individual differences is very important in nursing. Every nurse have to know about individual differences.

1. INDIVIDUAL DIFFRENCES

2. Individual differences
It differ from each other. One individual is never like
another in all respects.
Meaning of individual differences-: according to
‘dictionary of education ’
by carter B. Good – 1959:
1. Individual differences stand for the variation or
deviations among individuals in regard to a single
characteristics or a number of characteristics.
2. Individual differences stand for those differences,
which in their totality distinguish one individual
from other.

3. Types of individual differences
1. Physical or physiological differences- physical
differences among individuals related to the
differences created an account of the differences in
terms of physical makeup of our bodies. Individuals
differ in height, weight, color of skin, color of eyes
and hair, size of hands, arms, feet, mouth, nose,
waistline, structure and functioning of internal
organs, facial expression.

4. Cont….
2. Psychological differences- psychological make up
generates differences among us in terms of varying
intellectual potentialities, interests attitude,
emotions, social and moral development, etc.

5. Types of psychological differences
1. Mental differences- people differ in intellectual ability
and capacities like reasoning and thinking, power of
imagination, creative expression, concentration, etc.
2. Difference in intelligence level- intelligence level differ
from individual –to-individual. We can classify the
individuals from supernormal (IQ above 120) to idiots(IQ
from 0-50) on the basis of their intelligence level.
3. Difference in attitude- individuals are found to possess
varying attitudes toward different people, groups, objects
and ideas. Their attitudes may be positive, negative or
somewhat indifferent in nature.

6. To be cont….
4. Emotional difference- the individuals also differ in the
manner they express their emotions. Some are
emotionally stable and mature, while other are
emotionally unstable and immature.
5. Difference between motor ability- there exists a wide
difference in motor abilities such as reacting time, speed
of action, rate of muscular movement and resistance to
fatigue etc.
6. Difference in interest and aptitude- variations occur
among individuals in relation to interest. Some take
interest in meeting people; attending social function, etc.
7. Difference in social and moral development – some are
found to be adjusted properly in the social situation and
lead a happy social life. Other are antisocial.

7. Causes of individual differences
Hereditary – people belong to different hereditary
endowments and characteristics. The hereditary decides the
path of the progress and development of an individual.
 Hereditary provides the limits of one’s growth and
development in various dimensions and aspects of one’s
personality and thus variations in hereditary characteristics
cause differences between individuals.
 Hereditary not only contributes directly towards the
differences in individual in respect of their color of the skin,
eyes and shape, composition and working of various internal
as well as external bodily organ, but also makes contributions
indirectly by creating differences in the individuals in relation
to sex, intelligence and other specific abilities

8. Cont….
Environment- the environment is every thing that affects
the individual except his genes. It covers all the outside
factors that act on the individual, since he begins life.
 The first environment for a child Is the mother’s womb.
The fetus get its nourishment from the blood stream of
its mother. The physiological and psychological states of
the mother during pregnancy, her habits and interests,
all influence the development of the fetus.
 After birth the child is exposed to numerous
environmental factors such as food, water, climate,
school, village, teacher etc.

9. Individual differences in health and illness
1. Hereditary factor
2. Culture
3. Educational level
4. Socioeconomic status
5. Age
6. Occupation
7. Coping factor
8. Nature and type of illness, etc.

10. Due to these variation
 Some patient are cooperative and friendly and react to
manner, while other remain aloof and in some extreme cases.
 Some patient appear worried, tense and apprehensive, while
other are by nature cheerful and appear to be reasonably
contended.
 Some patient understand quickly and respond to instruction
readily, while other do not follow instructions at all.
 Some patient are selfish and demanding asking for attention.
 Some patient are very sensitive to pain and discomfort. other
hand some remain calm and show the apprehension. They
face the reality.
 Some patient express their problems dramatically and are
more or less childish and immature.

11. Nursing implication of individual differences
 Knowledge of individual differences help the nurse to
understand various reactions of patients