Pyschology Personality and
Intelligence Imp Topics
Factors Shaping Personality
Def: According to Norman Munn, “Personality is a unique combination of
individual's physical structure, needs, interests, abilities and aptitudes.
Hereidty
Heredity implies all those characteristics that an individual inherits from his parents.
Heredity affects the physical and mental makeup of a person.
For example, inherent physical characteristics like height, physical structure, colour
of eyes, etc.
Endocrine Glands
Endocrine glands such as the pituitary, thyroid, pancreas, adrenals gonads, etc.
play an important role in shaping personality of an individual.
Over secretion or the under secretion of hormones produced by various glands may
adversely affect the personality of an individual.
For example, an over secretion of the thyroxin hormone produced by thyroid gland
leads to nervous tension, irritability, restlessness and emotional instability, etc.
which may adversely affect the personality of an individual.
Family
Family is one of the most important factors influecning personality of an individual.
The elements related to family such as structure of family, socio-economic status of
family, emotional, academic and cultural environment in family, interactions between
family members, child rearing practices followed by parents, etc. have significant
effects on personality of an individual.
For example, in a family having warm emotional atmosphere, parents have healthier
relations with their children. Love and respect shown by parents towards their
Pyschology Personality and Intelligence Imp Topics 1
, children boosts the self-confidence and self-esteem of children. This in turn
positively affects the personality of children. On the contrary, over protection,
rejection, negligence, etc. shown by parents towards their children leads to low self-
esteem and low self-confidence among children which have adverse effects on the
personality of children.
Peer Group
Peers are a pervasive aspect of our social life. Peers surround us in our everyday
lives from early childhood until old age. Members of the same classroom, workplace
or sports club, etc. constitute peer group.
The peer group may influence personality in a positive as well as negative manner.
For example, good habits such as studying regularly, developing healthy attitude
towards one’s own gender and the opposite gender, etc. may be developed by
being in a good company of friends.
Similarly, the unhealthy habits such as bunking lectures, developing various
addictions, showing aggressive tendencies and bullying etc. may be developed by
being in a bad company of friends.
School
The school plays an important role in the personality development of students.
The elements related to school like the teaching learning process, academic
activities and cocurricular facilities provided by school, teachers’ rapport with
students, school discipline and policies etc. have a significant impact on the
personality of students.
For example, a creative, well qualified, experienced and well-mannered teacher
acts as a role model for his / her students. Such teachers provide maximum
opportunities for the optimum development of the potential of their students. This in
turn helps students to develop their personality in a healthier manner.
Mass Media
Internet and other forms of mass media are now deeply integrated in almost
everyone’s daily lives. Mass media is a source of entertainment, informal education,
socialization, etc. to many of us.
Pyschology Personality and Intelligence Imp Topics 2
Intelligence Imp Topics
Factors Shaping Personality
Def: According to Norman Munn, “Personality is a unique combination of
individual's physical structure, needs, interests, abilities and aptitudes.
Hereidty
Heredity implies all those characteristics that an individual inherits from his parents.
Heredity affects the physical and mental makeup of a person.
For example, inherent physical characteristics like height, physical structure, colour
of eyes, etc.
Endocrine Glands
Endocrine glands such as the pituitary, thyroid, pancreas, adrenals gonads, etc.
play an important role in shaping personality of an individual.
Over secretion or the under secretion of hormones produced by various glands may
adversely affect the personality of an individual.
For example, an over secretion of the thyroxin hormone produced by thyroid gland
leads to nervous tension, irritability, restlessness and emotional instability, etc.
which may adversely affect the personality of an individual.
Family
Family is one of the most important factors influecning personality of an individual.
The elements related to family such as structure of family, socio-economic status of
family, emotional, academic and cultural environment in family, interactions between
family members, child rearing practices followed by parents, etc. have significant
effects on personality of an individual.
For example, in a family having warm emotional atmosphere, parents have healthier
relations with their children. Love and respect shown by parents towards their
Pyschology Personality and Intelligence Imp Topics 1
, children boosts the self-confidence and self-esteem of children. This in turn
positively affects the personality of children. On the contrary, over protection,
rejection, negligence, etc. shown by parents towards their children leads to low self-
esteem and low self-confidence among children which have adverse effects on the
personality of children.
Peer Group
Peers are a pervasive aspect of our social life. Peers surround us in our everyday
lives from early childhood until old age. Members of the same classroom, workplace
or sports club, etc. constitute peer group.
The peer group may influence personality in a positive as well as negative manner.
For example, good habits such as studying regularly, developing healthy attitude
towards one’s own gender and the opposite gender, etc. may be developed by
being in a good company of friends.
Similarly, the unhealthy habits such as bunking lectures, developing various
addictions, showing aggressive tendencies and bullying etc. may be developed by
being in a bad company of friends.
School
The school plays an important role in the personality development of students.
The elements related to school like the teaching learning process, academic
activities and cocurricular facilities provided by school, teachers’ rapport with
students, school discipline and policies etc. have a significant impact on the
personality of students.
For example, a creative, well qualified, experienced and well-mannered teacher
acts as a role model for his / her students. Such teachers provide maximum
opportunities for the optimum development of the potential of their students. This in
turn helps students to develop their personality in a healthier manner.
Mass Media
Internet and other forms of mass media are now deeply integrated in almost
everyone’s daily lives. Mass media is a source of entertainment, informal education,
socialization, etc. to many of us.
Pyschology Personality and Intelligence Imp Topics 2
