DEFINITION AND CONCEPT OF PERSONALITY
The term personality is often understood in terms of social
attractiveness. A good personality is considered to be one who
impresses other people and who has the ability to get on well with
others. Those who do not possess such ability are said to have
relatively poor personality. However, if one considers personality
from a scientific point of view, being attractive to others is not a true
concept of personality. In fact, psychologists consider any attempt to
define personality in terms of social attractiveness as inadequate
because of two reasons, (i) it limits the number and types of
behaviours considered important and worthy for incorporation into
the study of personality and (ii) such a notion implies that some
people who have unique abilities, temperament and traits are devoid
of having a personality.
Psychologists have attempted to explain the concept of personality
in terms of individuality and consistency. We often observe that
people differ a great deal in the ways they think, feel and act and
that too to different or even same situations. This distinctive pattern
of behaviour helps one to define one’s identity. Commenting upon
the notion of individuality, it has been said that each of us in certain
respects is like all other persons, like some other persons and like no
other person who has been in the past or will be existing in future
(Kluckhohn & Murray, 1953).
Another important notion in defining the concept of personality is
consistency. In other words, it can be stated that the concept of
personality also rests on the observation that a person seems to
behave somewhat consistently in different situations over different
time. Form this observation of perceived consistency comes the
notion of personality traits that determine the way of responding to
one’s world.
,Combining these notions of individuality and consistency, personality
can be defined as the distinctive and unique ways in which each
individual thinks, feels and acts, which characterise a person’s
response throughout life. In other words, it can be said that
personality refers to all those relatively permanent traits,
dispositions or characteristics within the person that give some
measure of consistency to the person’s behaviour. These traits may
be unique, common to some groups or shared by the entire species
but their pattern will be different from individual to individual.
The thoughts, feelings and actions that are perceived as reflecting an
individual’s personality typically have three characteristics- i)
Thoughts, feelings and actions are considered as behavioural
components of identity that make distinction between individuals ii)
Behaviours are viewed as being primarily caused by internal rather
than environmental factors. iii) The behaviours of the person seem
to have organisation and structure. Behaviours of an individual seem
to fit together in a meaningful way
For better distinct understanding of the term personality, it is
essential that it should not be confused with character and
temperament. While the term character refers to the value
judgements, which are made about a person’s moral values or
ethical behaviour, the term temperament refers to the inborn
enduring characteristics such as adaptability, irritability etc.
However, both character and temperament are vital parts of
personality
PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT
The development of personality has been a topic of interest for the
personality psychologists right from the time the term came into
existence. Psychologists have tried to identity those factors which
directly or indirectly influence the growth and development of
personality. Although there are a large number of factors, which
, influence the development of personality, such factors have been
broadly grouped into three general categories
. 1) Biological factors,
2) Psychological factors,
3) Environmental factors. Since these factors tend to determine the
way personality develops, they are also called as determinants of
personality.
Biological Factors
Biological determinants also called as physical determinants
emphasise that physique and body functioning are directly
responsible for personality development. Some of these factors are:
(i) Body build (ii) Physical attractiveness (iii) Homeostasis (iv) Physical
defects (v) Health conditions.
i) Body build: Body build influences personality directly by
determining what an individual can and cannot do, as well as
what the individual’s reaction will be to all those whose body
builds are superior or inferior. Some of the known body builds
are (i) ectomorph (ii) endomorph, and (iii) mesomorph.
Ectomorphs are persons who are tall and thin in their body
builds. They have been generally found to be superior to
Endomorphs who have round and soft body builds. The
superiority is especially in speed and endurance. Likewise,
mesomorphs who are strong and muscular in their body builds
have been found to be superior to both ectomorphs and
endomorphs in activities like speed, endurance and agility. It
has also been reported that body build of an individual affects
the person’s self-concept, which is an important constituents
of personality. This self concept can be favourable or
unfavourable. For instance if the body build allows the person
to do things that are socially desirable, prestigious and better
The term personality is often understood in terms of social
attractiveness. A good personality is considered to be one who
impresses other people and who has the ability to get on well with
others. Those who do not possess such ability are said to have
relatively poor personality. However, if one considers personality
from a scientific point of view, being attractive to others is not a true
concept of personality. In fact, psychologists consider any attempt to
define personality in terms of social attractiveness as inadequate
because of two reasons, (i) it limits the number and types of
behaviours considered important and worthy for incorporation into
the study of personality and (ii) such a notion implies that some
people who have unique abilities, temperament and traits are devoid
of having a personality.
Psychologists have attempted to explain the concept of personality
in terms of individuality and consistency. We often observe that
people differ a great deal in the ways they think, feel and act and
that too to different or even same situations. This distinctive pattern
of behaviour helps one to define one’s identity. Commenting upon
the notion of individuality, it has been said that each of us in certain
respects is like all other persons, like some other persons and like no
other person who has been in the past or will be existing in future
(Kluckhohn & Murray, 1953).
Another important notion in defining the concept of personality is
consistency. In other words, it can be stated that the concept of
personality also rests on the observation that a person seems to
behave somewhat consistently in different situations over different
time. Form this observation of perceived consistency comes the
notion of personality traits that determine the way of responding to
one’s world.
,Combining these notions of individuality and consistency, personality
can be defined as the distinctive and unique ways in which each
individual thinks, feels and acts, which characterise a person’s
response throughout life. In other words, it can be said that
personality refers to all those relatively permanent traits,
dispositions or characteristics within the person that give some
measure of consistency to the person’s behaviour. These traits may
be unique, common to some groups or shared by the entire species
but their pattern will be different from individual to individual.
The thoughts, feelings and actions that are perceived as reflecting an
individual’s personality typically have three characteristics- i)
Thoughts, feelings and actions are considered as behavioural
components of identity that make distinction between individuals ii)
Behaviours are viewed as being primarily caused by internal rather
than environmental factors. iii) The behaviours of the person seem
to have organisation and structure. Behaviours of an individual seem
to fit together in a meaningful way
For better distinct understanding of the term personality, it is
essential that it should not be confused with character and
temperament. While the term character refers to the value
judgements, which are made about a person’s moral values or
ethical behaviour, the term temperament refers to the inborn
enduring characteristics such as adaptability, irritability etc.
However, both character and temperament are vital parts of
personality
PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT
The development of personality has been a topic of interest for the
personality psychologists right from the time the term came into
existence. Psychologists have tried to identity those factors which
directly or indirectly influence the growth and development of
personality. Although there are a large number of factors, which
, influence the development of personality, such factors have been
broadly grouped into three general categories
. 1) Biological factors,
2) Psychological factors,
3) Environmental factors. Since these factors tend to determine the
way personality develops, they are also called as determinants of
personality.
Biological Factors
Biological determinants also called as physical determinants
emphasise that physique and body functioning are directly
responsible for personality development. Some of these factors are:
(i) Body build (ii) Physical attractiveness (iii) Homeostasis (iv) Physical
defects (v) Health conditions.
i) Body build: Body build influences personality directly by
determining what an individual can and cannot do, as well as
what the individual’s reaction will be to all those whose body
builds are superior or inferior. Some of the known body builds
are (i) ectomorph (ii) endomorph, and (iii) mesomorph.
Ectomorphs are persons who are tall and thin in their body
builds. They have been generally found to be superior to
Endomorphs who have round and soft body builds. The
superiority is especially in speed and endurance. Likewise,
mesomorphs who are strong and muscular in their body builds
have been found to be superior to both ectomorphs and
endomorphs in activities like speed, endurance and agility. It
has also been reported that body build of an individual affects
the person’s self-concept, which is an important constituents
of personality. This self concept can be favourable or
unfavourable. For instance if the body build allows the person
to do things that are socially desirable, prestigious and better
