4PAHPDFF Psychology and the Individual Week 1
BSc Psychology Year 1 Introducing Differential Psychology and Personality
INTRODUCING DIFFERENTIAL
PSYCHOLOGY AND PERSONALITY
SUMMARISE THE DIFFERENT LEVELS AND PERSPECTIVES THAT
CAN BE ADOPTED TO EXPLAIN HUMAN INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES
Levels
• Cultural: People differ culturally due to variations in shared beliefs, traditions, and practices
shaped by their community or society
• Social: Social differences arise from varying roles, statuses, and relationships within
different societal structures and groups
• Psychological: Psychological differences reflect variations in individual thoughts, emotions,
behaviours, and cognitive processes
• Biological: Biological differences are due to distinctions in anatomy, physiology, and
physical development among individuals
• Genetic: Genetic differences stem from unique combinations of DNA that influence traits,
predispositions, and hereditary characteristics
Perspectives
• Behavioural Perspective: Differences are shaped by individual learning histories,
reinforcement, and environmental influences on behaviour
• Cognitive Perspective: Variations arise from how individuals perceive, process, and
interpret information based on their experiences and mental frameworks
• Developmental Perspective: Differences emerge across the lifespan due to diverse
patterns of growth, learning, and adaptation influenced by both nature and nurture
• Neuroscience Perspective: Individual differences are rooted in variations in brain structure,
function, and neural activity
1
, 4PAHPDFF Psychology and the Individual Week 1
BSc Psychology Year 1 Introducing Differential Psychology and Personality
EXPLAIN WHY IT IS IMPORTANT FOR PSYCHOLOGICAL RESEARCH
TO CONSIDER INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES.
• Considering individual differences is crucial as it ensures a more accurate and
comprehensive understanding of human behaviour
• Recognising these differences allows researchers to develop theories and findings that are
more generalisable and applicable across diverse populations
• It also helps in creating tailored interventions, improving inclusivity, and reducing biases,
advancing the validity and reliability of psychological studies
• Without accounting for individual differences, psychological research risks
oversimplification and misrepresentation of human complexity
COMPARE AND CONTRAST CORRELATIONAL AND EXPERIMENTAL
APPROACHES TO STUDYING PSYCHOLOGY
• Chronbach and Gleser (1953) determined two approaches to studying the causes of variation
in learning and behaviour between individuals
• The experimental approach attempts to understand reality by manipulating variables
between groups/treatments
• The correlational approach attempts to understand reality by estimating the influence of
variables under complex conditions between individuals
Correlations and Individual Differences
• Behavioural genetics use the correlational approach to understand individual differences
o Sauce and Matzel (2013) argue that to understand the cause of heart attacks, a
correlational approach must be taken to consider how multiple factors interact
naturally, offering a more realistic picture
Individual Differences and Mental Health Treatment Engagement
Potential Causes of Variation in Engagement
• Personality traits and mental health status influence motivation and ability to participate
• Social support and community norms can encourage or hinder engagement
• Structural barriers like time constraints or financial limitations may restrict opportunities
Factors Determining Engagement
• Awareness of the treatment and their benefits increases likelihood of participation
• Confidence in one’s ability to engage plays a key role in initiating activities
• Perceived alignment with personal values and goals determines relevance
Experimental Perspective
• Tests the effect of structured interventions like free workshops on engagement
• Manipulates environmental factors, like digital accessibility or access to green spaces, to
observe changes in participation
Correlational Perspective
• Examines the relationship between socioeconomic status and frequency of engagement
• Explores whether higher levels of social support are associated with greater participation in
connecting activities
2
BSc Psychology Year 1 Introducing Differential Psychology and Personality
INTRODUCING DIFFERENTIAL
PSYCHOLOGY AND PERSONALITY
SUMMARISE THE DIFFERENT LEVELS AND PERSPECTIVES THAT
CAN BE ADOPTED TO EXPLAIN HUMAN INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES
Levels
• Cultural: People differ culturally due to variations in shared beliefs, traditions, and practices
shaped by their community or society
• Social: Social differences arise from varying roles, statuses, and relationships within
different societal structures and groups
• Psychological: Psychological differences reflect variations in individual thoughts, emotions,
behaviours, and cognitive processes
• Biological: Biological differences are due to distinctions in anatomy, physiology, and
physical development among individuals
• Genetic: Genetic differences stem from unique combinations of DNA that influence traits,
predispositions, and hereditary characteristics
Perspectives
• Behavioural Perspective: Differences are shaped by individual learning histories,
reinforcement, and environmental influences on behaviour
• Cognitive Perspective: Variations arise from how individuals perceive, process, and
interpret information based on their experiences and mental frameworks
• Developmental Perspective: Differences emerge across the lifespan due to diverse
patterns of growth, learning, and adaptation influenced by both nature and nurture
• Neuroscience Perspective: Individual differences are rooted in variations in brain structure,
function, and neural activity
1
, 4PAHPDFF Psychology and the Individual Week 1
BSc Psychology Year 1 Introducing Differential Psychology and Personality
EXPLAIN WHY IT IS IMPORTANT FOR PSYCHOLOGICAL RESEARCH
TO CONSIDER INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES.
• Considering individual differences is crucial as it ensures a more accurate and
comprehensive understanding of human behaviour
• Recognising these differences allows researchers to develop theories and findings that are
more generalisable and applicable across diverse populations
• It also helps in creating tailored interventions, improving inclusivity, and reducing biases,
advancing the validity and reliability of psychological studies
• Without accounting for individual differences, psychological research risks
oversimplification and misrepresentation of human complexity
COMPARE AND CONTRAST CORRELATIONAL AND EXPERIMENTAL
APPROACHES TO STUDYING PSYCHOLOGY
• Chronbach and Gleser (1953) determined two approaches to studying the causes of variation
in learning and behaviour between individuals
• The experimental approach attempts to understand reality by manipulating variables
between groups/treatments
• The correlational approach attempts to understand reality by estimating the influence of
variables under complex conditions between individuals
Correlations and Individual Differences
• Behavioural genetics use the correlational approach to understand individual differences
o Sauce and Matzel (2013) argue that to understand the cause of heart attacks, a
correlational approach must be taken to consider how multiple factors interact
naturally, offering a more realistic picture
Individual Differences and Mental Health Treatment Engagement
Potential Causes of Variation in Engagement
• Personality traits and mental health status influence motivation and ability to participate
• Social support and community norms can encourage or hinder engagement
• Structural barriers like time constraints or financial limitations may restrict opportunities
Factors Determining Engagement
• Awareness of the treatment and their benefits increases likelihood of participation
• Confidence in one’s ability to engage plays a key role in initiating activities
• Perceived alignment with personal values and goals determines relevance
Experimental Perspective
• Tests the effect of structured interventions like free workshops on engagement
• Manipulates environmental factors, like digital accessibility or access to green spaces, to
observe changes in participation
Correlational Perspective
• Examines the relationship between socioeconomic status and frequency of engagement
• Explores whether higher levels of social support are associated with greater participation in
connecting activities
2
