What is individuality? What is individuality and how to develop it

In most dictionaries and textbooks on psychology, individuality is defined as a set of features that distinguish a given person from other people and determine the uniqueness of his psyche and personality. This definition leaves a clear answer to a number of questions. For example, can any characterization of a person be attributed to his personality? Can the characteristics of the course of mental processes or ability be attributed to the properties of an individual? What if the same personality trait is a matter of similarity for some people and a difference for others?

Obviously, the concept of personality requires a more meaningful analysis. It was made by domestic psychologists. B.C. Merlin developed the theory of integral individuality, according to which a person’s individuality consists of individual characteristics related to different levels of his organization - from biochemical to social. In particular, he identified three hierarchical levels. The lower level of individuality is the biochemical, somatic and neurodynamic properties of the body. The average level is represented by individual mental properties (temperament and personality traits). The highest level of individuality is occupied by socio-psychological properties, which are constituted by the social roles of a given person in small (family, collective) and large (class, people) groups.

This understanding of personality removes the question of how old a person becomes an individual. When a child is born, his personality is limited only by the properties of his body, but as he develops the characteristics of temperament, personality traits are formed, his personality expands and extends to higher levels. When a mature person occupies a certain social position, the entire hierarchy of levels of his personality is already represented in his behavior, but this does not mean that it will no longer change. A person will gain new experience, fulfill new roles, and his personality will also partially change.

Individuality is characterized not only by the totality of individual properties, but also by the peculiarity of the interconnections between them. Thus, if two people have two identical sets of properties (which is very unlikely), then they will still be dissimilar in behavior, since the connections between the properties will be different. I must say that not all psychologists agree with such a worldview of personality. A.G. Asmolov localizes individuality at the level of personality traits and connects it with semantic relationships and attitudes of a person. “They are born as an individual, become a personality, and individuality is defended,” argues A.G. Asmolov. By this, he emphasized that individuality is responsible for solving everyday issues related to the meaning of life, value orientations, and the person’s life position. When resolving these issues, conflicts usually arise, both internal (intrapersonal) and external (between the individual and those around him). In the process of this struggle, individuality is created and its persistence and scale are determined.

In the 90s. the concept of "individuality" went beyond the limits of personality. B.C. Merlin introduced the concept of “meta individuality,” by which he understood the term “psychological characterization of the relationship of people around you to this particular situation.” In other words, meta individuality is the individuality of a person in the eyes of those around him. L.Ya. Dorfman, developing the ideas of B.C. in his book The Meta-Individual World Merlin introduces new concepts of "trans-individuality" and "eco-individuality." Trans-individuality covers all the phenomena associated with the realization of individuality in the world around us: in creativity, in influencing other people, in specific matters, etc. Ecoindividuality describes processes that originate outside the individuality, but lead to its change, which is reflected in the interaction with the environment.

How do the concepts of “personality” and “individuality” relate, which one is broader? Graphically, they can be represented as two circles. We lay them on top of each other so that they do not coincide completely, but have some kind of common area. This area is those personality traits that form the basis of its individuality. The remaining area of \u200b\u200bthe circle symbolizing the personality corresponds to those of its properties that are socially typical and characterize it as a representative of many large and small groups. The “remainder" of an individual is represented by biochemical, somatic, and neurodynamic properties that are not part of the personality structure. Thus, we can say that both concepts are equal and not identical in content.

LITERATURE
  1.Asmolov A.G. Psychology of Personality. M., 1990. S. 307 - 364. Dorfman L.Ya. Meta-individual world. M., 1993. S, 79-120; 198-209; 252256.
  3. Individuality in the modern world. At 3 p.m .: Smolensk, 1995.
  4. Individuality as a subject and object of modern life: In 2 volumes: Smolensk, 1996.
  5. Merlin V.S. Essay on the integral study of personality. M., 1 986. S. 2251; 110-139.

Each of us strives to be different from each other, to demonstrate our vibrant personality and feel unique. Choosing clothes, a lady wants to emphasize the uniqueness of the created image with the help of the original style, accessories, shoes, etc. Let's take a short excursion into history and recall the Soviet times when uniform clothes for all were sold in one department store and “dudes” appeared, the movement of which can be safely called a protest and a desire to show their personality. At all times, people wanted to be different from each other. Please note that even at a tiny age, children already show their special temperament and character. One woman can have twins, and she can easily distinguish them, even if outwardly they are exactly the same.

About the concept of personality

Each of them will have different behaviors, habits and reactions to everything that happens. The definition of the word individuality is the presence of a number of unique qualities of each person, his peculiar features that only he possesses. Among these distinctive characteristics, one can safely include not only the interests of the person, but also her habits, feelings and even her mood, which is constantly changing. And this is not to mention the talents, inclinations and abilities, thanks to which a person can be called holistic, that is unique. A person demonstrates his individuality through behavior in society, while taking into account different reactions to some events, as well as the situation as a whole. It should be noted that the key influence on the development of a person is provided by the media.

A number of television programs are the key parameters for standardizing and developing a person unilaterally. The ability to think and analyze is slowly suppressed and it is not so simple to “correctly” put emphasis and draw conclusions. Such thinking is primarily very dangerous for adolescents, their personality has not yet been fully formed and the person is at the stage of socialization. The truth can be any authoritative theory that has been declared publicly with propaganda of support.

Psychological properties

Do not think about the fact that each of us is united only by external characteristics: height, eye color, physique, etc. The key difference in this set of personal psychological properties that a person possesses is his character, type of temperament, ability, emotion. Individuality is called the so-called totality of a number of traits, due to which the process of formation and formation of each individual person as a person takes place, and turns it into a special one. The desire to be unlike another person makes the person go to do things that will reward him with the characteristics of a thinking and independent character.

Do not confuse two strategically important concepts like “individuality” and “personality”. The fact is that the processes of their formation are largely different from each other and depend on the socialization of a person in the circles of society, this process leads to the formation of a person as such. This is largely due to the norms adopted in society, as well as to the rules of behavior to which all around are subject. The manifestation of individuality lies in the so-called separation of personality, as well as in the process of its isolation in society. You can safely continue to further discuss the manifestation of the traits that characterize individuality. To understand what is behind each of these terms allow epithets. So “individuality” is characterized as a “bright”, “creative” and “unique” person. This allows you to put the right emphasis and emphasize the level of independence of a person and his development. “Personality” is necessarily an “independent”, “strong” and “energetic” person, that is, a spiritual entity is represented.

How to show your personality?

It can be safely noted that the concept of personality is very ambiguous, this is primarily a characteristic of a person’s worldview. Psychologists boldly say that a person should be considered as a system of a number of internal qualities through which a person looks at this world. This is a special connecting link, by which they even understand a number of exalted moral qualities and even nobility. Therefore, you can often find the written word Person with a capital letter. Individuality is the totality of all the many unique properties of a person, that distinguishes one person from another. Each person should be an individual, from a psychological point of view, and different from the gray mass that goes around. Thanks to a pronounced individuality, a person feels special, independent, self-confident. He is used to making all decisions himself and does not need the opinion of society. Individuals have a very actively developed motivational sphere, such a person always knows what exactly she wants from life. After all, it is so important to set goals and confidently achieve them.

The concept of individuality includes a mature personality. People often recall “individuality” at moments when a person strives to stand out from the crowd with all his might and tries to do everything to have an appearance that attracts attention. However, such a person will not always be a mature person, there are certainly reasons that prompted her to such changes, even if the person is silent about them. Behind “brightness” is often a burden of psychological problems, which over time only accumulates and a person does not seek to understand himself. The concept of "individuality" is very multifaceted; it is often used not only in psychology, but also in ordinary life. Nevertheless, it is safe to say that it carries a positive connotation.

from lat. indivisible, individual) - the uniqueness, uniqueness of human properties. The concept of I. is used in psychology when describing 2 phenomena.

1. In the analysis of individual psychological differences, I. is understood as a peculiarity of the psychological properties of a person, manifested in different areas (intelligence, temperament, personality). In this context, I. is contrasted with the “average” person, or, in other words, the manifestations of the properties of an individual person are contrasted with their typical manifestations (average group tendencies). Obviously, only by comparison with data on a typical (general) m. individual differences are manifested, however, it would be a mistake to limit ourselves only to typical data, replacing them with knowledge of a particular person.

2. When analyzing the hierarchical organization of the psychological properties of a person, I. acts as the highest level of this hierarchy with respect to the individual and personal levels: the individual - the person - I. In this case, I. is a relatively closed system and represents a unique combination of all the properties of a person as an individual and personality. In the figurative expression of B. G. Ananiev, personality is the “peak” of the structure of psychological properties, and I. is the “depth” of the personality. Integrity I. in this case is determined by the unity of properties related to different hierarchical levels, cause-effect relationships between the properties of different levels and the leading role of personality properties that transform individual properties.

A specific way of researching I. is the idiographic approach proposed by W. Stern and the elaborated Amer. psychologist Gordon Allport (Allport, 1897-1967). The methods of idiographic study of I. are focused on the study of individuals (and not averaged over a group of indicators) and have as their goal the image of I. as a unique whole.

In Russian psychology, problems of I. were developed in the studies of Ananyev and V. S. Merlin, which supplemented the structural principle inherent in the hierarchical structure of individuality with the genetic principle (development principle). See Personality Properties. (M. S. Egorova.)

Adding an ed .: We will add a few concrete examples of the idiographic type of research by Russian psychologists, who, as it seems to us, have become classics: Luria A. R. A small book about great memory (Mnemonist’s mind). - M., 1968; Luria A.R. The Lost and Returned World (The History of a Wound). - M., 1971; Luria A. R., Yudovich F. Ya. Speech and development of mental processes in a child. - M., 1956; Menchinskaya N.A. Diary of the development of a child.M.-L., 1948; Menchinskaya N. A. Development of the psyche of a child: Diary of a mother. - M., 1957; Mukhina V. S. Gemini.- M., 1969. See also Longitudinal study.

Hello dear readers of the blog site. Not like everyone else, special, unique, different from others. This list can be continued for a long time.

These words are synonyms (?) Of the concept of individuality. What does it mean if we consider it?

Definition - what is individuality

The term individuality is translated from Latin individuum and means individual.

Each individual person is endowed with his specific habits, appearance, manners, feelings, attitudes, in a word - psychological and physiological properties that make him unique or individual.

On the whole planet, it is impossible to find two absolutely identical people. Even twins have multiple differences from each other, both external and internal.

Individuality is manifested in how do you behave   in a given situation, it is determined by your reactions and actions, as well as the way of thinking.

Some of these features are inherent in us at the genetic level, the other is acquired in the process of education and socialization.

In Soviet times, standing out from the crowd was at least uncivilized and indecent. The central ideology of that period was the slogan of equality. People who dared to express themselves somehow were subjected to condemnation and criticism.

In modern society, a completely different thinking operates: more flexible and liberated, devoid of shame. Most try to stand out from the "gray mass", sometimes reaching such attempts.

On the Internet you can find a lot of psychological literature, trainings and webinars, calling "not to be like everyone else!". Unfortunately, many, especially representatives of young people with a weak mentality, take this call literally, showing everyone ugly parody   personality (, etc.).

Individual, personality, individuality

This triad is closely related, but at the same time, these terms are completely different concepts.

The conclusion to this chapter can be made out in the form of a quote from A. Asmolov:

“An individual is born, a person becomes, an individual is defended.”

Individuality in Psychology

Psychologists mean by this concept a combination of such personality characteristics as:

1. temperament;
2. processes of perception;
3. intelligence;
4. character;
5. interests.

Two types of personality are also distinguished:

1. Pronounced   - An open demonstration of their abilities.
2. Hidden   - potential features of a person who did not find the conditions for their manifestation. In this case, they need to be identified and developed.

Why is she needed

What is individuality and why is it needed? Why take it into account somehow and generally know about it? In order to avoid lengthy explanations, I will give a simple example that will answer all these questions.

Imagine that you are a participant in a contest, for example, readers. One of the participants is dumb, the second is the author of poetry, which he has been reading for many years, and you know only one of them from the school curriculum in literature. How can you be evaluated equally?

Another example. Often, young mothers are upset when they hear that someone's baby spoke or went before, started drawing, counting and all that stuff. And only a few know that all children are different: which of them and when will start to do something for the first time depends on individual characteristics.

With one growth, people have different weight, physique, foot size, etc. We all somehow differ from each other, so rowing everyone under one comb is impossible.

Initially, a small child imitates adults in order to "integrate" into the general mass of people - to socialize. At the same time, he can do this not only by his parents, but also in his own, peculiar ways. Becoming a personality, an individual acquires his own personality.

In the first half of life, we try to be like others, the second half - to find our difference from them, to understand our personal purpose. We want to manifest ourselves somehow especially, to make our own unique contribution, to leave a mark in history.

From a psychological point of view, this is a very important point: an individual lifestyle brings a person a feeling the personal meaning of one’s existence.

How to develop your originality

Do you want to pass for a bright personality? Well then you need to know something. But at the same time get ready for what you have to uphold personal identity   in front of people. Despite the fact that we all want to be different, we terribly do not like it when the other is different, and not us.

After all, if we are all different, then they are the same. Who then will be an ordinary person? (). In fact, a demonstration of their features - it's a challengeabandoned to society. The echoes of the old “identical” times are still present in the heads of the older generation, and even among young people there are especially “correct” ones.

Also, there are individuals who do not have enough spirit for their manifestations, so they strongly criticize this craving in others (neither themselves nor people). In general, no one has canceled public pressure.

If the first step is successfully completed and the decision to cultivate your self is made, then start work on yourself. And you thought everything would somehow work out by itself? No, you have to deal with the definition of personality (if you suddenly do not know how it “looks”).

How to do it? Catch the instructions on how to develop personality:

1. Listen to your inner voice, not the opinions of others. Do as you wish, and not as “arranged, laid, must”;
2. Develop your, which is in accordance with your inner world and external manifestations. Do not pretend - live by what is inside. Are you angry? Tell me. Do you want to cry? Cry Do not talk about what is not - fake compliments, surprise, interest. Broadcast to the world only how you really feel. Or just keep silent and do nothing. It is better than fiction to be pleasing to others;
3. Be honest. This item, of course, can be combined with the previous one, and yet it deserves separate lines. Honesty with people, and most importantly, honesty with oneself are important phenomena. Sincerity and openness deprive a person of tension, fears. It gives liveliness, spontaneity and interest from the side. They admire such people, since not everyone dares to be themselves;
4. Improve your personality. Everyone has disadvantages - this is a fact. But they can and should be fought. The first step to this is to discover your “roughness”, acknowledge and accept them. Positive changes will begin only after that (as I say to you as a psychologist);
5. Train your internal hardness. He said no, it means no. Defend your opinion, views, decisions. Remove “uncertain” words from the lexicon, such as “I think,” “maybe,” “probably,” etc. Speak directly about your desires and intentions. Instead of “probably I won’t go to the store with you” say “I don’t go to the store with you”. It seems to have one meaning, but it sounds differently;
6. Practice varied thinking, individuality does not think stereotyped. To do this, give yourself a brainstorm every time a situation occurs: come up with 7-10 options for its development. This practice helps to expand consciousness, to be more flexible and adaptive.

Good luck to you! See you soon on the blog pages site

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Individuality

Great psychological dictionary. - M.: Prime-EUROSNAK. Ed. B.G. Meshcheryakova, Acad. V.P. Zinchenko. 2003 .

Individuality

   INDIVIDUALITY (from.263)

In most psychological works, individuality is defined as a set of features that distinguish a given person from other people and determine the uniqueness of his personality. Such a definition leaves unanswered a number of important questions. Can any characterization of a person be attributed to his personality? Should the characteristics of the course of mental processes or the ability of a person be attributed to the properties of an individual? How to evaluate a trait that is the subject of similarity for some people and a difference for others?

At the scientific, and not at the everyday level, the concept of individuality requires a deeper meaningful analysis, which was carried out by a number of Russian psychologists. So, V.S. Merlin developed the theory of integral personality.

According to this theory, a person’s individuality consists of individual characteristics related to different levels of his organization - from biochemical to social. Merlin distinguishes three hierarchical levels.

The lower level of individuality is made up of biochemical, somatic (bodily) and neurodynamic properties of the body.

The average level is represented by individual mental properties (especially temperament and).

The highest level is occupied by socio-psychological properties, the components of which are the social roles of a given person in small (for example,) and large (for example, people) groups.

Such a view removes the question of at what age a person acts as an individual. At the time of birth, a person’s personality is limited only by the properties of his body. As his temperament features manifest, personality traits form, his personality expands and encompasses ever higher levels. A mature person occupies a certain social position, and the entire hierarchy of his personality is represented in his behavior, which, however, does not mean its immutability. When performing new roles, gaining new experience, personality undergoes changes.

Individuality is characterized not only by the totality of individual properties, but also by the peculiarity of the interconnections between them. Thus, if two people have the same sets of properties (which is extremely unlikely in itself), then they will still differ in their attitude and behavior, since the connections between the properties will be different.

It should be noted that not all psychologists share such a broad understanding of personality. So, A.G. Asmolov relates individuality to the level of personality traits and connects it with semantic relationships and attitudes of a person. “They are born an individual, become a personality, and individuality is upheld,” he says. This emphasizes that individuality is responsible for resolving issues related to the meaning of life, value orientations, and a person’s personal position. In resolving these issues, the occurrence of conflicts is natural - both internal (intrapersonal - for example, the conflict of opposing motives and motives), and external (between the individual and others). In the process of this struggle, individuality is formed, and the results of the struggle determine its persistence and scale.

How to correlate the concepts of "personality" and "individuality"? They can be graphically represented as two circles superimposed on each other in such a way that, not completely coinciding, they have a common intersection area. This area reflects those personality traits that form the basis of its individuality. The rest of the circle symbolizing the personality corresponds to those of its properties that are socially typical and characterize it as a representative of many large and small groups. The rest of the personality circle is represented by biochemical, somatic and neurodynamic properties that are not included in the personality structure. Thus, these concepts are equal, but only partially coincide in content.

Popular psychological encyclopedia. - M .: Eksmo. S.S. Stepanov. 2005.

See what "personality" is in other dictionaries:

INDIVIDUALITY   - unique originality phenomena, Dep. creatures, man. In the most general sense, I. as a special characterizing this unity in its qualities. differences, contrasted with the typical (see Type) as a common, inherent in all ... ... Philosophical Encyclopedia

INDIVIDUALITY   - (from the Latin. individuum is an inseparable whole). Distinctive features of an individual being, distinguishing him from other individuals of his species. Dictionary of foreign words included in the Russian language. Chudinov AN, 1910. INDIVIDUALITY the whole sum of qualities and ... ... Dictionary of foreign words of the Russian language

individuality   - See personal ... Dictionary of Russian synonyms and similar expressions. under. ed. N. Abramova, M .: Russian dictionaries, 1999. individuality, person, personal, non-standard, originality, originality, personality, specialty, non-traditional ... Synonym dictionary

individuality   - and, well. individualité f. 1. Features, distinctive features inherent in an individual. BAS 1. He Levkoev could talk about everything coherently and thoroughly, but hardly talk, even slightly and in passing, touched on philosophy, how he rebelled in his head ... ... Historical Dictionary of Gallicisms of the Russian Language

INDIVIDUALITY   - INDIVIDUALITY, personality, wives. (book). 1. only units distracted. noun to individual. Individuality of qualities. 2. The set of characteristic individual characteristics and properties that distinguish one individual from another. He is a man at all ... ... Explanatory Dictionary of Ushakov

INDIVIDUALITY   - INDIVIDUALITY, unique originality of any phenomenon, person; the opposite of the general, typical, in social psychology of the collective (group) ... Modern Encyclopedia

INDIVIDUALITY   - the unique identity of any phenomenon, individual being, person; the opposite of the general, typical, in social psychology of the collective (group). As a philosophical concept was developed in the doctrine of the atom (individual), monad ... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary

Individuality   - (from Latin indiduum indivisible, individual) a concept denoting in experimental psychology a unique set of more or less standard psychological qualities inherent in an individual person ... Psychological dictionary