PERSONALITY:

Session 16
 PERSONALITY:
Nature:
 There is a famous quote that says:
 “Never judge a book by the looks of its cover.”
 We use the term personality to represent the
overall profile or combination of characteristics
that capture the unique nature of a person as that
person reacts & interacts with others.
 Ordinarily personality is taken as the external
appearance of the individual.
 In Philosophy it means the self.
 PERSONALITY:
Nature:
 In Psychology personality is neither the external
appearance nor it is the self but it includes both &
much more.
 Personality is a complex of sentiments, attitudes,
ideas, habits, & skills of an individual.
 In Sociology personality is the product of social
interaction in group life.
 Personality is a social product because an individual
cannot develop these mental & emotional behaviors
outside the social group.
 PERSONALITY:
 Nature:
 The term “personality” has been derived from the
Latin word “Persona” meaning the mask used by
the actors to change their appearance.
 Personality is not a fixed state but a dynamic totality
which is continuously changing due to interaction
with the environment.
 The behavior of an individual is not evaluated in the
same way by different people.
 PERSONALITY:
 A person’s boss may evaluate his personality in one
way; his wife in another way; & his children in still
another way.
o  Example:
 Bismarck, whose external hardness made him
appear a man of iron to the outside world was only
a “Poor, sick duck” to his wife.
General Concept:
 Generally, the people say that such person has a
good & impressive personality, while Mr. X has got
no personality.
 PERSONALITY:
General Concept:

 Scientifically, Sociologically, & Psychologically, this is

absolutely incorrect.
 As everyone has a personality, irrespective of the fact
that it is good or bad, impressive or unimpressive.
 Thus from a Beggar to the President & from a
Criminal to the Chief Justice of the Country,
everybody has personality, irrespective of any value
judgment.
 PERSONALITY:

Definitions:

a) “Personality is the sum total of the ways in which

an individual reacts & interacts with others.”

b) “Personality is a set of physiological & behavioral

traits & characteristics that distinguish one
individual from others.”
 
 PERSONALITY:
Factors:
Nature Biological heritage, genetic makeup.
Nurture Life experiences.
Heredity Things passed on genetically, from
generation to generation.
Environment Culture; limits of our behavioral
pertinent.
Situation The situation, influences the effects  
of heredity & environment on
 PERSONALITY:
Factors:

Nature
 Biological Heritage

Personality

Nurture
 Life Experiences
 PERSONALITY:
Factors
Heredity/Genetic
Mental skills & abilities
Physical skills
Physical characteristics
 
Personality

 
Environmental
All social institutions
Culture
 PERSONALITY:
Sociological Approach:
 Consider personality in terms of status of an
individual in the group.
 What others think of us plays an important part in
the formation of our personality.
 The personality is the sum of the ideas, attitudes, &
values of a person which determine his role in
society & form an integral part of his character.
 Personality is acquired by the individual as a result
of his participation in group life.
 PERSONALITY:
Types:
 Proposed by Carl G. Jung: 
1) Introvert/introversion:
 The introvert/Introversion is pre-occupied with his
own self.
•  In other words:
 A personality type having a tendency to pre-
occupied with himself, his own thoughts & inner
experiences, rather than with other people.
 PERSONALITY:
Types:
1) Introvert/introversion:
An introvert tends to withdraw from social & emotional
interaction with others, especially during
periods of emotional stress.
2)  Extrovert/Extroversion:
The extrovert is pre-occupied with things outside self.
• In other words:
A personality type whose conscious interests & energies
are directed toward people & events outside himself
rather than toward himself & inner experiences.
 PERSONALITY:
Types:
 In these two types there is a third type the
“Ambiverts” who are neither the one nor the other
but vacillates between the two.
3) Ambivert/Ambiversion:
 Simultaneous conflicting feelings toward a person
or thing, as love & hate.
 In other words: 
 A personality showing mixed, often opposite,
feelings at the same time toward someone or
something.
 PERSONALITY:
Types:
3) Ambivert/Ambiversion:
 The majority of the people are “Ambiverts”.
 According to Ernest Krinchner (German Psychiatrist)
 The introvert personality----- tall & slender person.
•  While:
 The extrovert personality----- stout person.
To sum up:
 Personality is not related to bodily structure alone.
 Personality is neither good nor bad.
 PERSONALITY:

To sum up:

 Every personality is unique.
 Personality refers to persistent qualities of an
individual.
 Personality is acquired.
 Personality is influenced by social interaction.