What Are Dispositions

What Are Dispositions? Unpacking the Concept in Psychology and Education

Introduction:

Have you ever wondered why some individuals thrive in challenging situations while others struggle? Why does one child embrace learning while another resists? The answer often lies in their dispositions, a concept often overlooked but crucial to understanding human behavior and success. This comprehensive guide will delve deep into what dispositions are, exploring their multifaceted nature within psychology and education. We'll unpack their key characteristics, examine their influence on learning and development, and discover how understanding dispositions can lead to more effective teaching and personal growth. Get ready to unravel the mysteries of this powerful influence on our lives.


What are Dispositions? A Definition and Exploration

The term "disposition" carries various meanings depending on the context, but in psychology and education, it refers to a person's inherent tendencies or inclinations towards certain behaviors, attitudes, or beliefs. These aren't simply fleeting moods; they're relatively stable, consistent patterns of reacting and responding to the world around them. Think of them as ingrained characteristics that shape how individuals approach tasks, interact with others, and navigate life's challenges. Dispositions are not fixed and immutable; they can be influenced and developed over time through experiences and learning.

Key Characteristics of Dispositions:

Stability: Dispositions tend to be relatively consistent over time, although they can evolve and change. A naturally curious person is likely to remain curious throughout their life, even if the objects of their curiosity shift.
Inherent Tendency: Dispositions represent an internal inclination, a predisposition towards certain actions or thoughts, rather than a learned skill or habit. While learning can shape and strengthen them, dispositions are rooted in personality and temperament.
Influence on Behavior: Dispositions exert a significant influence on how individuals behave in various situations. A person with a strong disposition towards collaboration will naturally seek out teamwork opportunities.
Multifaceted Nature: Dispositions are not isolated traits but interact and influence each other. For example, a disposition towards resilience might be linked to a disposition towards perseverance.
Developmental Aspect: Dispositions are not static; they develop and evolve throughout a person's life, shaped by experiences, relationships, and learning opportunities.

Dispositions in Education: Fostering a Growth Mindset

In the educational context, understanding dispositions is paramount. Teachers can use this knowledge to foster a positive learning environment and support student growth. Identifying students' dispositions towards learning (e.g., curiosity, perseverance, risk-taking) allows educators to tailor their teaching methods to better engage and motivate individual students. Cultivating positive dispositions, such as a growth mindset (the belief that abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work), is crucial for academic success and lifelong learning.

Types of Dispositions and Their Impact:

Intellectual Curiosity: This disposition drives a desire to learn, explore, and understand the world. Students with high intellectual curiosity are often more engaged in their studies and seek out new knowledge independently.
Perseverance: The ability to persist in the face of challenges is vital for academic success. Students with a strong disposition towards perseverance are less likely to give up when faced with difficulties.
Collaboration: Working effectively with others is crucial in many aspects of life. A collaborative disposition enhances teamwork and promotes a positive learning environment.
Responsibility: Taking ownership of one's learning and actions is essential for academic and personal success. Students with a strong sense of responsibility are more likely to be self-motivated and engaged.
Resilience: The ability to bounce back from setbacks is crucial for navigating the challenges of life. Students who are resilient are more likely to persevere through difficulties and achieve their goals.
Creativity: Imagination and innovation are vital for problem-solving and critical thinking. A creative disposition encourages students to explore different approaches and think outside the box.
Critical Thinking: Analyzing information objectively and evaluating different perspectives is essential for informed decision-making. A critical thinking disposition promotes deep understanding and intellectual growth.


Assessing and Developing Dispositions:

Assessing dispositions requires a holistic approach, going beyond traditional standardized tests. Observations of student behavior in classrooms, participation in group activities, and self-reflection exercises can provide valuable insights. Developing positive dispositions involves creating a supportive and engaging learning environment that encourages risk-taking, collaboration, and perseverance. Providing students with opportunities to develop their strengths and address their weaknesses is crucial.


Dispositions in the Workplace: Essential for Success

The impact of dispositions extends far beyond the classroom. In the workplace, positive dispositions are highly valued by employers. Individuals with strong work ethic, collaboration skills, and problem-solving abilities are more likely to succeed and contribute to a positive team environment. Understanding one's own dispositions can be a valuable tool for career planning and personal development.


Conclusion:

Understanding what dispositions are is crucial for personal growth, effective teaching, and organizational success. By recognizing the influence of dispositions on behavior and achievement, we can create environments that foster positive traits and support individual development. Whether in the classroom, the workplace, or personal life, cultivating a growth mindset and nurturing positive dispositions pave the way for greater success and fulfillment.



Article Outline: "What Are Dispositions?"

I. Introduction:
Hook: Engaging question about individual differences in success.
Definition of dispositions in psychology and education.
Overview of the article's contents.

II. Key Characteristics of Dispositions:
Stability over time.
Inherent tendencies versus learned behaviors.
Influence on behavior and decision-making.
Multifaceted and interconnected nature.
Developmental aspect throughout life.

III. Dispositions in Education:
Importance in fostering a positive learning environment.
Identifying and nurturing dispositions in students.
Cultivating a growth mindset.
Examples of key dispositions in education (curiosity, perseverance, etc.).

IV. Types of Dispositions and Their Impact: (Detailed exploration of several disposition types as shown above)

V. Assessing and Developing Dispositions:
Methods for assessing dispositions (observation, self-reflection).
Strategies for developing positive dispositions.
Creating a supportive learning environment.

VI. Dispositions in the Workplace:
Value of positive dispositions in the professional world.
Importance for team collaboration and individual success.
Linking dispositions to career planning and development.

VII. Conclusion:
Summary of key takeaways.
Emphasis on the importance of understanding and developing dispositions.


Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

1. Are dispositions innate or learned? Dispositions are a complex interplay of both innate tendencies and learned behaviors. While individuals are born with certain predispositions, their environment and experiences significantly shape their development.

2. How can I identify my own dispositions? Self-reflection, observing your own reactions in various situations, and seeking feedback from others can help you identify your key dispositions.

3. Can dispositions change? Yes, dispositions can evolve over time through conscious effort, new experiences, and learning.

4. How can teachers help students develop positive dispositions? Teachers can create supportive and challenging learning environments that encourage risk-taking, collaboration, and perseverance. Providing positive feedback and celebrating successes is also crucial.

5. What is the difference between a disposition and a personality trait? While related, dispositions focus more on inclinations towards specific behaviors or attitudes in particular contexts, whereas personality traits are broader, encompassing a wider range of characteristics.

6. Are dispositions the same as skills? No, dispositions are underlying tendencies, while skills are learned abilities. A disposition towards perseverance might lead someone to develop strong problem-solving skills.

7. How can I use knowledge of dispositions in my workplace? Understanding your own and your colleagues' dispositions can enhance teamwork, communication, and conflict resolution. It can also help with leadership and employee development.

8. Can negative dispositions be changed? Yes, but it often requires conscious effort, self-awareness, and support from others. Therapy or coaching can be helpful in addressing negative dispositions.

9. Are dispositions culturally influenced? Yes, cultural norms and values can influence the development and expression of dispositions.


Related Articles:

1. Growth Mindset vs. Fixed Mindset: Explores the impact of different beliefs about ability on learning and achievement.
2. Emotional Intelligence and Success: Discusses the role of emotional intelligence in personal and professional life.
3. The Power of Resilience: Examines the importance of resilience in overcoming challenges and achieving goals.
4. Developing a Positive Learning Environment: Offers strategies for creating a classroom that fosters student engagement and growth.
5. Collaborative Learning Strategies: Explores effective methods for promoting teamwork and collaboration in education.
6. Critical Thinking Skills for Students: Provides techniques for developing critical thinking abilities in students.
7. Effective Feedback Strategies for Students: Offers guidance on providing constructive feedback to improve student learning.
8. Building a Strong Work Ethic: Discusses the components of a strong work ethic and how to cultivate it.
9. Personality Types and Career Choices: Explores the connection between personality traits and suitable career paths.


  what are dispositions: Dispositions Arthur L. Costa, Bena Kallick, 2013-10-09 From the authors of the best-selling Habits of Mind… Two leading consultants present a game-changing look at why and how to “mind the gap” between what we claim are educational essentials, and how we evaluate results. Dispositions builds on the authors’ influential Habits of Mind writings, including new evidence of why influencing students’ dispositional habits is their key to finding meaning in classroom content. Topics include: Making dispositions come alive in the minds of students Shifting the thinking of educational leaders, parents, politicians and the public How to align day-to-day classroom practices with larger dispositional outcomes
  what are dispositions: Dispositions Stephen Mumford, 2003 Mumford puts forward a new theory of dispositions, showing how central their role in metaphysics and philosophy of science is. Much of our understanding of the physical and psychological world is expressed in terms of dispositional properties--from the spin of a sub-atomic particle to the solubility of sugar. Mumford discusses what it means to say that something has a property of this kind and how dispositions can possibly be real things in the world.
  what are dispositions: Enhancing the Quality of Learning John R. Kirby, Michael J. Lawson, 2012-05-21 High quality learning is extensive, well integrated, deep, and supports the use of knowledge in new situations that require adaptation of what has been learned previously. This book reviews current research on the nature of high quality learning and the factors that facilitate or inhibit it. The book addresses relationships between quality of learning and learners' dispositions, teaching methods, cognitive strategies, assessment, and technologies that can support learning. The chapters provide theoretical analyses, reports of classroom research, and suggestions for practical application for both teachers and learners. The book will be of value to teachers at all levels of education and provides guidance for students about how to approach classroom tasks in order to develop high quality learning.
  what are dispositions: Dispositions Without Trial Robert J. Van Kessel, 2007
  what are dispositions: Dispositions Arthur L. Costa, Bena Kallick, 2013-10-09 From the authors of the best-selling Habits of Mind... A costly gap exists between what we claim to value as educational essentials and how we evaluate results. In Dispositions, Arthur L. Costa and Bena Kallick present a game-changing look at why and how to mind the gap. The authors’ Habits of Mind writings have influenced educational policy worldwide. Dispositions incorporates new cognitive science that shows how influencing students’ mental habits is their key to finding meaning in classroom content. Topics include: Making dispositions come alive in the minds of students Shifting the thinking of educational leaders, parents, politicians and the public How to align day-to-day classroom practices with larger dispositional outcomes Featuring techniques for integrating dispositional learning into the Common Core, Dispositions is Costa and Kallick’s most indispensable work on 21st Century learning. Education must include the development of the human elements in our children. Costa and Kallick present a reasonable, practical and positive alternative—the cultivation of dispositional thinking, the very core of being human. Foreword by Yong Zhao
  what are dispositions: Interdisciplinary Approaches Toward Enhancing Teacher Education Ramírez-Verdugo, M. Dolores, Otcu-Grillman, Bahar, 2020-10-09 Regardless of the discipline or country, creating quality education is multifaceted. At the center of any schooling practice are the educators, their schools, and the teacher education programs that license them. As the schools and faculties of education strive to provide the best practices to pre-service or in-service teachers, it becomes more critical to increase the quality of teacher education via various means to keep up with the demands of schooling in the 21st century. Interdisciplinary Approaches Toward Enhancing Teacher Education provides an overview of how innovation and research experience can enhance teacher education programs with a focus on competencies, skills, and strategies future teachers will need to cope with while teaching students’ learning with diversity and facing linguistic, social, and environmental challenges. The book particularly investigates the potentiality of educational technology, innovative techniques, and digital storytelling to enhance education and bilingualism in intercultural contexts and multilingual settings. Covering topics that include performance assessment, teacher training, and professional development, and including many practical and diverse examples, this book is intended for TESOL, second or foreign language learning, and CUL programs and teacher-training institutions, as well as teachers, researchers, academicians, and students in interdisciplinary areas that include science, history, geography, language learning, bilingualism, intercultural competencies, classroom interaction, gamification, and educational technology.
  what are dispositions: Potentiality Barbara Vetter, 2015 Individual objects have potentials: paper has the potential to burn, an acorn has the potential to turn into a tree, some people have the potential to run a mile in less than four minutes. Barbara Vetter provides a systematic investigation into the metaphysics of such potentials, and an account of metaphysical modality based on them. In contemporary philosophy, potentials have been recognized mostly in the form of so-called dispositions: solubility, fragility, and so on. Vetter takes dispositions as her starting point, but argues for and develops a more comprehensive conception of potentiality. She shows how, with this more comprehensive conception, an account of metaphysical modality can be given that meets three crucial requirements: (1) Extensional correctness: providing the right truth-values for statements of possibility and necessity; (2) formal adequacy: providing the right logic for metaphysical modality; and (3) semantic utility: providing a semantics that links ordinary modal language to the metaphysics of modality. The resulting view of modality is a version of dispositionalism about modality: it takes modality to be a matter of the dispositions of individual objects (and, crucially, not of possible worlds). This approach has a long philosophical tradition going back to Aristotle, but has been largely neglected in contemporary philosophy. In recent years, it has become a live option again due to the rise of anti-Humean, powers-based metaphysics. The aim of Potentiality and Possibility is to develop the dispositionalist view in a way that takes account of contemporary developments in metaphysics, logic, and semantics.
  what are dispositions: Dispositions in Teacher Education Mary E. Diez, James D. Raths, 2007 The topic of dispositions is central to teacher education and to teacher educators. Because of perhaps precipitous action on the part of accrediting agencies in teacher education, teacher educators need to define, teach, and assess dispositions in their programs. This book examines the sources of the concept dispositions, how it evolved in teacher education, what forms it has taken in selected programs, and what challenges remain in this arena for teacher educators.
  what are dispositions: Professional Behaviors and Dispositions Candace M. McLain, Joelle P. Lewis, 2018-10-10 Professional Behaviors and Dispositions teaches counselors in training (CITs) how to cultivate counselor competencies and critical thinking skills in support of lifelong professional development. CITs will first gain a detailed understanding of the professional behaviors and dispositions expected of all counselors. They will then learn how to evaluate themselves for these factors using a universal growth model that promotes holistic, ongoing assessment of oneself and one’s relationships. Next, CITs will be presented with concrete tools and activities that they can use to cultivate and retain counselor competencies. Finally, CITs are given a step-by-step guide for creating a professional growth plan they can use throughout their program and their clinical practice. Accompanying this text is a helpful online faculty guide for supervisors to use while working with CITs. Aligned with CACREP, ACA, and ACES standards, this textbook will be useful for all graduate students training to become counselors.
  what are dispositions: Dispositions D.M. Armstrong, C.B. Martin, U.T. Place, 2002-03-11 Dispositions are essential to our understanding of the world. Dispositions: A Debate is an extended dialogue between three distinguished philosophers - D.M. Armstrong, C.B. Martin and U.T. Place - on the many problems associated with dispositions, which reveals their own distinctive accounts of the nature of dispositions. These are then linked to other issues such as the nature of mind, matter, universals, existence, laws of nature and causation.
  what are dispositions: Dispositions of Leadership Gary Whiteley, Lexie Domaradzki, Arthur L. Costa, Patricia Muller, 2017-08-10 Dispositions of Leadership: The Effects on Student Learning and School Culture stands alone as an approach for developing leaders who are adaptive and can thrive in unpredictable settings. Educational leadership is a domain of its own, apart from business and industry, combining an effective learning environment for students and adults. Dispositions are acquired in the interactions between skillful thinking and circumstances that defy simplistic solutions. The five dispositions, as illustrated in the book, provide educational leaders with maps of the territory and examples of habits for intelligent responses to complex problems. Educational leaders must develop adaptive competence, the capability of applying prior leaning to a novel setting, while assessing the impact of potential solutions. This book challenges the utility of traditional command-and-control models that are no longer capable of supporting school leaders. Grounded in extensive research and review of leadership literature. Dispositions of Leadership: The Effects on Student Learning and School Culture describes how an effective educational leader in the Information Age applies dispositional thinking in order to be adaptive, self-aware and responsive to others.
  what are dispositions: Assessing Teacher Dispositions Judy R. Wilkerson, William Steve Lang, 2007-05-16 While school leaders have long sought a definitive tool for assessing teacher affect and dispositions, a practical method for measurement has proven elusive-until now. Assessing Teacher Dispositions presents a conceptual framework that helps educators understand what appropriate dispositions are, why it is important to measure them, and how to implement an assessment process in their schools and districts. This indispensable companion to Assessing Teacher Competency introduces the authors' research-based five-step DAATS model, combining user-friendly definitions and guiding questions with an examination of assessment design, planning, instrument development, decision making, and data management. Linked to national standards for best practice set by NCATE, INTASC, and NBPTS, the DAATS approach offers: A step-by-step implementation sequence with worksheets and training activities, Examples from preservice and inservice settings, A comprehensive assessment system when used with the CAATS model for assessing teacher competency (knowledge and skills). This groundbreaking text offers a field-tested, valid, and reliable process for dispositions assessment that is ideal for schools of education, teacher induction programs, and preservice and inservice training. Book jacket.
  what are dispositions: Dispositions and Causes Toby Handfield, 2009-02-05 In recent decades, the analysis of causal relations has become a topic of central importance in analytic philosophy. More recently, dispositional properties have also become objects of intense study. Both of these phenomena appear to be intimately related to counterfactual conditionals and other modal phenomena such as objective chance, but little work has been done to directly relate them. Dispositions and Causes contains ten essays by scholars working in both metaphysics and in philosophy of science, examining the relation between dispositional and causal concepts. Particular issues discussed include the possibility of reducing dispositions to causes, and vice versa; the possibility of a nominalist theory of causal powers; the attempt to reduce all metaphysical necessity to dispositional properties; the relationship between dispositions, causes, and laws of nature; the role of causal capacities in explaining the success of scientific inquiry; the grounding of dispositions and causes in objective chances; and the type of causal power required for free agency. The introductory chapter contains a detailed overview of recent work in the area, providing a helpful entry to the literature for non-specialists.
  what are dispositions: Explicit Direct Instruction (EDI) John R. Hollingsworth, Silvia E. Ybarra, 2009 A proven method for better teaching, better learning, and better test scores! This teacher-friendly book presents a step-by-step approach for implementing the Explicit Direct Instruction (EDI) approach in diverse classrooms. Based on educational theory, brain research, and data analysis, EDI helps teachers deliver effective lessons that can significantly improve achievement all grade levels. The authors discuss characteristics of EDI, such as checking for understanding, lesson objectives, activating prior knowledge, concept and skills development, and guided practice, and provide: Clearly defined lesson design components Detailed sample lessons Easy-to-follow lesson delivery strategies Scenarios that illustrate what EDI techniques look like in the classroom
  what are dispositions: The Power of Making Thinking Visible Ron Ritchhart, Mark Church, 2020-05-19 The long-awaited follow-up to Making Thinking Visible, provides new thinking routines, original research, and unique global case studies Visible Thinking—a research-based approach developed at Harvard’s Project Zero – prompts and promotes students’ thinking. This approach has been shown to positively impact student engagement, learning, and development as thinkers. Visible Thinking involves using thinking routines, documentation, and effective questioning and listening techniques to enhance learning and collaboration in any learning environment. The Power of Making Thinking Visible explains how educators can effectively use thinking routines and other tools to engage and empower students as learners and transform classrooms into places of deep learning. Building on the success of the bestselling Making Thinking Visible, this highly-anticipated new book expands the work of the original by providing 18 new thinking routines based on new research and work with teachers and students around the world. Original content explains how to use thinking routines to maximum effect in the classroom, engage students exploration of big ideas, link thinking routines to formative assessment, and more. Providing new research, new global case studies, and new practices, this book: Focuses on the power that thinking routines can bring to learning Provides practical insights on using thinking routines to facilitate student engagement Highlights the most effective techniques for using thinking routines in the classroom Identifies the skillsets and mindsets needed to truly make thinking visible Features actionable classroom strategies that can be applied across grade levels and content areas Written by researchers from Harvard’s Project Zero, The Power of Making Thinking Visible: Using Routines to Engage and Empower Learners is an indispensable resource for K-12 educators and curriculum designers, higher education instructional designers and educators, and professional learning course developers.
  what are dispositions: Dispositional Pluralism Jennifer McKitrick, 2018 Jennifer McKitrick offers an opinionated guide to the philosophy of dispositions. In her view, when an object has a disposition, it is such that, if a certain type of circumstance were to occur, a certain kind of event would occur. Since it is very common for this to be the case for a variety of reasons, dispositions are very abundant and diverse. They include such varied properties as character traits like a hero's courage, characteristics of physical objects like a wine glass's fragility, and characteristics of microphysical entities like an electron's charge. Some dispositions are natural while others are non-natural. Some dispositions called powers are ungrounded while non-fundamental dispositions are grounded in other properties. Some dispositions manifest constantly, some of them manifest spontaneously, while others manifest only when they are triggered to do so. Some dispositions manifest by causing another dispositional property to be instantiated, while others have manifestations that involve non-dispositional properties and relations. Some dispositions are intrinsic to their bearers while others are extrinsic. Some of them are causally relevant to their manifestations while others are not. Some dispositions manifest in some particular way in particular circumstances, while other dispositions manifest in various ways in various circumstances. What makes all of these diverse properties dispositions is their connection to a certain kind of counterfactual fact. Nevertheless, disposition ascriptions are not semantically reducible to counterfactual claims.
  what are dispositions: Dispositionalism Anne Sophie Meincke, 2020-04-08 According to dispositional realism, or dispositionalism, the entities inhabiting our world possess irreducibly dispositional properties – often called ‘powers’ – by means of which they are sources of change. Dispositionalism has become increasingly popular among metaphysicians in the last three decades as it offers a realist account of causation and provides novel avenues for understanding modality, laws of nature, agency, free will and other key concepts in metaphysics. At the same time, it is receiving growing interest among philosophers of science. This reflects the substantial role scientific findings play in arguments for dispositionalism which, as a metaphysics of science, aims to unveil the very foundations of science. The present collection of essays brings together both strands of interest. It elucidates the ontological profile of dispositionalism by exploring its ontological commitments, and it discusses these from the perspective of the philosophy of science. The essays are written by both proponents of dispositionalism and sceptics so as to initiate an open-minded, constructive dialogue.
  what are dispositions: What Makes a Star Teacher Valerie Hill-Jackson, Nicholas D. Hartlep, Delia Stafford, 2019-03-28 How do some teachers manage to expertly engage students in deep learning, harmonize mandated standards with individual student needs, and create trusting relationships in the classroom? What typically sets these star teachers apart from other teachers? In What Makes a Star Teacher: 7 Dispositions That Support Student Learning, Valerie Hill-Jackson, Nicholas D. Hartlep, and Delia Stafford provide a framework that can help ensure that you are your students' greatest asset—and a star teacher in your classroom. The book is grounded in studies conducted and ideas developed over a half-century by educational theorist Martin Haberman, whose models are used in hundreds of school districts across the United States. It's designed to help you assess, develop, and reflect upon seven key dispositions of Haberman's star teachers: 1. Persistence 2. Positive values about student learning 3. The ability to adapt general theories into pedagogical practices 4. An encouraging approach to students classified as at risk 5. A professional versus a personal orientation to learners 6. The ability to navigate school bureaucracy 7. A willingness to admit one's shortcomings Full of insightful authentic examples, practical and ready-to-use strategies, and numerous suggested resources, What Makes a Star Teacher offers what every teacher—and every student—needs to thrive in any classroom.
  what are dispositions: Debating Dispositions Gregor Damschen, Robert Schnepf, Karsten Stüber, 2009-12-23 Ordinary language and scientific discourse are filled with linguistic expressions for dispositional properties such as “soluble,” “elastic,” “reliable,” and “humorous.” We characterize objects in all domains – physical objects as well as human persons – with the help of dispositional expressions. Hence, the concept of a disposition has historically and systematically played a central role in different areas of philosophy ranging from metaphysics to ethics. The contributions of this volume analyze the ancient foundations of the discussion about disposition, examine the problem of disposition within the context of the foundation of modern science, and analyze this dispute up to the 20th century. Furthermore, articles explore the contemporary theories of dispositions.
  what are dispositions: The Hungry Mind Susan Engel, 2015-03-09 Despite American education’s recent mania for standardized tests, testing misses what really matters about learning: the desire to learn in the first place. Curiosity is vital, but it remains a surprisingly understudied characteristic. The Hungry Mind is a deeply researched, highly readable exploration of what curiosity is, how it can be measured, how it develops in childhood, and how it can be fostered in school. “Engel draws on the latest social science research and incidents from her own life to understand why curiosity is nearly universal in babies, pervasive in early childhood, and less evident in school...Engel’s most important finding is that most classroom environments discourage curiosity...In an era that prizes quantifiable results, a pedagogy that privileges curiosity is not likely to be a priority.” —Glenn C. Altschuler, Psychology Today “Susan Engel’s The Hungry Mind, a book which engages in depth with how our interest and desire to explore the world evolves, makes a valuable contribution not only to the body of academic literature on the developmental and educational psychology of children, but also to our knowledge on why and how we learn.” —Inez von Weitershausen, LSE Review of Books
  what are dispositions: The Learning Power Approach Guy Claxton, 2018-01-26 In The Learning Power Approach: Teaching learners to teach themselves Guy Claxton sets out the design principles of a pedagogical formula that aims to strengthen students' learning muscles and develop their independence, initiative, determination, and love of learning. Foreword by Carol S. Dweck. Learning is learnable! Educators can explicitly teach not just content, knowledge, and skills, but also the positive habits of mind that will better prepare students to flourish both in school and in later life. And as 'traditionalists' fight for rigour and knowledge, and 'progressives' defend the increasing focus on character and well-being, Guy Claxton's Learning Power Approach (LPA) brings resolution to this phoney and unnecessary war by offering teachers a win-win pedagogical formula that delivers good academic results while simultaneously turbocharging students' independence, initiative, and love of learning. In this groundbreaking book Guy distils fifteen years' experience with his influential Building Learning Power method to provide a set of design principles for strengthening students' learning muscles, and together with a wealth of practical strategies and the supporting evidence that underpins them details the small tweaks to daily practice that will help teachers attend more closely to the ways in which they can shape their students' learning dispositions and attitudes. Complemented by engaging and informative classroom examples of the LPA in action and drawing from research into the fields of mindset, metacognition, grit, and collaborative learning The Learning Power Approach describes in detail the suite of beliefs, values, attitudes, and habits of mind that go in to making up learning power, and offers a thorough explanation of what its intentions and guiding principles are. Furthermore, in order to help those who are just setting out on their LPA journey, Guy presents teachers with an attractive menu of customisable strategies and activities to choose from as they begin to embed the LPA principles into their own classroom culture, and also includes at the end of each chapter a Wondering section that serves to prompt reflection, conversation, and action among teachers. Suitable for teachers and leaders in all educational settings, The Learning Power Approach carefully lays the groundwork for a series of books to follow that are specifically tailored to primary teaching, secondary teaching, and school leadership.
  what are dispositions: Rethinking Causality, Complexity and Evidence for the Unique Patient Rani Lill Anjum, Samantha Copeland, Elena Rocca, 2020-06-02 This open access book is a unique resource for health professionals who are interested in understanding the philosophical foundations of their daily practice. It provides tools for untangling the motivations and rationality behind the way medicine and healthcare is studied, evaluated and practiced. In particular, it illustrates the impact that thinking about causation, complexity and evidence has on the clinical encounter. The book shows how medicine is grounded in philosophical assumptions that could at least be challenged. By engaging with ideas that have shaped the medical profession, clinicians are empowered to actively take part in setting the premises for their own practice and knowledge development. Written in an engaging and accessible style, with contributions from experienced clinicians, this book presents a new philosophical framework that takes causal complexity, individual variation and medical uniqueness as default expectations for health and illness.
  what are dispositions: Teaching Thinking Robert J. Swartz, D.N. Perkins, 2016-07-15 Originally published in 1990, this title attempts to provide for the educational practitioner an overview of a field that responded in the 1980s to a major educational agenda. This innovative ‘agenda’ called for teaching students in ways that dramatically improved the quality of their thinking. Its context is a variety of changes in education that brought the explicit teaching of thinking to the consciousness of more and more teachers and administrators.
  what are dispositions: Scientific Understanding Anna Elisabeth Höhl, 2024-04-30 Understanding is an ability manifested by grasping relations of a phenomenon and articulating new explanations. Hence, scientific understanding is inextricably intertwined with and not possible without explanation, and understanding is not a type of propositional knowledge. Anna Elisabeth Höhl provides a novel philosophical account of scientific understanding by developing and defending necessary and sufficient conditions for the understanding that scientists achieve of the phenomena they are researching. This account of scientific understanding is based on and supported by a detailed investigation of an episode from scientific practice in biology.
  what are dispositions: Unorthodox Humeanism Georg Sparber, 2013-05-02 The book discusses contemporary metaphysics of science and deals with the central question which ontology fits best with our knowledge of the world. Two competing positions in today's metaphysics of science are analysed: Humeanism and dispositionalism. There are physical and metaphysical arguments to show that orthodox Humeanism is in trouble. The unorthodox metaphysical turn consists in taking the fundamental properties to be relations rather than intrinsic properties. The book spells out in detail what an unorthodox version of Humeanism amounts to and shows that in turning unorthodox Humeanism offers a competitive metaphysical framework for science without commitment to irreducible causation.
  what are dispositions: Formal Ontology in Information Systems P. Garbacz, O. Kutz, 2014-09-05 Formal Ontology in Information Systems (FOIS) is the flagship conference of the International Association for Ontology and its Applications (IAOA). Its interdisciplinary research focus lies at the intersection of philosophical ontology, linguistics, logic, cognitive science, and computer science, as well as in the applications of ontological analysis to conceptual modeling, knowledge engineering, knowledge management, information-systems development, library and information science, scientific research, and semantic technologies in general. As in previous years, FOIS 2014 was a nexus of interdisciplinary research and communication. The current proceedings is divided into four main sections, dealing with: foundations; processes, agency and dispositions; methods and tools; and applications. The last of these covers a broad spectrum of areas, including in particular biology and medicine, engineering, and economy. For the first time in its history, the conference hosted a special track: an ontology competition, the aim of which was to encourage authors to make their ontologies publicly available and to allow them to be evaluated according to a set of predetermined criteria. Papers discussing these ontologies can also be found in this volume. The book will be of interest to all those whose work involves the application of ontologies, and who are looking for a current overview of developments in formal ontology.
  what are dispositions: Trust Responsibly Jakob Ohlhorst, 2023-10-02 This book offers a defence of Wrightean epistemic entitlement, one of the most prominent approaches to hinge epistemology. It also systematically explores the connections between virtue epistemology and hinge epistemology. According to hinge epistemology, any human belief set is built within and upon a framework of pre-evidential propositions – hinges – that cannot be justified. Epistemic entitlement argues that we are entitled to trust our hinges. But there remains a problem. Entitlement is inherently unconstrained and arbitrary: We can be entitled to any hinge proposition under the right circumstances. In this book, the author argues that we need a non-arbitrariness clause that protects entitlement from defeat. This clause, he argues, is to require epistemic virtue. Virtuous cognitive dispositions provide the non-arbitrariness clause that protects entitlement from defeat. The epistemic character of the agent who holds a particular set of hinges tells us something about the hinges’ epistemic status. Conversely, epistemic virtues are cognitive dispositions and capacities that rely on hinge propositions – without trusting in some hinges, we would be unable to exercise our virtues. Trust Responsibly will appeal to scholars and advanced students working on epistemology, Wittgenstein, and virtues.
  what are dispositions: The Power of Inquiry Kath Murdoch, 2015
  what are dispositions: The Oxford Handbook of Epistemology Paul K. Moser, 2005-10-27 The Oxford Handbook of Epistemology contains 19 previously unpublished chapters by today's leading figures in the field. These chapters function not only as a survey of key areas, but as original scholarship on a range of vital topics. Written accessibly for advanced undergraduates, graduate students, and professional philosophers, the Handbook explains the main ideas and problems of contemporary epistemology while avoiding overly technical detail.
  what are dispositions: Character and Moral Psychology Christian B. Miller, 2014-01-09 Philosophers and psychologists have been hard at work trying to unlock the mysteries of our characters. Unfortunately, their answers have been all over the map. According to one position, every single person has all of the moral virtues, such as modesty and compassion, although to varying degrees. Yet according to another position, no one has any character traits at all since they are simply illusions and do not exist. Hence not one person is honest or compassionate or courageous. And between these extremes, there are plenty of intermediate views. Christian B. Miller argues that not one of these leading positions accurately reflects what most of us are like today. He explores the implications of the Mixed Trait framework-a theory of moral character developed in his previous book, Moral Character: An Empirical Theory. Mixed traits have both morally positive aspects (hence they are not vices) along with morally negative aspects (hence they are not virtues). Miller engages with the other leading positions on the empirical nature of character: situationism, the CAPS model, the Big Five model, and the local trait model. He goes on to apply the Mixed Trait framework to several important topics in ethics, especially the development of an error theory about judgments of character and the challenge faced by virtue ethics from the widespread lack of virtue.
  what are dispositions: Morality, Moral Luck and Responsibility N. Athanassoulis, 2005-04-26 Morality, Moral Luck and Responsibility is a critical examination of our understanding of morality and responsibility through the questions raised by the problem of moral luck. The book considers two different approaches to moral luck, the Aristotelian vulnerability to factors outside the agent's control and the Kantian ambition to make morality immune to luck, and concludes that both approaches have more in common than previously thought. At the same time, it also considers recent developments in the field of virtue ethics and neo-kantianism. This book will appeal to anyone with an interest in normative theories and the fundamental questions surrounding moral responsibility and the attribution of praise and blame.
  what are dispositions: How Stereotypes Deceive Us Katherine Puddifoot, 2021 Stereotypes sometimes lead us to make poor judgements of other people, but they also have the potential to facilitate quick, efficient, and accurate judgements. How can we discern whether any individual act of stereotyping will have the positive or negative effect? How Stereotypes Deceive Us addresses this question. It identifies various factors that determine whether or not the application of a stereotype to an individual in a specific context will facilitate or impede correct judgements and perceptions of the individual. It challenges the thought that stereotyping only and always impedes correct judgement when the stereotypes that are applied are inaccurate, failing to reflect social realities. It argues instead that stereotypes that reflect social realities can lead to misperceptions and misjudgements, and that inaccurate but egalitarian social attitudes can therefore facilitate correct judgements and accurate perceptions. The arguments presented in this book have important implications for those who might engage in stereotyping and those who are at risk of being stereotyped. They have implications for those who work in healthcare and those who have mental health conditions. How Stereotypes Deceive Us provides a new conceptual framework-evaluative dispositionalism-that captures the epistemic faults of stereotypes and stereotyping, providing conceptual resources that can be used to improve our own thinking by avoiding the pitfalls of stereotyping, and to challenge other people's stereotyping where it is likely to lead to misperception and misjudgement.
  what are dispositions: The Routledge Handbook of Philosophy of Agency Luca Ferrero, 2022-01-26 One of the most basic and important distinctions we draw is between those entities with the capacity of agency and those without. As humans we enjoy agency in its full-blooded form and therefore a proper understanding of the nature of agency is of great importance to appreciate who we are and what we should expect and demand of our existence. The Routledge Handbook of Philosophy of Agency is an outstanding reference source to the key issues, problems, and debates in this exciting subject and is the first collection of its kind. Comprising 42 chapters by an international team of contributors, the Handbook is divided into eight clear parts: The Metaphysics of Agency Kinds of Agency Agency and Ability Agency: Mind, Body, and World Agency and Knowledge Agency and Moral Psychology Agency and Time Agency, Reasoning, and Normativity. A broad range of topics are covered, including the relation of agency to causation, teleology, animal agency, intentionality, planning, skills, disability, practical knowledge, self-knowledge, the will, responsibility, autonomy, identification, emotions, personal identity, reasons, morality, the law, aesthetics, and games. The Routledge Handbook of Philosophy of Agency is essential reading for students and researchers within philosophy of action, philosophy of mind, metaphysics, philosophy of psychology, and ethics.
  what are dispositions: Bourdieu, Habitus and Field Sadiya Akram, 2023-12-29 This innovative book argues that establishing an ontological framework makes a substantial difference to Pierre Bourdieu’s core concepts of habitus and field. In doing so it addresses the charges of determinism, tautology, and circularity that have long been directed at habitus and field. Teasing out Bourdieu’s ontology, the book offers a novel critical realist reading of Bourdieu, arguing that while Bourdieu explored the epistemological basis of his key concepts, he neglects their ontological underpinnings, and that elaborating on this adds a layer of depth and complexity which enriches Bourdieu’s project. In addition to articulating the synergies between Roy Bhaskar’s critical realism and Bourdieu’s oeuvre, this book extends Bourdieu’s insights in new and exciting directions by developing an ontologically informed Bourdieusian account of institutions as explored through the lens of institutional racism and by outlining a unique methodological approach to habitus.
  what are dispositions: The Social Body Nick Crossley, 2001-05-01 This book explores both the embodied nature of social life and the social nature of human bodily life. It provides an accessible review of the contemporary social science debates on the body, and develops a coherent new perspective. Nick Crossley critically reviews the literature on mind and body, and also on the body and society. He draws on theoretical insights from the work of Gilbert Ryle, Maurice Merleau-Ponty, George Herbert Mead and Pierre Bourdieu, and shows how the work of these writers overlaps in interesting and important ways which, when combined, provide the basis for a persuasive and robust account of human embodiment. The Social Body provides a timely review of the theoretical approach
  what are dispositions: The It Factor: What Makes a Teacher Great? Holly J. Thornton, 2018-05-16 The impact a teacher has on students may be profound and lasting. Thus, teacher preparation is grounded in standards to assure that all teacher candidates know the content and have the skills needed to become good teachers. What makes a teacher great? The answer is not clear-cut or easily measured with tests. But we all know a great teacher when we see one. The best teachers have an It Factor that sets them apart from others. It is seemingly intangible and unteachable, as it’s often said that, “Some people are just born to be teachers.” This book challenges that assumption and uncovers the It Factor. Teacher and student voices helped to develop language and tools to examine how teachers are disposed to think and act and how this affects student learning. If we can identify what makes teachers great, we can teach it. Students have a sea of information, opinions and messaging at their fingertips. They find themselves navigating through a myriad of facts and “alternative facts.” Opinions, beliefs, and fallacies share the same platform and status as well grounded information and vetted ideas, fueling tensions among individuals and distance between groups. Developing students who are caring, critical thinkers and problem-solvers may be more important now than ever. The teachers who are right for this challenge have more than content knowledge and teaching skills. To meet this challenge, teachers need to have “It,” that something inside that makes them not just good teachers, but great ones.
  what are dispositions: Philosophy of Mind John Heil, 2013 When first published, John Heil's introduction quickly became a widely used guide for students with little or no background in philosophy to central issues of philosophy of mind.ãee Heil provided an introduction free of formalisms, technical trappings, and specialized terminology.ãee He offered clear arguments and explanations, focusing on the ontological basis of mentality and its place in the material world.ãee The book concluded with a systematic discussion of questions the book raises--and a sketch of a unified metaphysics of mind--thus inviting scholarly attention while providing a book very well suited for an introductory course. This Third Edition builds on these strengths, and incorporates new material on theories of consciousness, computationalism, the language of thought, and animal minds as well as other emerging areas of research.ãee With an updated reading list at the end of each chapter and a revised bibliography, this new edition will again make it the indispensable primer for anyone seeking better understanding of the central metaphysical issues in philosophy of mind.ãee
  what are dispositions: The Routledge Handbook of Properties A.R.J. Fisher, Anna-Sofia Maurin, 2023-12-22 Philosophical questions regarding both the existence and nature of properties are ubiquitous in ordinary life, the sciences, and philosophical theorising. In philosophy, it is one of the oldest topics discussed in various intellectual traditions – East and West – reaching back to Plato and Aristotle. Today, in the analytic tradition, properties continue to be a core area of study and research. The Routledge Handbook of Properties is an outstanding reference source to this perennial topic and is the first major volume of its kind. It contains forty specially commissioned chapters written by an international team of expert contributors, and is divided into nine clear parts: Methodology and Metaontology Distinctions Realism about Universals Nominalism Trope Theory Properties in Causation, Time, and Modality Properties in Science Properties in Language and Mind Properties in the Normative Realm, the Social World, and Aesthetics The Routledge Handbook of Properties is essential reading for anyone studying and researching metaphysics, metametaphysics, and ontology, and will also be of interest to those in closely related areas such as philosophy of science, philosophy of language, philosophy of mind, ethics, and aesthetics.
  what are dispositions: Character and Environment Ronald L. Sandler, 2009-05-22 In Character and Environment, Ronald L. Sandler brings together contemporary work on virtue ethics with contemporary work on environmental ethics. He demonstrates the many ways that any ethic of character can and should be informed by environmental considerations. He also develops a pluralistic, virtue-oriented environmental ethic that accommodates the richness and complexity of our relationship with the natural environment and provides effective and nuanced guidance on environmental issues.
  what are dispositions: Readings on Color: The philosophy of color Alex Byrne, David R. Hilbert, 1997