University of Caloocan City

Biglang Awa St., 12th Ave. East, Caloocan City

Psycho-Philosophical Foundation in Education

REFLECTION – INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES

Name: GLADYS G. GERONIMO Date: April 10, 2021

Course: MAED-303 Professor: DR. ROSALITO S. QUIDES

“No matter what our individual differences may be, remember that we are
all souls who are growing, not only with, but because of each other. We release
the need to judge each other because we recognize that we evolve in as many
ways as there are people and that we grow at our own individual pace.”
- excerpt from The Power of Oneness, Live the Life You Choose by Sandra Brossman

It is said that no two individuals can be exactly alike in their resulting

development and adjustments even twins have their own individuality. Each of us is a
unique person,
an amalgam of inherited genetic material and environmental influences. The unique
characteristics and traits emerge as children pass from one stage to another. The
differences among individuals may be brought about by two factors: Heredity and
Environment. Every person possesses a unique set of genetic material endowing them
with variations in aptitude, physical development, and capacities, which in turn are acted
on by their interpretation of unique environmental experiences. Heredity, no doubt has
its influence on the physiological traits but environment is also the arbiter of our
development. What heredity can do environment can also do. Neither can ever be
eliminated and neither can ever be isolated. Both have been operative in determining
human behavior.

In our discussions of many aspects of psychology we frequently have cause to

wonder to what extent the potential for individual characteristics is inherited, or how far
the life experiences of individuals shape the manifestation of these inherited properties.
Learners may vary in their personalities, motivations, and attributions for their
successes and failures when learning—all of which may affect how and why they learn.
Additionally, they differ in their preferences for learning and their willingness to learn.
Some traits may be more adaptive, whereas others are stable and less malleable, or
resistant to change, especially as an individual matures to adulthood.

The controversy over the relative roles of heredity and environment has given
rise to three positions: (1) Extreme genetic determinism in which differences between
individuals is attributed to differences in genetic inheritance; (2) Individual differences in
intellect, personality, performance, etc. are all the outcome of learning and experience,
so it is differences in the quality of the environment that cause inequalities between
individuals (Extreme environmentalism); and (3) Those adopts the view that differences
between individuals are the outcome of interactions between heredity and environment
(interactionist approach).

As a classroom adviser, I always remind my students with the acronym YOU,

which stands for Your own Uniqueness. I always advise them that each of them is a
unique individual and should not compare what they can do with others because in their
own way they could learn and understand their lessons and could achieve their dreams
and goals through their own abilities. I see to it that my pupils will not be deprived their
rights as children in terms of socio-economic status because it is not a hindrance for
them to interact socially. Learning must be achieved without prejudice. For almost 16
years in teaching, understanding how one pupil differ from the others is very important
 University of Caloocan City
Biglang Awa St., 12th Ave. East, Caloocan City

Psycho-Philosophical Foundation in Education

REFLECTION – INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES

so that I could cater their needs and help them if they are in trouble. Identifying
individual differences in learning can also help professionals to ask the right questions
and not simply accept what is on the surface. There are reasons why each child learns
at a different pace, and those reasons must be understood if that child is to have a
chance of performing at his/her potential. Once understanding of each individual is
achieved, a solution can then be found that will enable the child to make the most of
what learning tools are available.

Understanding the way children learn can go a long way to helping them become
the best they can be. However, there are so many factors involved with the way children
learn that it is sometimes difficult to determine exactly why a child learns the way he/she
does. Personality traits, learning disabilities, genetics, environment, and gender—it all
plays a role in making up the individual. Intelligence level and IQ does not mean that a
child has the same ability to learn as other children. Children can only reach their fullest
potential when those who teach them understand how they learn and all of the tools
available are used to enhance the learning experience.