Variations in Psychological Attributes

About this unit

This unit explains why people differ from one another in abilities, skills and ways of behaving, and how psychologists measure these differences. It introduces the idea of individual differences, the major theories of intelligence, the meaning of IQ, the influence of culture on intelligence, emotional intelligence, aptitude and creativity. These ideas are used in schools, counselling, career guidance and selection for jobs, so they are highly practical for a future teacher.

Key ideas

• Individual differences: distinctiveness and variation among people in traits and abilities.
• Psychological assessment uses tests, interviews, case studies, observation and self-reports.
• Intelligence theories: Binet, Spearman, Thurstone, Jensen, Guilford, Gardner, Sternberg and the PASS model.
• IQ = (Mental Age ÷ Chronological Age) × 100; IQ scores follow a normal distribution with mean 100.
• Culture shapes what counts as intelligent behaviour (technological versus integral intelligence).
• Emotional intelligence is the ability to perceive, understand, use and manage emotions.
• Aptitude is potential for acquiring a skill; creativity is the ability to produce novel and useful ideas.

How to prepare

• Memorise each theorist with the name of the theory and its components (for example, Gardner's eight intelligences, Sternberg's three parts).
• Practise IQ calculations and the IQ classification ranges.
• Expect case-based questions asking you to identify the type of intelligence, aptitude or assessment method being described.