There is an ever-increasing awareness that almost all educational problems are ultimately the problems of psychology. This means that Education and Psychology are intimately and inseparably connected with each other. Psychology is the study of human behaviour, and Education is a process aiming at the modification of human behaviour.

Thus both deal with human behaviour. Psychology studies human behaviour as it can be modified. Thus, Psychology and Education are just the. Two sides of a coin. Educational Psychology is, therefore, that branch of educational science, which deals with human behaviour and its modification.

Definition of Educational Psychology

1. Skinner’s View. According to Skinner, “Educational Psychology deals with the behaviour of human beings in educational situations.”

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Highlights:

1. Skinner’s view.

2. Stephen’s view.

3. Judd’s view.

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4. View of Walter B. Kolesnik.

5. View of Peel.

6. View of Crow and Crow.

7. Trow’s view.

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8. Anderson’s view.

2. Stephen’s View.

According to Stephen, “Educational Psychology is the systematic study of the educational growth and development of a child.”

3. Judd’s View.

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Judd is of the view that Educational Psychology is that science which “explains the changes that take place in the individuals as they pass through the various stages of development.”

4. View of Walter B. Kolesnik.

According to Kolesnik, Educational ‘psychology is “the study of those facts and principles of psychology which help to explain and improve the process of education

5. View of Peel.

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According to Peel, Educational Psychology broadly deals with the nature of learning, the growth of human personality, the difference between individuals and the study of the person in relation to society. It is the science of education.

6. View of Crow and Crow.

Educational Psychology describes and explains the learning experiences of an individual from birth through old age.

7. Trow’s View.

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Educational Psychology is the study of the psychological aspects of educational situations.

8. Anderson’s View.

G. Lester Anderson has viewed Educational Psychology as an academic discipline. Accordingly, educational psychology is focussed on human behaviour;

1. Is a body of facts and information, gathered after observation, which can be generalised into principles or theories;

2. Has a scientifically developed methodology to investigate and arrive at useful solutions of the problems in hand.

The information, knowledge and principal methodologies constitute the content of Educational Psychology. They, in turn, provide a basis for modern educational theory and practice.

Thus, Educational Psychology is the body of scientific knowledge about two activities-education and psychology. Its subject- matter is concerned with the conditions that affect learning.

Nature of Educational Psychology

The true nature of Educational Psychology may be gathered from the following points:

Highlights

1. Art applied science.

2. A positive science.

3. A social science.

4. An educational science.

5. A specific science.

6. A practical science.

7. A growing and developing science.

8. An academic discipline.

An Applied Science

Educational Psychology is an applied science; or we may say, applied psychology, because, it is the application of psychological principles to the field of education.

A Positive Science

Educational Psychology is a positive science, and not a normative science. This means that it just explains the educational facts as they are, and does not pass judgements over them. Thus, it studies the laws of child’s nature as they are and has nothing to do with ‘ought to be’.

A Social Science

Educatinal Psychology is a social science. Though Educational psychology studies the individual from the educational point of view, its results are applicable to all the individuals, or at least to a group of individuals. Thus, this science has social implications.

An Educational Science

By its very implications, Educational Psychology deals with educational problems only. Thus, while general psychology deals with the behaviour of the individual in various spheres. Educational Psychology studies the behaviour of the individual in educational sphere only.

A Specific Science

The science of psychology is somewhat general in nature. It studies the human mind in its entirety. Educational Psychology selects from the total field of general psychology only those facts and principles that are of specific significance and utility for the process of learning and teaching.

A Practical Science

Educational Psychology is not merely speculative in nature with no relevance to the world of reality. It is rather utilitarian and practical in nature. The educator and the teacher makes use of the knowledge of Educational Psychology at every step. In fact, effective teaching is impossible without the knowledge of Educational Psychology.

A Growing and Developing Science

The science of Educational Psychology is ever-growing due to constant researches in this field. This science deals with human nature, which is too deep to be probed fully. New facts about human nature are therefore coming to the fore on account of researches in this field. Thus, the science of Educational Psychology is ever growing and developing.

An Academic Discipline

G. Lester Anderson is of the view that Educational Psychology is an academic discipline. It is so since it is focussed upon the human behaviour. Its results can be summarized or generalised into principles or theories. The information, the knowledge, its principles, its methodology-all that constitutes the substance of Educational Psychology, provides a basis for educational theory and practice.