress management techniques asked 2× | Board 2023Board 2026 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| stress and the immune system asked 2× | Board 2024Board 2025 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| well-being asked 1× | Sample 2026 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| life events vs hassles (sources of stress) asked 1× | Sample 2026 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| internal/psychological sources of stress asked 1× | Sample 2026 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| General Adaptation Syndrome (stages experienced) asked 1× | Sample 2026 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| GAS (exhaustion stage / burnout) asked 1× | Sample 2026 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| life skills asked 2× | Board 2023Board 2024 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| cognitive appraisal of stress (Lazarus) asked 1× | Sample 2025 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| life skills (assertiveness, time management) asked 1× | Sample 2025 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| effects of stress on psychological functioning asked 1× | Sample 2025 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| General Adaptation Syndrome stages / burnout asked 1× | Board 2026 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| stress and the immune system (leucocytes, antigens) asked 1× | Board 2026 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| stress management (creative visualisation) asked 1× | Board 2026 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| coping strategies (Endler & Parker: task/emotion/avoidance-oriented) asked 1× | Board 2026 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| types of stress asked 1× | Board 2026 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| effects of stress (emotional and psychological) asked 1× | Board 2026 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| assertiveness (life skills) and stress asked 1× | Board 2025 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| stress management / resilience / coping asked 1× | Board 2025 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| social stress (effects) asked 1× | Board 2025 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| sources of social stress asked 1× | Board 2025 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| sources/types of stress (hassles/environmental) asked 1× | Board 2024 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| eustress asked 1× | Board 2024 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| GAS (alarm reaction stage) asked 1× | Board 2024 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| GAS (stages: alarm, resistance, exhaustion) asked 1× | Board 2024 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| coping with stress asked 1× | Board 2023 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| General Adaptation Syndrome (resistance stage) asked 1× | Board 2023 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| avoidance-oriented coping asked 1× | Board 2023 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| stress resistance / hardiness / resilience asked 1× | Board 2023 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| sources of stress asked 1× | Board 2023 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| well-being / positive health asked 1× | Board 2022 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Psychological Disorders · Psychological Disorders
| historical understanding of abnormality asked 2× | Board 2026Sample 2026 | ★★★★☆ |
| neurodevelopmental disorders asked 2× | Board 2024Sample 2025 | ★★★☆☆ |
| models/factors underlying abnormal behaviour asked 2× | Board 2023Board 2026 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| compulsive behaviour (OCD) asked 1× | Sample 2026 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| anxiety disorders (types) asked 1× | Sample 2026 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| schizophrenia (inappropriate affect) asked 1× | Sample 2026 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| schizophrenia (delusion of persecution/reference) asked 1× | Sample 2026 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| schizophrenia (delusion of reference) asked 1× | Sample 2025 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| criteria of abnormality (distress and dysfunction) asked 1× | Sample 2025 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| autism spectrum disorder (characteristics) asked 1× | Sample 2025 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| obsessive vs compulsive behaviour (OCD) asked 1× | Sample 2025 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| anxiety disorders (GAD, phobia) and explanatory models asked 1× | Sample 2025 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| obsessive-compulsive disorder asked 2× | Board 2022Board 2023 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| autism spectrum disorder (neurodevelopmental) asked 1× | Board 2026 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| somatic symptom vs illness anxiety disorder asked 1× | Board 2026 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| anorexia nervosa (feeding and eating disorders) asked 1× | Board 2026 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| eating disorders (bulimia nervosa, binge-eating disorder) asked 1× | Board 2026 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| abnormality and social/cultural norms asked 1× | Board 2025 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| historical understanding of abnormality (Age of Reason) asked 1× | Board 2025 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| anxiety disorders (phobia, panic disorder) asked 1× | Board 2025 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| risk factors / vulnerability to mental disorders asked 1× | Board 2025 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| historical views of abnormality (supernatural) asked 1× | Board 2024 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| obsessive behaviour (OCD) asked 1× | Board 2024 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| concept of abnormality (deviance criterion) asked 1× | Board 2024 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| separation anxiety disorder (anxiety disorders) asked 1× | Board 2024 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| dissociative disorders asked 1× | Board 2024 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| diathesis-stress model asked 1× | Board 2023 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| specific learning disorder (neurodevelopmental) asked 1× | Board 2023 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| conduct / disruptive disorder asked 1× | Board 2023 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| intellectual disability vs ASD asked 1× | Board 2023 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| intellectual disability severity levels asked 1× | Board 2023 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| classification systems (ICD/DSM) asked 1× | Board 2023 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| somatic symptom and related disorders asked 1× | Board 2022 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| dissociative disorders (dissociative fugue/amnesia) asked 1× | Board 2022 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| neurodevelopmental disorders (ADHD, ASD) asked 1× | Board 2022 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| schizophrenia (symptoms) asked 1× | Board 2022 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| schizophrenia (delusion, inappropriate affect) asked 1× | Board 2022 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Therapeutic Approaches · Therapeutic Approaches
| rehabilitation of the mentally ill asked 3× | Board 2022Sample 2025Sample 2026 | ★★★★★ |
| empathy (therapeutic relationship) asked 2× | Board 2026Sample 2026 | ★★★★☆ |
| Rational Emotive Therapy (Ellis / RET) asked 2× | Board 2026Sample 2026 | ★★★★☆ |
| logotherapy (search for meaning) asked 1× | Sample 2026 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| differential reinforcement (behaviour therapy) asked 1× | Sample 2026 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| alternative therapies (Sudarshan Kriya Yoga) asked 1× | Sample 2025 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| systematic desensitization (behaviour therapy) asked 1× | Sample 2025 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| logotherapy (existential therapy) asked 1× | Sample 2025 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| core beliefs / schemas (cognitive therapy) asked 1× | Sample 2025 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| cognitive therapy (CBT) asked 1× | Sample 2025 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| behaviour therapy techniques asked 2× | Board 2022Board 2024 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| token economy (behaviour therapy) asked 1× | Board 2026 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| healing/therapeutic factors in psychotherapy asked 1× | Board 2026 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| cognitive distortions (overgeneralisation) asked 1× | Board 2025 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| alternative therapies (yoga/meditation/mindfulness) asked 1× | Board 2025 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cognitive therapies (core schemas, CBT, REBT) asked 1× | Board 2025 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ethical standards in psychotherapy asked 1× | Board 2025 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| social support / rehabilitation of the mentally ill asked 1× | Board 2025 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| rehabilitation (cognitive retraining) asked 1× | Board 2024 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cognitive therapy (CBT/REBT) asked 1× | Board 2024 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| behaviour therapy (causes of maladaptive behaviour) asked 1× | Board 2024 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| holistic / alternative therapy asked 1× | Board 2024 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cognitive therapy (core schemas) asked 1× | Board 2023 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Gestalt therapy asked 1× | Board 2023 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| behavioural analysis (behaviour therapy) asked 1× | Board 2023 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cognitive distortions (CBT) asked 1× | Board 2023 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| behaviour therapy / behaviour modification techniques asked 1× | Board 2023 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Rational Emotive Therapy (Ellis / REBT) asked 1× | Board 2022 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Attitude and Social Cognition · Attitude and Social Cognition
| sources of prejudice asked 2× | Sample 2025Sample 2026 | ★★★★☆ |
| balance theory (Heider's P-O-X) asked 2× | Board 2026Sample 2025 | ★★★☆☆ |
| processes of attitude formation asked 2× | Board 2026Sample 2025 | ★★★☆☆ |
| attitude-behaviour relationship asked 3× | Board 2022Board 2023Board 2024 | ★★★☆☆ |
| components of attitude (A-B-C model) asked 2× | Board 2024Board 2025 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| two-step concept of attitude change (Mohsin) asked 1× | Sample 2026 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| characteristics of target audience (social communication) asked 1× | Sample 2026 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| attitude-behaviour relationship (inconsistency) asked 1× | Sample 2025 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| components of attitude (behavioural component) asked 1× | Sample 2025 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| congruent vs incongruent attitude change asked 1× | Board 2026 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| sources/causes of prejudice asked 1× | Board 2026 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| attitude change (source / mode of communication) asked 1× | Board 2025 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| attitude systems (simple vs complex / complexity) asked 1× | Board 2025 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| attitude formation (family and school) asked 1× | Board 2025 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| methods of attitude formation asked 1× | Board 2025 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| self-fulfilling prophecy (prejudice) asked 1× | Board 2024 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| pro-social behaviour asked 1× | Board 2024 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| features of attitudes (centrality / interconnectedness) asked 1× | Board 2024 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| factors in attitude change (existing attitude characteristics) asked 1× | Board 2024 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cognitive consistency of attitudes asked 1× | Board 2023 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| prejudice / kernel of truth asked 1× | Board 2023 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| factors in attitude change asked 1× | Board 2023 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| attitude change process asked 1× | Board 2023 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| attitudes vs values and beliefs asked 1× | Board 2023 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| properties of attitudes (complexity, centrality) asked 1× | Board 2022 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| prejudice; self-fulfilling prophecy asked 1× | Board 2022 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Social Influence and Group Processes · Social Influence and Group Processes
| social loafing (reducing) asked 2× | Sample 2025Sample 2026 | ★★★★☆ |
| team vs audience asked 1× | Sample 2026 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| group cohesiveness asked 1× | Sample 2026 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| reasons for joining groups (security) asked 1× | Sample 2026 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| primary groups (characteristics) asked 1× | Sample 2026 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| group polarisation (reasons) asked 1× | Sample 2026 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| group polarisation asked 1× | Sample 2025 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| team (definition) asked 1× | Sample 2025 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| types of groups (secondary, formal) asked 1× | Sample 2025 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| stages of group formation (storming, norming) asked 1× | Sample 2025 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| primary vs secondary (formal) groups asked 1× | Board 2026 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| group influence (social loafing, social facilitation, group polarisation) asked 1× | Board 2026 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| crowd behaviour / group polarisation (mob) asked 1× | Board 2025 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| primary vs secondary groups asked 1× | Board 2025 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| social loafing (strategies to reduce) asked 1× | Board 2025 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| group formation / cohesiveness (common motives and goals) asked 1× | Board 2025 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| group structure (status) asked 1× | Board 2024 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| stages of group formation (storming) asked 1× | Board 2024 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| team vs group asked 1× | Board 2024 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| reasons for joining groups asked 1× | Board 2024 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| types of groups (secondary/formal) asked 1× | Board 2023 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ingroup vs outgroup asked 1× | Board 2023 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| group vs team asked 1× | Board 2023 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| conditions/stages of group formation asked 1× | Board 2022 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| social loafing asked 1× | Board 2022 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Importance = how often a topic was asked × how recent, with extra weight for the latest official sample paper.