Psychology is introduced as an elective subject at the higher secondary stage of school education. As a discipline, psychology specializes in the study of experiences, behaviours, and mental processes of human beings within a socio-cultural historical context. This course purports to introduce the learners to the basic ideas, principles, and methods in Psychology. The emphasis is to create interest and exposure needed by learners to develop their own knowledge base and understanding. The course deals with psychological knowledge and practices which are contextually rooted. It emphasizes the complexity of behavioural processes and discourages simplistic cause-effect thinking. This is pursued by encouraging critical reasoning, allowing students to appreciate the role of cultural factors in behaviour, and illustrating how biology and experiences shape behaviour. It is suggested that the teaching - learning processes should involve students in evolving their own understanding, therefore, teaching of Psychology should be based on the use of case studies, narratives,

experiential exercises, analysis of common everyday experiences, etc.