YOUR CHARACTER AND PERSONALITY

MAKE YOU A UNIQUE INDIVIDUAL

but they aren’t necessarily one and the same aspect of the
Self.
Your personality represents who you are. It’s the
overarching whole of your inherited traits, natural
inclinations, and beliefs that make you you.

When someone uses the word “character,” you might

assume they mean personality, but that’s not always
the case.
So, what makes character different from personality,
and which one has more impact on your overall well-
being?
Personality, character, and temperament

In the world of psychology, when you think about the Self, your
personality is everything. It’s “you” from top to bottom: all the
behaviors, interests, thoughts, beliefs, experiences, and traits that
make you unique in the world.

Most modern personality models agree that the foundation of your

personality is your biology. Your experiences and environment help you
develop other aspects of your personality from that point on.

In other words, you’re not born with a set personality. This changes and
adapts constantly, particularly during the first 2 decades of life. After
that, change is less likely or not as significant.
But if you’re not born with your personality, how do
your behaviors and reactions as an infant develop?
Modern personality theory suggests personality
begins with inborn temperament. Over time, you
develop your character as you engage in everyday
experiences, and that’s how your personality
evolves.

Character and temperament blend and

contribute to
your personality traits, but they’re not all of it.
Temperament
Considered the primary foundation of personality,
your temperament is thought to be present at birth.
It’s those aspects of your personality that you’re born
with.
Temperament refers to your disposition and tendency
to adopt certain behaviors and have specific
reactions to your environment.
For example:

 overall energy levels

 adaptation to change
 curiosity
 inhibition
 emotional responsiveness
 demeanor
 mood
Character
As part of your personality, character represents your ethical, moral,
and social attitudes and beliefs.
Character may be more evident in certain situations where you apply
your core beliefs to the circumstances at hand.
Some examples of character traits include:
 honesty
 loyalty
 generosity
 ambition
 integrity
Personality
Personality is more complex than the juncture of temperament and character. It also
encompasses thought and behavioral patterns that come through in every life situation.

Your choice of friends and music, how you behave in work meetings versus social gatherings,
or if you prefer lunch over dinner are all aspects of your personality.

For example, you may believe in social justice, and your eagerness to act fairly is part of your
character. But depending on your personality, you may act on this belief by quietly donating to
social campaigns or stepping on a stage and speaking to the masses.

Some examples of personality traits include:

Extraversion , neuroticism, meticulosity, sociability, independence

 Character is an aspect of personality. It can influence major parts of life, such as
work, social circles, activism, and criminality. It may determine many of your life
choices.

 It can also be essential in determining the outcome of personal goals and

relationships.

 Character can be seen as your essence, while your personality is how you express
that essence. In this sense, they’re interdependent.

 Research shows that personality, particularly certain temperament features, may be

crucial to mental and physical well-being.

 Your personality consists of the temperament you’re born with, the character you
develop, and the conscious and subconscious thought patterns that result from
learning and interacting with the world around you.

 Both character and personality are essential to your experiences in life as well as
your overall health.
Thank you for Listening!
https://psychcentral.com/health/character-vs-personality#is-personality-more-important

Last medically reviewed on January 9, 2022

Activity
Make a group, discuss with your group members
the Character and Personality they have. You can
list them on a paper, choose 1 common personality
and 1 common character you have as a group.
Draw a picture that describes you as a group and
explain in front.