Meaning, Definition and Branches

 The term psychology was derived from Greek

 psyche' meaning is soul
 it was referred to a 'science of soul'.
 Now it is referred as “science of mental
behaviour”
Definitions

 Psychology is the scientific study of the

behaviour of an individual.
 Psychology is the study of behaviour and
adjustment.
 Psychology is the positive science of human
experience and behaviour.
Branches of Psychology

 Developmental psychology :
 Developmental psychology is the scientific study
of the ways and reasons why human beings
change over the course of their lives.

 By examining the various stages of life, from

childhood though adolescence to adulthood and
aging, developmental psychologists study aim to
understand and explain how thoughts, feelings,
and behaviours change throughout life.
Social psychology

 This is the scientific study of the way thoughts,

feelings, and behaviours are affected by the actual or
implied presence of another people.

 In this way human behaviour is explained as the result

of interaction between mental states and social
situations.

 Social psychologists focus on topics such as group

behaviour, social interaction, nonverbal behaviour and
communication, and social influences on behaviour.
 Clinical psychology

 This element within the field of psychology blends

science, theory, and clinical expertise to better
understand, prevent, and relieve psychological
issues that cause distress or dysfunction.

 From this, it means to improve mental wellbeing

and promote personal development.

 Clinical psychology includes psychological

assessment and psychotherapy, and is a regulated
mental health profession in some countries.
 Educational psychology

 This is the scientific study of human learning.

 Sharing some ground with cognitive and behavioural

psychology.

 Researchers review learning processes to understand

individual differences in intelligence, motivation, cognitive
development and self-realisation.

 Educational psychology depends on quantitative methods

such as testing and measurement, toward the refinement
of educational activities related to instructional design,
classroom management and assessment.
 Educational Psychology
 It deals with the behaviour of human beings in
educational situations.

 This means that it is concerned with the study of

human behaviour or the human personality, its growth,
development and guidance.

 It is a branch of general psychology which deals with

various aspects of psychological factors affecting
education, teaching and learning processes.
 Scope in Agricultural Extension

 Educational psychology studies the limitations and

qualities of individuals
 physical capacity, intelligence, aptitude, interests, etc.
which plays a major role in one‘s learning.
 Its helps in improving teaching and learning.
 helps in formulating training programmes for improving
the skill of teachers and methods for organizing good
learning situations.
 It helps to have better education
 through evolution of syllabi for different level of
education,
 preparation of different text books, development of
examination patterns, etc.
 Educational Psychology
 attempts to discover
 the source of knowledge, belief and customs
 to trace the development of thinking and reasoning
 In order to find the kind of environmental simulation
that produces certain type of activity.
 It will help extension workers to find causes of
 prejudices
 the habit of sticking to old practices
 ways of doing things, the doubts
 Lack of confidence and
 factors affecting motivation.
 It also helps them to know the
 emotions and feelings of farmers,
 how villagers or farmers learn new practices
 what type of approaches are adopted
 teaching aids are to be used.