Contributions of Psychology to the initial training of teachers from the perspective of inclusive education: An integrative review

Abstract

Developmental psychology has played a crucial role in understanding the processes of human learning and development, and is fundamental to educational practice. In the context of inclusive education, which seeks to guarantee access, participation and learning for all students, regardless of their individual characteristics or special needs, knowledge of developmental psychology becomes even more relevant. This study aims to investigate how integrating this knowledge into initial teacher training can contribute to building more inclusive and effective teaching practices. Training teachers to work in inclusive contexts is a contemporary challenge that requires an interdisciplinary approach and an in-depth understanding of development and learning processes. In this sense, Developmental Psychology offers a theoretical and practical framework that can significantly enrich the preparation of future teachers, enabling them to recognize and meet the diverse educational needs of their students. The aim of this study was to analyze the contributions of developmental psychology to initial teacher training from the perspective of inclusive education, by means of an integrative literature review. To this end, an integrative literature review was carried out, which involved searching for scientific articles in electronic databases and analyzing the content of the texts. The results showed that psychology can make a significant contribution to the training of inclusive teachers, highlighting the importance of understanding human development and the special needs of students. In addition, psychology can help promote an inclusive culture in schools, supporting the change of attitudes and prejudices towards people with disabilities. In conclusion, Psychology is a fundamental tool for the effective implementation of inclusive education, as it can contribute to the training of teachers who are able to meet the needs of all students.