Individual Differences Psychology
Individual Differences Psychology
Perhaps the first task of every
teacher in a class should be to know and study individual differences among his
pupils. Individual differences in bodily appearance and physique, habits and
skills, interests and temperaments, abilities and attainments have already been
recognised.
According to Skinner, “Today we
think of individual differences as including any measurable aspect of the total
personality.” It is clear from this definition of individual differences that
it comprehends every aspect of human personality which is in some manner
measurable.
Types of Individual Differences:
1. Physical differences:
Shortness or tallness of stature,
darkness or fairness of complexion, fatness, thinness, or weakness are various
physical individual differences.
2. Differences in intelligence:
There are differences in
intelligence level among different individuals. We can classify the individuals
from super-normal (above 120 I.Q.) to idiots (from 0 to 50 I.Q.) on the basis
of their intelligence level.
3. Differences in attitudes:
Individuals differ in their
attitudes towards different people, objects, institutions and authority.
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4. Differences in
achievement:
It has been found through
achievement tests that individuals differ in their achievement abilities. These
differences are very much visible in reading, writing and in learning
mathematics.
These differences in achievement are
even visible among the children who are at the same level of intelligence.
These differences are on account of the differences in the various factors of
intelligence and the differences in the various experiences, interests and
educational background.
5. Differences in motor ability:
There are differences in motor
ability. These differences are visible at different ages. Some people can
perform mechanical tasks easily, while others, even though they are at the same
level, feel much difficulty in performing these tasks.
6. Differences on account
of sex:
McNemar and Terman discovered the following
differences between men and women, on the basis of some studies:
(i) Women have greater skill in memory while
men have greater motor ability.
(ii) Handwriting of women is superior while
men excel in mathematics and logic.
(iii) Women show greater skill in making
sensory distinctions of taste, touch and smell etc., while men show greater
reaction and conscious of size- weight illusion.
(iv) Women are superior to men in languages,
while men are superior in physics and chemistry.
(v) Women are
better than men in mirror drawing. Faults of speech etc. in men were found to
be three times of such faults in women.
(vi) Women are more susceptible to suggestion
while there are three times as many colour blind men as there are women.
(vii) Young girls take interest in stories of
love, fairy tales, stories of the school and home and day-dreaming and show
various levels in their play. On the other hand boys take interest in stories of
bravery, science, war, scouting, stories of games and sports, stories and games
of occupation and skill.
7. Racial differences:
There are different kinds of racial
differences. Differences of environment is a normal factor in causing these differences.
Karl Brigham has composed a list on the basis of differences in levels of
intelligence among people who have migrated to United States from other
countries.
On the basis of these average
differences between the races, the mental age of a particular individual cannot
be calculated since this difference is based on environment.
8. Differences due to nationality:
Individuals of different nations
differ in respect of physical and mental differences, interests and personality
etc. ‘Russians are tall and stout’; ‘Ceylonese are short and slim’; ‘Germans
have no sense of humour’; ‘Yellow races are cruel and revengeful’; ‘Americans
are hearty and frank’; Indians are timid and peace-loving’ and the like
observations enter into our common talk.
9. Differences due to economic
status:
Differences in children’s interests,
tendencies and character are caused by economic differences.
10. Differences in interests:
Factors such as sex, family
background level of development, differences of race and nationality etc.,
cause differences in interests.
11. Emotional differences:
Individuals differ in their
emotional reactions to a particular situation. Some are irritable and
aggressive and they get angry very soon. There are others who are of peaceful
nature and do not get angry easily. At a particular thing an individual may be
so much enraged that he may be prepared for the worst crime like murder, while
another person may only laugh at it.
12. Personality differences:
There are differences in respect of
personality. On the basis of differences in personality, individuals have been
classified into many groups.
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