Concept of Personality

Everyone uses the term “Personality”. A layman does so; and so does a scientist. But they do not mean the same thing by it. To the layman, a person with “personality” is said to be impressive, friendly and pleasing. He is also believed to have good physique. That is why for the common man, the hero and the heroine in a film has personality, but not the “extras”. Thus, we see that the common man attaches importance to those characteristics which impress people.Therefore, personality may be defined as the distinctive patterns of behavior (including thoughts and feelings) that characterize each individual’s adaptation to the situations of his/ her life. This definition may bring out four features of personality.Firstly, a way of thinking, feeling or behaving will be considered to be a part of personality when it is characteristic. That is, it must be usually possessed by a person. We do not call a person bad tempered if he looses his temper on rare occasions.

Secondly, personality includes what is distinctive. It includes those qualities which distinguish a person from many others.

Thirdly, personality is not a mere collection of certain qualities. It consists of patterns of behavior. That is, personality includes ways in which the various qualities are organized (or inter-related).

Lastly, personality includes only those characteristics that play a major part in the individual’s adaptation to the environment. Especially, it includes those characteristics that enable him to adapt to the people around him.

Personality, Character and Temperament:

In ordinary speech, the term “character” is used as a synonym for personality. However, the terms “personality” and “character” do not mean the same thing. Character refers to the ethical or moral characteristics of an individual. On the other hand, when we consider personality traits, we are not passing any moral judgment. We are merely describing a person’s characteristics and distinctive patterns of behavior.The term “temperament” is also sometime used as a synonym for personality. However, for psychologists, temperament is a narrower term than personality. It refers to those aspects of personality which are concerned with emotionality. Emotionality includes such thing as the kinds of emotions which are usually experienced, the typical mood (cheerful or gloomy), and calmness and excitability