Adrian Carl Barbin I-11
What Is Psychology?
According to Christian Nordqvist of Medical News Today, and Also from the American Psychology
Association, Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior, according to the American Psychological
Association. It is the study of the mind, how it works, and how it affects behavior. The mind is highly
complex, and conditions that relate to it can be hard to treat. Thought processes, emotions, memories,
dreams, perceptions, and so on cannot be seen physically, like a skin rash or heart defect.
What is the relevance or connection of Teacher Education to Psychology, vice versa?
Indian Psychologist named John Parankimalil listed on his blog online the list of why Psychology is
related to Teacher Education specifically in Secondary Education. Educational psychology has
contributed considerably to the creation of the modern system of education. The knowledge of
educational psychology helps the teacher in the following ways:
1. To understand the Stages of Development: Psychology has clearly shown that human life passes
through different stages of development before it reaches adulthood. They are infancy, childhood,
adolescence and adulthood. Psychologists have also thoroughly studied the characteristic behaviour
patterns in these different periods of life. Identification of these periods with different sets of
characteristics and attributes as regards physical, mental and emotional development greatly help
educationists to design curriculum and determine appropriate methods of teaching for students at
different stages.
2. To Know the Learner: The child or the learner is the key factor in the teaching-learning process.
Educational psychology helps the teacher to know his interests, attitudes, aptitudes and the other
acquired or innate capacities and abilities; to know the stage of development linked with his social,
emotional, intellectual, physical and aesthetic needs; to know his level of aspiration, his conscious and
unconscious behaviour; his motivational and group behaviour; his conflicts, desires and other aspects of
his mental health. So that perfect guidance and help can be provided and positive attitude towards the
learner can be formed.
3. To Understand the Nature of Classroom Learning: Educational Psychology helps the teacher to adapt
and adjust his teaching according to the level of the learners. A teacher is teaching in a class but a large
number of students do not understand the subject-matter which is being taught. To deal with the
students effectively in the class the teacher must have the knowledge of the various approaches to the
learning process, principles, laws and factors affecting it then only he/she can apply remedial measures
in the learning situation.
4. To Understand the Individual Differences: No two persons are exactly alike. Pupils differ in their level
of intelligence, aptitudes, likes and dislikes and in other propensities and potentialities. There are gifted,
backward, physically and mentally challenged children. Thus, psychology tells the teacher about the
individual differences among the students in the class and the procedure, methodology and techniques
to be adopted for them.
5. To Solve Classroom Problems: There are innumerable problems like truancy, bullying, peer pressure,
ethnic tensions, cheating in tests etc. Educational Psychology helps to equip the teacher by studying the
characteristics of the problem children, the dynamics of the group, behavioural characteristics and
adjustments.
6. To develop Necessary Skills and Interest in Teaching: Educational psychology helps the teacher to
acquire and develop necessary qualities and skills to deal with the problems created by the pupils,
maintain a healthy atmosphere in the classroom and show concern regarding the progress of the child.
7. To Understand Effective Methods of Teaching: Educational Psychology has discovered several new
approaches, principles. methods and techniques of teaching which are very helpful in today’s teaching-
learning process. Educational psychology tells us how significant play and recreation are for the children
and how play-way methods turn learning into an interesting task.
8. To Understand the Influence of Heredity and Environment on the Child: Educational psychology helps
the teacher to know that the child is the product of heredity and environment. They are the two sides of
a coin. Both play a prominent part in the all-round development of the child. While the child is born with
a number of hereditary qualities, environment helps them to be modified according to the requirements
of the society.
9. To Understand the Mental Health of the Child: Educational Psychology helps the teacher to know
what are the factors responsible for the mental ill-health and maladjustment of a student and to suggest
improvement thereof. Besides this, it also provides the teacher with necessary insight to improve his
own mental status to cope up with the situation.
10. To Understand the Procedure of Curriculum Construction: Curriculum is an integral part of the
teaching-learning process. Curriculum should be child-centred and fulfil the motives and psychological
needs of the individual because child capacities differ from stage to stage. Educational psychology helps
the teacher to suggest ways and means to curriculum framers to prepare sound and balanced
curriculum for the children.
11. To Provide Guidance and Counselling: Today guidance to a child at every stage of life is needed
because psychological abilities, interests and learning styles differ from person to person. Similarly, what
courses of study the child should undertake in future is also a vital question. All these can be answered
well if the teacher knows the psychology of children.
12. To Understand Principles of Evaluation and Assessment: Evaluation is an integral part of the
teaching-learning process. How to test the potentialities of the child depends upon the evaluation
techniques. The development of the different types of psychological tests for the evaluation of the
individual is a distinct contribution of educational psychology.
13. To inculcate Positive and Creative Discipline: The slogan of the traditional teachers was “spare the
rod and spoil the child.” Flogging the child was the chief instrument. Educational Psychology has
replaced the repressive system with the preventive system. Now teachers adopt a cooperative and
scientific approach to modify the behaviour of the students. Emphasis is laid on self-discipline through
creative and constructive activities.
14. Educational Psychology and Research: Educational psychologists conduct research to improve the
behaviour of human beings in the educational situation. For this purpose it helps in developing tools and
devices to measure the performance and suggest remedial measures thereof.
15. To Know Himself/Herself: Educational Psychology helps the teacher to know about himself/herself.
His/her own behaviour pattern, personality characteristics, likes and dislikes, motivation, anxiety,
conflicts, adjustment etc. All this knowledge helps him in growing as a successful teacher.
16. Educational Psychology Helps in Professional Growth, Changing Attitude and Innovative Thinking:
Inside the classroom, educational psychology has enabled the teacher to achieve proper conditioning of
pupils by achieving and directing classroom programmes on human lives. Not only this, educational
psychologists are busy in finding out innovations in the field of education. These innovations will bring
about professional growth of the teacher.
What is Education for me?
It is the systematic process of learning of skills and methods, intellectual data that may help people in
the near future. It is a good foundation for a better future to happen.
What is Growth?
“Psychology” is defined as “the scientific study of the mind and behavior.” In this discipline, it also
covers the growth and development of human beings. ... For a quick differentiation about growth and
development, psychology defines “growth” as “the physical change that a particular individual
undergoes.” It is improvement or progress happen to a society, a businesses profit, or any individual in
their mental or physiological aspect.
What is Change?
A change concept is a general notion or approach to change that has been found to be useful in
developing specific ideas for changes that lead to improvement.
References:
Nordqvist, C. (2018, February 01). What is psychology? Retrieved from
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/154874.php
Parankimalil, J. (2014, November 17). Relevance of Educational Psychology for Secondary
Teachers. Retrieved from https://johnparankimalil.wordpress.com/2012/03/09/relevance-of-
educational-psychology-for-secondary-teachers/
Using Change Concepts for Improvement. (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://www.ihi.org/resources/Pages/Changes/UsingChangeConceptsforImprovement.aspx
Celine. (2013, March 30). Difference Between. Retrieved from
http://www.differencebetween.net/science/differences-between-growth-and-development-in-
psychology/
