All people are different, it’s hard not to notice. But they differ not only in appearance or character traits, but also in their abilities. And all of us, to be honest, no, no, and let us sigh enviously – now, there are capable and talented people, and why don’t we have such talents? Abilities are one of the most significant, valuable qualities, because they are associated with success, fame, and material well-being. What is it, maybe a gift of God, and someone has it, and someone is deprived? Let’s figure out whether it is worth complaining and envy, or is it better to acquire these abilities and be proud of yourself.
What are abilities
We often use the word “ability” without going into its essence. For example, the expressions “capable person” or “capable child” are not entirely correct. It is impossible to be capable in general, the ability is always associated with a specific type of activity, in which it manifests itself and develops.
In psychology, ability is understood as a complex of human qualities that provide him with the opportunity to engage in certain activities and achieve success in it. That is, if we say that this child is capable, then we need to clarify why. You may have aptitude for math, the visual arts, long-distance running, or surgery. There are, however, general abilities required in different types of activities, but we will talk about them a little later.
It is safe to say that there are no incapable people, especially children. Without a talent for mathematics, a person can achieve success in management or design, in cooking or sports. And problems with spelling at school are not a reason to call a student incapable. Maybe he has the gift of a great artist?
Origin of abilities and their structure
The dispute about the nature of abilities has lasted for more than one hundred years. Some scientists believed that a person is born like a blank sheet of paper, on which you can write anything you want. If you choose the right upbringing methodology, then, if you wish, you can grow a great artist, a brilliant mathematician or an outstanding political figure out of a child.
Other scientists disagreed with them, arguing that ability is a gift from God, and upbringing can only get in the way. And if you have no ear for music, then you will never become a great composer. And in general, you will not become any composer.
As often happens, the truth is in the middle between these two extreme points of view.
Inkindness is the natural basis of ability
Abilities have a complex structure. Among the qualities and properties of personality, which are united by the concept of “ability”, there are natural (congenital or hereditary). This natural basis of ability is called inclinations. These include primarily psychophysiological and anatomical and physiological features.
- For example, the type of higher nervous activity or temperament – in a number of professions people with a sanguine temperament are more successful, and in others – phlegmatic or choleric. And the melancholic’s sensitivity can make him a great artist or poet.
- The innate features of the sensory system also belong to the inclinations. For example, a person with a high sensitivity to color discrimination can become a good color artist, and with the makings of an ear for music – a musician.
- To become a long-distance runner, you need a lot of lung capacity and endurance, and to play basketball you need to be tall.
But the key word “may” determines the role of the inclinations in a person’s life. The inclinations do not predetermine a person’s life path and may not develop into abilities, but remain “ballast”. On the other hand, the ability for a certain activity can be developed even with weak natural prerequisites, there would be a desire. Only it will take more effort and time, and not everyone needs it. For example, it has now been proven that with proper perseverance, everyone can learn to draw.
The inclinations are prerequisites, a kind of potential that still needs to be developed to the level of abilities. And in this development, the main role is played by the social factor – the environment in which the personality, social environment, incentives and motives are formed.
Social factor
Along with the inclinations, abilities include a set of skills, abilities and knowledge associated with a specific activity. And only in the presence of their makings will they work. The formation of abilities includes a number of processes, one way or another associated with the interaction of society and humans.
- Development of potential, which is possible only in activity. That is, to become a musician, you need to learn to play at least one musical instrument. To become a writer, you must not only be able to write, but also know the laws of stylistics, composition, etc. But most importantly, you must engage in the activity, the ability for which you want to develop. Just like the manna from heaven, they will not fall off.
- Any ability is a complex and, in addition to inclinations, includes many personal qualities. So, for the abilities in the field of artistic creativity, the development of figurative thinking, imagination, intuition is important, and for success in the exact sciences, abstract-logical thinking is required.
- Mastering activities is a prerequisite for the development of abilities. This involves teaching techniques, methods, techniques of activity. If a person with good swimmer makings does not learn to swim, then these makings will never appear.
Thus, abilities are the result of the development of all areas of the personality. Moreover, it is possible to develop abilities, translate potential inclinations into real skill at any age. Although it is best, of course, to start the development process in childhood, when the psyche is more flexible, and the perception is lively and vivid, and any activity is mastered in a playful way.
Proper upbringing and a sensitive attitude to the needs and interests of the child is a guarantee that he will grow up to be a capable person. And you need to look closely at the kids. The fact is that there is one interesting mental phenomenon that can suggest the presence of inclinations and the possibility of developing abilities for a certain type of activity. These are tendencies.
What are addictions
We treat different types of activity in different ways – we absolutely do not like something, we would like to do something, but we do not have enough time, and we always find time for some activities, even to the detriment of our own rest or household chores.
- There are types of activities to which a person has an inclination, that is, literally an irresistible desire to engage in them. He strives for this, overcoming obstacles, making a lot of efforts to master the activity he likes, enjoying the process itself. Psychologists believe that inclinations are an indicator of the presence of a person’s potential abilities for an activity he likes. And if there are no inclinations, and the classes do not bring pleasure, and the result is not interesting, then the abilities, most likely, will not be able to develop.
- True, along with true inclinations, there are also imaginary ones. They most often appear under the influence of a feeling of envy, when a person likes the result of the work of others so much that he also wants to learn the same way, for example, to draw, or to achieve success in sports, publish his own book, etc.
Apparent tendencies can arise as a result of imitation. In childhood, it often happens that a child goes to a sports section or art school after his friend, without having any interest in the activity itself. Or girls often want to become singers, imitating their favorite actress.
Distinguishing imaginary inclinations from true ones is not difficult. Mastering the activity in this case does not give pleasure, and the very first failures lead to a loss of interest.
Ability types
In psychology, there are two main types of abilities: special and general.
- Special abilities are associated with specific activities. They manifest themselves in it and develop in it. If you’ve never picked up a pencil or brush and tried to draw anything, you will never know if you have the ability to draw. More precisely, a predisposition to the development of these abilities. Each special ability is a complex set of innate inclinations, qualities, personality traits. While playing an important role in a given activity, they may not have any significance for the development of another. For example, an ear for music does nothing to help you learn to draw.
- General abilities matter in many areas of activity. These primarily include cognitive abilities: development of attention, memory, imagination, intellect. The volitional sphere plays a significant role among the general abilities – such qualities as perseverance, purposefulness, perseverance, independence.
A high level of development of general abilities is called giftedness. A gifted person can master different types of activity, even without having pronounced inclinations, but relying on a high level of intelligence, connecting figurative or abstract-logical thinking and showing perseverance.
And talent is a combination of giftedness and a certain special ability. If, with a high level of giftedness, there are many special abilities for various types of activity, then the person who possesses them is called a genius.
General abilities also include those that are required not in all types of activities, but in many, for example, organizational skills, communication, pedagogical.
But creative abilities, which have been talked about a lot lately, do not belong to a special type of abilities. In fact, there are no such abilities. And that’s why.
Ability development levels
Ability is the result of a complex and dynamic formation process influenced by a variety of factors. And in their development, abilities pass two levels or two stages.
- The first level is reproductive (reproducing). On it, abilities are manifested in the framework of the reproduction of activities, that is, teaching techniques, techniques or when performing tasks according to the model. After going through the learning process, a person can remain at the reproductive level of their abilities, become a professional and even a master of their craft. But it will be distinguished by the standard, stereotyped activity. He will masterly, masterfully reproduce things, music or thoughts according to a given pattern, drawing, project, notes, etc. And most people in the development of their abilities at this level and remain. And only a few go further, rise to the next level.
- The second level is creative. On it are those who in their development deviate from generally accepted standards. They are not interested in performing a task according to someone else’s model, and they come up with something of their own: they change the methods of performing activities, innovate technology, create new things, discover new laws. This level of development of abilities presupposes that a person has a special type of thinking – creative, unconventional, non-standard. Creative individuals are characterized by the activity of figurative thinking, imagination and intuition. That is, the creative level is associated not only with special, but also with general abilities.
Consequently, the ability for any activity can become creative if a person wants to develop and if he has creative thinking, which, by the way, can also be formed.
The sphere of abilities is the area in which each person can show their individuality, show themselves as a unique, inimitable person. You should not be jealous of those who seem to you more capable and gifted. It is better to look around, and you will surely find the area of application of your own abilities, the area where you will achieve success, fame, recognition. And such a sphere will surely be found, because there are no incapable people.
