Personality

Vijo s raj

Meaning
The term personality is derived from the Latin
word Persona meaning a Mask.
The visible aspect of one's character as it impresses
others: He has a pleasing personality.
The sum total of the physical, mental, emotional, and
social characteristics of an individual.

Definition
Personality is the totality of habits, attitudes that result from
socialization and characterizes us in our relationship with
others
Anderson and Parker
Personality represents those structural and dynamic properties
of an individual or individuals as they reflect themselves in
characteristic responses to situations
Lawrence A Pewin
Personality is made up the characteristic patterns of thoughts,
feelings, and behaviors that make a person unique. It arises
from within the individual and remains fairly consistent
throughout life

Personality Determinants
Determinants of
Personality

Heredity

Environment

Nature: It advocates that

Part of personality finds its
Origins in biology (heredity)

Nature: It advocates that

Part of personality finds its
Origins in biology (heredity)

Situational

Biological factors: The general biological characteristics of

human biological system influence the way in which
human beings tend to see external data interpret and
respond to them. The study of biological contribution to
personality can be divided into three major categories
hereditary, brain and physical stature.
Family and social factors: Family and social groups have
most significant impact on personality development. These
groups have their impact through socialization and
identification process.

Identification Process: The identification process occurs when a person

tries to identify himself with some person to whom he feels ideal in
the family. First identification can be viewed as the similarity of
behavior between the child and model. Second identification can be
looked in as the child motives or desires to be like the model. Third
it can be viewed as the process through which the child actually
takes on the attributes of the model.
Home environment: Total home environment is critical factor in
personality development.
Family Members: Parents and other family members have a strong
influence on the personality development. Parents have more effect on
the personality development as compared to other members of the
family.

Social Groups: Besides a persons home environment and family

members there are other influences arising from the social
placement of the family as the person is exposed to agencies outside
the home, particularly the school, friendship and other work groups.
Cultural Factors: Culture is the underlying determinant of human
decision making. It generally determines attitude towards
independence, aggression competition and co-operation.
Situational factors: Apart from biological, sociological and cultural
factors situational factors also determine personality development.
Situation exerts an important press on the individual it exercises
constraint and may provide push. This aspect is very important for
organization behavior because manager has control over the
organizational situation.

Personality Types
Type As
1. are always moving, walking, and eating rapidly;
2. feel impatient with the rate at which most events take place;
3. strive to think or do two or more things at once;
4. cannot cope with leisure time;
5. are obsessed with numbers, measuring their success in terms of
how many or how much of everything they acquire.
Type Bs
1. never suffer from a sense of time urgency with its accompanying
impatience;
2. feel no need to display or discuss either their achievements or
accomplishments;
3. play for fun and relaxation, rather than to exhibit their superiority
at any cost;
4. can relax without guilt.

The
Five
Dimensions
of
Personality
Extraversion: This trait includes characteristics such as excitability, sociability,
talkativeness, assertiveness and high amounts of emotional expressiveness.
Agreeableness: This personality dimension includes attributes such as trust, ,

kindness, affection, and other pro-social behaviors.

Conscientiousness: Common features of this dimension include high levels of

thoughtfulness, with good impulse control and goal-directed behaviors. Those high in
conscientiousness tend to be organized and mindful of details.
Neuroticism: Individuals high in this trait tend to experience emotional instability,

anxiety, moodiness, irritability, and sadness.

Openness: This trait features characteristics such as imagination and insight, and

those high in this trait also tend to have a broad range of interests.

What makes good

personality?
Self Confidence
Positive Thinking
Learning from failures
Self reliance
Selfless service

Approach for good

personality
Goal Setting
Time Management
Communication skills
Leadership

In brief it can be said:

1. Personality is not related to bodily structure alone. It includes
both structure and dynamics.
2. Personality is an indivisible unit.
3. Personality is neither good nor bad.
4. Every personality is unique
5. Personality refers to persistent qualities of the individual. It
expresses consistency and regularity.
6. Personality is acquired.
7. Personality is influenced by social interaction. It is defined in
terms of behavior.