How did Freudian psychology, Gestalt psychology, and ability testing influence teacher preparation?

During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, teacher education underwent significant transformation as new psychological and social theories were integrated into training curricula. These developments influenced how educators understood child development, the teacher-pupil relationship, and the organization of learning.1

Influence on Teacher Preparation

• Freudian Psychology: The dynamic psychology of Sigmund Freud and his associates introduced a psychoanalytic perspective on the child. This shifted the focus of teacher preparation toward a deeper understanding of child development, motivation, and the psychological underpinnings of behavior.12
• Gestalt Psychology: Alongside other emerging psychological systems, the work of Gestalt psychologists helped redefine the teacher-pupil relationship. It contributed to a broader recognition of the child’s individual needs and interests, moving away from purely formal academic curricula toward a more holistic view of development.1
• Ability Testing: The development of methods to measure human abilities in France, Great Britain, and the United States had a profound impact on school organization. Teacher training began to emphasize the diagnosis of special learning problems and the use of assessment to place children into homogeneous groups through "tracking" and "streaming." These practices, combined with an emphasis on problem-solving and project-based learning, fundamentally transformed classroom instruction and the physical environment of schools during the first half of the 20th century.1