a. Meaning:
The word, ‘Psychology’ is derived from two Greek words, ‘Psyche’ and ‘Logos’. Psyche means ‘soul’ and ‘Logos’ means ‘science’. Thus psychology was first defined as the ‘science of soul”.
According to earlier psychologists, the function of psychology was to study the nature, origin and destiny of the human soul. But soul is something metaphysical. It cannot be seen, observed and touched and we cannot make scientific experiments on soul.
In the 18th century, psychology was understood as the ‘Science of Mind’. William James (1892) defined psychology as the science of mental processes. But the word ‘mind’ is also quite ambiguous as there was confusion regarding the nature and functions of mind.
Modern psychologists defined psychology as the “Science of Consciousness”. James Sully (1884) defined psychology as the “Science of the Inner World”. Wilhelm Wundt (1892) defined psychology as the science which studies the “internal experiences’. But there are three levels of consciousness – conscious, subconscious and the unconscious and so this definition also was not accepted by some.
Thus psychology first lost its soul, then its mind and then its consciousness. At present only its behavior exists. William McDougall (1905) defined psychology as the “Science of Behavior”, W.B. Pillsbury (1911) and J.B. Watson (1912) also defined psychology as the science of behavior.
Behavior generally means overt activities which can be observed and measured scientifically. But one’s behavior is always influenced by his experiences. So when we study one’s behavior we must also study his experiences.
Psychology should, therefore, be defined as a “science of behavior and experiences on human beings” (B.F. Skinner)
According to Crow and Crow, “Psychology is the study of human behaviour and human relationship’”.
b. Definitions:
i. “Psychology is the study of human behavior and human relationship’”. –Crow and Crow
ii. "Psychology should be define as a science of behavior and human relationship." –B.F. Skinner
c. Nature of Psychology:
Psychology is the science of behavior and mind, embracing all aspects of conscious and unconscious experiences as well as thought. It is an academic discipline and a social science which seeks to understand individuals and groups by establishing general principles and researching specific cases.
The nature of psychology can be defined as a science and art as follow:
i. Psychology as a science:
Ø Like other natural sciences such as Physics and biology, psychology is an empirical field of study.
Ø It is a systematic and controlled study which is based on testing of hypothesis through experimentation
Ø Like a science, it emphasizes on search for truth rather than its utility.
Ø It has both pure and applied sciences like other sciences.
Ø The investigations in the field of psychology yield generalize laws which may be applicable in similar situation.
Ø The findings in psychology are brought out in an experimental setting.
ii. Psychology as an art:
Ø It deals with individuals whose characteristics are unique.
Ø It studies behavior of organism which is always lacking consistency.
Ø It is based on subjective analysis because of the behavior of individuals.
Ø The findings can be generalized to an individual up to a limited extent because of individual differences.
iii. Psychology as a positive science:
It is descriptive science rather than prescriptive science. So it is positive science.
iv. Psychology as a study of human behavior:
v. Psychology as based on experimentation:
vi. Psychology as approximation in generalization:
vii. Psychology as a developing science:
1.2 Concept, Objectives and scope of Educational Psychology:
a. Concept of Educational Psychology:
i. Meaning:
Educational Psychology is the branch of psychology concerned with the scientific study of human learning. The study of learning processes, from both cognitive and behavioral perspectives, allows researchers to understand individual differences in intelligence, cognitive development, affect, motivation, self-regulation, and self-concept, as well as their role in learning. The field of educational psychology relies heavily on quantitative methods, including testing and measurement, to enhance educational activities related to instructional design, classroom management, and assessment, which serve to facilitate learning processes in various educational settings across the lifespan.
The field of educational psychology involves the study of memory, conceptual processes, and individual differences (via cognitive psychology) in conceptualizing new strategies for learning processes in humans. Educational psychology has been built upon theories of operant conditioning, functionalism, structuralism, constructivism, humanistic psychology, Gest. Psychology, and information processing.
ii. Definitions:
a. "Educational psychology is a subject to be studied, an area or field of knowledge, a set of applications of laws and principles from a field of knowledge to a social process, a set of tools and techniques, and a field for research." -G. L. Anderson
b. According to Charles. E. Skinner, “Educational psychology deals with the behavior of human beings in educational situations”.
c. In the words of E.A. Peel, “Educational Psychology is the science of Education”.
b. Objectives of Educational Psychology:
Educational psychology helps in realizing the goals of education. It helps primarily in answering questions of ‘how’ and ‘when’. It helps the student of education and the teacher in understanding human nature so that he may be able to motivate and direct learning and growth and conduct. Educational psychology has to enrich the educator himself by changing the learner’s thoughts, feelings, attitudes, ideals, standards of values and conduct along with improvement in the quality of instruction.
i. To grow conviction in the usefulness of the science of educational psychology.
ii. To assist in defining and setting up educational objectives and standards in terms of desirable behavior and organizing educational situations in which such a behavior may be brought about.
iii. To assist the teachers in treating their pupils with sympathy and understanding and to create positive attitude towards learning.
iv. To provide a body of facts and principles this can be used in solving problems of teaching.
v. To aid in providing the teacher with a better perspective for judging both the results of his own teaching and the educational practice of others.
vi. To assist the teacher in giving the necessary facts and techniques for the analyzing child’s behavior to facilitate adjustment and growth of personality.
vii. To assist in setting up, defining and maintaining progressive teaching procedures, guidance programmers and functional forms of organization and administration.
c. Scope of Educational Psychology:
The scope of educational psychology is ever-growing due to constantly researches in this field. The following factors will indicate the scope of educational psychology:
i. The Learner:
The subject-matter of educational psychology is knitted around the learner. Therefore, there need of knowing the learner and the techniques of knowing him well. The topics include – the innate abilities and capacities of the individuals, individual differences and their measurements, the overt, covert, conscious as well as unconscious behavior of the learner, the characteristics of his growth and development and each stage beginning from childhood to adulthood.
ii. The Learning Experiences: Educational Psychology helps in deciding what learning experiences are desirable, at what stage of the growth and development of the learner, so that these experiences can be acquired with a greater ease and satisfaction.
iii. Learning process: After knowing the learner and deciding what learning experiences are to be provided, Educational Psychology moves on to the laws, principles and theories of learning. Other items in the learning process are remembering and forgetting, perceiving, concept formation, thinking and reasoning, problem solving, transfer of learning, ways and means of effective learning etc.
iv. Learning Situation or Environment. Here we deal with the environmental factors and learning situations which come midway between the learner and the teacher. Topics like classroom climate and group dynamics, techniques and aids that facilitate learning and evaluation, techniques and practices, guidance and counseling etc. For the smooth functioning of the teaching-learning process.
v. The Teacher: The teacher is a potent force is any scheme of teaching and learning process. It discusses the role of the teacher. It emphasizes the need of ‘knowing thyself’ for a teacher to play his role properly in the process of education. His conflicts, motivation. Anxiety, adjustment, level of aspiration etc. It throws light on the essential personality traits, interests, aptitudes, the characteristics of effective teaching etc so as to inspire him for becoming a successful teacher.
Though the entire scope of Educational Psychology is included in the above mentioned five key-factors, it may be further expanded by adding the following:
vi. It studies Human Behavior in educational situations. Psychology is the study of behavior, and education deals with the modification of behavior; hence, educational psychology pervades the whole field of education.
vii. It studies the Growth and Development of the child. How a child passes through the various stages of growth and what are the characteristics of each stage are included in the study of educational psychology.
viii. To what extent Heredity and Environment contribute towards the growth of the individual, and how this knowledge can be made use of for bringing about the optimum development of the child; form a salient feature of the scope of educational psychology.
ix. Educational psychology deals with the Nature and Development of the Personality of an individual. In fact, education has been defined as the all-round development of the personality of an individual; personality development also implies a well-adjusted personality.
x. It studies Individual Difference: Every individual differs from every other individual. It is one of the fundamental facts of human nature which have been brought to light by educational psychology. This one fact has revolutionized the concept and process of education.
xi. It studies the nature Intelligence and its Measurement. This is of utmost importance for a teacher.
xii. It Provides Guidance and Counseling: Education is nothing but providing guidance to the growing child.
We can conclude by saying that Educational Psychology is narrower in scope than general psychology. While general psychology deals with the behavior of the individual in a general way, educational psychology in concerned with the behavior of the learner in an educational setting.
1.3 Need of Educational Psychology for Teachers:
i. To develop a conviction and realization of the extent that growth can be promoted, learning acquired, social behavior improved, and personality adjustments effected. The realization of this objective will produce an increasing appreciation of what educational psychology contributes to the teacher.
ii. To assist in defining and setting up educational objectives and standards in terms of desirable behaviors (conduct, attitudes, and so forth I that ought to be the goals of all teaching efforts. If the teacher knows what the desired outcomes should be, he can set up the appropriate situation I curricular materials, teaching procedures, and so on) for bringing them about.
iii. To aid in developing an impartial but sympathetic attitude toward children so that their behavior will be regarded objectively.
iv. To assist in achieving a better understanding of the nature and importance of social relationships and the methods of developing in children such modes of social functioning as getting along with others, participation in group efforts, and cooperation.
v. To provide a body of facts and principles that can be used in solving the problems of teaching: how the materials of instruction can best be selected and organized into a graded series of problem-projects, units. or contracts; how these materials can be used intelligently as means in developing the desired outcomes; how the learning process can be so guided that the materials and methods will not obstruct learning; and how the entire process can be directed so that what is learned functions not only here and now, but anywhere and anytime, in school or out.
vi. To aid in affording the teacher a better perspective for judging both the results of his own teaching and the educational practices of others. Educational psychology helps provide a better background for understanding the total job of teaching in all its intricacies, the importance of goals or the need of a working philosophy, a knowledge of usable materials and means (available or possible), the most effective use of these materials, reliable and valid ways of evaluating outcomes or results, and so forth. Educational psychology helps develop a scientific, problem-solving attitude toward the problems of education. It also aids materially in training individuals to think psychologically about problems of human conduct and education.
vii. To furnish the teacher with the necessary facts and techniques for analyzing behavior-both his own and that of others-to the end that normal adjustment may be facilitated and growth in personality effected.
viii. To assist in setting up, defining, and maintaining progressive teaching procedures, guidance programs, and functional forms of organization and administration.