DEFINITION OF INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES
According to the dictionary of education
- Individual differences stand for the variation or deviations among individuals in regard to a single characteristic or number of characteristics.
- It is stand for those differences which in their totality distinguish one individual from another. So, we can say that individual differences is the differences among humans that distinguish or separate them from one another and makes one as a single unique individual.
TYPES OF INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES
Following are the types of individual differences
Differences in Interest
Interest may refer as a motivating force that impels us to attend to a person, a thing, or an activity. So in educational field differences in interest means you observe some students like a particular subject, teacher, hobby or profession than other.
Difference in Attitude
Difference in attitude is psyche related to some thing. Few learners have positive attitude towards a specific topic, subject, and profession than other. The role of education in society is to develop positive attitude.https://cade346bc668ebf4d021f1e92419dbfd.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-38/html/container.html
Also Read: Educational Psychology Articles Curriculum Development Students Assessment & Evaluation
Difference in Values
Values are the things that are given importance by an individual. Some learners value materialist life style other moral or religious life style etc. So education must mould the mind of young generation to have a balance values between materialism and spiritualism.
Study Habits
It is clearly observable that some students markedly differ from other students in study habits. Some students are studious and study all the subjects with interest but other may not. Some study in isolation and some in group.
Difference in Psychomotor Skills
Psychomotor Skill is related to some skill acquisition. Some students differ in this area also. Some students like football, other cricket, etc. Some students easily learn operating a machine and some may not. A wise teacher should diagnose students’ psychomotor skills abilities and encourage them in that direction.
Difference in Self Concept
Difference in self concept is the totality of attitudes, judgment, and values of an individual relating to his behavior, abilities, and qualities. So some students have positive self concept than boost their confidence level and perform better against those who have negative self image.https://cade346bc668ebf4d021f1e92419dbfd.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-38/html/container.html
CAUSES OF INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES
The followings are the main causes of individual differences:
1. Hereditary (Nature)
Individuals have various endowments, abilities, and capacities provided by hereditary. Which decide the path of progress and development of an individual.
- Hereditary also put limits upon individuals’ growth and development in various dimensions.
- Hereditary also contributes to sex, intelligence, and other specific abilities.
2. Environment (Nurture)
Environment also plays key role in individual differences. No person from birth to death gets the same environment. Individual differences occur on the basis of simulation received by individual from his or her internal and external environment. This may include family set up, peer group, economic statues, education etc.
It is debatable that whether nature or nurture play vital or stronger role in development of an individual in specific direction. Both are strong contenders in order to distinguish one individual from other.
Blog is curated by Vikram Kakri.
