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The concept of personality is one of the central topics in psychology and psychoanalysis. There are several scientific theories that characterize the process of the personality development. The understanding of this process is a crucial factor in the children upbringing and education of people.
The aim of this essay is to define the concept of personality, give its theoretical explanation and analyze factors influencing the process of the personality development.
There are different views on the concept of personality and, as a result, different scholars interpret the concept in their own way. For instance, Allport defined it as “a dynamic organization, inside the person, of psychophysical systems that create the person’s characteristic patterns of behavior, thoughts and feelings” (Personality, n.d., p. 294).
Other scholars concentrated their attention on the additional features of personality. For example, Child insisted on the importance of the consistency and difference of behavior in definition of personality (Personality, n.d.). One of the broadest definitions is given below.
“Personality is an individual’s unique variation on the general evolutionary design for human nature, expressed as a developing pattern of dispositional traits, characteristic adaptations, and integrative life stories complexly and differentially situated in culture” (Personality development, n.d., par. 5).
There are several basic theories explaining the concept of personality. The first one belongs to Sigmund Freud, a famous Austrian psychoanalyst. Freud defines the personality as the union of three integral parts which are “Ego”, “Id”, and “Super-Ego”. The first component relates to our past experience, our bad memories, which can be both conscious and unconscious. The “Id’ is our inner perception of ourselves.
And the “Super-Ego” is what the environment contributes to our personality. In addition, Freud argues that “Ego” and “Super-Ego” exist in the continuous fight against each other, but “Id” tries to find a compromise in their struggle. It is the compromise between our personal satisfaction and moral norms. Overall, Freud’s approach to personality focuses on the unconscious motives of people and determines the sexual needs as the most influential factor in the personality behavior (Personality, n.d.).
The next theory of personality development belongs to Erik Erikson, an outstanding American psychoanalyst who broadened the sphere of psychoanalysis founded by Freud.
The theory of identity is claimed to be the most influential work by Erikson. In context of the developed theory, he studied the personalities of the famous historic leaders and made a great contribution to the determination of the factors of their development. In particular, the analysis of the personalities of Adolf Hitler, Mahatma Gandhi, and Martin Luther King was conducted by Erik Erikson.
Furthermore, the theory was concentrated on the conception of the identity crisis through which the personality went in the process of its development. Erikson also defined eight stages of personality development stating that each stage of life would be characterized by the period of crisis, the successful overcome of which will eventually lead to the development of positive personality traits (Personality development, n.d.).
Carl Rogers, a famous American psychologist, gave rise to the new tendency in psychoanalysis, which is commonly described as the humanistic approach. Rogers concentrated his attention on the concept of self-actualization, which was defined as “the tendency to grow in ways that maintain or enhance the self” (Personality, n.d., p.298).
He emphasized that the desire to be approved is the crucial factor in the personality development. According to Rogers, the conditions of worth which represent the conditions under which the affection is given may become the determinant of the personality development if the gaining of approval from others is the primary goal of an individual (Personality, n.d.).
The traits theories of personality are focused on the features describing the types of personalities. For example, Hans Eysenck, an outstanding English psychologist and one of the founders of the cognitive-behavior therapy, defines three types of personalities under the concepts of extraversion, introversion, and neuroticism (Personality, n.d.).
According to his point of view, the socially active and communicative individuals are referred to the extraverts’ type. In contrast, those individuals who are reserved and quit are referred to the introverts’ type. Under the concept of neuroticism, the individuals are divided into further two groups: highly neurotic individuals who are expressive and sensitive as well as low neurotic ones who tend to be emotionally stable (Personality, n.d.).
The followers of the traits theory developed the five-factor model of personality, which defined such characterizing features of human personality as extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, neuroticism, and openness (Personality, n.d.). Under the framework of the five-factor model, the questionnaire had been developed by psychologists for the determination of the type of personality.
The development of personality is the process that continuously remains under influence of various factors. The motivation is one of them. However, the motivation assumes the goals which an individual makes in their life. These goals are not always directed to the personality development.
In contrast, the motivation to achievement of the excellence can be referred to one of the factors of personality development. “The desire to be excellent manifests itself early in life and characterizes the individual’s approach to a wide range of endeavors” (Silverman Kreger, n.d., p.6).
Overall, the factors influencing an individual’s personality development are divided into three groups: heredity, environment, and unique situation (Personality development, n.d.). The factors of the first group are the inherent traits of an individual, which are genetically transmitted to them from parents. The factors of environment are the social values, model of behavior, or education.
The mental traumas, shocks, or some tragic events can be referred to the factors of the unique situation (Personality development, n.d.). Modern scholars stress the importance of the so-called autonomous factor, which is characterized as “the powerful internal force propelling development toward higher levels of integrity, authenticity, creativity, ethical responsibility, and compassion” (Silverman Kreger, n.d., p.11).
Undoubtedly, the uncovering of this internal force in children is the responsibility of parents and teachers to the large extent. The learning process should be aimed at the determination of the inherent capabilities of children and their further development. Overall, the understanding of the factors of personality development is vital for social stability and well-being.
In order to summarize all above mentioned, it should be said that the personality development is the large field of study in psychology. There are a number of theories explaining the concept of personality and its components.
The identification of the factors of influence on the personality development can assist in the new generation education and children upbringing. Besides, it helps to understand the motives of behavior of the mature personalities. And last but not least, the study of the personality development can help to prevent social disorders and conflicts.
References
Silverman Kreger, L. Personality development: the pursuit of excellence. Web.
Personality. Web.
Personality development. Web.
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