Definitions

• C. V. Good: The variations or deviations among

individuals in regard to a single characteristics
or a number of characteristics, those
differences which in their totality distinguish
one individual from another.
• C. E. Skinner: Today we think of individual
differences as including any measurable
aspect of the total personality.
• James Drever: Variations or deviations from
the average of the group, with respect to the
mental or physical characteristics, occurring in
the individual member of the group are
individual differences.
The differences among individuals that
distinguish or separate them from one
another and make one as a unique individual
may be termed as individual differences.
INTRA- INTER DIFFERENCES
• Inter-individual differences are differences that
are observed between people. Eg. gender, age,
ethnic background, anxiety levels or attachment
style.
• Intra-individual differences are differences that
are observed within the same person when they
are assessed at different times or in different
situations. An easy way to remember this is that
intra-individual differences occur within the same
person. Attention or effort changes within a
person are good examples of intra-individual
differences.
 Types of differences
1. Physical differences: Height, skin colour, colour of the
hair, texture of hair and skin, shape of the body,
weight, strength etc.
2. Differences in intelligence: Individuals can be classified
as gifted, average and slow-learners. The IQ levels vary
from 145 to 25.
3. Differences in attitude: People differ in their like and
dislike towards objects, people, situations, institutions
etc.
4. Differences in achievements: Achievement test prove
that students vary in their achievements in three Rs.
Even those with similar IQ vary in their achievements.
This is the result of experiences, interests etc.
 Cont…
5. Differences in motor ability: Some are good in
sports while others are good in calligraphy, craft
etc.
6. Emotional differences: some are emotionally
stable and mature while others are opposite.
Some have positive emotions while others have
negative emotions as predominant.
7. Learning differences: Some learn with ease and
quick in comparison to others. Moreover people
also differ in their styles of learning. Differences
is also seen in the ability to apply all that one
learns.
 Cont….
8. Differences in social and moral development:
Some individuals are well adjusted properly in
social situations and lead a happy social life
while others are socially handicapped, unsocial
and antisocial.
Similarly, people are found to differ in respect to
their ethical and moral sense.
 FACTORS CAUSING INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES
1. Heredity: Heredity is the sum total of the traits potentially present in the
fertilized ovum.
Conception time

The union of male and female germ cells causes fertilization of the ovum. The
fertilized egg is known as zygote.
Zygote

46 chromosomes

23 from Female and 23 from Male

(Each chromosome contains about 40 to 100 genes. The genes are responsible for
the development of particular traits)
 Definition of Heredity
• Peterson: “ Heredity is what one gets from his
ancestral stock through his parents”.
• Douglas and Holland: “Heredity consists of all
the structures, physical characteristics,
functions or capacities derived from parents
and other ancestors”.
• F.L. Ruch: “Heredity is the totality of
biologically transmitted factors that influence
the structure of the body.”
 Findings have revealed that heredity is responsible for differences
in the rate, quantity and quality of ones’ physical as well as
mental development. It is also responsible in determining the sex
of the child.
2. Environment: Anastaxi “The environment is everything that
affects the individual except his genes”.
Douglas and Holland “Environment is the aggregate of all the
external forces, influences and conditions, which affect the life,
nature, behavior, the growth, and development and maturation
of living organisms”.
Gilbert “Environment is anything immediately surrounding an
object and exerting a direct influence on it”
Environment consists of various types of forces like
physical, social, moral, economical, political cultural and
emotional forces. A favorable environment caters to the
development of native abilities of a child.
 Environment in the womb of the mother
Environment available at the time of birth
Environment after birth
3. Caste: The son of a Kshatriya is seen to display
more courage, while the son of a trader will
show more dexterity in trade
4. Sex: Though not accepted today yet marked
differences exist between male and female with
regard to the pace and rate of development.
Differences is also seen in aptitudes, interest,
emotions etc.
5. Peer group: Peer group means children of the
same age group. Under the influence of peer
group children pick up good or bad habits.
RELATIVE SIGNIFICANCE OF HEREDITY AND
ENVIRONMENT
Landis and Landis “Heredity gives us capacities
to be developed but opportunities for the
development of these capacities must come
from the environment”.
Woodworth, both are equally essential in the
growth and development of the child.
Maclver and Page state “every phenomena of life
is the product of both heredity and environment,
each is as necessary to the result as the other.
Neither can ever be eliminated and neither can
ever be isolated”.
Seeds (heredity) x Soil = Yield
ROSS: The influence of H and E in an individual’s
biological, psychological and social development
can be expressed by the following formula:
H X E X T = DL i.e. Heredity X Environment X Time
= Development level of an individual personality.
 EDUCATIONAL IMPLICATIONS OF THE
PSYCHOLOGY OF INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES
1. Knowledge of individuals’ potentialities: Proper knowledge
of the abilities, capacities, interests, aptitudes, and other
personality traits of the individual students. for this the
teacher needs to measure them using various scales etc.
2. Ability grouping: In the light of the results collected and
knowing the dimensions of differences, the students in a class
or activity can be divided into homogenous groups, thereby
facilitating the adoption of required method of instruction.
3. Adjusting the curriculum: Flexible and differentiated
curriculum, provision for diversified courses and co-
curricular experiences. Also should suit the local
requirements and potentialities of students of different
groups.
4. Adjusting the method of teaching: Teachers
should be free to formulate their own method
of teaching so as to cater to the needs of the
students.
5. Individualizing instructions: Teachers should try
to individualize instruction as per the learning
styles and abilities of the students. Special
methods of teaching can be adopted, like,
Dalton plan, project method and programmed
instruction etc. that will help students learn at
their own individual pace.
4. Limiting the size of the classroom: It is
important to keep the size of the class
strength small.
5. Pay individual attention: Teacher should pay
individual attention to the group under
instruction.
6. Peer tutoring: Teacher should identify the
gifted students and train them so that they
can act as peer tutors. In this way
individualized instruction will be possible.