Areas of Individual Differences, Intellectual, Emotional & Social

Introduction Areas of Individual Differences

Individuals have variety of differences. Some individual differences are natural to humans which cannot be controlled or changed and some can be changed and controlled by human beings living in society. These are the differences which makes humans different in various fields of life. Psychology is academic discipline which studies these differences and prescribes the ways for building effective personality of an individual.

Areas of Individual Differences

The following are the areas of individual differences where individuals have differences, which are as follows:

1. Physical differences
2. Age differences
3. Sex differences
4. Intellectual & mental differences
5. Emotional differences
6. Social Adjustment
7. Differences in interest and mental abilities

Physical differences

This can be seen with naked eyes. For example tall or small person, color or complexion variation,  fat or thin look. These differences are, natural normally.

Age differences

This is also visible difference. Age factor determines the characteristics of a person. Age five students, and age fifteen (15) students will have variety of differences in terms of height, strength, emotions, and cognitive development.

Sex differences

This is natural one. That is distinction between male and female individuals. This sex differences gives male and female their characteristics relating to body, psychology, mental abilities and cultural or social roles.

Intellectual & mental differences

This is the vital areas as far as educational psychology is concerned. Because educational psychology main focus is on mental process and their manipulations in certain directions.

Commonly intellectual differences are checked by intelligence Quotient (1Q) yard stick. This is clear difference that the 1Q ability of one person (male or female) is different from another one. That’s why psychologists have done 1Q classification on this chart:

This informational chart helps a lot a teacher to know his / her student mental abilities.

Emotional differences

This is also very important factor which gives great distinguish status to a person against others. Those who have control over their emotional feelings show better learning result as compare to those who are not well emotionally balance.

This is one of the vital areas of individual differences where teacher and parents must work hard to produce and bring up sound personality in a student for social role.

Social Adjustment

This area of individual differences means that how an individual is able to adjust to the new changing environment. That adjustment degree is very from individual to individual. The role of environment or nurture is very vital. If a child gets good environment at school and home, that will help a lot a student to have good adjustment. This social adjustment is a big indictor that makes difference in individual to individual. The more you are socially adjusted to the role the more you have balanced personality and social life.

Differences in interest and mental abilities

Children show great differences in the areas of interests and mental abilities. The interest may be of various kinds. Some children will be interested in Art and Drawing, some may be in making things out of wood, paper etc.

The same is the case with mental abilities. Some students pick up information very easily and quickly and some take time. So the best way to teach them, that the teacher must have information about students in order to adopt the proper methodology to teach the students.

Individual differences are natural, which make a person different from another. Now it is the work of nurture-education, training-to maximize the good qualities of a student  or person and minimize the bad ones in order to have good and peaceful social life for a person. The teacher role in this regard is very vital.