Chapter 7:

Nature of Personality and its development:

Nature of personality definition:
The nature of personality refers to the characteristics, traits, patterns of thoughts,
feelings, and behaviors that make each individual unique. Personality is a complex
and multifaceted concept that encompasses a person's enduring and consistent
qualities, shaping their interactions with the world and others. It influences how
individuals perceive and respond to various situations, challenges, and
opportunities.
Nature of personality and development :
The nature of personality and its development is a complex and multifaceted
topic that has been studied by psychologists and researchers for many years.
Personality refers to the unique and enduring patterns of thoughts, feelings, and
behaviors that characterize an individual. Here are some key aspects of the nature
of personality and its development:
1. Biological Factors:
• Genetics: There is evidence to suggest that genetic factors play a role in shaping personality.
Twin and adoption studies have shown that identical twins, who share 100% of their genes,
tend to have more similar personalities than fraternal twins or non-related individuals.
• Neurobiology: Brain structure and function also contribute to personality. Different regions of
the brain are associated with various aspects of personality, such as emotional regulation,
impulsivity, and sociability.
2. Environmental Influences:
• Family Environment: Early experiences within the family, including parenting styles, attachment
patterns, and family dynamics, can have a significant impact on personality development.
• Culture and Society: Cultural and societal norms, values, and expectations shape individuals'
personalities. Cultural variations can influence the expression and development of certain
personality traits.
• Peer Influence: Interactions with peers and social groups also contribute to personality
development. Peer relationships become particularly influential during adolescence.
3. Psychological Factors:
• Cognitive Processes: How individuals think, perceive, and process information can contribute to
the development of their personalities. Cognitive styles, such as optimism or pessimism, can
impact personality.
• Emotional Regulation: The ability to regulate emotions is a crucial aspect of personality
development. Emotional experiences and the ability to cope with them contribute to the
formation of individual personality traits.
4. Developmental Stages:
• Erikson's Psychosocial Stages: Erik Erikson proposed a theory of psychosocial development,
suggesting that individuals go through distinct stages from infancy to old age, with each stage
presenting a unique set of challenges and opportunities for personality development.
• Piaget's Cognitive Developmental Stages: Jean Piaget's theory of cognitive development
highlights the role of cognitive processes in shaping personality. Cognitive development is
closely tied to how individuals understand and interact with the world.
5. Personality Theories:
• Trait Theories: These theories suggest that personality is composed of a set of stable traits or
characteristics. The Five-Factor Model (Big Five) is a widely accepted trait theory, including
openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism.
• Psychodynamic Theories: Sigmund Freud's psychodynamic theory posits that personality is
influenced by unconscious processes, and it is structured into the id, ego, and superego.
6. Continuity and Change:
• Personality is characterized by both stability and change over time. While some aspects
of personality remain relatively stable throughout life, individuals can also experience
significant changes in their personalities in response to life events, experiences, and
personal growth.
In summary, the nature of personality and its development is a dynamic interplay between
biological, environmental, and psychological factors. The field of personality psychology
continues to evolve, with ongoing research exploring the intricate processes involved in shaping
and understanding individual differences in personality.

Types of personality
•
Personality traits are often categorized into various dimensions, with introversion and
extroversion being one of the most well-known dichotomies. These terms were popularized by
Carl Jung and are widely used in personality psychology. Here's a brief overview of introversion
and extroversion:

Introverts:
An introvert can be defined as being someone who gets their energy from being in their
own company, having time to ‘recharge’ on their own. Someone who is introverted may
appear to be withdrawn and shy, although this may not always be the case (Carrigan, 1960).
Introverts may prefer to concentrate on a single activity, analyze situations carefully,
and think more before speaking.

Introverts are individuals that recharge when they have time to engage in
introspection. They tend to prefer engaging in the internal world, reflecting on their
own feelings, emotions, and thoughts.

Introverts typically have a small group of close friends and value quality time alone.
They find themselves most comfortable in solitude.

Signs You Might Be an Introvert:

• You have a small group of close friends.

• Thoughtful
• Energized by being alone
• Enjoy solitude
• Tends to keep emotions private
• Quiet and reserved in large groups or around unfamiliar people
• Feel drained by people, and need privacy
• Process their thoughts in their head rather than talk them out
• More sociable and gregarious around people they know well
• Learns well through observation

Extrovert:
An extrovert is a person with qualities of a personality type known as extroversion, which
means that they get their energy from being around other people. Someone who is
extroverted may appear as very talkative and may be popular among peers (Carrigan,
1960).
Extroverts may wish to seek out as much social interaction as possible because this is
how they feel more energized. According to estimates, extroverts outnumber
introverts by about three to one (Cain, 2012).
Extroverts are people who recharge when they interact with others in social settings.
They have larger circles of friends and are often quite adventurous.

Extroverts enjoy talking with others, expressing themselves verbally, and engaging
with the outside world. They are most comfortable around others.

Remember that extroversion isn’t an all-or-nothing trait; it’s actually a continuum,

and some people might be very extroverted while others are less so.

Signs You Might Be an Extrovert:

• Enjoying social settings

• Seek attention
• Energized by being with others
• Are friends with many people
• Sociable
• Outgoing
• Enjoy group work
• Prefer talking over writing
Ambivert:
An ambivert is a person who shows characteristics of both extroversion and
introversion. In other words, they fall somewhere in the middle of the scale.
People who are ambiverts are said to be moderately comfortable in social
situations but also enjoy some solitary time.
An ambivert essentially changes their behavior based on the situation they
find themselves in. For example, they may be quite introverted and
reserved around strangers, but will be more energetic and extroverted
around close friends and family.

• Ambiverts can tap into different ranges of the extrovert-introvert

spectrum. They are not limited to a specific personality and are
advantaged to take attributes from each.

Their place in the middle of the personality spectrum makes them highly
adaptable in their daily scenarios. Ambiverts’ flexibility can also help to balance
social environments that may be overcrowded with a particular personality type.
Ambiverts understand their own behavior well and can read when a situation
might call for them to act more introverted or extroverted. This self-awareness
aids them in several areas of their lives.

For example, research shows that ambiverts are better salespeople in

professional careers. This might be because ambiverts take the time to be
persuasive (typically an extroverted trait) and attentive (typically an introverted
trait) when making a sale (Grant, 2013).

Is It Better To Be An Extrovert Or An Introvert?

• Both extroverts and introverts have unique characteristics that might make
them look more appealing than the other.

For example, maybe a large friend group that comes with being extroverted is
important to you. Or perhaps the lifestyle of deep thought that introverts practice is
more your style. Still, each personality has strengths and weaknesses crucial to its
place on the personality spectrum.
Introverts have a strong ability to practice quality reflection. As they stay absorbed in
their minds, they are often creative and have deep consideration for the world
around them.
Introverts take the time to view their world in many different ways and tend to think
and feel deeply. Though at times an advantage, some studies show that introverts
may have higher chances of having mental illnesses like depression due to their
higher tendency to engage in inner reflection (Janowsky, 2001).

Extroverts’ strong suits lie in their ability to be outgoing and interactive with the
outside world. This social and bubbly personality is helpful for them in cases like job
opportunities (Wilmont et al., 2019) and meeting new individuals.

However, extroverts also crave new adventures and are impulsive. Their impulsivity
can lead to behavior that some studies show to be linked with “lower rational
decision-making styles” (Radwan et al., 2020). This study highlights that extroverts
may not make the best choices and are left to deal with the consequences of those
actions.

Both personality types have advantageous qualities that make them valuable to
society, as well as attributes that can be negative.

Extroverts and introverts are both good in their own ways, and no “better” or
“worse” personality type exists. In fact, it is good to have variance in personalities as
both extroverts and introverts alike have crucial roles to play when it comes to
balancing the flow of social interactions.

It's important to note that introversion and extroversion exist on a spectrum, and
individuals may exhibit a combination of traits from both categories. This is often
referred to as being an ambivert.
Additionally, various personality theories, such as the Big Five Personality Traits
(Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism),
provide a more comprehensive understanding of personality by considering multiple
dimensions.

Theories of personality development:

Abraham Maslow, Lawrence Kohlberg, and Urie Bronfenbrenner are some of the most
prominent theorists in the field of personality development.

Abraham Maslow:
Abraham Maslow was an American psychologist who is widely considered to be
one of the founding fathers of humanistic psychology. He is best known for his
hierarchy of needs theory, which suggests that human needs are arranged in a
hierarchy, with basic physiological needs at the bottom and self-actualization
needs at the top. According to Maslow, people must satisfy their lower-level
needs before they can move on to higher-level needs.

Lawrence Kohlberg:
Lawrence Kohlberg was an American psychologist who is best known for his
theory of moral development. According to Kohlberg, moral reasoning develops
in a series of six stages, with each stage building on the previous one. Kohlberg’s
theory proposes that moral development is primarily focused on seeking and
maintaining justice .
Kohlberg’s work reflected and extended not only Piaget’s findings but also the
theories of philosophers George Herbert Mead and James Mark Baldwin . In an
empirical study using six criteria, such as citations and recognition, Kohlberg was
found to be the 30th most eminent psychologist of the 20th century .

Urie Bronfenbrenner:
Urie Bronfenbrenner was a Russian-born American psychologist who is best
known for his ecological systems theory. According to Bronfenbrenner, human
development is influenced by a variety of environmental factors, including family,
peers, and culture. He believed that these factors interact with each other to
shape an individual’s development .
Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory consists of five levels: the
microsystem, the mesosystem, the exosystem, the macrosystem, and the
chronosystem. The microsystem is the most influential level, where the child’s
immediate environment and interactions with others have the greatest impact.
The other four levels are the mesosystem, the exosystem, the macrosystem, and
the chronosystem .
Bronfenbrenner was also a co-founder of the Head Start program, which provides
comprehensive early childhood education, health, nutrition, and parent
involvement services to low-income children and their families.

Personality and students adjustment:

Personality plays a significant role in students' adjustment to various aspects of
their academic and social environments. Adjustment refers to how well an
individual adapts to new situations, handles challenges, and interacts with others.
Here are some ways in which personality influences students' adjustment:
 1. Social Adjustment:
• Extraversion: Extroverted individuals tend to be outgoing, sociable, and enjoy
social interactions. They may find it easier to make friends and participate in
group activities.
• Introversion: Introverted individuals may prefer solitary activities and might take
some time to warm up to social situations. They may need quieter spaces to
recharge.
2. Academic Adjustment:
• Conscientiousness: Conscientious students are often organized, responsible, and
disciplined. They are likely to manage their time effectively, complete assignments
on time, and excel academically.
• Openness to Experience: Students high in openness tend to be curious and
creative, which can positively impact their approach to learning and problem-
solving.
3. Emotional Adjustment:
• Emotional Stability: Individuals with high emotional stability (low neuroticism) are
generally more resilient to stress and better equipped to handle the ups and
downs of academic life.
• Agreeableness: Agreeable students are typically cooperative and compassionate,
contributing positively to group dynamics and reducing conflicts.
4. Coping Strategies:
• Locus of Control: Individuals with an internal locus of control believe they have
control over their life outcomes. This can contribute to a more proactive and
adaptive approach to challenges.
• Resilience: Resilient individuals bounce back from setbacks more quickly. This trait
can be particularly beneficial during stressful periods, such as exams or
transitions.
5. Motivation:
• Achievement Motivation: Students with high achievement motivation are driven
to succeed. They set and pursue goals, which can positively impact their academic
performance and overall adjustment.
• Intrinsic vs. Extrinsic Motivation: Students who are intrinsically motivated find joy
in the learning process itself, while those extrinsically motivated may be driven by
external rewards. The former often have a more sustained interest in their
studies.
It's important to note that personality traits are not fixed, and individuals can
develop and change over time. Additionally, environmental factors, support
systems, and individual experiences also play crucial roles in students' adjustment.
Schools and educational institutions can provide resources and support to help
students with various personality traits thrive in their academic and social
environments.