PERSONALITY

What is Personality?
Personality is the conglomeration of an
individual's thoughts, feelings, emotions,
attitudes, intelligence, interests and abilities.
It is a product of varied factors and elements
that may emanate from one's nature and
environment as they journey through their
lifespan. Several theorists and thinkers define
personality according to their unique
perspectives.
Personality is the combination of trait patterns that
play a vital role in the behavior, motivations,
emotions and thinking of the individual. These
traits sets him apart from all the others as these
traits on the outset provides him a unique identity
as a person.
The term “personality” came from the
Latin word ‘persona’ which means
“mask.”
What is Personality Development?

Development entails progression either

quantitatively or qualitatively. The same is true
with regards one's persona. Personality can be
developed in either or both ways. Every
individual from the time of their birth undergo
several process of change that affects their
over-all pattern of behavior and dispositions.
Their confrontation with the daily demands of
life molds them into beings with greater learnings
and allows them to form a greater schema of life.
 What are the Influences on Personality?

Personality is a complex concept that has to

be scrutinized to be understood well. There
are several ways to discover the real essence
of personality. Scientific investigation and
studies culminated to major theories that will
elucidate on the complexities of personality.
These theories include the psychoanalytic
theory, psychosocial theory, theory of
behaviorism, humanistic and trait.
 Psychodynamic Theory
This theory was developed by Sigmeund
Freud. It is said that the personality is
made up of three major systems that
points onto the role of the id, the ego and
the superego. The interplay and
interaction between these three systems
are said to be the main determinants of
one's unique personality.
 Psychodynamic Theory
The id is the most The Superego on the other The Ego however is the
primitive and is mainly hand is the moral arm of rational and realistic
concerned with the one's persona. Sometimes it area of the system. The
instant gratification of is termed as 'conscience' ego is the 'self and it
physiological needs and which serves as a gauge to resolves the conflict
urges. It is the pleasure- measure how we fare in between the 'id' and the
oriented side of one's relation to societal 'superego'. It maintains
persona. It is like a child expectations. It reiterates the balance and the
pushing for what he on the good of everyone 'homeostasis between
desires anytime and else over one's own two opposing systems
anywhere he wants it. pleasure. within one's persona.
 Psychodynamic Theory
Id - An example of which is a child Superego - The child
demanding for an expensive toy therefore who demands for
a lavish toy thinks first of the
regardless of any logical reason from an
more important things as
elder not to acquire the same due to
cited by his caregiver.
financial constraints.
Ego - Hence a child demanding for a
lavish toy despite the financial
constraints as reiterated by the elder
will accept that it is not the right time to
purchase the same at this time, maybe
in some other time, a reflection of
greater maturity.
Psychodynamic Theory
 Behaviorism
Behaviorism was coined by John B. Watson
who argued that personality can be
determined only through overt responses.
Hence manipulation of the environment may
produce certain behavior. Behaviorist like B.F
Skinner believed in the use of rewards
whether positive or negative and punishments
to produce orderly change in the individual.
Both asserted that behavior can be learned
and conditioned.
 Behaviorism
Behaviorists agreed on the use of rewards and
punishments to reinforce and strengthen
positive or negative personality and behavior.It
is further asserted that personality and
behavior is a consequence of cause and effect
relationships. B.F.Skinner himself saw a parallel
between the heredity and environmental bases
of behavior. Learned behavior may be sourced
from one's heredity or shaped by experience
that is stimulated by the environment.
 Humanistic Theories
Humanists proposed a theory that rests on the 'person' and the 'self'. Carl
Rogers focused on the changes and development of personality. It is
asserted in this theory that how a person behaves depends upon his reality
and not from his environment. Parallel to this view is Abraham Maslow's
theory that revolves around human needs. Humanistic theory shows how an
individual's deficiencies and needs manifest in his behavior and personality.
The environment to which an individual was raised will determine how
satisfaction of his need for basic necessities, love, protection, prestige will
direct him towards self-realization. Hence, personality becomes a reflection
of how one's needs were fulfilled in the course of his development.
Hierarchy
of Human
Needs
 Trait Theory
Trait theorists posited personality can be
understood that as exhibited in one's common
traits or characteristic ways of behaving. A person
may be sociable, aggressive, shy, an optimist,
clingy etc. A certain group of people may have
similar traits but these may vary in degree.
Trait Theory
Gordon Allport organized the thousands of personality
traits into a hierarchy. Cardinal traits is what initially
comprise the hierarchy which is collectively known as
'master control' and is inclusive of a person's ruling
passion; Central traits on the other hand are general
characteristics that make up the building blocks
shaping one's behavior. Finally, Secondary Traits
includes preferences and attitudes and in some
instances these traits contradict and become
incongruent with the usual behavior of an individual.
 Trait Theory
Hans Eysenck is a Trait theorist who emphasized that
biological inheritance is the origin of human traits. He related
temperament onto an individual's personality which he
believed is largely influenced by his genes. Eysenck believed
that personality is determined to a large extent by a person's
genes. He theorized that some people can be conditioned
more readily than others because of inherited differences in
their physiological functioning. Furthermore he categorized
people as possessing either extroversion vs introversion,
neuroticism vs. stability which later was supplemented by a
newer element known as psychoticism vs. socialization.
Factors Affecting the Development of
Personality
 Factors Affecting the Development of
Personality
Personality is not just a product of a single factor but a result of
several intertwining elements that make up the totality of an
individual persona. The interaction between these elements
brings about the uniqueness of an individual which proves the
fact that ‘no two persons are alike’. Even identical twins are
totally different from each other with respect to their
intelligence, attitudes, interests, convictions and the like. Hence,
one may inherent the looks and traits of his parents but behave
like the rest of the neighborhood. What molds an individual’s
total persona is the interplay between nature and nurture.
 Nature

Nature is a person's biological inheritance. The traits derived from one's

biological parents are provided in the 46 chromosomes arranged in 23
pairs that comprise the blueprint of one's total system which begins
during the process of conception. According to Sevilla et al (2006) the
heredity units that we receive from our parents and transmitted to our
offspring are carried by microscopic particles known as 'chromosomes',
colored bodies found within the nucleus of each cell in the body. Each
chromosome is composed of many individual hereditary units called
'genes'
 Nature

Genetics reiterates that dominant genes will overpower the

recessive genes thus displaying traits in the child of the
parent with such characteristics. Example of which is a son
who inherits the curly hair of the mother as well as her
'diabetus mellitus' which evidently is not a trait of the father.
This only proves that the external and internal make-up of a
child is definitely a result of biological inheritance.
 Nurture

The environment of a child plays a vital role in the development of

personality. The physical and social environment influences the
formation of the traits, attitudes, interests, motivations, emotions of
the individual. Several areas of our persona are changed through the
learnings that we derive form the different agencies of socialization
from which we establish contact with from the time of our birth to the
point of being educated by the different institutions from which
experiences are derived. Relationships with the significant others
provide us learning through substantial experiences.
 Nurture

Institutions such as the family, school, the government, mass media

and church greatly influences the formation of an individual's
perception about life, his role in the community and society as well as
about the essence of his very existence. The family as the initial
institution that nourishes the child directs the child towards the
basics of life and how one should go about everyday tasks, life skills
are taught by the family including control.
 Nurture

As the child grows and starts to undergo the rudiments of formal

education more learning becomes inevitable as he is subjected to the
influences of his peer groups, the teachings of the church, the
examples set by the people in the government and the everyday role
played by mass media specifically the very powerful and influential
social media that have made this planet so small and the people so
close through the expanding worldwide web phenomenon. Exposure to
these institutions has largely influenced the growing child in the
course of developing his unique persona.
What are the Basic
Personality Traits?

1. Openness to experience
2. Conscientiousness
3. Extraversion
4. Agreeableness
5. Neuroticism
 Oppenness to Experience

This trait means that a person is open to possible

experiences and learning which connotes wide interests,
curiosity, flexibility, vivid fantasy, artistic sensitivity, high
motivation, creativity, innovativeness and unconventional
attitudes. This trait also shows conformity to the
standards of the society and community and resilience in
times of adversity.
 Conscientiousness

This trait refers to those whose persona shows

meticulous and principled behavior but guided ted by
one's own rules and beliefs. The person is highly
organized, diligent, disciplined, punctual and dependable
that is why he weighs well the pros and cons of his
decisions before formulating his well-thought conclusion.
Conscientiousness is associated with higher productivity
in a variety of occupational areas.
 Extraversion

This type of individual is highly sociable with a life that is

directed to the significant others. The individual is very
friendly, assertive and gregarious. These people are warm
and concerned about their friends, family members and
the like. They derive happiness by being with their beloved
at all times.
 Agreeableness

This trait refers to being a person with much altruism and

benevolence meant for others. They empathize,
sympathize and cooperate a lot by volunteering
themselves in any moment of need. They are trusting,
cooperative and highly dependable in nature. Their goals
are directed towards the good of the majority as they are
considered selfless.
 Agreeableness

This trait refers to being a person with much altruism and

benevolence meant for others. They empathize,
sympathize and cooperate a lot by volunteering
themselves in any moment of need. They are trusting,
cooperative and highly dependable in nature. Their goals
are directed towards the good of the majority as they are
considered selfless.
 Neuroticism

This trait connotes negativity as experiences are thought

to be full of sadness, hostility, self. conscious, insecure,
vulnerable and frustrated. The individual is highly anxious
and nervous about what will happen next. Degree of self-
confidence, self. concept and self-esteem is very low.
They suffer from negative emotionality. Hence they worry
a lot as they think and feel that they will never be in
control of their lives.
Traits according to Gordon Allport are not easily changed.
One can be considered as aggressive, benevolent,
adventurous, generous etc. and these can determine that
way he would habitually behave in his everyday
confrontations with the requirements of life. These traits
become our disposition in life and become the source of
motivation to behave in a certain manner. Allport also
stated that traits and dispositions can only be inferred
through the elicited behavior.
"A specific act is always the product of many determinants,
not only of lasting sets, but of momentary pressures in the
person and in the situation. It is only the repeated
occurrence of acts having the same significance following
upon a a definable range of stimuli having the same
personal significance that makes necessary the inference of
traits and personal dispositions. These are not at all times
active, but are persistent even when latent, and have
relatively low thresholds of arousal" (Hall, Calvin et al
1998).
 The Johari Window

Arena Blindspot
(Traits that both of you and others (Traits that they think you possess
know about yourself) but you really don’t)

Facade Unknown
(Traits that you are aware but (Traits that remain a mystery)
others are not)