PERSONALITY

Personality

“Every Human Being is a Unique Creation of GOD”

Personality can be defined by the relatively permanent set of psychological and physical behavioral attributes that makes a person distinctive from others. In other words personality is the mind set, perception and actions of a person which makes one person different from others.

Whenever we receive data from our external environment through our sensory organs we analyze it on the basis of the information we already have in our mind and based on our perception we create something meaningful out of it which guides our behavior or action towards such stimuli. This is called as personality.

Personality can be expressed as internal and external elements the internal elements are the actions and behaviors like dress sense, way of communication, style of walking and doing things etc. which is visible to others, these external elements can be observed and analyzed by others to define the personality of others, the internal elements include the thought process, mindset, value system which is intangible we can not observe them we can only know there presence through the actions of the individuals only & this interpretation is correct to a certain extent.

It is considered that personality is relatively stable and it only changes with passage of time or some significant observation or learning by the individual.

The personality of a person is shaped by three things, genetic material of the person, his observation towards response and stimulus, the learning through education, experience etc. based on the above we can say that every individual is having entirely different personality.

Personality of a person can be determined by following factors

Heredity factors:-  Heredity factors are the set of information which passes from one generation to other through the genetic material. Many of our physical attributes and mental framework is defined by our genes. The heredity will define whether a person will be tall or short, thin or fat, fair or dark etc, apart from these physical attributes our basic nature is defined by our heredity. The basic instincts of human beings like fight or flight, hunger and thirst or sexual attraction etc are all being defined by our heredity; heredity is also responsible for emergence of diseases like diabetes, Alzheimer, cardio vascular diseases etc. scientists also claims to conclude through their researches that heredity is also responsible for typical set of mental abilities like individuals having more ability in reasoning or logics or in mathematical calculations etc.

Biological factors:-   the biological factors of a person like age, sex etc also plays a decisive role in forming the personality of a person.

Family and social factors:-  After the heredity the family in which the child grows has a tremendous influence on his personality, it is the family from which the child begin to socialize and understand the world around him. Individual from his beginning observe his parents and siblings and imitate them in actions. These copying of actions develop the personality of the person. The family teaches the ethics, value and cultural aspects which acts as a guiding principles for to govern actions in future. After family the next is other social factors like neighborhood in which an individual lives, the school or college to which he go, the friend circle of parents and self and the society in general define the personality of the person.

Individual learns from these social factors things like acceptable and unacceptable behaviors, the reactions of the society towards such behaviors, such things help in defining his own set of behaviors crafting his personality.

Religion- religion followed by the individual also define the personality of an individual, because when an individual have faith in a particular religion he follows the tenants of that religion and try to copy the behaviors which are considered more beneficial or sacred and abstain from doing the things which are prohibited, and based on these perception his personality is developed. E.g. a person having faith in Islam will abstain from eating pork products or from eating during periods of ramzan and he will also consider others as inferiors if they do eat pork products.

Environmental factors:- the environment in which the individual live including  his surrounding, home and the area of activity also shape the personality, the things which we observe on a continuous basis in our life, the daily activity in which we are engaged, our society, work area etc changes the way we think and act.

Experience:- the experience a person get through in his life also shape the personality of a person, in life when individual observe or experience things, he learn new things, his perception changes and his personality is modified. Experience helps to testify the knowledge and perception of an individual.

Education:- the education also mould the personality to greater  extent, through education an individual learn various new things, he his able to acquire new and more practical knowledge which he can use in his life, with education individual comes through various other principles and concepts which makes the data set with the individual more broader, his perception towards things and understanding power is also enhanced. The level and type of education can also reshape total personality of a person.

Many experts and researchers had done extensive research at varying times to know and define personality and their types, based on their work various personality theories have been formulated. Following is the list of such classification of theories for personality.

1     Type theory: - these theories of personality try to define the personality on the basis of their physical and psychological identifiable features and actions.

The earliest known type theory is given by Greek physician Hippocrates (c. 400 B.C.), considered as father of medicine, he characterized human behavior in terms of four temperaments, each associated with a different bodily fluid, or "humor."

1.    The sanguine, or optimistic, type was associated with blood

2.    The phlegmatic type (slow and lethargic) with phlegm;

3.    The melancholic type (sad, depressed) with black bile;

4.    The choleric (angry) type with yellow bile.

According to him the amount of each of the four humors shape the personality of a person.

Carl Jung’s theory of personality

Carl Jung based on the psychological elements has stated that personality can be classified as introvert and extrovert

Introvert is a person who is more aware of his or her inner world. He gives more significance to thinking and pondering over dreams. According to them the external behaviors are less important as compared to internal thoughts. The introverted attitude is more concerned with subjective appraisal, introverts are shy, quite and they try to remain in solitude. They don’t like the company of people and avoid too much communication.

The extrovert is characterized by the outward movement of psychic energy. This attitude places more importance on objectivity and gains more influence from the surrounding environment than by inner cognitive processes. They are more social and express more significantly. The outward expression or action and communication are also one of their characteristics. 

Each person can have qualities of both attitudes, considering both subjective and objective information.

Jung’s Four Functions of Personality

Jung also defined four functions that, when combined with one of the two attitudes, introvert and extrovert gives eight different personality types.

These functions are

Feeling: - the method by which a person understands the value of conscious activity.

Thinking: - ability to understand the meanings of things. This process relies on logic and careful mental activity.

Sensation: - refers to the means by which a person knows something exists.

Intuition: - knowing about something without conscious understanding of where that knowledge comes from.

The Eight Personality Types Defined by Carl Jung

Jung developed a theory of eight different personality types. Jung's personality types are as follows:

• Extroverted Thinking – Jung theorized that people understand the world through a mix of concrete ideas and abstract ones, but the abstract concepts are ones passed down from other people. Extroverted thinkers are often found working in the research sciences and mathematics.
• Introverted Thinking – These individuals interpret stimuli in the environment through a subjective and creative way. The interpretations are informed by internal knowledge and understanding. Philosophers and theoretical scientists are often introverted thinking-oriented people.
• Extroverted Feeling – These people judge the value of things based on objective fact. Comfortable in social situations, they form their opinions based on socially accepted values and majority beliefs. They are often found working in business and politics.
• Introverted Feeling – These people make judgments based on subjective ideas and on internally established beliefs. Oftentimes they ignore prevailing attitudes and defy social norms of thinking. Introverted feeling people thrive in careers as art critics.
• Extroverted Sensing – These people perceive the world as it really exists. Their perceptions are not colored by any pre-existing beliefs. Jobs that require objective review, like wine tasters and proofreaders, are best filled by extroverted sensing people.
• Introverted Sensing – These individuals interpret the world through the lens of subjective attitudes and rarely see something for only what it is. They make sense of the environment by giving it meaning based on internal reflection. Introverted sensing people often turn to various arts, including portrait painting and classical music.
• Extroverted Intuitive – These people prefer to understand the meanings of things through subliminally perceived objective fact rather than incoming sensory information. They rely on hunches and often disregard what they perceive directly from their senses. Inventors that come upon their invention via a stroke of insight and some religious reformers are characterized by the extraverted intuitive type.
• Introverted Intuitive – These individuals, Jung thought, are profoundly influenced by their internal motivations even though they do not completely understand them. They find meaning through unconscious, subjective ideas about the world. Introverted intuitive people comprise a significant portion of mystics, surrealistic artists, and religious fanatics.

Dr. William Sheldon Personality Theory

Dr. William Sheldon (1898-1977) was an American psychologist investigated the range of human personality or temperament types. Sheldon stated that personalities can be classified in three types which he called Viscerotonia, Somatotonia, and Cerebrotonia. He propounded that these types are directly related to three human body types ( or Somatypes ) namely Endomorph, Mesomorph and Ectomorph. Based on the physique type and traits he had classified the personality of people as

·         Endomorph:- Endomorphs were found to be related with Viscerotonia which is being associated with a love of relaxation and comfort. They tend to be more sociable, emotional and love food and people. As being focused on the digestive system, particularly the stomach. Endomorphs are short and plump persons and have far longer digestive tract. Endomorph is emotional towards their life and lives a life with too many friends.

·         Mesomorph:- mesomorphs were found to be related with  Somatotonics which is being associated with physical assertiveness. Mesomorphs are tall and large, the skeleton structure is strong and body is well build. They have a masculine body and love to do physical activity. They love physical competition in which they tend to expect to do well. They are considered noisy and callous by nature. Preferring physical activities they tend to like physical activities like sports or work where physical activity is more important.

·         Ectomorph :- ectomorphs were found to be related to cerebrotonia which is associated with need of privacy and thinking type. They have a thin structure with slight masculine body; these people are more focused about thinking and don’t like physical activity. They have a high level of self awareness and avoid too much social interactions in their life. Such personality love to do work where more concentration and thinking is required, ectomorph prefer solitude over company.

2 Trait theory

 

Gordon Allport: Father of personality theory

Gordon Allport (1897-1967) is often called the father of personality theory: He was very much a trait theorist and believed in the individuality and uniqueness of the person and that people have consistent personalities. The trait is a consistent and enduring attribute of a person which appears in a variety of situations. Trait can be extracted from the behavior and serves as a useful unit for analysis.

Allport attempted to blend nomothetic and idiographic perspectives: he called this blend the morphogenic approach.

Allport believed that each person had traits of various types and defined the traits in following manner.

·         Individual: traits possessed by one person

·         Common: traits possessed by many people

·         Cardinal traits: One trait that dominates the person

·         Central traits: small number of traits important traits that may affect many behaviours

·         Secondary traits: many consistent traits which are not often exhibited

·         Motivational traits: Very strongly felt traits

·         Stylistic traits: Less strongly felt traits.

3 Psychoanalytical theory:- According to Sigmund Freud, there are only two basic drives that serve to motivate all thoughts, emotions, and behavior.  These two drives are, simply put, sex and aggression.  Also called Eros and Thanatos, or life and death, respectively, they underlie every motivation we as humans experience.

As you learn more about Freud's theories, you'll start to see a sexual pattern develop, one that emphasizes sex as a major driving force in human nature.  While this can seem overdone at times, remember what sex represents.  Sexual activity is a means to procreation, to bringing about life and therefore assuring the continuation of our bloodline.  Even in other animals, sex is a primary force to assure the survival of the species. Aggression, or the death instinct, on the other hand serves just the opposite goal.  Aggression is a way to protect us from those attempting harm.  The aggression drive is a means to allow us to procreate while at the same time eliminating our enemies who may try to prevent us from doing so.  While it sounds very primitive, it must not be looked at merely as sexual activity and aggressive acts.  These drives entail the whole survival instinct and could, perhaps, be combined into this one drive: The drive to stay alive, procreate, and prevent others from stopping or reducing these needs.  Looking at the animal kingdom it is easy to see these forces driving most, if not all, of their behavior

·         Lets look at a few examples.  Why would an adult decide to get a college degree?  According to Freud, we are driven to improve ourselves so that we may be more attractive to the opposite sex and therefore attract a better mate.  With a better mate, we are more likely to produce offspring and therefore continue our bloodline.  Furthermore, a college degree is likely to bring a higher income, permitting advantages over others who may be seen as our adversaries. 

Freud's Structural and Topographical Models of Personality

 

Sigmund Freud's Theory is quite complex and although his writings on psychosexual development set the groundwork for how our personalities developed, it was only one of five parts to his overall theory of personality.  He also believed that different driving forces develop during these stages which play an important role in how we interact with the world.

 

 

Structural Model (id, ego, superego)

 

According to Freud, we are born with our id.  The id is an important part of our personality because as newborns, it allows us to get our basic needs met.  Freud believed that the id is based on our pleasure principle.  In other words, the id wants whatever feels good at the time, with no consideration for the reality of the situation.  When a child is hungry, the id wants food, and therefore the child cries.  When the child needs to be changed, the id cries.  When the child is uncomfortable, in pain, too hot, too cold, or just wants attention, the id speaks up until his or her needs are met.

 

The id doesn't care about reality, about the needs of anyone else, only its own satisfaction.  If you think about it, babies are not real considerate of their parents' wishes.  They have no care for time, whether their parents are sleeping, relaxing, eating dinner, or bathing.  When the id wants something, nothing else is important.

 

Within the next three years, as the child interacts more and more with the world, the second part of the personality begins to develop.  Freud called this part the Ego.  The ego is based on the reality principle.  The ego understands that other people have needs and desires and that sometimes being impulsive or selfish can hurt us in the long run.  Its the ego's job to meet the needs of the id, while taking into consideration the reality of the situation.  

 

By the age of five, or the end of the phallic stage of development, the Superego develops.  The Superego is the moral part of us and develops due to the moral and ethical restraints placed on us by our caregivers.  Many equate the superego with the conscience as it dictates our belief of  right and wrong.

 

In a healthy person, according to Freud, the ego is the strongest so that it can satisfy the needs of the id, not upset the superego, and still take into consideration the reality of every situation.  Not an easy job by any means, but if the id gets too strong, impulses and self gratification take over the person's life.  If the superego becomes to strong, the person would be driven by rigid morals, would be judgmental and unbending in his or her interactions with the world.  You'll learn how the ego maintains control as you continue to read.

 

 

Topographical Model

 

Freud believed that the majority of what we experience in our lives, the underlying emotions, beliefs, feelings, and impulses are not available to us at a conscious level.  He believed that most of what drives us is buried in our unconscious.  If you remember the Oedipus and Electra Complex, they were both pushed down into the unconscious, out of our awareness due to the extreme anxiety they caused.  While buried there, however, they continue to impact us dramatically according to Freud.

 

The role of the unconscious is only one part of the model.  Freud also believed that everything we are aware of is stored in our conscious.  Our conscious makes up a very small part of who we are.  In other words, at any given time, we are only aware of a very small part of what makes up our personality; most of what we are is buried and inaccessible.

 

The final part is the preconscious or subconscious.  This is the part of us that we can access if prompted, but is not in our active conscious.  Its right below the surface, but still buried somewhat unless we search for it.  Information such as our telephone number, some childhood memories, or the name of your best childhood friend is stored in the preconscious.

 

Because the unconscious is so large, and because we are only aware of the very small conscious at any given time, this theory has been likened to an iceberg, where the vast majority is buried beneath the water's surface.  The water, by the way, would represent everything that we are not aware of, have not experienced, and that has not been integrated into our personalities, referred to as the nonconscious.

·         Social learning theory ( this theory is discussed above in the section of learning in this SSM )

·         Humanistic theory

Machiavellianism:-  personality trait based on the way a person reach his goal, according to this theory we can classify individuals as high mach or low mach.

Characteristics of high mach person:-

·         Who thinks that any means is justified as long as it result in achieving their goals.

·         Morality and ethics are for weak powerful persons should feel free to lie, cheat and deceive wherever required to achieve their goal.

·         High machs are confident, eloquent and competent and using these skills they reach to higher order.

·         High machs are often use the situations where their favorite tactics are most likely to work.

·         They can interact face to face with their intended victims and use their persuasive skills to get their things done.

·         They can use the emotions and feelings of other to manipulate their judgement and decision making.

·         Able to make alliances and use them for their own advantages.

·         They believe that it is better to be feared than loved and is willing to do anything to become more powerful.

Characteristics of low mach person:-

·         They are the person who believes that not only the ends but also the means should be justified.

·         They are emotional and sensitive to the effects of their decisions on others.

·         They believe in morality and any immoral act for achieving success is not for them.

Theory of Type A and Type B behaviors

Meyer Friedman and Ray Rosenman two cardiologists while trying to identify characteristics of individuals susceptible to cardiovascular diseases found that people represent two types of behaviors Type A and Type B, according to them people having Type A behavior are more prone to heart diseases as compared to Type B behaviors. These behaviors can also be analyzed to throw some light on the personality of a person.

People having Type A behaviors can be identified by

·         Impatient in nature and over schedule them.

·         Do things in a hurry even they talk very rapidly even missing the last words in sentences.

·         Try to do multitasking even when not required.

·         Feel acquisitive of money & personal possessions.

·         Feel threatened by the success of others.

·         Over reactive towards others.

·         Have nervous tics like clenching fists or banging hands on the table etc.

·         Try to compare results in numbers only.

People having Type B behaviors can be identified by

·         They are patient and composed.

·         Don’t have time urgency.

·         Emphasize quality rather than quantity

·         Active in fun and recreation activity.

·         Wise, not hasty and vary responses to specify challenges in their milieu.

·         Their behaviors can’t be predicted with ease