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How do historical events and social movements influence the development of educational psychology theories?

Shellie Snel

Hey friend,

Great question! Historical events and social movements have had a significant impact on the development of educational psychology theories. By understanding the connection between the two, we can better understand the evolution of educational psychology theories throughout history.

To start with, educational psychology is a field that has come a long way since its inception as a separate discipline in the late 19th century. At the beginning, the focus of educational psychology was solely on the mental processes that were involved in learning and memory. However, over time, the discipline has evolved to include a much broader range of topics, such as motivation, social interactions, and other behavioral factors.

One key way that historical events have influenced educational psychology theories is through the development of various theories of how people learn. For example, during the early 20th century, behaviorism became a dominant theory in educational psychology, in which it was assumed that a person's behavior was shaped entirely by environmental factors. This theory was heavily influenced by the technological and industrial advances of that time, as mechanization and efficiency were seen as the key trends for the future.

However, it was later criticized due to its lack of focus on cognitive processes and the internal and mental processes integral to learning, these cognitive processes were vital for learners to learn, retain, and recall the information. As such, technological, industrial, and societal changes frequently alter the focus of educational psychology theories, thereby shifting the nature of education in society.

The development of social movements has also had an impact. For instance, the civil rights movement in the mid-20th century was a turning point for educational psychology, prompting a focus on children's need for equal access to education, not just limited to certain groups. After all, many schools were still segregated based on race at that time. This movement inspired the development of a more comprehensive approach to educational psychology, which emphasizes the importance of cultural background, socioeconomic status, and other factors in the learning experiences of students.

In summary, historical events and social movements have played an integral role in shaping educational psychology theories over the years. Through the years, theorists have learned that one's culture, cognitive processes, background, and broader environmental influence have a greater impact on the way one learns. As such, contextualizing the learning processes to societal changes, geographical location and historical interests give educational psychology thorough research.

Hope this helps you understand better.

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