Concept of Personality

Introduction:

Your lineage, upbringing, and life experiences have formed you into the person you are now. Many individuals think that your unique set of ideas, feelings, and behaviours make up your personality. The concept of personality doesn’t have a widely agreed-upon definition, although many people think it to be a stable and evolving trait. People’s responses to various situations may be predicted by psychologists by analysing their personalities. Some of psychology’s most fundamental concepts might give you a sense of how concepts of personality develop.

Theories

There are a plethora of theories out there to explain why people behave the way they do. Others choose to study individual differences in personality over the method by which it is formed.

Concept of personality in organisational behaviour

• Trait Theories of Personality

People’s personalities are based on a set of broad qualities or dispositions, according to trait theories of the concept of personality. In an effort to figure out which characteristics make up the core of a person’s personality and how many different kinds of personality traits there are, several hypotheses and research projects have been undertaken.

As a psychologist, Allport was one of the first to identify personality characteristics. People of a certain culture have many of the same characteristics. Characteristics that are essential to a person’s identity are known as central qualities. A person’s “cardinal qualities” are those that are so pronounced that they are the primary focus of attention.

Allport estimated that there were up to 4,000 distinct personality qualities. There are, according to renowned psychologist Raymond Cattell, around 16. They exist on a continuum, according to Cattell, therefore everyone has at least some of these characteristics.

Extroverts, neuroticism, and psychoticism are the three most common personality qualities, according to psychologist Hans Eysenck.

It’s safe to say that the “Big Five” hypothesis of personality traits is now the most commonly recognised and extensively used one. Five broad personality dimensions are proposed by the theory:

• Agreeableness 

• Conscientiousness 

• Extroversion 

• Neuroticism 

• Openness

The Big Five idea asserts that each feature occurs on a wide spectrum. There is a range for each attribute in an individual’s personality.

Your extroversion, conscientiousness, and agreeableness may all be high, but your openness and neuroticism may be in the middle.

How Personality Develops and Changes Through Life

While his psychosexual development hypothesis is a well-known theory, it’s one of the most controversial. To paraphrase Sigmund Freud, a child’s personality changes over many stages. Each erogenous zone has a certain concentration of libidinal energy, which drives all human activity.

After successfully completing a stage, a person may go to the next phase of development. Fixations that arise as a consequence of failure at any time in one’s life might have an impact on one’s mature personality.

Erik Erikson, a psychologist, came up with a set of eight stages of psychological growth. In Erikson’s theory, the development of a person’s personality and psychological capacities occurs in phases.

During each stage of personality growth, a person will experience a crisis that will signal the beginning of the next phase in their growth and development. Completing each stage effectively may lead to the development of healthy personality development.

Erikson was more interested in the role that social interactions play in moulding one’s unique qualities. He was more concerned with the development of one’s “ego identity” than anything else.

How Personality Is Tested

Psychologists have devised a variety of personality tests, evaluations, and inventories in order to better understand and analyse people’s unique personalities. The tests are commonly employed in a broad range of circumstances. Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), for example, is often employed as a pre-employment screening tool.

There are a variety of exams that may be used to assist individuals in better understanding their own personalities. To identify personality disorders, several tests are employed as both screening and assessment instruments.

Many parts of your life may benefit from a greater grasp of your personality. Relationships with friends, family, and colleagues may improve if you realise that you are a good team player or that you need time to recharge.

You may have come across a variety of online personality tests (for example, an online quiz that tells you whether you are extroverted or introverted). In some cases, these tests claim to uncover the “true you”, while in others, they’re just for fun.

Personality Disorders

Personality disorders affect the way individuals think, act, and communicate with one another.

Antisocial personality disorder, borderline personality disorder, narcissistic disorder, and obsessive-compulsive personality disorder are all included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5).

Treatments for people with personality problems are now accessible, which is welcome. The difficulties that mental illness may impose on your life can be better managed if you seek the help of mental health professionals.

There are specialists who can assist you in implementing the treatment strategy.

A Word From Verywell

Personality is a broad issue that involves almost every aspect of a person’s identity. The personality of a person may be interpreted in a variety of ways. A person’s personality develops in stages, with some theories emphasising an individual’s qualities and others concentrating on the multiple concepts of personality development and stages that occur throughout life.

The purpose of a psychologist is not just to understand how individuals think and behave, but also to diagnose personality disorders that may cause pain or difficulty in essential aspects of one’s life. People suffering from personality disorders may be able to get assistance from psychologists if they are able to identify the problems they are experiencing at home, school, work, or in their personal relationships.

Conclusion

The concepts of personality study the differences and similarities between people’s personalities. Personality disorders are assessed, diagnosed, and treated by psychologists. Extroverts, neuroticism, and psychoticism are the three most common personality qualities. The Big Five idea asserts that each attribute occurs on a wide spectrum. Completing each stage effectively may lead to the development of a healthy personality. Many parts of your life may benefit from a greater grasp of your personality. Personality is a broad issue that involves almost every aspect of a person’s identity. Personality development disorders affect the way individuals think, act and communicate with one another. Antisocial personality disorder, borderline personality disorder, and narcissistic disorder are all included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.