Individual differences

How we think, perceive, interpret and behave is different for each individual. What we believe and what we value often shape our response or reaction, to people and events. Hence those who were brought up in a similar value and belief system are more likely to have the same or similar responses to a certain situation and are more likely to get along in the home or work environment. 

Our values and belief system are shaped by many factors experienced early in life in the home environment. As children growing up, we are taught how to behave in appropriate ways in response to numerous situations. As time goes by, and especially in the adolescent years, we are exposed to people behaving differently, in response to their own values and belief systems. One of the many tasks of teenagers is to ‘try out’ new ways of behaving so as to ascertain what’s best for them to take into adulthood. All too often, unfortunately, teenagers encounter the very opposite of what they have been previously taught, get confused or enraged, and consequently react in ways totally uncharacteristic of who they used to be. They are finding out who they are going to be in the future, often causing parental angst. The ‘rule book’ is thrown open to reinterpretation based on their new references and experiences.  

Thankfully, teenagers do somehow get to the ‘other side’ and establish a set of values and beliefs that works for them as adults. Often these are not far removed from those of their childhood years. They just had to go through ‘the eye of the storm’ to realise that the way they were brought up was not too bad after all, and that they can live with (slight variations) of their parental values and beliefs for the rest of their life. What they will have gained from their teenage exploration however, are ways to test out the viability of their new repertoire of behaviours in an ever-changing world. They will have learned to be flexible, adapt and ‘fit in’ (or not!), depending on who they have spent time with and have ongoing relationships with. The rebelliousness of youth is eventually replaced by a set of their own-formed values and beliefs that will stay with them for a very long time, to be periodically tested and reviewed but in a more managed way. 

Hence, no two people are exactly alike. They think differently, perceive and interpret the world differently and respond / react differently depending on their own experiences which are never exactly the same. Along the way they will have developed different strengths and preferences for how they function, how they make decisions, where they choose to live, who they choose to relate to etc. 

Individual psychology examines how people differ in their thinking, feeling and behaviour, and also how they may be similar. It attempts to understand ways in which people are psychologically similar and particularly what psychological characteristics vary between people. The study of individual differences harks back to the late 1800s / early 1900s.  At that time, scientists were trying to identify traits within the general population. This later became the study of personality types, then styles and attributes. Attempts were made to measure and study individual differences so as to explain and predict behaviour and performance. All this resulted in multiple and often conflicting theories and evidence about individual psychology. 

All in all, the study of individual differences helps us to understand not only what makes humans different from one another but also what makes us similar to each another. By considering the variations that can occur from one person to another, we can best understand the full range of human behaviour and emotion. We can also begin to understand what constitutes acceptable variation from the norm and what constitutes unacceptable behaviour or delays in certain areas which may require remediation or intervention e.g. for criminal behaviour, developmental delays. A related consideration is how much variation there is in values, beliefs, behaviours etc. within an individual over time and situations, and is this variation within a single person more or less than the variation between others in the general population? It also begs the question whether there are more similarities within in-group populations (e.g., groupings by sex, culture, age or ethnicity) than within populations external to the group. One would think so, but how can this be measured and confirmed?  

Personality psychology addresses these questions and more as it looks at how people live and work individually and together. It also looks at some of the unique ways that people function within specific environments. Such research can range from the analyses of genetic codes to the study of sexual, social, ethnic and cultural differences and include questions relating to behavioural styles, cognitive abilities, interpersonal styles and emotional reactivity. Typical research attempts to develop an adequate descriptive taxonomy of how people are alike and how they are different, to apply similarities or differences in one situation to predict differences in other situations, and to test hypotheses relating to the development and dynamics of individual differences in certain situations. Within the work environment, allowances and adjustments should be made for people in minority groups who may experience difficulty because of literacy, language, cultural barriers or the like. 

Focusing on individual differences allows the coach to take account of different personalities and situations, and understand why people do the things that they do – what motivates them, drives them forward, causes them to remain in a situation where they are not really happy. Once the client gains self-awareness and insight, the stage is set for them to take charge of their life and create change i.e. do something different. This may involve changing their behaviour to align it with their values and beliefs. To do this the client must identify what it is they value in relation to self, family, work, health etc. Any discrepancies between values and behaviours are opportunities for coaching to determine more productive ways of living the values so the client can achieve their desired future. But first, the client must believe they can change, and be willing to make the changes they decide to take.  

This modified excerpt is taken from the book “Positive Psychology Coaching” by Dr Susanne Knowles which is available from www.amazon.com and www.barnesandnoble.com. 

Book Reviews and a Book Trainer are available on www.susanne.knowles.com.