Resons of including Social psychology in Agricultural Extension
Answers
Agricultural extension is education and its main purpose is to change the behaviour of farmers. Therefore, knowledge of educational psychology is useful to extension agent for understanding the factors affecting the teaching and learning process.
Several psychosocial processes are embedded in the practice of extension. However, there is no Journal of Extension article that systematically addresses how psychology can contribute to the field. Research conducted recently in Latin America addresses this issue and is applicable to those working in U.S. Cooperative Extension. The aim of this article is to provide an overview of possible contributions psychology can make to U.S. Cooperative Extension. These contributions are presented in the context of seven aspects of extension practice that have strong psychological components. Calls to action are presented as well. Essentially, extension organizations need to acknowledge the potentiality of psychology and invite psychologists to be part of their programs and research.