Educational Psychology

The work presented in this book represents a shift in thinking about the discipline of educational psychology. Traditionally, a discipline is considered to be a neutral, objective, scientifically validated body of knowledge. A critical reading of the discipline’s discourse, however, reveals how the discipline’s «truth» is embedded in social, political, and cultural contexts. When these influences are recognized, the commonsense, taken-for-granted, and often oppressive concepts and practices of the discipline can be questioned and critiqued. This critical perspective encourages a more rigorous examination of the discipline of educational psychology for pre-service and in-service teachers. This book joins other critical educational studies in calling for a liberating praxis for teachers, and a more emancipatory educational experience for their students.