What is Psychology?

Psychology is a scientific study of the mind consciousness and behaviour

of all living beings.

01.The Definition of psychology as a science

about the soul
The English word psychology is made of the two Greek words psyche
and logos
The term psyche means soul and the term logos stands for science.
As such as the earliest definition of psychology is science of the soul.
The believe at that time was that higher mental functions like thinking,
reasoning, determination. Took place in a spiritual mass called the soul.
But the soul cant be studied scientifically because neither its source,
norits, nature have been discovered.
Similarly while the term soul has been used in various ways, it has been
analysed in different contexts by philoshepiors like Plato, Aristotle and
Descarteas.Since most psychologist thought that the progress of
psychology was obstructed.by combining it with religion and theology this
definition was gradually eliminated.

02.The Definition of psychology as the

study of the man
The thinkers who propose this view stated that in psychology what the
various aspects of human life is to.
Some of these aspects are nervous system, the dynamic of behaviour,
emotions, intelligence, cognitive process, endurance, thinking, reasoning,
personality and mental health.

03.The Definition of psychology as the

science that studies the behaviour of the
living
Psychology, has been defined numerous ways during its short history of
75years.
Especially with the development of the behaviourist school, there
attention was focussed only on extremely evidence, objectively
measurable behaviour.
According to the behaviour psychology is define as the, science that
studies the behaviour of the living.
They arrived at the assumption that derived from experiments with
animals can be journalized with respect to man also.

04.The Definition of psychology as the

scientific study of behaviour and mental
process
This Definition was developed base on three main keywords
01.Scientific
02.Behaviour
03.Mental Process
Uses of Education Psychology to the
Teacher
Knowledge of Education Psychology is immensely useful to the teacher in
making his or her task successful. Broadly speaking, several areas can be
identified where knowledge of psychology is related to the function of the
teacher.

1. To Understand the Nature of the Child

To teach john Latin one should know not only Latin but also john quite well
is a popular saying in Education. According to this, it is not just adequate
for the teacher to possess good subject knowledge to make success of
teaching task. He should also possess good knowledge of the student too.
For example, the need for the teacher to be equipped with knowledge of
how the child think, his likes and dislikes at various stages of the childs
development will help the teacher utilize the childs strengths for the
purpose of the educational possess.

2. To Understanding Diversity Among Students

Individual Diversity is very important concept that is taken into
consideration in educational process. Understanding of individual diversity
often contributes to the success of the teaching process. Physical,
intellectual, behavioural diversities can be identified among peer group of
students. Similarly, there can be common qualities that are diverse in
nature among these groups of students the teachers understanding of
psychology will prove extremely helpful in order to identify the common as
well as special qualities present among students.

3. To Understand
It is evident that the nature of learners mental health has an influence
upon the success of the learning process. Emotional problems, and
frustration, have a negative effect upon mental health. Failure for the
proper expression of emotions may lead to frustration. This may also
result in the exhibition of misbehaviour. Therefore knowledge of the level
of emotional development of the student contributes to the teachers
success in his teaching activities.
 4. For The Acquisition of knowledge about laws of
learning and methodologies
Various Laws regarding how learning takes place are included in the field
of educational Psychology. While there exists a large number of teaching
methods based on these Law of learning clear knowledge and
understanding regarding them are provided to the teacher through
Psychology.

5. In Order to make us of Inborn preference in

students
Every individual possess a number of inborn and inherited preferences.
Real Education depends upon the intensity of one preferences. Psychology
helps the teacher not only about the various preferences or desires the
individual possesses but also to direct these preferences for the
development of the child.

6. To Direct the student to learning through learning

Motivation might be defined as the force that creates or directs the
strength for the particular behaviour. Similarly, it is a conscious or
unconscious condition that directs the individual towards some behaviour.
As such, the amount of motivation brought to bear on the educational
affairs of any individual, is closely related to its success. Psychology will
help you to understand bout various methods of motivation and how they
can be employed.

7. To Teach so as to Ensure Transfer of learning

Transfer of learning might be defined in simple terms as the utilization of
the training or learning a particular individual received on occasion for a
later occasion. It is evident that the learning an individual receives on one
occasion actively influences a later situation. Educational Psychology
provides with the guidance necessary in the creation of learning situations
that ensure positive transfer of learning.

8. For The Teacher to Understanding Him or Her Self

Understanding about ones own self helps the teacher greatly in the
performance of his or her functions. Understanding of the various
strengths that one possesses, competencies as well as the various aspects
developed by oneself, is provided by psychology to the teacher.

9. For The Task of Counselling

Counselling service occupies a position of priority within the process of
education. Students involved in Educational matters are subject to various
problems. While some of these are those that crop up in relation to
educational matters, other are those of a personal nature with the direct
bearing on educational matters. In such situations teachers have to
provide guidance and counselling to students. Educational Psychology
provides teachers with the opportunity of acquiring sound experience for
this task.

10. To Perform The Task of Assessment and

Evaluation Successfully
The Teacher has to subject student activities to assessment and
evaluation at various instances in the learning teaching process. The
Feedback received through this is extremely helpful to both the teacher
and the pupil. It is very important that teachers have a sound
understanding of psychology in order to carry out the assessment and
evaluation process successfully.
In addition, the Importance of knowledge of psychology to a teacher can
be pointed out in terms of a number of other areas. It might have been
noted that knowledge of educational psychology in quite important for
purposes related to maintenance of student discipline, successful
maintenance of interpersonal relations, understanding the potentials
students possess and also in order to acquire clear understanding
regarding the teachers role.