The concept of an individual style of activity (ISD) appeared in the psychology of work. Currently, it has spread not only in this area. E. A. Klimov, one of his first researchers, used this concept to study manufacturing professions. He found that the ISD is determined by the peculiarity of the actions that a person uses to achieve the goal. Not only E. A. Klimov studied this concept. It was also considered in the works of such researchers as N. S. Leites, A. N. Leontyev, V. S. Merlin, and others.
Signs of an individual style, ISD in the broad sense
ISD can be determined on the basis of special features. The most recognized among formal are the following:
- a stable system of methods and techniques of activity;
- this system should be determined by personal qualities;
- it is a means by which a person effectively adapts to certain objective requirements.
An individual style of activity in psychology, generally speaking, implies all the distinguishing features of the activity of a certain person in their system, which are explained by the characteristics 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
An individual style of activity in the narrow sense is a stable system of methods (due to typological features) that develops in a person who seeks the most effective implementation of a particular activity. Speaking of methods, we have in mind not only executive or motor acts. This can be Gnostic acts, a change of functional states or orientational actions, if they serve as a means to an end (for example, “self-excitation” among speakers, actors). An individual style of activity, in other words, is an individually-unique set of psychological means that a person resorts to (consciously or spontaneously) to best balance his own individuality (typologically determined) with external, objective conditions of activity.
The core of individual style
The most general structure is as follows. There are such methods, features of activity, which, as it were, spontaneously, without noticeable efforts or even completely involuntarily, are provoked in a given environment 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 a first adaptive effect. It is these features, and not the specific individual qualities of a person, that largely determine what direction the process of balancing with the environment will take in the future. However, they do not provide an adaptive effect to the full. Another group of features of activity appears. They are produced as a result of spontaneous or conscious searches, more or less long. This group supplements the individual style, being a kind of extension to its core.
We give an example. On the basis of inertness, a person naturally has a tendency not to break away from work. This feature of the activity can be defined as the completion of actions, which is a way of balancing with the environment. Inertness 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 punctually observe the accepted order. On the basis of mobility, the opposite characteristics of activity are spontaneously formed in a similar way.
In a series of features of this kind, which are included in the core of the individual style, the following two categories are certainly found:
- those features that contribute to success in a particular environment (denote them by "A");
- those that oppose success ("B").
It must be emphasized that this division is purely functional in nature. This means that the peculiarity of the activity in one case may be in category “A”, and in the other case it may belong to category “B”. It depends on the nature of the objective requirements. For example, when manually polishing a product, the preference for unhurried uniform movements will be in category “A”, and if it is necessary to change the nature of movements often and urgently (for example, to maintain balance on an unstable support), it will be in category “B”.
Extension to the core
Over time, to the extent of the presence of features that are favorable to the performance of activities that are typologically determined, the elements of an extension to the core also appear. We are talking about the search and use to the maximum of all the possibilities that open up in connection with this group of features of the activity.
For example, acrobatic athletes with inertia prefer exercises that include smooth and slow movements, static poses. Here they achieve maximum results. Inert workers belonging to the inert type bring the systematic nature of their work and the orderliness of the workplace to perfection. Moving people make maximum use of their inherent speed resources, as well as the ability to switch quickly and often. They "find themselves" on this path.
So, among the abilities that are extensions to the kernel, two categories are also distinguished:
- having a compensatory value (we denote them by "B");
- associated with the use of maximum positive opportunities ("G").
The severity of the individual style of activity
It turns out that the ISD is formed and expressed to a greater extent, the more features there are that belong to the following categories: "A", "B", "G". It is also expressed the more, the less there are uncompensated features included in category "B".
The task of classifying, describing the structure and even predicting the characteristics of ISD in sport, learning, work would be relevant and relatively simple if the individual style was uniquely determined by a certain complex of human characteristics given to him by nature. However, psychologists state that there is no such individual style. If by the latter we mean a certain integral effect obtained as a result of human interaction with the social or natural environment, then in each case we must recognize where the ISD is or should be formed.
Surely while reading the article you had the thought of temperament. Is it possible to say that it is he who determines the individual style of activity? Let's figure it out.
Human temperament
Temperament is a combination of properties that characterize the dynamics of human behavior and the course of mental processes, their occurrence, change and termination, speed and strength. The properties of temperament can only conditionally be attributed to the number of personal qualities. Rather, we can say that they are congenital, determined mainly biologically. However, temperament has a significant impact on the behavior and character of a person. Sometimes he determines his personality and actions. Therefore, you cannot completely separate him from the person. Temperament, as it were, connects the body, personality and various cognitive processes.
The doctrine and the very idea of temperament go back to the writings of Hippocrates, an ancient Greek physician. It was he who gave the characteristics of 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. We briefly describe each type of temperament.
Sanguine
Sanguine type means that a person has a cheerful disposition. Let's try to identify its strengths and weaknesses. Sanguine is a hopeful optimist, comedian, joker. A person quickly ignites, cools just as quickly. He promises a lot, but does not always keep promises. A person easily communicates with strangers, is a good conversationalist. He is kind, ready to help another. He is quickly tired of intense physical or mental work.
Melancholic
A melancholic temperament is characteristic of a man of gloomy mood. He usually lives a tense and complex inner life. A melancholic possesses a vulnerable soul, heightened anxiety. He is often reserved, especially promises. Such a person suffers greatly if he does not fulfill this promise.
Choleric
Choleric temperament is inherent in a hot-tempered person, who is said to be incontinent, hot. However, if they meet him, give way, he quickly calms down and cools down. His movements are short and impetuous.
Phlegmatic person
Phlegmatic temperament is characteristic of a cold-blooded person, inclined not to active, intense work, but to inaction. Man slowly becomes excited, but for a long time. This compensates for the slow pace of getting into work.
It should be noted that each temperament has its own strengths and weaknesses. It cannot be argued that some of them are better, and some are worse.
Temperament and individual style of activity
ISD determines the combination of those properties of temperament, which are manifested in communication and human action, in its cognitive processes. An individual style of activity is a system of its dynamic features, depending on temperament, which contains typical working methods for a person.
We make an important point. It is impossible to reduce the temperament of ISD, since the latter is also determined by a number of other reasons. An individual style also includes skills that are formed under the influence of a person’s life experience. The fact that when observing an individual we perceive as signs of his temperament (various forms of behavior, reaction, movement) is often a reflection not of temperament, but of ISD, the characteristics of which can either diverge from the latter or coincide with it. Thus, it is necessary to distinguish between such concepts as "temperament" and "individual style of activity."