PSYCHOLOGY OF TEACHING AND LEARNING :: INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES.

Dissimilarity is principle of nature. No two persons are alike. All the individuals differ from each other in many respects. Children born of the same parents and even the-twins are not alike. This differential psychology is linked with the study of individual differences. 

Individuals differ in mental abilities as well as in physique and traits of personality. Everywhere people are influenced by the number of genetic factors and environmental influences. 

This change is seen in physical forms like in height, weight, colour and complexion strength etc., difference in intelligence, achievement, interest, attitude, aptitude, learning habits, motor abilities and skill. Each man has an intellectual capacity through which he gains experience and learning.

Every person has the emotions of love, anger, fear and feelings of pleasure and pain. Every man has the need of independence, success and need for acceptance.

Broadly individual difference may be classified into two categories such as inherited traits and acquired traits: 

Based on the types of Individual Differences we shall describe the factors and reasons:

Intra-Individual Differences-

Body form and abilities: People differ and in the very use of all the sensory, motor and physical ability.

Cognitive Abilities: Perceptual abilities, conceptual abilities, knowing many things, remembering, thinking, reasoning, problem solving, decision making, evaluating, analyzing, imagining can be factors for differences.

Affective Qualities: Ability to attend, receive, feel and experience emotions may be different in different individuals.

Psychomotor Differences: The responses and behaviour of individual differ depending on their attitudes towards the person or situation, interest, aptitude and so on.

Inter-Individual Differences-

These include the differences that arise due to the heredity and environment. They are classified as:

Physical or Physiological Differences:-

Physical Differences: Differences due to height, weight, colour of skin, colour of eyes and hair, size of hands, arms, feet, head, mouth, nose, length of waist line, hair style, structure and functioning of internal organs etc.

Motor Differences: Differences due to factors such as speed of reaction, reaction time, steadiness, rate of muscular movement, manual dexterity, resistance to fatigue etc.

Psychological Differences:-

Mental Differences: People differ in intelligence i.e. in creative abilities, intellectual capabilities like thinking, reasoning, imagining, evaluating, analyzing, judging and problem solving etc. Based on these factors individuals are distinguished as borderline, idiots, morons, superiors etc.

Emotional Difference: Individuals differ due to factors like few have more inclination towards love, joy, affection, amusement and few are inclined more towards fear, anger, distress, despair and jealousy.

Differences due to various interests: Individuals differ due to their interests in meeting people, attending social events or functions, group activities and fond of picnics etc.

Differences in Aptitudes: Differences due to aptitudes among individuals. Few have scholastic aptitude, musical aptitude, artistic aptitude or scientific aptitude and so on.

Differences in attitude and beliefs: We have varying attitudes towards people, group, things and ideologies. Few have conservative and rigid belief. Few are open, rational and flexible in nature.

Learning Differences: We differ in our learning differences, learning modes, speed of learning, in the quality and quantity of learning, use of learning in the daily life situations.

Differences in Achievement: We differ due to the achievement. Education is one major factor which brings individual differences. There is a wide gap in the behaviours of educated and uneducated persons. All traits of human beings like social, emotional and intellectual are controlled and modifies through proper education. This education brings a change in our attitude, behaviour, appreciations, Personality. It is seen that uneducated persons are guided by their instinct and emotions where as the educated persons are guided by their reasoning power.

Difference in social and moral orientation: Some of us are in participative nature while others are socially handicapped, social or antisocial, anti people, poorly developed personalities, socially blind etc.

Sex Differences: Men have more motor skills requiring muscular strength and persistence than women. Men have more scientific, mechanical, theoretical interests. Women have good language abilities. They are more social and emotional.

Difference in physical maturity: All do not attain physical maturity at the same age either physically or physiologically. Here growth is related to the stages of functioning of the various parts/ organs/ senses of our body.

Differences in Health status: General health of children affects their behaviour including their learning and doing academic work. Under nourishment or malnutrition have effects on the child.

Differences in Chronological Age: It is observed that children learn faster and better than adults. Age is another factor which is responsible in bringing individual differences. Learning ability and adjustment capacity naturally grow with age. When one grows in age can acquire better control over our emotions and better social responsibilities. When a child grows then this maturity and development goes side by side.

Due to the above factors Individual Difference exists.

Educational implications of Individual differences are listed below:

1. Aims of education, curriculum and method of teaching should be linked with individual differences considering the different abilities and traits individual.
2. Curriculum should be designed as per the interest, abilities and needs of different students.
3. The teacher has to adopt different types of methods of teaching considering individual difference related to interest, need, etc.
4. Some co-curricular activities such as Drama, music, literary activities (Essay & Debate Competition) should be assigned to children according to their interest.
5. Teacher uses certain specific teaching aids which will attract the children towards teaching considering their interest and need.
6. Various methods such as playing method, project method, Montessori method, storytelling methods are to be used considering/discovering how different children respond to a task or a problem.
7. The division of pupils into classes should not be based only on the mental age or chronological age of children but the physical, social and emotional maturity should be given due consideration.
8. In case of vocational guidance the counsellor is to plan the guidance technique keeping in view the needs and requirements of the students.