Education Ch 1 QA (PDF)

# Education ## Chapter # 1 ## EDUCATION AND PSYCHOLOGY ### DETAILED ANSWER QUESTIONS **Question :** Write down the origin and meaning of the word 'psychology'? **Answer :** **Origin and Meaning of the Word 'Psychology** The word "psychology" is the combination of two terms - study (logy) and so...

# Education ## Chapter # 1 ## EDUCATION AND PSYCHOLOGY ### DETAILED ANSWER QUESTIONS **Question :** Write down the origin and meaning of the word 'psychology'? **Answer :** **Origin and Meaning of the Word 'Psychology** The word "psychology" is the combination of two terms - study (logy) and soul (psyche), or mind. The derivation of the word from Latin gives it clear and obvious meaning: "The study of the soul or mind" This meaning has been altered over the years until today, this is not what the word means at all. The subject of psychology, as studied in colleges and universities, currently has very little to do with the mind, and absolutely nothing to do with the soul or spirit. It is important to understand that words and ideas are supposed to refer to something. "The large tree in the front yard" refers to an actual thing that can be seen, touched and experienced. "The man walking his little dog last night at sunset refers to an actual event that can be seen, observed and experienced. The realm of mind is an actual realm that can be experienced, and at one time there were words that accurately referred to this realm. Let's see what a few dictionaries have to say and how a word could alter and lose its true and actual meaning. "Psyche" is defined as: 1. The spirit or soul. 2. The human mind. 3. In psychoanalysis, the mind functioning as the centre of thought, emotion, and behaviour. Defining "soul", we have: 1. The spiritual or immortal elements in a person. 2. A person's mental or moral or emotional nature. Most of us would agree we have a "psyche" per the above definitions in the sense of mind, thought, and emotions. Most would also agree they have a "soul" per the second definition above relating to man's mental, moral or emotional nature. We might all have different notions about what these ultimately are, but few could sanely disagree they exist. The derivation of "psyche" comes from Latin and the Greek psukhe - breath, life, soul. To get a better "feel" for this term try to think of it as the invisible animating principle or entity that occupies, interacts with and directs the physical body. **Question :** Write a note on the Early Concept of Psychology? **Answer :** ### Early Concept of Psychology The first use of the term "psychology" is often attributed to the German scholastic philosopher Rudolf Goeckel, published in 1590. More than six decades earlier, however, the Croatian humanist Marko Marulic used the term in the title of a work which was subsequently lost. This, of course, may not have been the very first usage, but it is the earliest documented use at present. The term did not fall into popular usage until the German idealist philosopher; Christian Wolff (1679-1754) used it in his Psychologia empirica and Psychologia rationalis (1732-1734). This distinction between empirical and rational psychology was picked up in Diderot's Encyclopedie and was popularized in France by Maine de Biran. The root of the word psychology (psyche) is very roughly equivalent to "soul" in Greek, and (ology) equivalent to "study". Psychology as a medical discipline can be seen in Thomas Willis' reference to psychology (the "Doctrine of the Soul") in terms of brain function, as part of his 1672 anatomical treatise "De Anima Brutorum" ("Two Discourses on the Souls of Brutes"). Until about the end of the 19th century, psychology was regarded as a branch of philosophy. **Question :** Write a note on the Modern Concept of Psychology? **Answer :** ### Modern Concept of Psychology In 1879, Wilhelm Wundt (1832-1920), known as "the father of psychology", founded a laboratory for the study of psychology at Leipzig University in Germany. The American philosopher William James published his seminal book, Principles of Psychology, in 1890, laying the foundations for many of the questions that psychologists would focus on for years to come. Other important early contributors to the field include Hermann Ebbinghaus (1850-1909), a pioneer in the experimental study of memory at the University of Berlin; and the Russian physiologist Ivan Pavlov (1849-1936), who investigated the learning process now referred to as classical conditioning. Meanwhile, during the 1890's, the Austrian physician Sigmund Freud, who was trained as a neurologist and had no formal training in experimental psychology, had developed a method of psychotherapy known as psychoanalysis. Freud's understanding of the mind was largely based on interpretive methods and introspection, and was focused in particular on resolving mental distress and psychopathology. Freud's theories became very well-known, largely because they tackled taboo subjects. Although Freud's theories are only of limited interest in modern academic psychology departments, his application of psychology to clinical work has been very influential. Partly in reaction to the subjective and introspective nature of Freudian psychology, and its focus on the recollection of childhood experiences, during the early decades of the 20th century behaviourism gained popularity as a guiding psychological theory. Championed by psychologists such as John B. Watson and Edward Thorndike (and later, B.F. Skinner), behaviourism was grounded in studies of animal behaviour. Behaviourists argued that psychology should be a science of behaviour, not the mind, and rejected the idea that internal mental states such as beliefs, desires, or goals could be studied scientifically. In his paper "Psychology as the Behaviourist Views It" (1913), Watson argued that psychology "is a purely objective experimental branch of natural science," that "introspection forms no essential part of its methods", and that "the behaviourist recognizes no dividing line between man and brute." Behaviourism reigned as the dominant model in psychology through the first half of the 20th century, largely due to the creation of conditioning theories as scientific models of human behaviour, and their successful application in the workplace and in fields such as advertising. However, it became increasingly clear that although behaviourism had made some important discoveries, it was deficient as a guiding theory of human behaviour. Noam Chomsky's review of Skinner's book Verbal Behaviour (that aimed to explain language acquisition in a behaviourist framework) is considered one of the major factors in the ending of behaviourism's reign. Chomsky demonstrated that language could not purely be learned from conditioning, as people could produce sentences unique in structure and meaning that couldn't possibly be generated solely through experience of natural language, implying that there must be internal states of mind that behaviourism rejected as illusory. Similarly, work by Albert Bandura showed that children could learn by social observation, without any change in overt behaviour, and so must be accounted for by internal representations. Humanistic psychology emerged in the 1950s and has continued as a reaction to positivist and scientific approaches to the mind. It stresses a phenomenological view of human experience and seeks to understand human beings and their behaviour by conducting qualitative research. The humanistic approach has its roots in existentialist and phenomenological philosophy and many humanist psychologists completely reject a scientific approach, arguing that trying to turn human experience into measurements strips it of all meaning and relevance to lived existence. Some of the founding theorists behind this school of thought were Abraham Maslow who formulated a hierarchy of human needs, Carl Rogers who created and developed client-centered therapy, and Fritz Perls who helped create and develop Gestalt therapy. The rise of computer technology also promoted the metaphor of mental function as information processing. This, combined with a scientific approach to studying the mind, as well as a belief in internal mental states, led to the rise of cognitivism as the dominant model of the mind. Links between brain and nervous system function were also becoming common, partly due to the experimental work of people such as Charles Sherrington and Donald Hebb, and partly due to studies of people with brain injury. With the development of technologies for accurately measuring brain function, neuropsychological and cognitive neurosciences have become some of the most active areas in contemporary psychology. With the increasing involvement of other disciplines (such as philosophy, computer science and neuroscience) in the quest to understand the mind, the umbrella discipline of cognitive science has been created as a means of focusing such efforts in a constructive way. **Question :** Write the definition of psychology according to Boring? Also write a note on the Scope of Psychology? **Answer :** ### According to Boring: "Psychology is the study of adjustment of organism especially the human organism to changing environments." ### Scope of Psychology Defining psychology we have come across this realization that psychology is related to humans. Though, many tests have been performed on animals but they to have been conducted to understand humans better. Psychology stresses more on human consciousness and human behaviour. While studying both of these we come across their different aspects. ### Human Consciousness: Human consciousness has been the most important topic of psychology. A person's family history, environment, characteristics by birth, mental, emotional and physical development, instincts and learning abilities all have to be studied. These factors contribute in rising or lowering our consciousness. Because all these factors are related to human consciousness hence they are studied in psychology. ### Human Behaviour: The second most important topic of psychology is human behaviour. This is based on biological and social factors. Biological factors include from the time the human was conceived to all the time he spent on earth. His biological needs such as hunger, need of clothes, and survival all come under biological factors. Our neighbours, relatives, educational institutes, teachers, course books, class fellows, media, cultural values, religion, scientific inventions, and culture etc are all included in the study of social factors. Keeping in mind all the above factors it can be said that psychology has an endless scope and its true potential and limits are yet to be determined. **Question :** Write a note on importance of psychology? **Answer :** ### Importance of Psychology Psychology is important as it is concerned with the study of behaviour and mental processes and at the same time, it is also applied to many different things in human life. Everything we perform is very much related to or with psychology. Psychology, primarily studies who and what we are, why we are like that, why we act and think like that and what we could be as a person. Psychology is important in a lot of different ways, for instance the studies that has been conducted in various life threatening illnesses. Through the process of utilizing psychology, the psychologist determined different diseases such as Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease and some other Neurological diseases. By making use of psychological research, doctors have now developed medicines and even able to alleviate different illnesses. Through studying psychology we are able to understand and determine how the mind and body of an individual works. With that said, people would no longer make things complicated for themselves and for their health as well. They are going to avoid things that can cause stress, they are able to manage time very well, and are more effective with their studies or chosen career. You make use of psychology everyday of your life. You use it when you are talking with friends, with your co workers and with every one around you, you use it when arguing, reasoning and disciplining a child. Below are just a few of its benefits: * **Psychology Help in Building Relationships:** It helps strengthening a relationship and making everyday lives better through escalating a person's self-knowledge and understanding towards another individual. * **Psychology Improves Daily Communication** By understanding psychology, people learn on how to communicate effectively towards one another. It teaches people to understand what others are saying and of course in comprehending the person's actions or gestures towards a certain condition. * **Psychology Builds Self-Confidence** The more you know, and discover about yourself, your being, your personality and your weaknesses the more you seek for self-improvement and when that happens your self-confidence are increasing. * **Psychology Enriches Careers** By knowing better and understanding your co-workers you are able to get along with them, you know where to stand as you know where they are coming from and what they are going through. Psychology teaches you how to correctly and rightfully deal with other people around you. As this condition continues occurring in a work place, it will positively enrich everyone's career. **Question :** Write a note on branches of psychology? **Answer :** ### Branches of Psychology The branches of psychology are as under: 1. Abnormal Psychology 2. Biological Psychology 3. Cognitive Psychology 4. Legal Psychology 5. Personality Psychology 6. Quantitative Psychology 7. Social psychology 8. School Psychology 9. Comparative Psychology 10. Counselling Psychology 11. Industrial/Organization Psychology 12. Clinical Psychology 13. Developmental Psychology 14. Forensic Psychology 15. Health Psychology 16. Child Psychology 17. Psychology of Creativity 18. Psychology of Beauty 19. Animal Psychology **Question :** Why did Behaviourism reign as the dominant model in psychology through the first half of the 20th Century? **Answer :** Behaviourism reigned as the dominant model in psychology through the first half of the 20th century, largely due to the creation of conditioning theories as scientific models of human behaviour, and their successful application in the workplace and in fields such as advertising. **Question :** Write five lines on Humanistic psychology? **Answer :** Humanistic psychology emerged in the 1950s and has continued as a reaction to positivist and scientific approaches to the mind. It stresses a phenomenological view of human experience and seeks to understand human beings and their behaviour by conducting qualitative research. **Question :** Who were the founding theorists behind humanistic psychology? **Answer :** Some of the founding theorists behind humanistic psychology were Abraham Maslow who formulated a hierarchy of human needs, Carl Rogers who created and developed client-centered therapy, and Fritz Perls who helped create and develop Gestalt therapy. **Question :** What did the rise of computer technology lead to? **Answer :** The rise of computer technology also promoted the metaphor of mental function as information processing. This, combined with a scientific approach to studying the mind, as well as a belief in internal mental states, led to the rise of cognitive as the dominant model of the mind. **Question :** Write a short note on Educational psychology? **Answer :** ### Educational psychology Educational psychology is the branch of psychology concerned with the learning processes and psychological issues associated with the teaching and training of students. Educational psychology is the study of how humans learn in educational settings, the effectiveness of educational interventions, the psychology of teaching, and the social psychology of schools as organizations. **Question :** Motivation is the product of which forces? **Answer :** Motivation as the product of two main forces: 1. The individual's expectation of reaching a goal and 2. The value of that goal to the individual. Attempts to build a sense of efficacy for classroom learning are educational applications of this approach. **Question :** Write four benefits of studying psychology? **Answer :** ### Benefits of Studying Psychology The four benefits of studying psychology are as following: 1. Psychology Help in Building Relationships 2. Psychology Improves Daily Communication 3. Psychology Builds Self-Confidence 4. Psychology Enriches Careers **Question :** Write down the names of the branches of psychology? **Answer :** ### Branches of Psychology The branches of psychology are as under: 1. Abnormal Psychology 2. Biological Psychology 3. Cognitive Psychology 4. Legal Psychology 5. Personality Psychology 6. Quantitative Psychology 7. Social psychology 8. School Psychology 9. Comparative Psychology 10. Counselling Psychology 11. Industrial/Organization Psychology 12. Clinical Psychology 13. Developmental Psychology 14. Forensic Psychology 15. Health Psychology 16. Child Psychology 17. Psychology of Creativity 18. Psychology of Beauty 19. Animal Psychology **Question :** Write a note on the significance of the study of Educational Psychology? **Answer :** ### Significance of the study of Educational Psychology Educational psychology attempts to improve teaching methods and materials, to solve learning problems, and to measure learning ability and educational progress. Researchers in this field may devise achievement tests, develop and evaluate teaching methods, or investigate how children learn at different ages. The importance of psychology in education is made clear by the following points: 1. **Knowing the Student** The learner is of utmost importance in sphere of education. The teacher and learning material all focuses on the student. It is as important for a teacher to know his student as it is to know his subject. Until the teacher knows his student's needs, his feelings, his mental compatibility and his action to a reaction his subject expertise cannot produce great results on its own. This information of a student's basic drive, his inclination and interests are very useful in solving his problems. 2. **Aim of Education** Aims of education make a child active in the field of education. These aims are kept keeping in mind a child's mental capability and needs of the society. Each class and each subject taught have different aims and objectives. A student can only learn according to his potential and mental capability. A Montessori going child can not be taught the concepts of space travelling because he is not capable enough for that. The knowledge of psychology tells us what to teach at which level and how. With this in mind we keep the objectives of teaching in front of us and try to attain them. 3. **Teaching the Right Way** Psychology has researched on how to teach students. Children of different ages have different interests and experiences; this is why separate methods of teaching have been introduced for them. It is made sure that small children are kept more happy and active while teaching. It is due to psychological studies that various methods such as 'Montessori' and 'Kindergarten' have been introduced. 4. **Positive Attitude of a Teacher** Psychology teaches a teacher to have a good relation with his student. A teacher has to treat the child with respect, empathy and show him his cooperation. Because if this is not done then a child gets negative feeling about his educational institute which results in him becoming rebellious. In early days it was considered that more a child is beaten at school the better it was for him. But psychology changed this concept which has resulted in teachers having a better relationship with their parents now. 5. **Mental Compatibility of a Teacher** The environment of an educational institute, the course it offers and the teacher's behaviour has a direct influence on a child's mental health. If all the above are in harmony then the mental state of the child will be in harmony as well. On the other hand if the situation is reverse to this then a child will be mentally upset. A child needs his parents and teacher's support in order to adjust well in the society. But if the teacher himself is mal adjusted then he will produce negative effects on the children. There are many reasons for a teacher's maladjustment some of which are because of continuous misbehaving from the students, students not submitting their work on time etc. With the advent of psychology in education now the teachers are fully aware of the potential of their students and how much time they would need to grasp a concept. This prevents the teachers to fall victim of mal adjustment. 6. **Help from Psychological Experiments** Educational psychology has provided teachers and experts with many different psychological tests and experiments. These help teachers in knowing their students better and in turn teaching them better. Tests on aptitude, interest and achievement help children in selecting the right subjects and give them an insight into examinations as well. Psychological tests have improved our examination pattern as well. 7. **Classification of Students** Psychology trains a teacher to teach different children having different aptitudes differently as per their requirement and needs. A class is divided into sections according to their mental aptitude. This way the whole section works in harmony. Before this psychological approach came into practise children of different mental calibre were bound to study together which made teacher's work even more difficult. 8. **Extra Ordinary Children and Special Education** Psychological study has proved to us that children coming from different background, different parents, different families, and different environment are different from each other. Children above or below average are called extra ordinary children. These include very intelligent children, weak children, emotionally imbalance children and handicapped children are all included in it. Syllabus and methods of teaching average children does not give the desired results when used with extra ordinary children. An extraordinary intelligent child may learn a lesson very quickly and move ahead where as a slow child may require more time to learn the same. This is why special education is needed to cater to the educational needs of all kinds of children. 9. **Audio Visual Aids** Childrer like to observe different things. It is due to this reason that psychologists started using audio visual aids in teaching. These aids help in retaining a child's attention towards the taught concept. These things can be used towards classroom and even outside. Charts, pictures, models, film, radio, television and various other modern inventions have helped in this regard. These aids have pleasantly affected our teaching methods and environment. 10. **Use of Scientific Methods** Psychology has given us various methods to understand the problems faced by children. At times these small issues leave a larger impact on the young and absorbent minds of children. This at times affects their balanced growth. It is important for a child to have healthy relationship with their companions at home and in educational institutes. Psychology observes these problems using scientific methods and then suggests steps to solve children's problems. This is why we have psychologists at schools now that can help handicapped children with their problems. This leaves a good impact on education and a child feels himself comfortable in the educational institute. **Question :** What is the word 'psychology' made up of? **Answer :** The word "psychology" is the combination of two terms - study (ology) and soul (psyche), or mind. In different dictionaries "Psyche" is defined as: 1. The spirit or soul. 2. The human mind. 3. In psychoanalysis, the mind functioning as the centre of thought, emotion, and behaviour. And "soul" is defined as, we have: 1. The spiritual or immortal elements in a person. 2. A person's mental or moral or emotional nature. **Question :** Write six lines on the Early Concept of Psychology? **Answer:** ### Early Concept of Psychology The first use of the term "psychology" is often attributed to the German scholastic philosopher Rudolf Goeckel, published in 1590. More than six decades earlier, however, the Croatian humanist Marko Marulic used the term in the title of a work which was subsequently lost. This, of course, may not have been the very first usage, but it is the earliest documented use at present.