By Cecilia Lobato
In the last century, the human being was not yet viewed holistically when it came to understanding learning, emotions, and behavior. It was believed that students simply needed to be interested in learning, without considering their biopsychosocial background. This limited view led to numerous problems with multifactorial causes, such as school dropout and various learning difficulties that we now understand more clearly: ADHD, borderline intelligence, oral language disorders, and writing difficulties such as dysgraphia, among others.
In this context, clinical psychology focused on learning provides an important foundation for developing a more specialized educational system. Its work focuses primarily on assessment, referral, and support through remedial programs designed for children and students in general who experience difficulties in their psychological development or in the processes involved in their learning.
Psychology and education, especially in this century, have worked together to address the psychological, social, and educational challenges faced by students. Many of these challenges are common in Western countries and require a thorough understanding of the environment in which each person lives. For this reason, social psychology focuses on the individual’s education, the dynamics of their social group, and the influence of the society around them.
In contemporary education, social psychology helps us understand one of the greatest challenges of our time: educational inclusion. This is understood as the effort to integrate all students into a single learning environment, without excluding those who face differences or vulnerabilities. Although significant changes have been made to programs and laws over time, there are still students who are left out or who do not receive the necessary support.
Education will always be a fundamental issue for human development; therefore, disciplines such as psychology will continue to work alongside institutions and educators to foster environments where every person is valued and respected for who they are. In many Latin American countries, cultural diversity is vast, but so are inequalities. In various contexts, language can become a barrier to integration when Spanish is dominant; furthermore, factors such as gender, being of African descent or indigenous, living in extreme poverty, or having a disability also play a role.
This is where educational psychology takes on particular importance, offering an approach that takes into account inclusion, diversity, interculturality, neurodiversity, and the social realities that students face.
To strengthen these areas, it is important to note that educational psychologists are increasingly training themselves to respond effectively to students’ emotions. In this field, emotional intelligence has become an essential tool for promoting the holistic development of students. From an early age, it is essential to foster emotional skills that positively impact their social and academic lives. Today we know that reasoning alone is not enough to face current challenges; emotional skills are equally crucial in the educational process.
Finally, we cannot fail to mention the integration of technology into education, which continues to transform the way students learn. (The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), 2023) notes that the adoption of technology must be guided by a learner-centered and rights-based framework, ensuring its relevance and equity. Here, psychology plays a fundamental role in this new phase of learning: it promotes equity, safeguards mental and emotional health, prevents overload and stress, and educates on the ethical and responsible use of technologies, including artificial intelligence. The key is to first understand the individual before deciding how and for what purpose these tools are used.
In short, psychology, in its various fields, helps us understand and support people in navigating their emotions, life stories, and circumstances, thereby contributing to their well-being, social interactions, personal growth, and inclusion throughout the educational process.
