Personality Flashcards
What is personality?
Defined as aspects of behaviour, thoughts and emotions that are stable and lasting, and distinguish the individual from others.
Personality is inherited, but our characteristics are shaped by the environment.
Flexible and changes with new experiences.
What are the Big Five Factors?
Serves as a prediction for behaviour
Openness to experience is the capacity to enjoy and be open to new experiences and ideas, people who show high levels of openness are creative, curious and imaginative, while people on the other end of the continuum tend to be conventional, seeking the familiar and tend to resist change.
Conscientiousness is a measure of reliability. This dimension ranges from being well-organised, detail-oriented and responsible to being disorganised, missing deadlines and acting less dependably.
Extraversion captures the comfort level With relations. People who score high on extraversion enjoy the company of others. They tend to have a more positive outlook on life. People low in extraversion tend to be reserved and quiet and keep their thoughts and feelings to themselves.
Agreeableness refers to the ability to get along with others. Agreeable people have the tendency to be compassionate to other people. They tend to be good natured, understanding and trusting. At the other end of the continuum less agreeable people tend to be cold, irritable, suspicious and short-tempered. Agreeable people tend to have better relationships with colleagues, subordinates, customers and suppliers.
Neuroticism (emotional instability) is the extent to which a person experiences unpleasant emotions such as anger; anxiety, depression, and vulnerability People who are less neurotic tend to be emotionally stable. They are relatively calm, composed and resilient, In the workplace people Who emotionally Stable tend to be reliable and seem to handle job Stress and pressure better.
What is character?
Character is considered as an aspect of personality that relates to ethical standards and moral behaviour. It also refers to the degree to which people attempt to act in accordance with their own moral standards
What is temperament?
Temperament is considered as the result of the interaction between genetic and environmental factors and can be seen the first manifestation of personality. Temperament is the aspect of personality that is concerned with emotion.
Temperament indicates how an individual will behave in different circumstances.
What are the three forms of temperament?
Difficult adjustment to routine, resulting in bad moods as well as irregular sleeping and eating habits (in children this refers to so-called ‘difficult’ children Who tend to be more angry, fearful, Shy and not easily soothed).
Easy adaptation to routine and good-natured moods (in children this refers to children who tend to be happy, active, vocal and seek interesting stimulation).
Inactive control refers to individuals who react slowly to stimuli, are not easily distracted. This can inhibit responses.
What is genetic determinants?
Genetic factors (inherited genes) have a large influence on the personality development of a person throughout his or her life. Some biological factors (such as the DNA or inherited genes) are stable; but other influences, such as hormonal changes and age-related processes together with environmental influences, are more flexible and can change over a person’s life span. Factors such as physical attractiveness, height and build (mostly genetic) influence the self-image of people and may have an influence on a person’s personality.
It can be concluded that the hereditary characteristics and the physical environment that people grow up in co-determine their personality development. The more the characteristic relates to the person’s anatomy, the greater the possibility that genetic factors are dominant and the role of the environment less so.
Traits closely related to a person’s physical anatomy (such as height, weight, or muscle structure) are more likely to be influenced primarily by genetic factors.
Traits related to mental or emotional aspects (such as attitudes, interests, or preferences) are less influenced by genetics and more shaped by environmental factors.
What is environmental determinants?
Physical environmental determinants:
The physical environmental conditions can affect the psychic development (growth and changes in an individual’s body and physical abilities) of a person. Poor environmental conditions, such as malnutrition, poverty, tension and fear have a negative influence on the development of attitudes, self-concept and the self-esteem of the individual. This can have a direct influence on his/her personality development.
Social and cultural determinants:
When a child feels incompetent in displaying useful skills and tasks, unable to meet challenges and demands, he or she develops feelings of inferiority when growing up, he or she may develop little confidence in their ability to do things well. Social and cultural influences are transferred to the individual by means of the process of socialising. Socialising involves the interaction Of an With Other individuals and groups such as parents, friends, teachers.
Personality characteristics (self-concept’ self-image, security and human relationships) are determined largely by significant others (for example, the child’s mother or other family members). Developing individual absorbs the values, norms and cultural characteristics of this social group (teachers, life partners and work colleagues, friends). An individual’s development is influenced by the wider community groups of which he/she is a member. The nature of the society and the social climate play an important role in the development of the person.
Specific events:
A turning point in a person’s life as a result of a traumatic even such as an accident can influence the personality of that person. An extremely spontaneous and extraverted person can become withdrawn after a car accident and experience feelings of guilt in this regard
What are the three ways that personalities originate and develop?
Genetic, environmental and personal determinants.
What is personal determinants?
Personality be seen as the totality of an individual characteristics at a specific moment as they have combined at that time due to collective influences of development.
