Ability

Ability is described as the capability of an individual to solve a cognitive task or intentionally show a certain behavior. In this entry, the term is first compared to other often interchangeably used concepts such as achievement, aptitude, intelligence, talent, and skill and then defined more thoroughly. The entry then deals with the immanent question in ability research—to what extent abilities are innate or shaped by the environment—which is especially important because various disciplines are focused on building and promoting abilities. Finally, the entry provides an overview on how abilities are measured efficiently and used in different settings and describes what is known about the development of abilities over the lifespan.

The term ability is used in manifold ways in everyday language. Hence, a definition and ...