Abilities – are the unique characteristics of each person that make them distinctive and affect how successfully they cope with different types of work. They are not reducible to simple knowledge or skills. Abilities determine how quickly and easily a person can master new ways of performing tasks.
Psychologist B.M. Teplov introduced the concept of abilities, understanding them as psychological characteristics that influence a person's capacity to perform various types of activity. These abilities are expressed in how successfully and uniquely a person performs different kinds of work.
Abilities can be classified in two main ways: by types of mental functional systems and by types of activity. The first classification includes sensory, perceptual, attentional, mnemonic, imaginative, thinking, and communicative abilities. The second classification includes abilities in mathematics, music, science, literature, and art.
In addition, there are general and specialized abilities. Examples of general abilities include general intelligence, creativity, and, more rarely, learning capacity. Specialized abilities require more specific training and development and may depend on natural talents.
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