Personality Development - Introduction
Definition
Personality development is the development
of the organized pattern of behaviors and attitudes that makes a person
distinctive. Personality development occurs by the ongoing interaction of temperament,
character, and environment.
Description
Personality is what makes a person a
unique person, and it is recognizable soon after birth. A child's personality
has several components: temperament, environment, and character. Temperament is
the set of genetically determined traits that determine the child's approach to
the world and how the child learns about the world. There are no genes that
specify personality traits, but some genes do control the development of the
nervous system, which in turn controls behavior.
A second component of personality comes
from adaptive patterns related to a child's specific environment. Most
psychologists agree that these two factors—temperament and environment—influence
the development of a person's personality the most. Temperament, with its
dependence on genetic factors, is sometimes referred to as "nature,"
while the environmental factors are called "nurture."
While there is still controversy as to
which factor ranks higher in affecting personality development, all experts
agree that high-quality parenting plays a critical role in the development of a
child's personality. When parents understand how their child responds to
certain situations, they can anticipate issues that might be problematic for
their child. They can prepare the child for the situation or in some cases they
may avoid a potentially difficult situation altogether. Parents who know how to
adapt their parenting approach to the particular temperament of their child can
best provide guidance and ensure the successful development of their child's
personality.
Finally, the third component of
personality is character—the set of emotional, cognitive, and behavioral
patterns learned from experience that determines how a person thinks, feels,
and behaves. A person's character continues to evolve throughout life, although
much depends on inborn traits and early experiences. Character is also
dependent on a person's moral
development.
In 1956, psychiatrist Erik Erikson
provided an insightful description as to how personality develops based on his
extensive experience in psychotherapy with children and adolescents from low,
upper, and middle-class backgrounds. According to Erikson, the socialization
process of an individual consists of eight phases, each one accompanied by a
"psychosocial crisis" that must be solved if the person is to manage
the next and subsequent phases satisfactorily. The stages significantly
influence personality development, with five of them occurring during infancy,
childhood, and adolescence.
Infancy
During the first two years of life, an
infant goes through the first stage: Learning Basic Trust or Mistrust (Hope).
Well-nurtured and loved, the infant develops trust and security and a basic
optimism. Badly handled, the infant becomes insecure and learns "basic mistrust."
Toddlerhood
The second stage occurs during early
childhood, between about 18 months to two years and three to four years of age.
It deals with Learning Autonomy or Shame (Will). Well-parented, the
child emerges from this stage with self-confidence, elated with his or her
newly found control. The early part of this stage can also include stormy tantrums,
stubbornness, and negativism,
depending on the child's temperament.
Preschool
The third stage occurs during the
"play age," or the later preschool
years from about three to entry into formal school. The developing child goes
through Learning Initiative or Guilt (Purpose). The child learns to use
imagination; to broaden skills through active play
and fantasy; to cooperate with others; and to lead as well as to follow. If
unsuccessful, the child becomes fearful, is unable to join groups, and harbors
guilty feelings. The child depends excessively on adults and is restricted both
in the development of play skills and in imagination.
School Age
The fourth stage, Learning Industry or
Inferiority (Competence), occurs during school age, up to and possibly
including junior high school. The child learns to master more formal skills:
At this stage, the need for
self-discipline increases every year. The child who, because of his or her successful
passage through earlier stages, is trusting, autonomous, and full of
initiative, will quickly learn to be industrious. However, the mistrusting
child will doubt the future and will feel inferior.
Adolescence
The fifth stage, Learning Identity or
Identity Diffusion (Fidelity), occurs during adolescence from age 13 or 14.
Maturity starts developing during this time; the young person acquires
self-certainty as opposed to self-doubt and experiments with different
constructive roles rather than adopting a negative identity, such as
delinquency. The well-adjusted adolescent actually looks forward to
achievement, and, in later adolescence, clear sexual identity is established.
The adolescent seeks leadership (someone to inspire him or her), and gradually develops
a set of ideals to live by.
The Child Development Institute (CDI)
rightfully points out that very little knowledge is available on the type of
specific environment that will result, for example, in traits of trust being
more developed in a person's personality. Helping the child through the various
stages of emotional and personality development is a complex and difficult
task. Searching for the best ways of accomplishing this task accounts for most
of the research carried out in the field of child development today.
Renowned psychologist Carl Rogers
emphasized how childhood experiences affect personality development. Many
psychologists believe that there are certain critical periods in personality
development—periods when the child will be more sensitive to certain
environmental factors. Most experts believe that a child's experiences in the family
are important for his or her personality development, although not exactly as
described by Erikson's stages, but in good agreement with the importance of how
a child's needs should to be met in the family environment. For example,
children who are toilet trained too early or have their toilet
training carried out too strictly may become rebellious. Another example is
shown by children who learn appropriate behavior to their sex lives when there
is a good relationship with their same-sex parent.
Another environmental factor of importance
is culture. Researchers comparing cultural groups for specific personality
types have found some important differences. For example, Northern European
countries and the United States have individualistic
cultures that put more emphasis on individual needs and accomplishments. In
contrast, Asian, African, Central American, and South
American countries are characterized more by community-centered cultures
that focus on belonging to a larger group, such as a family, or nation. In
these cultures, cooperation is considered a more important value than
competitiveness, which will necessarily affect personality development.
Common Problems
Infants who are just a few weeks old
display differences between each other in how active they are, how responsive
they are to change, and how irritable they are. Some infants cry constantly
while others seem happy and stay fairly quiet. Child
development research conducted by the CDI has identified nine temperamental
traits that may contribute to a child's personality development being
challenging or difficult:
Temperamental traits are enduring
personality characteristics that are neither "good" nor
"bad." Early on, parents can work with the child's temperamental
traits rather than oppose them. Later, as the child grows up, parents can help
the child to adapt to his or her own world in spite of inborn temperament.
Parental Concerns
Most children experience healthy
personality development. However, some parents worry as to whether their
infant, child, or teenager has a personality disorder. Parents are usually the
first to recognize that their child has a problem with emotions or behaviors
that may point to a personality disorder.
Children with personality
disorders have great difficulty dealing with other people. They tend to be
inflexible, rigid, and unable to respond to the changes and normal stresses of
life and find it very difficult to participate in social activities. When these
characteristics are present in a child to an extreme, when they are persistent
and when they interfere with healthy development, a diagnostic evaluation with
a licensed physician or mental health professional is recommended.
When to Call
the Doctor
Parents who suspect that their child has a
personality disorder should seek professional help. It is a very important
first step in knowing for sure whether there is a disorder, and if so, what
treatment can best help the child. Child and adolescent psychiatrists are
trained to help parents sort out whether their child's personality development
is normal.
See also Bonding;
Cognitive
development; Temperament.
(Article by: Monique Laberge, Ph.D. from http://www.answers.com/topic/personality-development)
Personality means characteristics and appearance of a person - pattern of thought, feeling , behaviour, communication ability and physical features . A child inherits many personality traits from its parents. Personality of a person takes its basic formation in the beginning period of childhood. Its experiences in the family and the society are very crucial. Friends, teachers and the environment of school have their own positive or negative impact. Adults need to be very careful while rearing a child because deep scars on the psychology of a child may have permanent marks. To develop positive thinking in the child parents must relate to each other in a positive way.
With the help of good training a child or an adult can learn communication skills, different subjects, driving or computer operating. Similarly a training in personality development enhances the general as well as unique traits (characteristics which differentiate one from others) of a person. A teacher of personality development helps a person to get positive thought pattern, gain confidence, improve behaviour, learn better communication and develop a healthy physique.
IMPORTANCE HAS RISEN
Everyone is influenced by an attractive personality. And without influencing others you can’t get success in today’s competitive world. Therefore the importance of personality development has risen very much. These days every good public school is careful about the personality development of its students.
Some years ago nobody gave any importance to personality development in India. Emphasis was given only on physical appearance and expertise in work. But now the time has changed. It is an age of competition and economic revolution. Although opportunities of progress are everywhere yet a student has to work very hard to climb the stairs of a brilliant career. The person having a good personality can move through the difficulties with more confidence.
Many people still think that personality is related to physical appearance of a person. If a person is well-built and wearing a good dress it is said that he/she is having a good personality. But it is not a rational approach. In case the inner personality of a person is weak he/she will lose impact as soon as he/she speaks or behaves. Such a person fails to create a lasting impression on others. Rising in career graph becomes a very difficult task. Therefore both inner and outer personality of a person should be strengthened.
YOU CAN IMPROVE
In their best-selling publication ‘Born to Win’ well-known psychologists Muriel & Dorothy have written that a man is basically born to win. But due to negligence our winning potential doesn’t grow to the best of its capacity. Mostly people develop their personality according to the expectation of others therefore they are unable to shine their unique traits. Therefore we need to break the barrier and rise bravely with our originality and uniqueness. Only then one can transform an ordinary personality into an impressive one.
Previously it was thought that every person lived his or her whole life according to the personality script written in childhood. To change it was almost impossible. But after years of research and practical applications the man has progressed in the science of personality transformation. With the help of simple methods now anybody can develop a winning personality and change his or her future. Here are seven simple ways to give a dynamic touch to your personality:-
1. SET AN AIM IN LIFE
If you sit in the boat of life without knowing your destination you will become the slave of circumstances and other people. Your progress or development will totally depend on your luck. The wind of circumstances will push the boat to any direction - you won’t have any control on anything. And you will rarely be able to make things happen. You may even be crushed by the competition forced upon you by other people. To change this scenario you need to set an aim for your life. It is true that a person has several aims in life but to decide about chief aim is essential to make good progress. When you have an aim it is like a destination - you can chart your route, plan your action and formulate strategies to reach their at a speed. The personality of such a person automatically get a sort of charisma - developed by his driving force.
2. POWER OF KNOWLEDGE
Knowledge is power. Nobody is impressed with a person who doesn’t even know what is happening around or in the world. He is considered a fool whom no wise man or woman would like to befriend or follow. Therefore it is necessary to enrich your general knowledge. And you should be the master of the field in which you are working. To update your general knowledge: a) read newspaper, b) watch informative programs on TV, c) read good & popular books, d) interact (interrelate, communicate) with intelligent persons.
3. LOOK CONFIDENT
A look of confidence on your face impresses everybody. If you walk with a feeling of failure and frustration on your face people will shun away from you. Even if you are facing difficulties and worries in your life you must know how to think and look positive. Shake hands with others firmly. While shaking hands or talking make an eye contact with others. Speak less and with conviction. Such simple actions will maintain your confidence. Your self-confidence can not only conquer the mountains of difficulties but also the interview boards.
4. SPEAK IN STYLE
Most of the successful persons maintain a unique style in speaking. They speak clearly and forcefully. Be careful that you have a good command on the language you speak. Don’t make grammatical mistakes else you may become a laughing stock. If necessary take training from a good teacher. Give extra care to your pronunciation. Speaking power is an essential trait of any good personality.
5. DRESS UP SMARTLY
A smartly dressed-up person is admired everywhere. By observing successful people in any field, marketing, business, movies, media etc., you will come to the conclusion that most of the successful persons in almost every field have a keen taste for good dresses. Good dresses also prove a stimulus for the wearer. He feels more confident and relaxed. There is a joyful glow on his face. His handshake is more confident. A bad dress always invokes inferiority complex. No good company hires a shabbily dressed person today.
6.A HEALTHY BODY
A body burdened with this or that disease may win pity of others but it is very difficulty for that person to maintain attraction in his personality for a long time. A healthy and smart look is absolutely essential to attract others. And if you work on it you can easily attain it. Take exercise regularly, play games or go for a morning walk - whatever suits your body and psychology. Eat balanced diet. It will strengthen the immune system of your body - keeping you healthy and fit for action.
7. GOOD HABITS
A man is generally a creature of his habits. With bad habits you may become a sheer nuisance for others. Then how will you impress them? Cleanliness, punctuality, completing your works on time, fulfilling your promises, having sincerity and dedication to work, listening others properly, keeping yourself away from smoking and drinking - are the habits which add sparkle and dynamism to your personality. They endear you to the people.
You should also be friendly and polite while dealing with others. You won’t be able to impress the people with an attitude of arrogance. If people feel uncomfortable in your presence it is a sign that you need to improve your behaviour. Others must feel easy while approaching or talking to you.
|
Anandrahi
CEO: News of India Network Director: LSE-India (for Communication Skills and Personality Development) Trained thousands of persons to get great jobs, improve personality and achieve goals in business. |
Resources
Books
AACAP and David Pruitt. Your Child:
Emotional, Behavioral, and Cognitive Development from Infancy through
Pre-Adolescence. New York: Harper Collins, 1998.
AACAP and David Pruitt. Your
Adolescent: Emotional, Behavioral, and Cognitive Development from Early
Adolescence through the Teen Years. New York: Harper Collins, 1999.
Allen, Bem P. Personality Theories:
Development, Growth, and Diversity. Harlow, UK: Allyn & Bacon, 2002.
Berger, Elizabeth. Raising Children
With Character: Parents, Trust, and the Development of Personal Integrity.
Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 1999.
Erikson, Erik. Childhood and Society.
New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 1993.
Erikson, Erik. The Erik Erikson Reader.
New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2000.
Goleman, Daniel. Working With Emotional
Intelligence. New York: Bantam, 1998.
Rogers, Carl. On Becoming a Person.
Boston: Mariner Books, 1995.
Shaffer, David R. Social and
Personality Development. Independence, KT: Wadsworth Publishing, 1999.
"Social, Emotional, and Personality
Development." Handbook of Child Psychology, edited by William Damon
and Nancy Eisenberg. 5th ed. New York: Wiley, 2000.
Periodicals
Biesanz, J. C. et al. "Personality
over time: Methodological approaches to the study of short-term and long-term
development and change." Journal of Personality. 71, no. 6
(December, 2003): 905–41.
Hart, D. et al. "Personality and
development in childhood: a person-centered approach." Monographs in
Social Research on Child Development. 68, no. 1 (2003): 1–119.
Jensen-Campbell, L. A. et al.
"Interpersonal conflict, agreeableness, and personality development."
Journal of Personality.71, no. 6 (December, 2003): 1059–85.
Roberts, B. W. and R. W. Robins.
"Person-Environment Fit and its implications for personality development:
a longitudinal study." Journal of Personality. 72, no. 1 (February,
2004): 89–110.
Roberts, B. W. et al. "The kids are alright:
growth and stability in personality development from adolescence to
adulthood." Journal of Personality & Social Psychology. 81, no.
4 (October, 2001): 670–83.
Shiner, R, and A. Caspi. "Personality
differences in childhood and adolescence: measurement, development, and
consequences." Journal of Child Psychology & Psychiatry. 44,
no. 1 (January, 2003): 2–32.
Organizations
American Academy of Child & Adolescent
Psychiatry (AACAP). 3615 Wisconsin Ave., N.W., Washington, DC. 20016–3007.
(202) 966–7300. Web
site: www.aacap.org.
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). 141
Northwest Point Boulevard, Elk Grove Village, IL 60007–1098. (847) 434–4000.
Web site: www.aap.org.
American Psychological Association (APA).
750 First Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002–4242. (800) 374–2721. Web site: www.apa.org.
Child Development Institute (CDI). 3528 E
Ridgeway Road, Orange, California 92867. (714) 998–8617. Web site: www.childdevelopmentinfo.com.
Web Sites
CDI. Child Development Basics. Available online at: www.childdevelopmentinfo.com/development
(accessed March 5, 2005).
Great Ideas in Personality. Available online at: www.personalityresearch.org/
(accessed March 5, 2005).
The Personality Project. Available online at: www.personality-project.org/personality.html
(accessed March 5, 2005).
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