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.

INTELLIGENCE
=refers

to problemsolving skills and the

ability to adapt to
environment and
learn from lifes
everyday experience.

THEORIES OF INTELLIGENCE
1. SPEARMAN 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 intelligence, represented by g

G = underlies all intellectual task and

mental abilities
= measured a general mental power or
energy
Specific factor or s

s = operates only in specific abilities.

THEORIES OF INTELLIGENCE
2. Primary Mental Abilities/Thurstones
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) verbal comprehension = the ability to
understand word meanings
2) verbal fluency = ability to think of words
rapidly
3) number, or arithmetic ability
4) memory = the ability to learn and retain
information

Thurstone identified seven primary

mental abilities:
5) perceptual speed = ability to identify
objects quickly
6) inductive reasoning = or deriving general
ideas and rules from specific information
7) spatial visualization = the ability to
mentally visualize and manipulate objects
in space.

THEORIES OF INTELLIGENCE
3. R. B. Cattels Theory
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

THEORIES OF INTELLIGENCE
4. The Triachic Theory 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 persons verbal
reasoning ability
Experiential intelligence (creative
intelligence)
= enables people to adjust creatively and
effectively to new task and situation.

2)

3)

Contextual intelligence (practical intelligence)

= enables people to select environment in

which they can function, adjust and modify if necessary

THEORIES OF INTELLIGENCE
5. J.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. Theory 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 Intelligence

1) 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) Musical intelligence
= the ability to
perform and
appreciate music, is
represented by
composer Igot
Stravinsky

Theory of Multiple Intelligence

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

Theory of Multiple Intelligence

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

Theory of Multiple Intelligence

7)

Intra-personal
intelligence
= is the ability to
understand ones self
and is typified by the
leader Mohandas
Gandhi.

Theory of Multiple Intelligence

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

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

According to Gardner, each person has a unique profile

of these intelligences, with strengths in some areas
and weaknesses in others

INTELLIGENCE QUOTIENT

Intelligence quotient, or IQ, is a number

used to indicate a persons intelligence
An IQ tells you what your score in a particular
intelligent test, compared to your age-group.

HOW IS INTELLIGENCE
MEASURED?
IQ = MA X 100
CA
MA (mental age)-mental capacity
CA (chronological age)-actual
age

INTELLIGENCE QUOTIENT
Level

Genius
VerySuperior
Superior
High Average
Normal or
AverageLow
AverageBorderline
DefectiveMentally
Retarded

I.Q. Range

140-Above
130-140
120-130
100-120
90-100
80-90
70-80
Below 70

Factors Affecting Intelligence

Development
HEREDITY
This is represented by the genes transmitted from
parents to offspring at the movement of conception.
Heredity can affect intelligence only indirectly.
ENVIRONMENT
This is represented by all stimuli that the individual
is exposed to from conception to death. It includes
such variables as food, air, attitudes of ones
associates, the social climate of the school, and the
home.

EXTREMES OF INTELLIGENCE
Mental Retardation
= A disorder in which a persons 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
and write.

can learn to read

They can master simple occupational

skills and become self-supporting member
of society.

Levels of Mental Retardation

II.

Moderate Retardation (IMBECILES)

= IQ of 20-50

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.

Levels of Mental Retardation

III. Severe Retardation (IDIOTS)
= IQ below 20
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

RETARDATION
Micro cephalic = mentally defective
person who has an abnormally small
pointed skull and small brain.
Macrocephalic = has a large skull and
brain with associated mental deficiency.

OTHER TYPES OF MENTAL

RETARDATION
Cretinism
= disability due to insufficient
secretion of the thyroid gland; has thick lips, flat
nose, protruding abdomen, large tongue,
stunted growth, short limbs, dry & rough skin
and loss of hair. Mostly idiots.
Mongolism = due to the imbalance in the
endocrine glands;
also known as Downs
syndrome: either idiots or imbecile.

CAUSES OF MENTAL
RETARDATION

Hereditary/genetic causes
Injury before, during or shortly after birth
Poisonous substances
Biochemical factors
Traumatic brain injury
Environmental stress
Malnutrition

PREVENTION OF MENTAL
RETARDATION
Newborn Screening Program
Adult Screening Test
Laboratory Test

THERAPIES FOR MENTAL

RETARDATION

Drugs or medical treatment

Psychotherapy
Special Education Programs
Surgery
Vitamin therapy

THE GIFTED PERSON

= one who shows consistently remarkable

performance in any worthwhile line of endeavors.

Characteristics of Gifted Person
fast learner
superior in reasoning
wide range of interest
perform different work
independent minded
curious

GROUP DIFFERENCES

Sex
Age
Race/Nationality
Occupation
Socio-economic status
Geographical location