Causes of Individual Differences in Education B.Ed notes
Back to: Childhood and Growing Up – Unit 2
Introduction
Individual differences is the term that denotes the variations and the differences among various characteristics in individuals on the basis of their different mental, physical, and cognitive abilities. These varied traits can differentiate an individual from another which makes them different human beings possessing different traits.
Causes of Individual Differences
Heredity
Due to the hereditable physical and cognitive traits, a child can differ on an intellectual and physical level which can put an impact on the learning process of a child. Therefore, it can create individual differences among children.
Environment
The outer environment such as family, neighborhood, colony, society, school, and environmental factors can also put impact individual differences. Due to the environment, a child can have exposure to the outer world which can enhance his learning capacities and capabilities. Therefore, the environment plays a key role in generating individual differences.
Gender
Gender also plays an essential role in defining individual differences. Such as, girls have their different physical capacities and interests whereas men or boys have their own interests as per their strength along with different exposures due to their physical structure which somehow contributes to generating individual differences based on their gender.
Caste
It has been seen that caste surely puts an impact on generating individual differences because in certain regions and areas different castes have their own interest, ideals, beliefs, and their own notions which somehow play a key role in producing the individual differences among people. Therefore, it can also be experienced in the classroom.
Race
Similar to the caste system, race also puts an impact on deciding the ideals, culture, and tradition a person possesses. Some races are considered as the superior in the society which somehow develops an inferiority complex in a child while having a class full of students from different races.
Sense of Maturity
Maturity also plays a role in developing individual differences because the process of maturation of a student develops his or her beliefs, perspective, and ideals as per their age and growth. Some students cannot reach maturation due to the lack of experience but in certain cases, some students get mature due to their exposure to the social and personal circumstances which somehow contribute to individual differences.
Financial Status
Certainly, the social and financial status also put an impact on developing individual differences. If a student comes from a very poor family, he or she can face financial challenges and can have an inferiority Complex while sharing a classroom full of students from rich and affluent families. Therefore, the choices and demands of an individual differ due to their financial status.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it can be asserted that various social, psychological, financial, biological factors put an impact on developing individual differences. As a result, these individual differences would impact the classroom environment and teaching plans to maintain the teaching-learning process.
