Personality

Defining personality
Personality refers to the
set of traits and
behaviours
that characterise an individual.
Elements of personality
It has both internal and external elements. External elements
are those which is visible like sociability. Internal elements are
inner thoughts, values and the genetic characteristics that we
infer from observabable behaviour.

An individuals personality is relatively stable.

It is both inherited and shaped by environment.

Each individual is unique in behaviour.
Theories of personality
Type theory
Trait theory
Psychoanalytic
Social learning
Humanistic
Type theory
People are identifiable grouped into
identifiable categories on two basis:

One the basis of basis of body structure
Psychological factors
One the basis of basis of body structure

A relationship was sought to be established structure
of the body and personality.
A short plump person: sociable, relaxed and even
tempered
A tall and thin person: restrained, self-conscious,
fond of solitude.
A heavy muscular person: noisy and fond of physical
activity
Psychological factors

Personalities are divided into:
Introverts: shy and quiet
Extroverts: sociable an interpersonal orientation,
people are more oriented towards people, object
and events.
The type theory fails to explain the complexities of
the personality.
Trait theory
A personality trait is understood as being an
endurable attribute of a person that appears
consistently in a variety of situations.
A trait differentiates one from another in a relatively
permanent or consistent way.
We could rate an individual on a scale of intelligence,
emotional stability, aggressiveness, creativeness etc.
We can informally describe ourselves and others by
such objectives as friendly, cautious, excitable,
intelligent, or anxious etc.
Trait theory
Psychologists working on trait theory are concerned with
Determining the basic traits that provide a meaningful
description of personality
Finding some way to measure them.
There are two ways of assessing personality traits
The person describes himself by answering questions
about his attitudes, feeling and behaviors.(personality
inventory)
Someone else evaluates the persons traits either from
what he knows from what he knows about the individual
or from direct observation of behaviour(rating scale).


Psychoanalytic