Educational Psychology – Chapter 2: Individual Psychological Characteristics of Learners (1)

Educational Psychology – Chapter 2: Individual Psychological Characteristics of Learners (1)

# 1.1. Misconceptions about Individual Psychological Development

Some notions about individual psychological development have been proven inaccurate, including:

• Predetermination Theory: This theory posits that genetics are the determining factor in individual psychological development, with the environment playing only a role in adjusting and manifesting these traits.

• Empiricism Theory: This theory believes that the environment is the decisive factor in the psychological development of children.

• Two-Factor Convergence Theory: This theory proposes that the interaction between the environment and genetics determines a child’s psychological development, but emphasizes the decisive role of genetics.

These theories lack comprehensiveness and do not accurately reflect the process of individual psychological development.

# 1.2. The Dialectical Materialist View of Individual Psychological Development (Correct Perspective)

The dialectical materialist view of individual psychological development is based on the principles of development in Marx-Lenin philosophy and the perspective of activity psychologists on psychological development.

The principle of development in Marx-Lenin philosophy acknowledges that human psychological development is a process of psychological transformation from low to high, from simple to complex. It is a process of gradual quantitative accumulation, leading to qualitative leaps, a process of emerging new psychological features due to the struggle between opposing sides within each individual.

The perspective of activity psychologists on psychological development has several noteworthy points:

1. The nature of psychological development is a process of gradual quantitative accumulation leading to qualitative changes in psychological activities and the individual’s personality. For example, emotions are formed through the synthesis and movement of similar emotions.

2. Psychological development follows the law of negation of negation, associated with the emergence of new psychological structures in different age stages. For example, self-awareness is formed from kindergarten age and develops through different age stages.

3. Psychological development does not occur smoothly but involves crises and sudden changes. For example, the 3-year-old crisis, the puberty crisis.

4. Psychological development is continuous, lasting throughout life and following a sequential law with stages following each other in a fixed order.

5. Psychological development in children is a process in which they actively participate in acquiring the cultural heritage of humankind.

6. Psychological development is influenced by multiple factors: innate qualities, genetics, the living environment and activities, teaching, education, and individual activity. Among these factors, innate qualities and genetics play the role of prerequisites for psychological development, the living environment and activities are the conditions, teaching and education play the leading role, while the individual’s active participation is the decisive factor in psychological development.

Comparison table of the perspectives of theories on child psychological development: [Link to comparison table]

# 1.3. General Laws of Individual Psychological Development

Individual psychological development follows several general laws:

• The Law of Unevenness in Psychological Development: Psychological manifestations and functions in individuals can develop very differently, even in similar conditions.

• Considering the process of individual psychological development: This process occurs unevenly through different age stages, with some stages converging optimal conditions for the development of a particular psychological phenomenon to be superior to others (the period of sensitivity).

• Considering the relationship between individuals: At the same age, the speed and level of psychological development vary among individuals.

• The Law of Integrity in Psychological Development: As an individual develops, their psychology becomes more complete, unified, and stable.

• The Law of Flexibility and Compensatory Ability in Psychological Development: Children can change, possess the ability to acquire knowledge and skills… to develop themselves. Compensatory ability is manifested when a certain psychological or physiological function is weak or deficient, other psychological or physiological functions will be enhanced or developed more strongly to compensate for this deficiency.

# 1.4. Division of Stages in Individual Psychological Development

Individual psychological development is divided into age stages.

• According to L.S. Vygotsky, age is a specific period of psychological development in human life “relatively closed”, where general development laws are always expressed uniquely in their quality.

• Each age stage is characterized by several factors: physiological characteristics, social characteristics, and distinctive psychological features regarding cognition, emotions, personality, etc.

• Characteristics of the transition between age stages: The transition from one age stage to another is always linked to:

• Changes in the social situation of development

• The emergence of new psychological structures