Individual differences refer to the variations among people in terms of psychological and physiological attributes. These differences manifest in various ways, including intelligence, personality, physical appearance, and abilities.
Two primary factors contribute to individual differences:
Heredity
Heredity, or genetics, encompasses the biological transmission of traits from parents to offspring. Genetic makeup influences a wide range of characteristics, such as physical attributes, intelligence, temperament, and susceptibility to certain diseases.
Environment
Environmental factors encompass the social, cultural, and physical conditions in which an individual develops. These influences include family structure, education, socioeconomic status, and life experiences. Environmental factors interact with genetic predispositions to shape an individual’s personality, beliefs, and behaviors.
It’s important to note that heredity and environment interact in complex ways, and their relative contributions to individual differences vary across different traits.
