The structure of abilities is a set of characteristics that determine a person’s tendency to perform a particular type of activity.
What are abilities
Abilities are properties that a person possesses and which allow him to engage in one or another type of activity. Their development is due to the presence of congenital inclinations.
It is worth noting that the structure of abilities cannot be equated with human skills, abilities, and a set of knowledge. Here we are talking about internal psychological processes that determine the speed and stability of the acquisition of certain characteristics.
Many psychologists believe that abilities can be associated with traits from which they were developed. This is the highest level at which a set of knowledge and skills is structured and gets concrete outlines.
Ability Characteristics
For the successful implementation of a particular activity, a person must have inherent various kinds of abilities. Their structure is determined by various kinds of factors, among which are innate inclinations, professional sphere, education and others. Specialists distinguish the following characteristics that describe the abilities:
- these are individual characteristics that distinguish people from each other;
- the degree of development of abilities determines success in a particular area;
- not identical to knowledge and skills, but only determine their quality and ease of acquisition;
- abilities are not hereditary;
- do not arise independently if the person is not engaged in a certain type of activity;
- in the absence of development, abilities gradually disappear.
What are the abilities
The structure of abilities is largely determined by the particular area of ​​activity that most clearly shows the strengths of a person. In this regard, the following typology is distinguished:
- mental - the ability to promptly and efficiently resolve issues that arise before the individual;
- musical abilities determine the presence of hearing, voice, a good susceptibility to tempo, rhythm and melody, as well as a quick understanding of the basics of playing certain instruments;
- literary - this ability to fully, expressively and beautifully draw up your thoughts in writing;
- technical abilities imply good combinatorial thinking, as well as a deep understanding of the action of various mechanisms;
- physical - imply a strong physique and developed muscles, as well as good endurance and other parameters;
- educational abilities imply the ability to perceive and understand large volumes of information with the possibility of their further practical application;
- Artistic is the ability to perceive and transmit proportions and colors, as well as create original forms and so on.
It is worth noting that this is not a complete list of abilities that a person can possess.
Ability classification
The classification structure of abilities can be described as follows:
- According to origin:
- natural abilities have a biological structure and are due to the development of congenital inclinations;
- social abilities - those that were acquired in the process of education and training.
- In accordance with the direction:
- general abilities are necessary in view of the fact that they have a wide scope of application;
- special abilities are mandatory in the case of a specific type of activity.
- In accordance with the conditions of development:
- potential abilities appear over time after falling into certain conditions;
- relevant abilities are those that take place at a given time.
- In accordance with the level of development:
- giftedness;
- talent;
- genius.
Key attributes of abilities
Quite a lot of interest is represented by such a category as abilities. The structure of the concept includes three main features:
- individual psychological characteristics that serve as a distinguishing feature that distinguishes the individual from other people;
- the presence of abilities determines the success in carrying out activities of a certain kind (in some cases, to perform actions at the proper level, the presence, or, on the contrary, the absence, of certain characteristics)
- it is not directly the skills and abilities, but the individual characteristics that determine their acquisition.
Structure, ability levels
In psychology, two main levels of development of abilities are distinguished:
- reproductive (consists in how much the person perceives the incoming information, as well as characterizes the volumes that can be reproduced);
- creative (implies the possibility of creating new, original images).
Degree of development of abilities
The ability development structure consists of the following main degrees:
- makings - these are innate features of a person, which determine his tendency to a particular type of activity;
- giftedness is the highest level of development of makings, which determines the feeling of ease in performing certain tasks;
- talent is an individual personality trait that is expressed in a tendency to create something new, original;
- genius is the highest degree of development of the previous categories, which determines the ease in completing tasks of any kind;
- wisdom is an ability that makes it possible to soberly comprehend the events taking place around, as well as draw appropriate conclusions.
Typology of people, depending on their abilities
The structure of abilities largely determines the personality traits, as well as its tendency to carry out activities of a certain kind. So, it is customary to distinguish people of the artistic and mental type.
If we talk about the first, then its representatives very sharply react to what is happening around, which is accompanied by a surge of emotions and impressions. This often leads to the creation of something new. As for the mental type, such people are more practical and less susceptible to external influences. They logically build their reasoning, and are also prone to building clear logical chains.
It is worth noting that belonging to the artistic type does not mean at all that a person definitely has creative abilities. The structure of abilities allows him to acquire certain skills, as well as easily perform such work. In addition, people of an artistic type do not at all lack mental resources, but they are not dominant.
The division of individuals into artistic and mental types is due to the fact that different people have more developed different hemispheres. So, if the left prevails, then the person thinks symbolically, and if the right - figuratively.
Fundamentals of Ability Theory
Modern psychological science identifies several provisions on which the theory of abilities is based:
- Only in relation to a certain kind of activity can abilities exist. The structure, development of abilities can be identified and studied only in relation to a specific field, and not in general.
- Abilities are considered a dynamic concept. They can develop in the process of continuous or regular performance of any activity, and can also fade away if the active stage is over.
- The structure of a person’s abilities largely depends on the age or life period in which he is located. So, at certain times, favorable conditions may develop to achieve maximum results. After this, abilities may gradually disappear.
- Psychologists still cannot clearly define the differences between ability and giftedness. In general terms, the first concept relates to a specific type of activity. as for giftedness, it can be either specific or general.
- A set of specific characteristics requires any activity. The structure of abilities ensures the success of its implementation.
The ratio of abilities and needs
Psychologists argue that between needs and abilities there are relationships of limitation and compensation. In this regard, the following main points can be distinguished:
- the simultaneous redundancy of abilities and needs limits the possibilities of activity;
- if abilities or needs are in short supply, then they can cancel each other out;
- if there is not enough ability, then other needs become relevant over time;
- redundancy of needs requires the acquisition of new abilities.
conclusions
Abilities are specific properties of a person that determine his tendency to perform a particular type of activity. They are not congenital. Inclinations belong to this category, the presence of which greatly facilitates the process of development of abilities. Also, this concept should not be confused with giftedness or talent.
Psychologists identify several features that characterize the structure of personality abilities. They distinguish people from each other, and also determine their achievement of success in a particular field of activity. It is a mistake to consider that abilities are hereditary, this can only be said about inclinations. In addition, they cannot arise independently if a person is not engaged in activities of a certain kind. If there is no development, then the abilities gradually weaken and disappear (but this does not mean that they cannot be restored).
Depending on the field of activity, there are several types of abilities. so, mental ones allow you to quickly respond to changes in the situation, making meaningful and rational decisions. If we talk about musical abilities, then this is the presence of hearing and voice, the perception of tempo-rhythm, as well as easy mastery of the playing of musical instruments. Literary manifests itself in the ability to beautifully shape your thoughts, and technical - in understanding the functional features of various mechanisms. Speaking of physical abilities, it is worth noting endurance, as well as developed muscles. Training provides the ability to perceive and reproduce large amounts of information, and art - to convey colors and proportions. This is a basic but far from complete list of human abilities.