Introduction to individual differences Flashcards
What are types of individual differences?
Personality, thinking, and behaviour
What are individual differences focused on??
Not on the similarities (as everyone is unique) but the differences
What is abnormality?
Rules about what is ‘normal’ do not apply everyone
When is someone considered abnormal?
- if behaviour is statistically infrequent
- violates social norms
- person fails to function adequately
- person deviates from ideal mental health
What does it mean when behaviour is statistically infrequent?
IQ levels being higher or lower than average
What does it mean to violate social norms?
In different parts of the world what is socially acceptable is different such as standing close to someone in public
What does it mean to not function inadequately?
Not being able to leave the house
What does it mean to deviate from ideal mental health?
Having mental disorders such as anxiety and depression
How can dispositional factors be used to understand behaviour?
Behaviour can be explained by a person’s personality (their disposition) rather than due to their situation
What do dispositional factors assume?
Assumes that a person would behave in a consistent way regardless of situation
How do you measure a persons individual differences?
- forming hypotheses
- measuring and collecting data about human behaviour
How can individual differences be measured?
- IQ tests
- personality
