IMPLICATIONS OF INDIVIDUAL

DIFFERENCES
CONTENTS
1. INTRODUCTION
2. DEFINITION
3. CATEGORIES
4. CLASSIFICATION BY ALFRED BINET
5. TYPES OF INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES
6. CAUSES OF INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES
7. EDUCATIONAL IMPLICATIONS OF INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES
8. PROVISIONS FOR INDIVIDUAL DIFFRENCES IN PRE-SCHOOL
9. CONCLUSION
INTRODUCTION

Dissimilarity is principle of nature. No two persons are alike. Children born of the same parents
and even the-twins are not alike. This change is seen in physical forms like in height, weight,
color, complexion strength etc., difference in intelligence, achievement, interest, attitude,
aptitude, learning habits, motor abilities, skill.
DEFINITION

◦ “Variations or deviations from the average of the group, with respect to the mental or physical
characters, occurring in the individual member of the group are individual differences.” –
DREVER JAMES

◦ “The variation or deviations among individual is regard to a single characteristics or a number

of characteristics, those differences which in their totality distinguish one individual from
another.” – GOOD CV
CATEGOROIES
Broadly individual difference may be classified into two categories such as,
• Inherited traits
• Acquired traits
CLASSIFICATION BY ALFRED
BINET
 PHYSICAL TRAITS
 MENTAL TRAITS
 SPECIAL CAPACITIES
 ACQUIRED INTERESTS
 TEMPERAMENT
 VOLITION
 CHARACTER
 TYPES OF INDIVIDUAL
DIFFERENCES
1. PHYSICAL DIFFERENCES
2. DIFFERENCE IN INTELLIGENCE
3. DIFFERENCES IN ATTITUDES
4. DIFFERENCES IN ACHIEVEMENT
5. DIFFERENCES IN MOTOR ABILITY
6. DIFFERENCE ON ACCOUNT OF SEX
7. RACIAL DIFFERENCES
8. DIFFERENCE DUE TO NATIONALITY
9. DIFFERENCES DUE TO ECONOMIC STATUS
10. DIFFERENCE IN INTEREST
11. EMOTIONAL DIFFERENCE
12. PERSONALITY DIFFERENCE
CAUSES OF INDIVIDUAL
DIFFERENCES
1. HEREDITY
2. ENVIRONMENT
3. RACE & NATIONALITY
4. SEX
5. AGE
6. EDUCATION
HEREDITY:
◦ Some heretical traits bring a change from one individual to other. An individual’s height, size, shape and color of
hair, shape of face, nose, hands and legs so to say the entire structure of the body is determined by his heretical
qualities. Intellectual differences are also to a great extent influenced by hereditary factor
ENVIRONMENT:
◦ Environment brings individual differences in behavior, activities, attitude, and style of life characteristics.
Personality etc. Environment does not refer only physical surroundings but also it refers the different types of
people, society, their culture, customs, traditions, social heritage, ideas and ideals.
RACE & NATIONALITY:
◦ Race and Nationality is one cause of individual difference. Indians are very peace loving, Chinese are cruel;
Americans are very frank due to race and nationality.
AGE:
◦ 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.
SEX:
◦ Due to sex variation one individual differs from other. Men are strong in mental power. On the other hand women
on the average show small superiority over men in memory, language and aesthetic sense. Women excel the men in
shouldering social responsibilities and have a better control over their emotions.
EDUCATION:
◦ Education is one major factor which brings individual differences. There is a wide gap in the behaviors 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, behavior, 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.
EDUCATIONAL IMPLICATIONS OF
INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES
 Aims of education, curriculum, method of teaching should be linked with individual differences considering the different
abilities and traits individual.
 Curriculum should be designed as per the interest, abilities and needs of different students.
 The teacher has to adopt different types of methods of teaching considering individual difference related to interest, need,
etc.
Some co-curricular activities such as Drama, music, literary activities (Essay & Debate Competition) should be assigned to
children according to their interest.
 Teacher uses certain specific teaching aids which will attract the children towards teaching considering their interest and need.
 Various methods such as playing method, project method, Montessori method, story telling methods are to be used
considering/discovering how different children respond to a task or a problem.
 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.
 In case of vocational guidance the counselor is to plan the guidance technique keeping in view the needs and requirements of
the students.
PROVISIONS FOR INDIVIDUAL
DIFFERENCES IN PRESCHOOL
Since we supposedly are teaching individuals, not groups of individuals, it is the function of the school
within its budgetary personnel and curricular limitations to provide adequate schooling for every learner no
matter how much he differs from every other learner.
 PROPER KNOWLEDGE OF INDIVIDUAL PERSONALITIES
 ABILITY GROUPING
 ADJUSTING THE CURRICULUM
 ADJUSTING THE METHODS OF TEACHING
 ADOPTING SOCIAL PROGRAMS
 INDIVIDUALIZING INSTRUCTON
CONCLUSION

The problem of individual differences can be tackled with multi-dimensional

tasks. The teacher, school authorities, the parents and the government as well as
voluntary agencies. All should join hands to meet the individual requirements of
children who possess tremendous individual differences.
THANK YOU

PREPARED BY,
ABIRAMI U