Human Learning and Individual Differences: the genetic dimension

Abstract

It is argued in this paper that from the point of view of education, individual differences in both temperament and intelligence are of the utmost importance, and that their disregard must account for a good deal of the unsatisfactory state of modern education. Bright and dull children, introverted and extroverted children, stable and unstable children react in quite different ways to different methods of education and teaching and, unless these differences are taken into account, overall averages are meaningless and often hide the true effects of any given method or system. It is further argued that genetic factors exert a very strong effect on individual differences in temperament and intelligence and that these genetic differences are fundamental for any realistic improvements in educational methodology.