PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT

PERSONALITY

MEANING

The word ‘personality’ has been derived from the Latin word ‘Persona’, which means mask. It is described in terms of an individuals behaviour, actions, postures, words and attitudes and opinions his external world. In education, the world personality means all round development of the child. Personality is defined as individual’s unique and relatively consistent patterns of thinking, feeling and behaving. Personality theory is an attempt to describe and explain how people are similar how they are different and why every individual is unique.

DEFINITIONS

• Personality is a dynamic organization within the individual of those psycho-physical systems that determine his unique adjustment to his environment- Allport.
• Personality is the total quality of an individual’s behaviour as it is revealed in his characteristic habits of thoughts and expression, his attitudes and interacts, his manner of activity -R.S. Wood Worth.

CHARACTERISTICS OF PERSONALITY:

1. Personality is always dynamic.
2. It is combination of both physical and psychological.
3. It is an organized and integrated system.
4. Personality is developed through social interaction.
5. Personality refers to the process of adjustment to the environment.
6. Personality is something unique and specific.
7. Personality is self consciousness. It is common character, but differs from individual to individual.
8. Personality is not static; it is dynamic and life long process.
9. Personality is product of heredity and environment.
10. Learning and experience plays a vital role to develop the personality.

FACTORS INFLUENCING THE PERSONALITY:

            Personality is developed by some factors. The most important factors are two. They are 1. Personal factors, 2. Social factors.

1. Personal factors:

These include all the internal factors like physical structure of an individual. The main personal factors are

• Physique
• Nervous system and glands
• Mental and psychological factors

Physique:

It is combination of many components like appearance, height, weight, health, strength, size, intelligence etc.,

Nervous system and glands:

            Nervous system is a coordinating system through its well knitted system of nerve cells and fibers. Some glands are involved to develop the individuals’ personality. 

For example, Endocrine glands: Thyroid, parathyroid, adrenal.

• Thyroid: over secretion leads to restlessness, upset, irritated mind. Less secretion makes slow, lazy, sleepy, dependent, lethargic and sluggish.
• Parathyroid: over secretion makes quite, slowdown the person. Less secretion makes sensitize the nerves and muscles and makes more excitable.
• Adrenal: High means vigorous, energetic, efficient and low means indecisiveness and irritation.

Mental and psychological factor:

Mental factor i.e., intelligence plays a vital role in the development of personality. It helps in adjustment, learning, acquisition of knowledge and skill. Some other psychological factors are motives, interests, attitudes, emotional reactions, sentiments.

2. Social factors:

            All the external factors like the influence of home, school, society are the main social factors determined the individuals’ personality.

Home and family:

From the birth of the child, the parents and the home and family atmosphere provide the normal growth and development of his personality. It includes parents, parental attitude, size of the family, order of birth, family economic level.

School environment:

The personality characteristics of the teachers, headmaster, class mates, the teaching methods, curriculum these are some school environment factors affecting the personality.

Society:

The society plays an important role to develop the personality.  Neighborhood, social groups, religious institutions or agencies like temple, club, press, mass media like radio, television, social values and customs, tradition, beliefs these are the social factors that affect individuals personality.

TYPE-CUM TRAIT APPROACH (EYSENCK’S THEORY)

            H.J. Eysenck, a German-born British psychologist proposed a ‘dimensional’ approach using the research methodology of ‘Hypothetical-Deductive’ method.  His approach is a compromise between the type approach and Trait-Approach.

            According to him, a type “is an observed constellation or syndrome of traits’ and a trait is an observed constellation of individual action tendencies”.

            There is an assumption of general and specific factors, the specific factors being some of the particular traits which are independent.  In a way, there are only relative terms referring to the extent of occurrence of a factor or trait. A group factor that has wide occurrence becomes a general factor.  A specific factor that has wide occurrence becomes a group factor.  No factor can be called general, group or specific on its own right.  Eysenck prepares his theory of personality on the basis of this general principle.

Hierarchical Organisation of Personality

There are 4 levels of behavior organization:

Lowest level / First level	Specific responses or individual sets
Second level	Habitual responses formed by special responses.
Third level	Habitual responses are further organized into traits, similar to group factors.
Fourth level	The traits are organized into general traits.

Using Factor Analysis, he also identified two groups, namely Neurotic Introverts and Neurotic Extroverts

1)       Neurotic Introverts:  They are otherwise known as Dysthymia.  Their autonomic nervous system is affected; feelings area easily hurt; moody, day-dreaming, remain in the background on social occasions and suffer from insomnia.  The level of aspiration is high but these people always understate themselves.

2)       Neurotic Extroverts:  They are otherwise known as Hysterics.  They suffer from hysterical disorders; have limited interests; poor vocabulary; tend to be quiche but inaccurate and not rigid.

Four Basic Types of Personality:

            Using Galen’s classification of temperaments into Melancholic, Choleric, Phlegmatic and sanguine, Jung’s classification of Introversion and Extroversion, Eysenck added another dimension of emotion, i.e., Stability v/s Instability to Extraversion Introversion, has categorized a number of personality characteristics into four basic types as follows.

Eysenck also believed in another dimension called Psychoticism.  Here, he says that the people who are high in this dimension tend to be.  Solitary, insensitive, egocentric, impersonal, impulsive and opposed to accepted social norms while those scoring low, are found to be more empathic, and less adventurous.

Organisation of Traits – Introversion and Extroversion

Aspects	Introversion	Extroversion
Clinical syndrome	Anxiety, Depression.	Hysterical conversion
Personality Traits	Irritability, Apathy, Obsession.	Little energy, Narrow interests, Hypochondriasis
Self-assessments.	Feelings easily hurt; Keeps in the background on social occasions; Moody, Day dreams.	Accident-prone, Stuttering and stammering, Illness and pain.
Intellectual functions	High Intelligence, Vocabulary.	Low Intelligence, Poor vocabulary.
Persistence	Good.	Bad.
Speed/accuracy ratio	Low.	High.
Level of aspiration	High	Low
Past performance.	Underrated.	Over rated.
Rigidity	High	Low
Sense of humor	Does not appreciate jokes.	Does appreciate jokes.

Conclusion:

            The contribution of Eysenck’s theory has presented a viable synthesis of the trait and type approaches, given personality a biological cum hereditary base and accepted the role of environmental influences in shaping and developing personality.  In addition to its close focus on individual differences and principle of behaviour changes, his theory has contributed to the study of criminology, education, aesthetics, genetics, psychopathology and political ideology.

THEORIES OF PERSONALITY:

There are several definitions of personality and several theories of personality have been developed so far explain its nature. Psychologists have designed studies by employing factorial analysis method to extract the factors of personality. The most important theories are,

1. Psycho-Analytic theory
2. Humanistic theory
3. Transpersonal theory

1. Psycho-Analytic Theory:

         Psycho-Analytic theory is so influential that it is a global theory. Freud explained that people have two basic instincts, sex and aggressiveness. These instincts are not always socially accepted. Freud’s theory describes conflict between a person’s instinctual need for gratification and the demands of society for socialization. This theory is also called Freud theory. Freud classified three stage of personality

v  Core of personality

v  Structure of personality

v  Development of personality

Core of personality:

Freud states that there are three levels of consciousness.

1. The conscious behaviour:

         The thoughts, feelings and actions of which people are aware.

2. The preconscious or subconscious:

         Mental activity that people can become aware of only if they attend to it closely.

3. The unconscious:

         This is mental activity that people are unaware of and cannot be aware of except through certain techniques.

Structure of Personality:

         The primary structural elements of personality are,

1.    Id

2.    Ego

3.    Super Ego

1. Id:

v  The Id is the source of a person’s instinctual energy.

v  It works on the pleasure principle which assumes that people try to maximize immediate gratification.

v  It does not care about morals, society or other individuals.

v  It seeks immediate pleasure only.

v  The Id is irrational and impulsive.

2. Ego:

v  The second major component of functioning is Ego.

v  Ego works on the reality principle.

v  It is realistic and logical, postponing gratification until it can be achieved in socially acceptable ways.

v  It represents the organized, rational and planning dimensions of personality.

v  The Ego is the pragmatic part of the personality that learns various compromises to reduce the tension of the Id’s instinctual urge.

3. Super Ego:

v  It is third component in the structure of personality.

v  It is moral branch of mental functioning.

v  Super Ego controls the Id and Ego.

v  Super Ego imposes the moral codes.

v  Super Ego develops in response to parental rewards and punishments.

Development of Personality:

Oral stage:

         The first stage of development is called the oral stage from birth to about age two during the infants obtain gratification primarily through the mouth.

Anal stage:

         This stage of personality development from age two to three. During this period children control the immediate gratification obtained through defecation.

Phallic stage:

         It is age 3 to 7, during this period children obtain gratification primarily from the genital. A major development achievement in the resolution of Oedipus complex. The male children are more affectionate with mothers and the female children are more affectionate with fathers.

Latency stage:

         This stage is from age seven to until puberty. During this period the child continues to develop physically.

Genital stage:

         This stage is from the onset of puberty through adulthood during which the sexual conflicts of childhood resurface in adolescents.

2. Humanistic Theory:

This theory was developed by Carl Rogers. So it is also called Carl Rogers Self Theory. The humanistic approach emphasizes the personal worth of the individual, the centrality of human values and the creative, active nature on human beings. The approach is optimistic and focuses on noble human capacity to overcome hardship, pain and despair.

            According to Rogers, people have a need for positive regard that reflects a universal requirement to be loved and respected. Because other provides this positive regard, we grow dependent on them.

Rogers Self Theory:

Rogers emphasized the whole of experience as the phenomenal field. Out of this field a self or self concept gradually develops. According to him the self is not stable. It constantly changes. It is an organized consistent gestalt constantly in the process of forming and reforming as situation change.

The Ideal Self:

            According to Rogers the ideal self is the self concept which the individual would most like to possess upon which he places the highest value for himself. It is shifting, changing structure.

Assessment of Personality:

             In order to make any practical use or interpretation of personality characteristics especially for the particular individual, we must have ways of measuring them. The following methods are used to assess the personality.

v  Observation

v  Interview

v  Rating scale

v  Projective Techniques

·         Rorschach Ink-Blot test

·         Thematic Apperception Test (TAT)

·         Word association test

v  Situational tests

v  Personality inventories

v  Questionnaires

Observation:

         This is the assessment technique of drawing conclusion about ones personality based on observations of that person’s behaviour. When observations are purposeful, careful, structured, reliable and valid, then behavioral observation can be an excellent source of information. It is a popular method to study the behaviour pattern of an individual in actual life situation. There are two types of observation methods namely, participate and non-participate observation.

Interview:

         Interview is a technique of getting information, directly from the subject about his personality in face to face contacts. It is one of the oldest and most widely used and is also very popular due to its simplicity and flexibility. There are two types of interviews namely, formal and informal interviews.

Rating scale:

         Rating scale is an important technique of evaluation. Rating is the assessments of a person by another person. According to Barr and others define rating as “rating is a term applied to expression of opinion or judgements regarding some situation, object or character opinions are usually expressed on a scale of values”. It may be done on a

Two point scale           :           yes / no

Three point scale        :           above average / average / bellow average

Five point scale           :           excellent / good / average / poor / very poor

Seven point scale       :           excellent / very good / good / average /below average /poor / very poor

Types of rating scale:

1.Numerical rating scale

2.Descriptive rating scale

3.Graphical rating scale

4.Score cards

5.The rank order scale

6.Man-to-Man scale

Projective Techniques:

         The projection means, the unconscious process of an individual attributes certain thoughts, attitude, wishes and emotions in his environment. Projection is meant a process in which we express those suppressed desires which collect in the unconscious mind as a result of unfavourable or difficult situation and which are expressed in a different form. It is classified in to two type’s namely projective and non-projective techniques.

Projection Method:

         These techniques are based on the concept of projection. In these techniques indefinite and unstructured stimuli like pictures, ink-blots, and incomplete sentences are provided to the subject and he is asked to structure them in any way he likes. The common projective methods are

v  The Rorschach Ink-Blot test

v  Thematic Apperception Test

v  Word association test

v  Story completion test

The Rorschach Ink-Blot test:

         It is one of the most popular and widely used test. A Swiss psychiatrist named Herman Rorschach in 1921 developed this test. It consists of ten cards on which we have ink-blots. Five of them are in black and white and five are multicolored. These ink-blots are completely unstructured and do not have any specific meaning.

Analysis of the response:

         Objective scoring of the responses are done based upon three aspects,

§ location

§ determinants

§ contents

Location:

         It refers to the particular part of a blot to which a single response refers. Some of the common symbols used in this connection are:

W = Whole blot area

D = Large common detail

d = Small common detail

S = White space

Determinants:

         By a determinant is meant is particular aspect of the blot which directs the particular activity. The common determinants are:

M = Movements

F = Form

C = Color

K = Surface appearances

Contents:

It refers to the actual meaning o the world. The common symbols are,

H = Human figures

A = Animal figures

Pl = Plants

Merits:

§ It is an individual test.

§ It is used very extensively for identifying mental diseases and personality disorders.

§ They are given freedom to respond.

§ The subject can take his own time.

Demerits:

§ Experts can only conduct this test.

§ There is no time limit and its leads struggle to the examiner.

§ The subject makes a great variety of responses to the test task.

Thematic Apperception Test (TAT):

         This test was developed by Morgan and Murry in 1935. It is intended for adults. It consists of pictures related to ordinary day today life. It consists of 30 pictures which reveal human beings in a variety of actual life situations. 10 cards are meant for males, 10 cards for females and 10 for both. The test is usually administered in two sessions using 10 pictures in each session. The pictures are presented one at a time. The subject makes stories on the pictures shown to him and these are recorded immediately by the psychologist.

         No limitation of time is imposed upon the subject. At the time of the test information regarding his emotional and abnormal behavior is obtained. After three or four days some information is collected on the basis of the stories.  While analysis the stories the following point are to be kept in mind:

Ø  The style of the story

Ø  The content of the story

Ø  Test situation as a whole

Ø  Subject attitude towards authority

Ø  Out comes

Word Association Test:

         In this method there are a number of selected words. The subject is told that:

·   The examiner will speak a series of words one at time.

·   After each word the subject is to reply as quickly as possible with the first word that comes to his mind.

·   There is no right or wrong response.

Story / Sentence completion Test:

         This test includes a list of incomplete sentences, generally open at the end, which require completion by the sentence in one or more words. The subject is asked to go through the list and answer as quickly as possible. For example

I am worried over …….

I like very much ……….

Situational Test:

         Here, the situations are artificially created in which an individual is expected to perform acts related to the personality traits under testing. For example to test the honesty of an individual some situations can be created and his reaction can be evaluated in terms of honesty or dis-honesty.

Personality Inventories:

         It refers with questionnaire in so many aspects like administration, scoring, interpretation etc. personality inventory is specially designed to seek answers about the person and his personality. While in the personality inventory they are usually addressed to the first person such as

         1. I often feel lonely                                            Yes / No

         2. I am a day dreamer                                       Yes / No

Examples for Personality Inventory:

          I.Minnesota Multi-phasic Personality Inventory (MMPI)

        II.Multidimensional Personality Inventory (MPI)

Questionnaires:

            In genera the word questionnaire refers to a device for securing answers to questions by using a form which the respondent fills in him. It explains clear that in collecting information from the subject himself about his personality characteristics a form consisting of a serried=s of printed or written questions.  It is the general device and can be used for collecting all kinds of information. The questions set in the questionnaire are generally addressable to the second persons such as

1. Do you feel often lonely?                                         Yes / No

2. Do you enjoy seeing others successful                 Yes / No

Integrated Personality:

            Personality is the dynamic organization of the psycho-physical traits, exhibited in man’s adjustment with the environment.  If the organization of psycho-physical qualities in personality is not orderly, difficulties will arise in the adjustment with the environment. Such personality will be called disintegrated.

            The integration of personality is necessary in order to affect adjustment with the environment.  Adjustment will be natural and easy if this integration is strong.  The integration of personality is the integration of all the psycho-physical traits of personality.  There is an absence of conflicts in it.  In it, all mental activities work in an organized way.  An integrated personality is flexible, strong and organized, as well as balanced. Mc Dougall has called it the organization of character and intellect. The integration of personality is found in everyone in a lesser or greater degree.  If the integration is less than essential, then problems of adjustment with the   environment arise.

            The weakness of the Ego is fundamental in the personality problems.  Either the person’s Ego cannot control the Id’s desires and impulses or it cannot adjust with the Super Ego.  For the integration of personality, it is necessary that the person maintains a balanced and realistic outlook.  Some failures and frustrations come in everyone’s life, and the person should pursue his life task without being too much disturbed by happiness or sorrow.  An integrated approach is the golden path of life.  It is only the balance of emotions, needs, imagination and thinking, etc., which can keep the personality integrated.     

            The definition of the integration of personality must have made it clear that it essentially needs socialization without which the person finds it difficult to adjust with the environment.  The social environment is not the total environment of the person and neither is sociability by itself the only adequate trait for adaptation in society, and yet it is an essential trait in the personality.  Sociability, as the name suggests, is that tendency by which a person harmoniously mixes with other people of the society and lives with them.  An unsocial person is introvert and likes to live alone. He experiences difficulty in meeting other people and having relations with them.  In daily life, the problems which arise in his meeting with other people assume alarming proportions, while the social man deals with them with ease.  For example, the unsocial person feels lonely when he is alone and bored and restless upon the advent of new people.

            Deficiency of integration is seen in the problem of maladjustment with the environment.  The reason is that in the absence of integration, the personality is unbalanced, there being no proper blending of psycho-physical traits.  It is not essential that deficiency of integration may render him incapable of work.  Many of the famous persons suffered from grave deficiencies in the integration of their personalities, but though this did not hinder or restrict their greatness, their personalities were one-sided.  With people of average capacities, such deficiency will affect even their skills.  It can be said that in case of deficiency in integration of personality, the person can neither be skilled in his behaviour nor does he get success in his life’s tasks.  He not only makes his own life disturbed but also disturbs the peace of others.  Thus, psychologists help people in the integration of their personalities by giving suggestions.

INTEGRATED PERSONALITY

INTRODUCTION

            The term ‘Personality’ which is ’widely and commonly used in   Psychology    has an in-depth meaning. It is a difficult task to give a simple and concise meaning to this word. Therefore, let us see in detail on meaning, explanation and characteristics of an integrated Personality.

PERSONALITY

            In General, the term personality is used to refer to the physical structure of a person or point out a person who shines better than others.   Nevertheless, in psychological experts use the term in a much deeper sense. Let us a few of them.

MEANIG OF PERSONALITY

            Personality is a mixture of one’s physical features, emotional characteristics, attitudes, social values and relationships. It is used in its totalitarian and wholistic aspects to mean the sum of one’s constituents,

DEFINITION

o   Personality is the physical and emotional traits that make an individual – Allport.

o   Personality is the unique characteristics of an individual – Guilford.

o   Personality is that one which explains the character of a person - David McClelland.

            These great psychologists emphasize the need to have and develop integrated personality among the students. Let us see now in detail on ‘Integrated Personality’.

TRAITS OF INTEGRATED PERSONALITY

1.    A person with an integrated personality will have a balanced development. When a person has an overall even development at physical, emotional, moral and spiritual characteristics, then we say that that person has an integrated personality.

2.    He will have balanced intellectual, emotional and motor development.

3.    Intelligence, thinking, loving attitude, good character and values mark the identities of an integrated personality.

EXPLANATION BY EXPERTS ON INTEGRATED PERSONALITY:

There has been much explanation given to integrated personality by famous psychologists.

SKINNER’S VIEW ON INTEGRATED PERSONALITY:

1.            There will be good development of intelligence, emotions and skills.

2.            There will be good reasoning, loving attitude by birth, problem-solving   ability and be a man of good character.

3.            He will lead a peaceful living without conflict.

4.            He believes himself and knows his weaknesses.

5.            He will live in harmony with others and be a source of joy to himself and others.

6.            He will a guiding role model for others.

7.            He will be loved by others.

8.            He will have more friends.

9.            He will have good leadership and follower qualities.

10.          He will have persistence in doing works and complete the tasks taken.

11.          He will not have much and lasting psychological conflicts.

ALPORT’S VIEW ON INTEGRATED PERSONALITY:

1.            He will have good life goals.

2.            He will have self-confidence to lead a contented life.

3.            He will not be partial and be objective.

4.            He will have good life philosophies.

GANDHI’S VIEW ON INTEGRATED PERSONALITY:

            Gandhi advocated basic education coupled with vocational skills for the development of integrated personality.

NATIONAL EDUCATION POLICY:

            National education policy also emphasizes the integrated development at physical, skill, social, moral and social developments.

NEED FOR INTEGRATED PERSONALITY:

            Integrated personality is very important for the following reasons;

1.            To survive and to have a healthy living

2.            To satisfy the psychological needs and to lead a positive life

3.            To be loved and accepted by others with good loving qualities.

4.            To be happy at school, home and in the society. Family and school plays an important role in developing an integrated personality.

CONCLUSION:

             A child an   integrated personality will be happy, satisfied and good at himself and with others.  Therefore we teachers, let us do our best to develop good personality among   our children and make them good citizens for the nation.