Introduction
The study of personality is a complex field and many psychologists have taken different approaches to the study with an aim to understanding why people have different personalities. This paper seeks to shade more light on the issue of personalities.
Definition of Personality
Different psychologists differ in opinions in regard to the correct definition of personality. This may be attributed to the complex nature of the psychology of personality which demands different approaches resulting to different definitions. However, personality can generally be defined as those unique characteristics a person possesses that make the person different from others.
This encompasses all the mental characteristics and emotions which are the fundamentals of what we are. The personality comes out through the way we do the things, what we believe, our intellect, physical attribute, self control, energy and enthusiasm (Aurther, 2006).
Theoretical approaches to studying personality
The study of personality usually takes different perspectives depending on the person carrying out the study. Since there are very many considerations to be taken into account in the process of understanding personality, theories are developed that explain personality. Researchers often classify the study into narrow sections which they can then try to explain. This has brought about different theoretical approaches to studying personality.
Biological Approach
The psychologists in this category take the biological concept whereby differences in the biological characteristics are often used to explain personality. Human anatomy is one of the biological tools used to explain personality. The psychologists investigate how different parts of the brain respond to different stimulations and make conclusion on the personality of the person.
An example is where studies using modern imaging technology have shown that the left and the right frontal lobes of the brain respond differently to emotions that may affect personality. Such results are said to have produced interesting correlation to personality traits.
Physiological changes have also been used to explain personality whereby psychologists investigate how different hormones affect personality for example high levels of testosterone are usually associated with absence of depression. Personality has also been associated to genetics whereby the psychologists argue that personality traits may be genetically transmitted from one offspring to another (Fiske et al., 2010).
Environmental Effect Approach
Some psychologists focus on the environmental influence on personality. Such theories suggest that persons are more likely to develop personality due to the environmental factors around them. Children may grow to be violent if they are brought up in a violent society though this has been said to depend on other factors such as body size.
On any environment big boys might tend to be violent while small bodied boys might tend to be timid “other traits might have evolved to be frequency dependent, meaning that they appear depending of how prevalent the trait already is in the population” (Fiske et al., p. 671).
Psychoanalytic Approach
This branch of psychologists often view personality as a result of intrinsic traits entrenched in the human nature of a person. Their approach is based on how one is brought up in childhood. It is argued that the upbringing and the experiences we go through may shape our sub consciousness in terms of things that attract us likes and dislikes, self-esteem and other personality traits; one of the supporters of these approach was Freud.
This theoretical approach is said to be complicated since it mainly bases its fundamentals on things that affect the sub conscious mind. The theory postulates that subconscious is more prevalent than the conscious mind, several brain processes happen at the same time and adulthood traits are traceable to childhood (Fiske et al, 2010).
Humanistic Approach
The psychologists who take this approach argue that human nature gives people uniqueness from other elements of life. It is argued that each individual person needs to be understood differently since everyone has different and unique personality.
This approach is based on the strengths of a person, development, and welfare instead of the negative side of life. Some psychologists use what has been termed as “positive psychology” where a person’s positive traits are analyzed and correlated to goodness of life which in turn may affect the personality (Fiske, 2010).
Factors Influencing Personality Development
Psychologists have done a lot of research to try and understand the factors that affect personality. Heredity is one of the most important factors considered by psychologists. They argue that personality largely depends on the traits inherited from our parents. The psychologists suggest that the positive or negative characteristics such as physical attributes like physical strength, intelligence influence how the society thinks about us and also how we think about ourselves which in turn influence our personality.
Environmental influences such as how our parents brought us up is suggested as one of the influencing factors. Some families treat their children as grown ups and this may make them develop responsibility traits as compared to children in families where they are expected to obey rules set for them (Aurther, 2006).
The social status of the family may influence the personality of a person. Children from rich families tend to have more self esteem than those from middle or poor families. Other environmental factors include gender roles, how children relate, neighborhood and peer influence (Aurther, 2006).
Exposure is suggested as one of the factors influencing personality development. A person who is exposed to information may be more knowledgeable and enlightened and this may make the person develop certain personality. Media may also influence one to emulate their favorite heroes and this can influence their personality development (Lupu, 2006).
Many psychologists are observed to agree to the fact that all the factors that influence personality development are not independent but as a matter of fact they are all related. It is a combination of all these factors rather than a single element that affects personality development.
Genetically inherited factors, culture, environmental and personal experience may favor a person and make him successful and influential in life such as a president of a country. Another different combination of these factors may result to a person with a totally different personality such as violent and insensitive person (Lupu, 2006).
Conclusion
Psychologists have done much work in the study of personality. Many definitions of personality exist, the most generalized one being the unique characteristics possessed by a person. Different approaches are usually taken in the study of personality with theoretical approach taking different dimensions.
Biological approach reflecting how biological functions affect personality, psychoanalytic approach focusing on intrinsic traits related to the subconscious mind. The human nature deals with the positive aspects of an individual. Factors influencing personality development include a combination of genetic inheritance, environmental influences, exposure and cultural factors.
References
Aurther, J. ( 2006). Personality Development. New York, NY: Cengage Learning.
Fiske et al. (2010). Handbook of Social Psychology. New York, NY: John Willey.
Lupu, A. (2006). Our Personality. Soft Pedia. Retrieved from https://news.softpedia.com/news/Our-Personality-Is-It-Genetically-Inherited-or-Determined-by-The-Environmental-Factors-28413.shtml