INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES

“ No two individuals are alike”“Everyone is unique in their own

ways”

People differ in many ways. They differ in physical, mental, social and cultural dimensions. They differ in the rate and pattern of development. Their differences may affect their success in their work and the society.

Psychometrics is the study of individual differences. One of the scientifically-based individual differences is the mental capacity of a person, or the so called intelligence.

INTELLIGENCEINTELLIGENCE

==refers to problem-solving skills and the ability to adapt to environment and learn from life’s everyday experience.

THEORIES OF INTELLIGENCETHEORIES OF INTELLIGENCE

1.1. SPEARMAN Two-Factor TheorySPEARMAN Two-Factor Theory

According to Bi-factor theory of Charles Edward Spearman (1927) all intellectual ability can be expressed as the result of the operation of two factors.

– General intelligenceGeneral intelligence, represented by , represented by gg

GG = = underlies all intellectual task and underlies all intellectual task and mental abilitiesmental abilities

= = measured a general mental “power” or measured a general mental “power” or “energy”“energy”

– Specific factor or sSpecific factor or s ss = operates only in specific abilities. = operates only in specific abilities.

THEORIES OF INTELLIGENCETHEORIES OF INTELLIGENCE

2. Primary Mental Abilities/Thurstone’s Weighted Group-Factor Theory

Luis L. Thurstone (1938) proposed that “Intelligence is a collection of many separated specific abilities”

Thurstone identified seven primary mental abilities:

1)1) verbal comprehensionverbal comprehension = the ability to = the ability to understand word meaningsunderstand word meanings

2)2) verbal fluencyverbal fluency = ability to think of words = ability to think of words rapidlyrapidly

3)3) numbernumber, or arithmetic ability, or arithmetic ability4)4) memorymemory = the ability to learn and retain = the ability to learn and retain

informationinformation

5)5) perceptual speedperceptual speed = ability to identify = ability to identify objects quickly objects quickly

6)6) inductive reasoninginductive reasoning = or deriving general = or deriving general ideas and rules from specific informationideas and rules from specific information

7)7) spatial visualizationspatial visualization = the ability to = the ability to mentally visualize and manipulate objects mentally visualize and manipulate objects in space.in space.

Thurstone identified seven primary mental abilities:

3.3. R. B. Cattel’s TheoryR. B. Cattel’s Theory

THEORIES OF INTELLIGENCETHEORIES OF INTELLIGENCE

American psychologist Raymond B. Cattel provided evidence of two fundamental types of intelligence.

Fluid intelligence = represents the biological basis of intelligence

= reflects speed of reasoning and memory

Crystallized intelligence = is the knowledge and skills obtained through learning and

experience

4.4. The Triachic Theory of IntelligenceThe Triachic Theory of Intelligence

THEORIES OF INTELLIGENCE

Theory of Robert Sternberg that goes beyond the traditional theories that are confined to mental abilities and skills. It is a three-part theory that includes:

The Triachic Theory of Intelligence

1) Componential intelligence (cognitive intelligence)) = basically reflects the person’s verbal = basically reflects the person’s verbal

reasoning ability reasoning ability

2) Experiential intelligence (creative intelligence) = enables people to adjust creatively and = enables people to adjust creatively and effectively to new task and situation.effectively to new task and situation.

3)3) Contextual intelligence (practical intelligence)Contextual intelligence (practical intelligence)= = enables people to select environment in enables people to select environment in

which they can function, adjust and modify if necessarywhich they can function, adjust and modify if necessary

THEORIES OF INTELLIGENCE

5.5. J.P. Guilford Theory of IntelligenceJ.P. Guilford Theory of Intelligence= He provided a three-dimensional structure of

intelligence. The components are as follows:1) Operation = what the individual does or the

process involved in knowing such as cognition, memory and evaluation.

2) Content = what are individual knows or the nature of information.

3) Products = the end results or the processed information

THEORIES OF INTELLIGENCE

6.6. Theory of Multiple IntelligenceTheory of Multiple Intelligence

Howard Gardner American psychologist originated the theory of multiple intelligence. He initially identified seven intelligence and proposed a person who exemplified each one.

Theory of Multiple IntelligenceTheory of Multiple Intelligence1) Linguistic intelligence =

involves aptitude with speech and language; exemplified by poet T.S. Eliot

2) Logical-mathematical = intelligence involves the ability to reason abstractly and solve mathematical and logical problems. Physicist Albert Einstein is a good example of this intelligence..

Theory of Multiple Intelligence

3. Spatial intelligence = is used to perceive visual and spatial information and to conceptualize the world in tasks like navigation and art. Painter Pablo Picasso represents a person of high spatial intelligence.

Theory of Multiple Intelligence

4)4) Musical intelligenceMusical intelligence

= = the ability to the ability to perform and perform and appreciate music, is appreciate music, is represented by represented by composer Igot composer Igot StravinskyStravinsky

Theory of Multiple Intelligence

5)5) Bodily-kinesthetic Bodily-kinesthetic intelligence intelligence

= is the ability to use one’s body = is the ability to use one’s body or portions of it in various or portions of it in various activities, such as dancing, activities, such as dancing, athletics, acting, surgery and athletics, acting, surgery and magic. Martha Graham, the magic. Martha Graham, the famous dancer is a good example famous dancer is a good example of bodily kinesthetic intelligence.of bodily kinesthetic intelligence.

Theory of Multiple Intelligence

6.6. Interpersonal Interpersonal intelligence intelligence = = involves involves understanding others understanding others and acting on that and acting on that understanding and is understanding and is exemplified by exemplified by psychiatrist Sigmund psychiatrist Sigmund Freud.Freud.

Theory of Multiple Intelligence

7)7) Intra-personal Intra-personal intelligence intelligence = = is the ability to is the ability to understand one’s self understand one’s self and is typified by the and is typified by the leader Mohandas leader Mohandas GandhiGandhi..

Theory of Multiple Intelligence

8. Naturalistic intelligence = the ability to recognize and classify plants, animals and minerals. Naturalist Charles Darwin is an example of this intelligence.

In the late 1990’s Gardner added an eight In the late 1990’s Gardner added an eight intelligence to his theory:intelligence to his theory:

According to Gardner, each person has a unique profile of these intelligences, with strengths in some areas and weaknesses in others

INTELLIGENCE QUOTIENTINTELLIGENCE QUOTIENT

Intelligence quotient, or IQ, is a number Intelligence quotient, or IQ, is a number used to indicate a person’s intelligenceused to indicate a person’s intelligence

– An IQ tells you what your score in a particular An IQ tells you what your score in a particular intelligent test, compared to your age-group.intelligent test, compared to your age-group.

HOW IS INTELLIGENCE HOW IS INTELLIGENCE MEASURED?MEASURED?

IQIQ = = MAMA X 100 X 100 CACA

MA (mental age)-mental capacityCA (chronological age)-actual age

INTELLIGENCE QUOTIENTINTELLIGENCE QUOTIENTLevelLevel

GeniusGenius VerySuperior SuperiorSuperior High AverageHigh Average Normal or Normal or AverageLow AverageLow AverageBorderline AverageBorderline DefectiveMentally DefectiveMentally

RetardedRetarded

I.Q. Range140-Above130-140120-130100-12090-10080-9070-80Below 70

Factors Affecting Intelligence Factors Affecting Intelligence DevelopmentDevelopment

HEREDITY HEREDITY This is represented by the genes transmitted from This is represented by the genes transmitted from

parents to offspring at the movement of conception. parents to offspring at the movement of conception. Heredity can affect intelligence only indirectly.Heredity can affect intelligence only indirectly.

ENVIRONMENTENVIRONMENTThis is represented by all stimuli that the individual This is represented by all stimuli that the individual is exposed to from conception to death. It includes is exposed to from conception to death. It includes such variables as food, air, attitudes of one’s such variables as food, air, attitudes of one’s associates, the social climate of the school, and the associates, the social climate of the school, and the home.home.

EXTREMES OF INTELLIGENCEEXTREMES OF INTELLIGENCE

Mental RetardationMental Retardation

= A disorder in which a person’s over all intellectual functioning is well below average, with an IQ around 70 or less

= a state of social incompetence in terms of social maturity and mental development

Levels of Mental Retardation

I. Mild Retardation (MORONS) = IQ of 50 to 70

• With special training and educational opportunities, they can learn to read and write.

• They can master simple occupational skills and become self-supporting member of society.

II.II. Moderate Retardation (IMBECILESModerate Retardation (IMBECILES)) = IQ of 20-50= IQ of 20-50

Levels of Mental Retardation

• With special training and educational opportunities, they can learn to be partially independent in their everyday lives, provided they are in a family or self-help setting.

III. Severe Retardation (IDIOTS) = IQ below 20

Levels of Mental Retardation

With social training and educational opportunities, they can acquire limited skills in taking care pf their personal needs. However, because of retarded motor and verbal abilities, they require considerable supervision their entire lives.

OTHER TYPES OF MENTAL OTHER TYPES OF MENTAL RETARDATIONRETARDATION

Micro cephalicMicro cephalic = mentally defective = mentally defective person who has an abnormally small person who has an abnormally small pointed skull and small brain.pointed skull and small brain.

Macrocephalic = has a large skull and brain with associated mental deficiency.

Cretinism Cretinism = disability due to insufficient = disability due to insufficient secretion of the thyroid gland; has thick lips, flat secretion of the thyroid gland; has thick lips, flat nose, protruding abdomen, large tongue, stunted nose, protruding abdomen, large tongue, stunted growth, short limbs, dry & rough skin and loss of growth, short limbs, dry & rough skin and loss of hair. Mostly idiots.hair. Mostly idiots.

MongolismMongolism = due to the imbalance in the = due to the imbalance in the

endocrine glands; also known as Down’s endocrine glands; also known as Down’s syndrome: either idiots or imbecile.syndrome: either idiots or imbecile.

OTHER TYPES OF MENTAL OTHER TYPES OF MENTAL RETARDATIONRETARDATION

CAUSES OF MENTAL RETARDATION

Hereditary/genetic causesHereditary/genetic causes Injury before, during or shortly after birthInjury before, during or shortly after birth Poisonous substancesPoisonous substances Biochemical factorsBiochemical factors Traumatic brain injuryTraumatic brain injury Environmental stressEnvironmental stress MalnutritionMalnutrition

PREVENTION OF MENTAL RETARDATION

Newborn Screening ProgramNewborn Screening Program

Adult Screening TestAdult Screening Test

Laboratory TestLaboratory Test

THERAPIES FOR MENTAL RETARDATION

Drugs or medical treatmentDrugs or medical treatment PsychotherapyPsychotherapy Special Education ProgramsSpecial Education Programs SurgerySurgery Vitamin therapyVitamin therapy

THE GIFTED PERSON= = one who shows consistently remarkable

performance in any worthwhile line of endeavors.

Characteristics of Gifted Personfast learnersuperior in reasoningwide range of interestperform different workindependent mindedcurious

GROUP DIFFERENCES

SexSex AgeAge Race/NationalityRace/Nationality OccupationOccupation Socio-economic statusSocio-economic status Geographical locationGeographical location