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1. Cognitive psychology
Cognitive psychology is a branch of psychology that deals with the mental processes that
are involved in understanding behavior. These are thinking, remembering, forgetting,
problem solving and perception. From this area of psychology the teacher applies the
principles of enhancing memory of learned material. He also learns what to do in the
learning situation in order to minimize forgetting of the learned material.
2. Developmental psychology
Developmental psychology is the science that studies the changes that take place in the
lifetime of a person. The changes take place in the body from the time of conception
through uterine life, infancy, Early childhood, middle and late childhood, adolescence,
young adulthood, middle adulthood, later childhood, aging and dying.
Developmental changes also take place in the intellectual dimensions. These changes
refer to the development of thought and the ability to acquire knowledge and use it
through out the chronological and mental ages of children. In this dimension the child
develops intellectually for example Purgation stages of cognitive development.
3. Social Psychology
The teacher also borrows from the area of social psychology. Social psychology refers to
the study of social interactions and their influence on individual and group behavior.
From social psychology the teacher understands how attitudes are acquired and changed.
For example how learners acquire positive or negative attitudes towards a teacher, a
subject, school or even the schools administration and how the acquired attitude affects
learning and adjustment to school. From social psychology the teacher gains insights as
to how biases and prejudices are acquired and how they can affect learning. The teacher
also acquires information regarding how friendships develop and how friendships are
maintained. This has a bearing on the learners’ social adjustment and acceptance by the
peers and its effects on learning.
4. Psychometric psychology
Psychometric psychology deals with the measurement theory, which equips the teachers
with the skills, needed in the measurement and evaluation of relevant variables. These are
variables like achievement and personality traits in educational settings. Equipped with
the measuring skills the teacher is able to evaluate learning and to make the necessary
adjustments so that effective learning takes place.
5. Personality psychology
Personality theories are concerned with individual differences. They explain why each
learner is unique in terms of his needs and his personality traits. Information gained from
personality psychology equips the teacher with the tools he needs in terms of
understanding each learner in particular and learners in general. This understanding helps
the teacher to organize learning experiences that cater for each learner. This is important
since the teacher deals with learners with differences in intellectual ability, emotional
experience and expression, moral thinking and behavior, sociability and other traits that
learners bring to class.
6. Mental hygiene
Mental hygiene refers to those factors that promote the child’s adjustment. These factors
may exist in the home, in the school among peer and in the community and may operate
to promote or hinder learning and adjustment. The teacher who is aware of these factors
will be prepared to handle any problem that arises from any of the possible angles and
help the learner to cope adequately in all situations.
NatalieR answered the question on February 10, 2022 at 06:35