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Psychology and Education: AHSEC Class 11 Education notes
Get summaries, questions, answers, solutions, notes, extras, PDF and guide of Class 11 (first year) Education textbook, chapter 4 (i) Psychology and Education, which is part of the syllabus of students studying under AHSEC/ASSEB (Assam Board). These solutions, however, should only be treated as references and can be modified/changed.
If you notice any errors in the notes, please mention them in the comments
Summary
Psychology is a field of study focused on understanding the mind and behavior. It examines how our mental processes, emotions, and actions interact and influence one another. Historically, psychology has evolved significantly, with its roots tracing back to ancient times. The term “psychology” originates from the Greek words “psyche,” meaning soul, and “logos,” meaning study or science. Initially defined as the study of the soul, this concept evolved as it was found insufficient for scientific inquiry. Over time, psychology has been redefined, eventually being recognized as the science of mind and later as the study of consciousness. Today, psychology is broadly defined as the scientific study of mental processes, experiences, and behavior in various contexts.
Psychology aims to understand individual differences in behavior, mood, and learning capabilities. Early psychologists attempted to define psychology as the study of the mind or consciousness, but these definitions were deemed too vague. Modern psychology is more comprehensive, encompassing the study of mental processes (such as thinking and problem-solving), experiences, and observable behavior.
Mental processes refer to internal states like thinking, problem-solving, and remembering. Although closely linked to brain activity, mental processes are distinct from purely physical brain functions. Experiences, on the other hand, are subjective and influenced by both external and internal conditions. For example, a person’s mood can affect how they perceive and experience their surroundings. Behavior, the most observable aspect of psychology, includes all the responses or actions of an individual. These can range from simple reflexes to complex activities and can be influenced by various stimuli in the environment.
The scope of psychology is vast, studying the causes and nature of human behavior. It considers human experiences, which involve cognition (knowing), conation (doing), and affection (feeling). Conscious and unconscious aspects of the mind both play crucial roles in determining behavior. Thus, psychology includes both these aspects in its scope of study. The field has expanded over time, leading to the development of many specialized branches.
Biological psychology focuses on the relationship between behavior and the body’s biological systems, such as the brain and nervous system. Developmental psychology studies the physical, social, and psychological changes that occur throughout a person’s life. Social psychology examines how individuals are influenced by their social environment and interactions. Environmental psychology explores the impact of physical surroundings on behavior, while clinical psychology deals with diagnosing and treating mental health issues. Child psychology focuses on the behavioral development of children, and educational psychology applies psychological principles to the field of education, helping to understand and improve teaching and learning processes.
Education and psychology, although distinct fields, are closely related and interdependent. Education is a normative science dealing with ideals and principles, while psychology is a positive science focusing on observable behavior and mental processes. Psychology aids education by providing insights into learning, memory, motivation, and other psychological processes essential for effective teaching. It also helps in developing new teaching methods and understanding the developmental stages of learners.
In modern educational systems, guidance and counseling have become essential for addressing academic, behavioral, and social issues. These services rely heavily on psychological knowledge to be effective. Furthermore, the development of psychology as a discipline has been significantly influenced by educational practices, highlighting the mutual dependence between the two fields. Psychological findings have become widespread through education, which has also contributed to the creation of new branches of psychology, such as child psychology and educational psychology.
Textbook questions and answers
Essay type questions
1. Give a brief account of the conceptual development of Psychology as a branch of study.
Answer: The conceptual development of psychology as a branch of study has evolved significantly over time. Initially, psychology was defined as the science of the soul. However, this definition was rejected because the soul is not a tangible entity that can be scientifically studied. In the eighteenth century, psychology was redefined as the science of the mind. This concept was also criticized for being vague and not scientifically measurable.
Later, the concept of psychology evolved to focus on the study of consciousness, popularized by Vives, a philosopher from Spain. However, this too was criticized for being too narrow, as it ignored the subconscious and unconscious aspects of the mind, which play a significant role in mental functions.
In the nineteenth century, psychology began to be recognized as a scientific discipline, studying mental processes, experiences, and behavior in different contexts. This modern and formal definition is widely accepted today. Psychology now examines mental processes such as thinking, problem-solving, learning, and remembering, as well as experiences influenced by both external and internal conditions. It also considers behavior, which includes physical, motor, mental, intellectual, and emotional activities, and can be simple or complex, overt or covert.
Answer: Psychology, initially rooted in the concept of the soul, evolved significantly over centuries. It began as the study of the ‘soul’ based on its etymology from Greek words ‘psyche’ (soul) and ‘logos’ (study), which was unsuitable for scientific pursuit. By the 18th century, the focus shifted to the study of the mind, though this too was deemed too vague. The concept then transitioned to studying consciousness, which was popularized by Vives. However, this was criticized for ignoring the subconscious and unconscious aspects, which play a critical role in mental functions. Today, psychology is recognized as a science of mental processes, experiences, and behaviour, integrating scientific methods to explore human behaviour comprehensively.
2. Of the various concepts of Psychology which one you support and why?
Answer: I support the modern and formal definition of psychology as a science that studies mental processes, experiences, and behavior in different contexts. This definition is comprehensive and inclusive of the various aspects of human life that psychology seeks to understand. It acknowledges the complexity of mental processes and behavior, and it uses scientific methods to study these phenomena. This approach allows for a more accurate and thorough understanding of the human mind and behavior, making it the most effective and reliable concept of psychology.
3. Write a brief note on the scope of psychology.
Answer: Psychology as a discipline or branch of knowledge has its own scope of study. Basically, it studies human experiences and behavior. It primarily looks into the factors that cause behavior and then makes efforts to study the nature of behavior.
Human experiences are characterized by three factors. Every experience involves these three characteristics, namely cognition or knowing aspects, conation or doing aspect, and affection or feeling aspects. Some psychologists put emphasis on one of it and some on the other. For example, psychologists like Herbert and Hume gave emphasis on cognition while considering the scope of psychology. They believed cognition always leads to conation and affection. On the other hand, the famous psychologist McDougall considers that cognition cannot originate without conation. Conation or doing aspects come first, cognition or knowledge follows it. The feeling aspect is also a result of conation, was the belief of McDougall and his followers. However, the majority of psychologists are of the opinion that our conscious mind has three important aspects – cognition, conation, and affection, and psychology must take these into consideration while dealing with its scope.
Besides consciousness, unconscious aspects of the mind also play an important role in determining human experience and behavior. Hence, today psychology puts emphasis on the role of both consciousness and unconsciousness in human life. Many new findings are coming out on mental processes and behavior. Consequently, the scope of studying psychology is also becoming wider day by day.
Answer: The scope of psychology is extensive and continuously expanding. It encompasses the study of mental processes, human experiences, and behaviours under different conditions. Psychology investigates cognitive, conative, and affective aspects of experiences which influence behaviours. It also addresses both conscious and unconscious aspects of the mind, reflecting its complexity. With advancements in scientific research, the scope of psychology extends into various fields including biological, developmental, social, and clinical psychology, each contributing unique insights into human behaviour and mental processes.
4. ‘‘Education and Psychology are not contradictory but complementary’’. Explain the statement.
Answer: Education and psychology are distinct disciplines with separate aims and objectives. Education is called a normative science, dealing with ideas and principles that should be followed in the field of education. Psychology, on the other hand, is a positive science, dealing with what is visible, audible, and tangible in behavior shown by one in a particular situation. It uses methods like direct observation and experimentation to understand behavior instead of speculation.
Despite these differences, education and psychology are not contradictory but complementary. Psychology guides education in achieving set goals, and many educational theories are based on psychological findings. Effective classroom teaching requires knowledge of psychological processes like learning, memory, motivation, intelligence, and personality. Psychology has also contributed to innovative teaching methods like the project method and learning by doing.
Furthermore, motivation and communication skills are essential in education, and these require an understanding of psychological processes. Guidance and counseling, necessary in modern education, are also grounded in psychology.
Education helps psychology by applying psychological findings in practical settings, contributing to the development of new branches like child psychology and educational psychology. Thus, psychology and education are interdependent, each enhancing the other.
Answer: Education and psychology, while distinct in their objectives and methodologies, are inherently complementary. Education, as a normative science, relies on philosophical theories and principles for its framework. In contrast, psychology, a positive science, employs empirical methods to understand observable behaviours and mental processes. The interplay between the two is crucial; psychological insights into learning, memory, and motivation significantly enhance educational practices by informing teaching methods, curriculum development, and student engagement strategies. Together, they foster a holistic approach to educational systems, ensuring that theoretical ideals are effectively implemented to meet learners’ needs.
Short type questions
1. State how the word psychology has originated?
Answer: The word “psychology” is derived from two Greek words namely “psyche” and “Logos”. “Psyche” means soul and “Logos” means talks of, study of, or science of. Hence, the derivative meaning of psychology is the study of ‘soul’ or “Atma” of a person.
2. Why psychology is called the science of behaviour.
Answer: Psychology is most commonly defined as the “science of behaviour”. The term “behaviour” refers to the responses or reactions we make or activities we do in a particular situation. It includes physical, motor, mental, intellectual, and emotional activities.
3. Scope of psychology is very wide. – Justify the statement.
Answer: Psychology as a discipline or branch of knowledge has its own scope of study. Basically, it studies human experiences and behaviour. It primarily looks into the factors that cause behaviour and then makes efforts to study the nature of behaviour. Human experiences are characterized by three factors: cognition or knowing aspects, conation or doing aspects, and affection or feeling aspects. Besides consciousness, unconscious aspects of the mind also play an important role in determining human experience and behaviour. Consequently, the scope of studying psychology has also become wider day by day.
4. Name two important branches of psychology and explain them.
Answer: (a) Biological psychology: This branch of psychology gives importance to the relation between behaviour and men’s biological systems. According to it, there is a relation between behaviour and physical organs like the brain, the nervous system, the immune system, and genetics.
(b) Developmental psychology: From conception in the mother’s womb till death, an individual passes through different ages and stages of development in life. Developmental psychology is the branch that studies physical, social, and psychological changes that take place in different ages and stages of human life. In the past, developmental psychology put emphasis on the study of child and adolescent development. But today it is showing increasing interest in adult and aged development too.
Objective type questions
1. Psychology is a positive science.
Answer: True
2. Psychology can determine aims of education.
Answer: False
3. Psychology is called the science of behaviour.
Answer: True
4. Child psychology studies adolescent’s behaviour.
Answer: False
5. Laboratory experiments are not necessary in studying psychology.
Answer: False
6. Psychology is a means, not an end in education.
Answer: True
7. Psychology and education have similar aims and objectives.
Answer: False
Write whether correct or incorrect
1. Psychology determines the theories of education.
Answer: Incorrect
2. Education and psychology are contradictory to one another.
Answer: Incorrect
3. Psychology studies only the conscious aspect of the mind.
Answer: Incorrect
4. Psychology is not related to the classroom environment.
Answer: Incorrect
5. Psychology does not study abnormal behaviour.
Answer: Incorrect
6. The scope of psychology is narrow.
Answer: Incorrect
Match the following
| Column I | Column II |
|---|---|
| (1) Psychology helps in | (5) Counselling students. |
| (2) Educational psychology is a branch of | (4) Applied psychology |
| (3) Clinical psychology helps in | (2) Understanding psychological disordering |
| (4) During 18th century psychology was defined | (1) As the study of mind. |
| (5) Human experience is | (3) Subjective in nature |
Extra fill in the blanks
1. Psychology is most commonly defined as the “science of ______.”
Answer: behaviour
2. The term “psychology” is derived from two Greek words, “psyche” meaning soul and “logos” meaning ______.
Answer: study of
3. Modern psychology is often dated from the founding of the first experimental psychology lab by Wilhelm Wundt in ______.
Answer: 1879
4. The branch of psychology that deals with the physical changes and stages of growth throughout a person’s life is called ______ psychology.
Answer: developmental
5. The concept of psychology as the “science of ______” was popularized by Vives, a philosopher from Spain.
Answer: consciousness
6. A famous psychologist who emphasized the unconscious aspects of the mind was ______.
Answer: Sigmund Freud
7. The scope of psychology includes the study of cognition, conation, and ______.
Answer: affection
8. The “science of soul” concept of psychology was rejected because the soul is not ______.
Answer: observable
9. The formal definition of psychology includes the study of mental processes, experiences, and ______.
Answer: behaviour
10. The branch of psychology that focuses on the relationship between behaviour and the physical body is called ______ psychology.
Answer: biological
11. A key figure in the development of behaviourism in psychology is ______.
Answer: John B. Watson
12. The branch of psychology that examines how individuals are influenced by social environments is called ______ psychology.
Answer: social
13. The type of psychology that deals with diagnosing and treating psychological disorders is called ______ psychology.
Answer: clinical
14. The approach in psychology that emphasizes the role of environmental influences on behaviour is known as ______.
Answer: behaviourism
15. The first psychology laboratory was established at the University of Leipzig in ______.
Answer: Germany
16. Educational psychology helps in understanding the developmental characteristics of children from infancy to ______.
Answer: adolescence
17. The psychologist who is known for his theory of operant conditioning is ______.
Answer: B.F. Skinner
18. In psychology, the term “conation” refers to the ______ aspect of mental processes.
Answer: doing
19. The branch of psychology that deals with the behavioural development of children is called ______ psychology.
Answer: child
20. The psychologist who developed the theory of cognitive development is ______.
Answer: Jean Piaget
21. The method of studying behaviour through direct observation and experimentation is a key component of ______.
Answer: scientific psychology
22. The famous experiment demonstrating classical conditioning in dogs was conducted by ______.
Answer: Ivan Pavlov
23. The interdisciplinary field that studies the interactions between the physical environment and human behaviour is called ______ psychology.
Answer: environmental
24. The psychologist who introduced the concept of the hierarchy of needs is ______.
Answer: Abraham Maslow
25. Psychology uses methods like direct observation and ______ to understand behaviour.
Answer: experimentation
26. The field of psychology that examines mental processes such as thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making is called ______ psychology.
Answer: cognitive
27. The psychologist known for his theory of psycho-social development across the lifespan is ______.
Answer: Erik Erikson
28. The area of psychology that involves the study of changes in behaviour over a person’s life span is ______ psychology.
Answer: developmental
29. The psychologist famous for his work on the nature of intelligence and the development of IQ tests is ______.
Answer: Alfred Binet
30. The unconscious aspect of the mind that influences behaviour was a key focus for the psychologist ______.
Answer: Carl Jung
31. The branch of psychology that deals with how mental processes influence the immune system is called ______ psychology.
Answer: psychoneuroimmunology
32. The concept that psychology is the “science of mind” was prevalent in the ______ century.
Answer: 18th
33. The psychologist who conducted the famous “Little Albert” experiment on conditioned emotional responses was ______.
Answer: John B. Watson
34. The interdisciplinary branch that studies psychological and brain functions is called ______ psychology.
Answer: neuropsychology
35. The formal scientific study of psychological factors started in the ______ century.
Answer: 19th
36. The branch of psychology focused on helping people achieve personal well-being and life satisfaction is known as ______ psychology.
Answer: positive
Extra questions and answers
1. What are the roots of the word “psychology”?
Answer: The word “psychology” is derived from two Greek words, namely “psyche” and “Logos”. “Psyche” means soul, and “Logos” means talks of, study of, or science of. Hence, the derivative meaning of psychology is the study of the ‘soul’ or “Atma” of a person.
Q. Why was the definition of psychology as the study of ‘soul’ rejected?
Answer: The definition of psychology as the study of ‘soul’ was rejected because the soul has no reality; it is not visible, and one cannot experience it directly. Hence, this concept could not provide a base for scientific study.
Q. What concept of psychology emerged during the eighteenth century?
Answer: Another concept emerged during the eighteenth century defined psychology as the “science or study of mind.”
Q. Who popularized the concept of psychology as the study of consciousness?
Answer: The concept of psychology as the study of consciousness was popularized by Vives, a philosopher from Spain.
Q. Why was the study of consciousness criticized?
Answer: The study of consciousness was criticized because the mind is not composed of consciousness alone. It also has subconscious and unconscious aspects, with the unconscious aspect occupying the largest part of the mind and having a dominant role in mental functions. Hence, studying consciousness without considering the role of the subconscious and unconscious aspects is a very narrow definition of psychology.
Q. How is psychology defined formally today?
Answer: As a branch of study, psychology today is defined formally as a science which studies mental processes, experiences, and behavior in different contexts.
Q. What are “mental processes” in psychology?
Answer: The term “mental processes” refers to the state of consciousness or awareness of a person. It is used by a person while thinking, trying to solve a problem, learning, and remembering something.
Q. How are mental processes observed?
Answer: Mental processes are reflected in brainwork and can be observed using scientific techniques like brain imaging. However, although brain activities and mental processes are interdependent, they are not the same.
Q. What is “experience” in the context of psychology?
Answer: Experience is something subjective or personal in nature. It is influenced by both external and internal conditions. One cannot directly observe or know about the nature of experience of another person; only the one who gets the experience is aware of it.
Q. How is behavior defined in psychological studies?
Answer: The term “behavior” refers to the responses or reactions we make or activities we do in a particular situation. In psychological studies, behavior includes physical, motor, mental, intellectual, and emotional activities.
Q. What are some examples of physical and motor functions included in the term “behavior”?
Answer: Examples of physical and motor functions included in the term “behavior” are engaging in various activities, running, jumping, and walking.
Q. What are some examples of mental and intellectual activities included in the term “behavior”?
Answer: Examples of mental and intellectual activities included in the term “behavior” are thinking, reasoning, perceiving, and remembering.
Q. What are some examples of emotional experiences included in the term “behavior”?
Answer: Examples of emotional experiences included in the term “behavior” are feeling angry, feeling pleasure, and feeling pain.
Q. What is an example of simple and short-lived behavior?
Answer: When a bright light falls in your eyes, you blink. This is a simple and short-lived response or behavior against the stimuli (bright light).
Q. What is an example of complex and enduring behavior?
Answer: When you are appearing in a competitive examination for three to four hours, your behavior or response is complex as well as enduring.
Q. What is overt behavior?
Answer: Overt behavior refers to actions that can be observed directly or outwardly, such as the behavior of a football player on the field.
Q. What is covert behavior?
Answer: Covert behavior refers to internal actions that cannot be directly observed, such as the behavior of a chess player while facing a difficult situation in the game.
Q. What triggers all kinds of behavior?
Answer: All kinds of behavior, whether simple or complex, overt or covert, are triggered by some stimulation of the environment.
Q. How did the concept of psychology evolve?
Answer: The concept of psychology evolved from the study of the soul to the present status as a scientific discipline. Initially defined as the study of the soul, this concept was rejected for lacking scientific basis. Subsequently, psychology was defined as the study of the mind, but this too was found to be vague and not amenable to scientific study. The idea of psychology as the study of consciousness emerged but was also criticized for being narrow. Today, psychology is defined as a science that studies mental processes, experiences, and behavior in different contexts.
Q. What is the significance of understanding the nature of experiences in psychology?
Answer: Understanding the nature of experiences is significant in psychology because experiences are subjective and influenced by both external and internal conditions. For example, when we are in a jovial mood, we do not feel discomfort even in dirty surroundings. Psychologists need to analyze complex internal and external conditions to comprehend the nature of experiences fully.
Q. What did Woodworth say about the evolution of psychology?
Answer: Woodworth said, “First psychology lost its soul. Then it lost its mind, then it lost consciousness, it still has behavior of a kind.”
Q. What is the scope of psychology as a discipline?
Answer: Psychology as a discipline or branch of knowledge has its own scope of study. Basically, it studies human experiences and behavior. It primarily looks into the factors that cause behavior and then makes efforts to study the nature of behavior. Human experiences are characterized by three factors: cognition or knowing aspects, conation or doing aspects, and affection or feeling aspects. Some psychologists emphasize one of these aspects more than the others. For example, psychologists like Herbert and Hume gave emphasis on cognition, while McDougall considered conation as the primary factor. The majority of psychologists agree that our conscious mind has three important aspects—cognition, conation, and affection—and psychology must consider these aspects while dealing with its scope. Additionally, unconscious aspects of the mind play an important role in determining human experience and behavior. Therefore, psychology today emphasizes the roles of both consciousness and unconsciousness in human life. The scope of psychology is continually expanding as new findings on mental processes and behavior emerge.
Q. What are the three characteristics involved in every human experience according to psychology?
Answer: Every human experience involves three characteristics: cognition (knowing aspects), conation (doing aspects), and affection (feeling aspects).
Q. What is the focus of biological psychology?
Answer: Biological psychology focuses on the relationship between behavior and the biological systems of humans. It explores the connections between behavior and physical organs such as the brain, nervous system, immune system, and genetics.
Q. What does developmental psychology study?
Answer: Developmental psychology studies the physical, social, and psychological changes that occur throughout different ages and stages of human life, from conception in the mother’s womb until death. It initially emphasized child and adolescent development but now also focuses on adult and aged development.
Q. What does social psychology examine?
Answer: Social psychology examines how human beings are affected by various social environments and how people influence their environment. It investigates issues such as interpersonal relationships, cooperation, obedience to leaders, prejudice, aggression, social motivation, and intergroup relations.
Q. What topics are of interest to environmental psychologists?
Answer: Environmental psychologists study the influence of physical environmental conditions such as temperature, pollution, humidity, and natural disasters on human behavior. They are also interested in research topics like waste disposal, energy conservation, water management, and population explosion.
Q. What is the focus of clinical psychology?
Answer: Clinical psychology deals with the causes, treatment, and prevention of various psychological disorders in individuals. It is related to psychological counseling, which helps individuals solve challenges and problems in their personal lives.
Q. What does child psychology address?
Answer: Child psychology addresses the behavioral development of children. It examines the differences between children and adults in terms of ideas, intelligence, aspirations, emotions, etc. Child psychology is significant from an educational perspective.
Q. Why is educational psychology important?
Answer: Educational psychology is regarded as the most important and popular branch of applied psychology. It focuses on understanding the behavior of children and solving psychological problems related to behavior. It also studies the developmental characteristics of children from infancy to adolescence and helps educators develop proper curricula and new teaching methods.
Q. What is the relationship between education and psychology?
Answer: Education and psychology are interrelated and interdependent disciplines. Education, a normative science, deals with ideas and principles in the field of education, while psychology, a positive science, deals with observable, audible, and tangible behavior. Although they have separate aims and objectives, psychology guides the achievement of educational goals, and many educational theories are based on psychological findings. Knowledge of psychological processes like learning, memory, motivation, intelligence, and personality is necessary for effective education. Classroom teaching, methods of teaching, motivation, and communication skills in education all benefit from psychological insights. Guidance and counseling in modern educational systems also rely on psychological knowledge.
Q. How has education contributed to the development of psychology?
Answer: Education has played a significant role in the development of psychology by making psychological findings popular globally and contributing to the widening scope of psychology. It has helped in developing new branches of psychology, such as child psychology, educational psychology, and psychology of the physically and mentally challenged. The relationship between education and psychology is sustaining, and one cannot survive as a branch of study without the help of the other.
Q. What are the branches of psychology mentioned in the document?
Answer: The important branches of psychology mentioned in the document are:
- Biological Psychology
- Developmental Psychology
- Social Psychology
- Environmental Psychology
- Clinical Psychology
- Child Psychology
- Educational Psychology
34. Why is the knowledge of psychological processes important for effective teaching?
Answer: The knowledge of psychological processes is important for effective teaching because it helps understand the learner’s intelligence and interests at various stages of development. This understanding is crucial for adapting teaching methods to suit the needs of students, making education more effective and impactful. Psychological insights into motivation and communication skills are also essential for successful teaching, as they help engage students and facilitate better communication between educators and learners.
