Concept of Personality

Personality refers to Individual differences in characteristic patterns of thinking, feeling and behaving. Personality includes the unique pattern of psychological and behavioral characteristics that distinguishes each of us from everyone else.

Personality is used in terms of influencing others through external appearance. Sum total of ways in which an individual reacts and interacts with others.

The term "Personality" is derived from the Latin word "Persona" that means 'Mask'.

Personality is an internalized system, which includes all those aspects of a person that are inherited as well as those that are learned.

The term personality is often understood in terms of social attractiveness. A

good personality is considered to be one who impresses other people and who

has the ability to get on well with others. Those who do not possess such ability

are said to have relatively poor personality.

According to

a) Gordon Allport [1937,1967] - Personality is the dynamic organisation within the individual of those psychophysical systems that determine his unique adjustments to his environment.

b) Munn - Personality is the most characteristic integration of an individual 's structures and activities.

c) Carl Rogers - Personality is self-organised, permanent, subjectively perceived entity which is at the very heart of allour experiences.

d) Erickson - Personality is the outcome of a series of psychological crises.

e) Ruch - Personality should include:

i) External appearance and behavior or social stimulus value;

ii) Inner Awareness of self as a permanent organizing force; and

iii) the particular pattern or organisation of measurable traits both inner and outer.

Personality refers to the total person in his overt and covert behavior. It includes many factors of his being as well as his social, mental, emotional, cultural and physical aspects. Personality is reflection of inner self.

Psychologists have attempted to explain the concept of personality in terms of individuality and consistency.

The thoughts, feelings and actions that are perceived as reflecting an individual’s

personality typically have three characteristics

i) Thoughts, feelings and actions are considered as behavioural components of identity that make distinction between individuals.

ii) Behaviours are viewed as being primarily caused by internal rather than environmental factors.

iii) The behaviours of the person seem to have organisation and structure.