EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY

EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY

Educational psychology is the application of psychological findings in the field of education. Educational psychology is an applied discipline which combine different fields of knowledge, ie., education and psychology. It is the scientific study of human behaviour by which it can be understood, predicted and directed by education to achieve goals of life. It is also defined as the study of teaching and learning.

It is concerned with what people think and do as they teach and learn a particular curriculum in a particular environment. It considers the psychological and educational development of children and young people within the context of homes, school and community.

The main objective of educational psychology is to help a teacher understand his student’s behaviour in the educative process. A teacher may face different problems in the classroom as well as outside it. It is important that a teacher understands the significance of the individual differences and solves the various problems of the classroom.

MEANING OF EDUCATONAL PSYCHOLOGY

The word ‘Psychology’ is made up of two ancient Greek words-psyche meaning soul and logos meaning science. Thus the etymological meaning of psychology is the science of soul.

DEFINITION OF EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY

Psychology is defined as the study of an organism’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviour and how these processes are influenced by the environment and the physical and mental states. It scientifically studies human and animal behaviour with the purpose of understanding why living beings behave as they do.

·       According to Crow and Crow, “Psychology is the study of human behaviour and human relationship

·       B.F Skinner defines it as “the science of behaviour and experiences of human beings.”

·       Woodworth sees psychology as the science of the activities of individual in relation to the environment.

·       In the words of Watson, psychology is the positive science of behaviour.

·       Cruze says that psychology is the science of human behaviour and experience.

·       Guilford is of the view that psychology is the science of mental activity of an organism.

NATURE OF EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY

The nature of educational psychology is very distinctive. It is described below.

1.   It is a science. Science is a branch of study concerned with observation of facts and establishment of verifiable general laws. Educational psychology involves the features of science.

2.   It is a natural science. An educational psychology carries out investigations, collects data and reaches conclusions in exactly the same manner as a physicist or a biologist does.

3.   It is a social science. Like the sociologist, anthropologist, economist, or political scientist, the educational psychologist studies human beings and their sociability. It can be seen as social science in this regard.

4.   It is a positive science. A positive science deals with facts as they are. Educational psychology studies the child’s behaviour as it is, not as it ought to be. Thus it is a positive science.

5.   It is an applied science. It is the application of psychological principles in the field of education.

6.   It is a developing science. It is concerned with new and ever new researches. As research findings accumulate, educational psychologists get better insight in to the child’s nature and behaviour.

                                                                                         VINCY VIJAYAN
                                                                                                     NATURAL SCIENCE