Schools of Psychology

Gestalt School of Psychology

MAX WERTHEIMER

• Gestalt School of Psychology was originated in Germany. The views of this school was against Structuralism, Functionalism and Behaviourism, the other schools of Psychology.

• Most prominent members of this school were Max Wertheimer (1880-1943), Kurt koffka (1886-1941), Wolfgang Kohler (1887-1967) and Kurt Lewin (1890-1947).

WOLFGANG KOHLER

• This school believes that the psychology should study the pattern or whole of behaviour or experience. According to them an individual perceives the thing as a whole and not as a mere collection of its constituents or elements.

• The word Gestalt means 'form', 'pattern', 'figure' and 'configuration'. This school regards man as a unitary whole and insists that the discovery of behaviour can be successful only to the extend that it emphasises the entire reacting organism and not merely its parts.

KURT KOFFKA

• An individual perceives the situation as a whole and after seeing and evaluating the different relationship in relation to the available environment, takes the proper decision in an intelligent way although quite often he does so impulsively.

• This means that when we look at  a tree we perceive whole of it as a tree, even though a tree consists of colour, brightness and a form, but when received by the mind all these components becomes a pattern or gestalt.

KURT LEWIN

• Thus psychologist termed this as 'insight' to describe the human behaviour and summarised the process by saying that the perception of the situation as a whole is the first step, while judging the relationship between various factors involved in the situation is the second one and taking an immediate decision and behave accordingly is the final stage of human behaviour.

Contribution of  Gestalt Psychology to Education

1. Gestalt laid emphasis on principles of unity or integrity and environment while studying human behaviour.
2. This school made valuable contribution to the field of sensation and perception by saying that teachers and parents should give emphasis on the whole in the class and at home.
3. This school suggests experimental procedure to study human behaviour.
4. They realised that for successful teaching-learning process in school there is a need of integration of teachers, students and principle . If there is a proper coordination among the subjects and work as an organised whole , then improvement in the teaching-learning process in school is inevitable.

Teacher as a Change Agent and Nation Builder !

Teacher as a Change Agent and a Nation Builder

                                     The first and foremost responsibility of the teacher is ,his relationship with his students. His job remain confined to delivering a set of lectures or more 'coverage to syllabus'. What is called a revolution in education- "changed in objectives, in content, in teaching methods, in programmes, in the selection and professional operation of teachers and organisation. 'The primary objective should be to treat each individual students as an end in himself and to give him the widest opportunity to develop his skills, abilities and potentialities to the full.

                                        Dewey addresses his view of the self as being dynamic. Teachers being dynamic have the capability to acquire the quality of plasticity. Plasticity is "the ability to learn from experience; the power to retain from one experience something which is of avail in coping with the difficulties of a later situation." He adds that ' interest , concern, mean that self and world and engaged with each other in a developing situation' and that 'personal attitudes' towards thinking and acting in the world point the image of teachers as active agents of change. Based on Dewey's concept of interest and concern as well as 'plasticity' and 'personal attitudes' , a learning model was developed as part of teaching.

Dewey's learning model.

                                             The role of teacher in building a nation cannot be ignored. It is they who influence the immature minds of the youth and tries to mould the living stuffs into various forms. The nation's future depends upon them. Hence they are the most important part of the society. In the past teachers where considered respectable figures even by the kings and the emperors, because teachers were only there to guide and advice then in the hour of crisis. They were the true benefactors of the society. With the change in time they have lost their dignity to an extent. Still, they are considered as the backbone of a nation and society.

                                            Teachers are the real guides of the students. with their deep knowledge of the subject and teaching techniques they can impart valuable information to the students. Teachers play a cardinal role in the building up of a character of the next generation. The essence of teachers as nation builders cannot be over emphasised. Good teachers need to be themselves constantly seeking knowledge, be of good character, have high motivation and be creative , innovative and efficient in their teaching strategies. The good deeds of teachers are great , because of them , we will grow to become knowledgeable people who will be use to the society, religion and our country.