Individual style of activity, features of temperament, psychology of individual differences

The concept of an individual style of activity (ISD) appeared in the psychology of work. At present, it has become widespread not only in this field. E. A. Klimov, one of the first of his researchers, used this concept to study industrial professions. He found out that the ISD is determined by the peculiarity of the actions that a person uses to achieve the goal. Not only EA Klimov studied this concept. It was also considered in the work of such researchers as NS Leites, AN Leontiev, VS Merlin, and others.

Signs of individual style, ISD in a broad sense

ISD can be determined based on specific characteristics. The most generally recognized among the formal ones are the following:

• A stable system of methods and methods of activity;
• This system must be conditioned by personal qualities;
• It is a means by which a person effectively adapts to certain objective requirements.

Individual style of activity in psychology, generally speaking, implies all the distinctive signs of the activity of a particular person in their system, which are explained by the peculiarities of his personality. However, to facilitate the task, researchers often consider only features due to the properties of the nervous system.

ISD in the narrow sense

Individual style of activity in a narrow sense is a stable system of methods (conditioned by typological features) that develops in a person who aspires to the most effective implementation of a particular activity. Speaking of methods, we mean not only executive or motor acts. It can be both gnostic acts, a change in functional states or orienting actions if they serve as a means of achieving the goal (for example, "self-excitation" in speakers or actors). The individual style of activity, in other words, is an individually-original set of psychological means to which a person resorts (consciously or spontaneously) to best balance his own individuality (typologically conditioned) with external, objective conditions of activity.

Core of individual style

The most general structure is as follows. There are such ways, features of activity that are spontaneously, without noticeable efforts or even involuntarily, provoked in this or that situation due to the presence of a complex of typological properties in the individual's nervous system. These features can be defined as the core of an individual style. They provide the first adaptive effect. It is these features, and not the specific individual qualities of a person, that largely determine which direction the process of balancing with the environment will take in the future. However, they do not provide the adaptive effect to the full. There is one more group of features of activity. They are produced as a result of spontaneous or conscious searches, more or less prolonged. This group complements the individual style, being a kind of annex to its core.

Let us give an example. On the basis of inertia, a person naturally appears to be inclined not to break away from work. This feature of activity can be defined as the completion of actions to the end, which is a way of balancing with the environment. Inertia is the basis on which smooth and slow movements are easily carried out, a person begins to give preference to one or another stereotyped mode of action. In the future, the formation of an individual style of activity leads to the fact that he tries to observe the accepted order punctually. On the basis of mobility, the opposite features of activity are formed in the same way spontaneously.

Among the features of this kind, which are included in the core of the individual style, the following two categories are sure to be found:

• Those features that contribute to success in a particular setting (let us designate them as "A");
• Those that counteract success ("B").

It should be emphasized that this division has a purely functional character. This means that the feature of the activity in one case can be in the category "A", and in the other case it can belong to the category "B". It depends on the nature of the objective requirements. For example, when hand polishing a product, the preference for slow, monotonous movements will be in the category "A", and if it is necessary to change the character of the movements frequently (for example, to keep the balance on an unstable support), it will be in category "B".

Attachment to the core

Over time, in the measure of the availability of features favorable to the performance of the activities, typologically conditioned, elements of an extension to the core appear. It is about finding and using the maximum of all opportunities that are opening in connection with this group of features of the activity.

For example, acrobats athletes with inertia prefer exercises that include smooth and slow movements, static poses. Here they achieve the maximum result. Related to the inert type, the machine operators make systematic work in their work and the orderliness of the workplace to perfection. Movable people use their high-speed resources as much as possible, as well as the ability to switch quickly and frequently. They "find themselves" on this path.

So, among the abilities that are an extension to the core, two categories are also distinguished:

• Having a compensatory value (we denote them by "B");
• Associated with the use of the maximum of positive opportunities ("G").

Degree of expression of individual style of activity

It turns out that the ISD is formed and expressed in a greater degree, the more there are features that belong to the following categories: "A", "B", "G". Also, it is expressed the more, the fewer uncompensated features included in the "B" category.

The task of classifying, describing the structure and even predicting the ISD's characteristics in sport, teaching, labor would be relevant and relatively simple if the individual style was uniquely determined by a certain set of features of the person given to him by nature. However, psychologists state that there is no such individual style. If, under the latter, we understand an integral effect obtained as a result of the interaction of a person with a social or natural environment, in each case we must recognize where the ISD is or should be formed.

Surely when reading the article you have an idea about temperament. Is it possible to say that it is he who determines the individual style of activity? Let's figure it out.

Temperament of man

Temperament is a set of properties that characterize the dynamics of human behavior and the course of mental processes, their emergence, change and termination, speed and strength. Properties of temperament can only be conditionally attributed to the number of personal qualities. Rather, we can say that they are congenital, caused mainly by biology. However, temperament has a significant influence on the behavior and character of a person. Sometimes he defines his personality and actions. Therefore, you can not completely separate it from the person. Temperament, as it binds the body, personality and various cognitive processes.

The doctrine and the very idea of temperament go back to the works of Hippocrates, an ancient Greek physician. It was he who gave the characteristics to the main types. However, Hippocrates associated temperament with the ratio of fluids in the body, and not with the characteristics of the nervous system, as is customary in modern science. Briefly describe each of the types of temperament.

Sanguine

Sanguine type means that a person has a cheerful disposition. Let's try to determine its strengths and weaknesses. Sanguine is full of hope optimist, humorist, joker. The person quickly ignites, just as quickly cools. He promises a lot, but he does not always keep his promises. Man easily communicates with strangers, is a good conversationalist. He is kind, ready to help others. He is quickly tired by intense physical or mental work.

Melancholic

Melancholic temperament is peculiar to a man of a gloomy mood. He usually lives a tense and complex inner life. Melancholic has a vulnerable soul, increased anxiety. He is often reserved, especially for promises. Such a person suffers greatly if he does not fulfill this promise.

Choleric

The choleric temperament is typical of a quick-tempered person, who is said to be unrestrained, hot. However, if they meet him, they give way, he quickly calms down and cools. Its movements are short and impetuous.

Phlegmatic person

Phlegmatic temperament belongs to a cold-blooded man, inclined not to active, hard work, but to inactivity. The person slowly gets excited, but for a long time. This compensates for the slow rate of entry into work.

It should be noted that each temperament has its strengths and weaknesses. It can not be said that some of them are better, but some worse.

Temperament and individual style of activity

ISD defines a combination of those properties of temperament, which are manifested in the communication and action of man, in his cognitive processes. Individual style of activity is a system of its dynamic features, depending on temperament, which contains typical methods of work for a particular person.

Let's make an important remark. It can not be reduced to the ISD's temperament, since the latter is determined by a number of other reasons. Individual style also includes skills and abilities, which are formed under the influence of the person's life experience. The fact that when we observe the individual as signs of his temperament (various forms of behavior, reactions, movements) is often a reflection not of temperament, namely ISD, the features of which can both diverge from the latter and coincide with it. Thus, it is necessary to distinguish such concepts as "temperament" and "individual style of activity".