17 Psychology Teacher Interview Questions and Answers

Psychology is the scientific study of the human mind and behavior. As a psychology teacher, you will instruct students on the different theories and methods used by psychologists to explain and predict human behavior.

To become a psychology teacher, you will need to have a bachelor’s degree in psychology, a teaching license, and a master’s degree in psychology or education. Once you have fulfilled these requirements, you will be ready to start your career. However, before you can get started, you will need to go through a job interview.

During the interview, you will be asked a variety of questions about your experience, teaching style, and knowledge of psychology. In this guide, we will provide you with a list of some of the most common psychology teacher interview questions and answers.

Are you familiar with the latest updates to the curriculum for this subject area?

Interviewers may ask this question to see if you are up-to-date on the latest developments in your field. They want to know that you can keep yourself informed about new teaching methods and resources for students. In your answer, try to mention a few of the most recent changes or updates you have heard about.

Example: “I am always looking for ways to improve my teaching style and better serve my students. I recently attended a seminar where they discussed some of the newest curriculum updates for psychology teachers. One change is that we now teach our students how to use psychological research to make decisions in their own lives. Another update is that we no longer focus solely on mental illness but also discuss positive aspects of human behavior.”

What are some of the most important skills that you try to instill in your students?

This question can help the interviewer get a better sense of your teaching philosophy and how you approach your students. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention skills that are directly related to psychology or those that will help your students succeed in their future endeavors.

Example: “I believe that one of the most important skills I can teach my students is critical thinking. This skill helps them analyze situations and make decisions based on evidence rather than emotions. Another important skill I try to instill in my students is communication. Learning how to communicate effectively with others can help them build relationships and solve problems.”

How do you handle a situation where a student is being disruptive in class?

Interviewers may ask this question to learn more about your classroom management skills. They want to know how you handle a situation that could be challenging for students and teachers alike. In your answer, try to explain the steps you take to help students focus on learning rather than their disruptive behavior.

Example: “I first try to get the student’s attention by calling them by name or saying their last name. If they don’t respond, I will repeat myself louder while maintaining my composure. If they still don’t respond, I will send another student to go get the principal or school counselor. This is usually enough to get the student’s attention so we can move forward with class.”

What is your teaching philosophy?

Interviewers may ask this question to learn more about your teaching style and how you plan to implement it in their school. To answer this question, think about what methods you use to teach students and why you choose them. Explain that you are passionate about helping students develop the skills they need to succeed in life.

Example: “I believe that every student has unique learning needs, so I try to create a classroom environment where my students feel comfortable asking questions and expressing themselves. In my previous position, I noticed that many of my students were hesitant to speak up in class because they didn’t want to be called on by the teacher. So, I started using call-and-response techniques during lessons to give all of my students an opportunity to participate.”

Provide an example of a time when you had to be creative in order to help a student understand a concept.

This question can help the interviewer determine how you approach teaching and whether you have any unique methods of instruction. Try to think of a specific example that shows your creativity, problem-solving skills and ability to adapt to different learning styles.

Example: “I had a student who was struggling with basic math concepts. I noticed he would get frustrated when we worked on word problems because he couldn’t understand what they were asking him to do. So, I decided to try drawing out the problem for him on the board so he could see it visually. He understood the concept much better after seeing it in action, and I started doing this for other students who struggled with similar concepts.”

If a student asked you for advice on how to improve their mental health, how would you respond?

Interviewers may ask this question to assess your knowledge of mental health and how you would help students who are struggling. In your answer, try to show that you understand the importance of mental health and have strategies for helping students with their mental health issues.

Example: “I would first make sure they feel comfortable talking to me about their feelings. Then I would listen carefully to what they’re saying and offer them support. If they want advice on how to improve their mental health, I would suggest some techniques or resources that could help them. For example, if a student is anxious, I might recommend meditation or deep breathing exercises.”

What would you do if you noticed that many students in your class were struggling with the concepts you were teaching?

Interviewers want to know how you handle challenges in the classroom. They also want to see if you have any strategies for helping students who are struggling with a concept or assignment. In your answer, explain what steps you would take to help these students and provide examples of how you’ve helped students overcome similar obstacles in the past.

Example: “If I noticed that many students were having trouble understanding a certain concept, I would first try to determine why they’re having difficulty. If it’s because of a lack of clarity on my part, I would re-explain the concept using different methods until everyone understood. If there was something about the material itself that made it difficult to understand, I would find alternative ways to teach the information.”

How well do you think you can empathize with your students?

Empathy is a key skill for psychology teachers to have. It allows them to understand their students’ feelings and needs, which can help them create more effective lesson plans. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention specific situations where you’ve used empathy in your teaching career.

Example: “I think that empathy is an important part of being a teacher. I try to put myself in my students’ shoes as much as possible when planning lessons or giving feedback on assignments. For example, if I’m going over a new concept in class, I’ll imagine what it would feel like to learn the information for the first time. This helps me make sure that I explain things clearly enough so that everyone understands.”

Do you have any experience working with special needs students?

This question can help interviewers understand your experience working with students who have unique needs. If you do not have any experience, consider describing a time when you helped a student overcome an obstacle or challenge that was unique to them.

Example: “I’ve worked with several special needs students in the past, including one student who had ADHD and another who had dyslexia. In both cases, I made sure to create lesson plans that were engaging for all of my students while also providing accommodations for these two students. For example, I would allow the ADHD student to take notes on paper rather than using their laptop so they could focus more easily. I also provided extra time for testing if needed.”

When teaching a lesson on personality, how do you make the material interesting?

Personality is a key component of psychology, and the interviewer may ask this question to see how you can make even dry material interesting for students. Use your answer to show that you have experience teaching personality concepts and can do so in an engaging way.

Example: “I find that using real-world examples helps my students understand personality better. For example, I once taught a lesson on introverts and extroverts by having them compare famous people who are either introverted or extroverted. Students enjoyed comparing different celebrities and were able to remember the information much more easily than if I had just lectured about it.”

We want to encourage our students to pursue their interests. How would you help a student who was struggling to find a connection with the material?

This question can help an interviewer understand how you might approach a student who is struggling in your classroom. Use examples from past experiences to explain how you would support the student and encourage them to continue their education.

Example: “I had a student once who was passionate about animals, but he struggled with his biology class. I asked him if there were any specific types of animals that interested him, and we started our lessons by focusing on those animals. He began to enjoy the material more because it was relevant to something he enjoyed. We also talked about different careers related to biology so he could learn about what options are available to him.”

Describe your process for grading assignments and giving feedback to students.

Interviewers want to know how you grade assignments and provide feedback to students. They also want to see if your grading process is fair, so they may ask questions about how you determine grades and give feedback to students who need it.

Example: “I use a rubric for all of my grading. I find that this helps me be consistent in the way I grade each assignment. It also allows students to understand what I expect from them when they turn in an assignment. When giving feedback on assignments, I try to make sure that I am clear with my expectations and offer constructive criticism where needed. This helps students learn from their mistakes and improve their work.”

What makes you qualified to teach psychology?

This question can help interviewers understand your background and qualifications for the position. Use your answer to highlight any relevant experience you have teaching psychology, including what subjects you’ve taught in the past or how you helped students learn about psychology concepts.

Example: “I have a bachelor’s degree in psychology with an emphasis on child development. I also completed my master’s program in education, which included a specialization in secondary education. In my previous role as a high school teacher, I used these degrees to teach psychology classes that focused on child development and adolescent psychology. I also developed lesson plans that allowed students to apply their knowledge of psychology through group projects.”

Which teaching methods do you prefer?

Interviewers may ask this question to learn more about your teaching style and preferences. They want to know if you would be a good fit for their school’s psychology program. In your answer, explain which methods have worked well in the past and why. If you are unsure of what has worked best for you, consider asking some of your previous students or colleagues.

Example: “I find that I am most effective when I use a combination of lecture-style teaching and hands-on activities. Lecturing helps me cover important material while allowing my students time to process it. Hands-on activities help them apply what they’ve learned and reinforce key concepts. I also like to incorporate group work into my lessons because it allows students to collaborate and support each other.”

What do you think is the most important thing that students learn in a psychology class?

This question can help an interviewer understand your teaching philosophy and how you approach a psychology class. When answering this question, it can be helpful to focus on the skills that are most important for students to learn in high school.

Example: “I think one of the most important things that students should learn in a psychology class is how to analyze information and make decisions based on data. In my last position, I started a project-based learning unit where students had to collect data about their community and then use that data to create a presentation or write a paper. This helped them develop these critical thinking and research skills while also giving them real-world experience.”

How often do you update your lesson plans?

Interviewers may ask this question to see how often you update your lesson plans and adapt them to the needs of your students. They want to know that you’re willing to put in the time and effort to keep your lessons fresh and interesting for your students. In your answer, explain what steps you take to ensure your lesson plans are up-to-date and relevant.

Example: “I try to update my lesson plans at least once a month. I find that it’s important to change things up every so often to keep students engaged. For example, if we’ve been studying animals for several weeks, I’ll switch up our activities by having students create their own animal stories or poems instead of writing about real ones. This helps me avoid getting into a rut with my lessons.”

There is a new movie out that relates to the material you’re teaching. How do you incorporate it into your lessons?

This question is a great way to see how the candidate approaches new material and if they are able to make it relatable for students. It also shows that you’re willing to go above and beyond to help your students learn.

Example: “I think it’s important to keep up with current events, especially when it comes to movies. I would probably show the movie in class as part of a discussion on the themes or characters. For example, I had a student who was struggling with reading comprehension. We watched The Fault In Our Stars together, which helped him understand metaphors better. He ended up getting an A on his next test.”