What is Educational Psychology?

Educational psychology is the application of psychological findings in the field of education. It is the
systematic study of the development of the individual within the educational setting. It helps teachers to
transform student into a responsible participating citizen, a sensitive and reflective human being and a
productive and creative person.
According to Lindgren (1976), there are three elements or focal areas in education that concern educational
psychologists and teachers. These are as follows:
Learner- most important element
Learning process-refers to whatever people do when they learn.
Learning situation- refers to the environment (physical/ psychological) in which the learner finds
himself / herself and in which the learning process takes place.

What is Individual Differences?

Individual differences can be defined as personal characteristics that distinguish learners from each other in the
teaching and learning processes.

Types or Areas of Individual Differences

Physical Difference
Mental Difference
Emotional Difference
Difference in Motor Ability
Difference in Achievements
Interest and Aptitudes
Attitudes, Beliefs and Opinions
Learning Difference
Social and Moral Development

2 Major Factors Affecting Individual Differences

Heredity (nature)-refers to the sum total of the physical and mental qualities that an individual inherits
from his parents. According to Peterson, heredity of an individual may be defined as what he gets from
his ancestral stock through his parents.
 Biological Heredity- It involves all those psychological characteristics which a person inherits
from his parents through genes and chromosomes.
 Social Heredity- It refers to all that one generation get from preceding generation in the form of
social customs, traditions, ideals, values etc.
Environment (nurture)-refers to the physical and surrounding and thought and attitude of others which
exert an influence on individual. According to Woodworth, environment covers all outside factors that
have acted on the individual since he began life.

Relative Importance of Heredity and Environment

Both heredity and environment determines the personality of individual.
Heredity sets the probable biological limits whereas environment determines the level up to which the
development is possible.

Personality=Heredity x Environment
Educational Implications of Individual Differences:

Aims of education, teaching method should be linked with individual differences considering the
different abilities and traits individual.
Curriculum should be designed as per the interest, abilities and needs of different students.
The teacher has to adopt different types of methods of teaching considering individual difference related
to interest, need, etc.
Some co-curricular activities such as Drama, music, literary activities (Essay & Debate Competition)
should be assigned to children according to their interest.
Teacher uses certain specific teaching aids which will attract the children towards teaching considering
their interest and need.
Various methods such as playing method, project method, Montessori method, storytelling methods are
to be used considering/discovering how different children respond to a task or a problem.
The division of pupils into classes should not be based only on the mental age or chronological age of
children but the physical, social and emotional maturity should be given due consideration.
In case of vocational guidance the counselor is to plan the guidance technique keeping in view the needs
and requirements of the students.