Personality Chapter

PERSONALITY
– Define the term Personality

– Outline the origin and development of
personality
– Describe and explain the different
personality theories STUDY OBJECTIVES
– Explain how personality can be measured – INTRODUCTION .

spectrum ( Black and White )
– Personality can be defined as aspects of
behaviour that are stable and lasting ,
and which distinguish the individual
from others ( Huczynski & Bunchanan,
2013). INTRODUCTION
– Personality A - perceived as the strong
personality.
– Personality B- perceived as the weak
personality.
It is all based on value judgements of
people.
– Extraversion- people who score high on extraversion enjoys
company of others. Socially able, loving, energetic. Introverts are
the opposite, they are more reserved and quiet, prefer to listen
to others rather than heard. BIG FIVE FACTORS
– Agreeableness – tendency to be compassionate to other
people/relationship . Compassion rangers being warm, good-
natured and trusting, irritable, sensitive to the needs of people, O – Openness to experience
cooperative vs non-cooperative.
C- Conscientious-ness
– Conscientiousness is a measure of reliability. Dimensions ranges
from well-organised, goal oriented, thoughtful, careful behaviour, E- Emotional stability
detailed oriented vs to being disorganised and impulsive,
careless, difficulty to achieve their goals. A- Agreeable-ness
– Emotional stability – refers to persons who can withstand stress,
calm , and resilient . The opposite of this trait is neuroticism
E –Extroversion v Introversion
(self-pity, low self-esteem) and is the ability to deal with
unpleasant emotions easily.
– Openness to experience –try new things, ability to think outside
of the box, open people are creative , curious, imaginative, enjoy
travelling highly strong behaviour , Vs comfortable to norm
5
Personality and character
– Character is considered as an aspect of personality that relates to ethical standards and moral behaviour.
It refers to the degree to which people attempt to act in accordance with their own moral standards.
Temperament / disposition/nature of a person
– a person’s temperament is the result of the interaction between genetic (biological) and environmental
factors, and be seen as the first manifestation of personality. Temperament is concerned with emotions.
– Three forms of temperament can be distinguished:
 Difficult adjustment to routine resulting in bad moods and irregular sleeping and eating habits.
 Easy adaptation to routine and good-natured moods
 Inactive people who react slowly to stimuli
– Genetic determinants : Inherited genes have a
large influence on personality development of
individuals throughout their life.
– Environmental determinants
THE ORIGIN
– Personality development can be attributed to the
influence of the environment. AND
– Physical environmental determinants
– Poor conditions such as malnutrition impair the
DEVELOPMENT
physiological growth of an individual; this have a
direct influence on his/her personality
OF
development. The psychic development of
children is indirectly influenced by unhealthy social
PERSONALITY
conditions such as poverty, tension and fear.
– Findings shows the city and rural children show
different rates of psychic development and reach
different levels of developments.
Social and cultural determinant
– Meyer (1988) argued that social and cultural influences are transferred to the individual by means of
the process of socialising. Socialising involves the interaction of an individual with other
individuals, groups ( parents, friends, teachers etc).
– The process of socialising develops when one has an intimate contact with close people (Significant
others).
– Personality characteristics ( self-concept, self-image, security and human relationship) determined
largely by significant others ( parents or family).
– Example: Bettys mother criticised her continuously when she was a child. She later developed a poor
self-image.
Social and cultural determinant
(Cont.)
– As children grow up they come across diverse people such as colleagues, friends, teachers, life
partners and all these people come from specific groups and culture and thereafter individuals
absorbs the values , norms and cultural characteristics of this social groups.
– According to Meyer (1990) a child's peer groups ( people of the same age ), in adolescence plays a
significant role in a persons development.
– Example: Nomusa’s friends are rebellious as a result she too develops a defiant personality and
shows aggression towards authoritative figures.
– Individuals are also influenced by the wider community groups. People who belong to the same
socioeconomic class pursue the same career, goes to the same church, shares communal belief.
Personal determinants
– It is perceived as a totality of an individuals characteristics at a specific moment as they have
combined at the time due to collective influences of development.
– An individual personality is not only determined by genetics or environmental determinant but also
individuals because one has a freedom to develop differently despite their environmental and genetic
influences.
– E.g when one is born in poverty ( environmental factor ) and born with some form of disability
should develop low self-esteem. Selby decided to overcome and raise above his poor background
and disability, he later develops enough self-confidence and was appointed as a manager.
– This proves that the development of personality is fairly unpredictable.
– E.g. Nobody has anticipated that Selby could be in a management position.
Personality structure
– The three parts of personality are the id, the ego, and the superego.
– The id operates based on the pleasure principle (unconscious, basic life drives such as hunger, thirst
and sexual urge).
– The ego operates based on the reality principle ( feeling of identity, thought and adaptation) . The
ego acts as a mediator to maintain harmony in the personality by satisfying the demands of the id and
superego.
– The superego serves as the source of moral anxiety and contains both the ego ideal and the
conscience.
Humanistic approach
– The psychodynamic approach and learning theory assumes that personality is formed by determinants
such as the environmental factors and unconscious factors of which we do not have control over.
– In contract – Humanist argue that people are rational and adaptable and are able to determine their
own fate.
– Maslow hierarchy of needs founder are Abraham Maslow
– His theory emphasises on the aspect of motivation. Hence people use his theory to explain why
people are motivated to work.
– The Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs have been divided to Lower and Higher level needs in an individual.
The highest level is reached only when the lower level needs has been satisfied
Maslow Hierarchy of Needs
Dynamics of the Self-
actualisation
– 1. Physiological needs - these are biological requirements for human survival, e.g. air, food, drink,
shelter, clothing, warmth, sleep. In the work environment , this could mean lunch times, salaries
if these needs are not satisfied the human body cannot function optimally. Maslow considered physiological
needs the most important as all the other needs become secondary until these needs are met.
– 2. Safety needs / Security needs - Once physiological needs have been satisfied , Security needs
emerge. Include protection from elements, security, order, law, stability, freedom from fear. When one
work they want financial security , safety procedures at work, pension fund, medical aid scheme,
anything that makes you feel safe, even rules and procedures.
Dynamics of the Self-
actualisation
– 3. Love and belongingness/ affiliations needs - after physiological and safety needs have been
fulfilled, the third level of human needs is social and involves feelings of belongingness. The need for
interpersonal relationships motivates behaviour. Family, Friends, feeling of acceptance, therefore one
will Join sport clubs , family gatherings, sound working relationship etc.
– 4. Self-Esteem needs - which Maslow classified into two categories: (i) esteem for oneself (dignity,
achievement, mastery, independence) and (ii) the desire for reputation or respect from others (e.g.,
status, prestige).
– E.g Being a team leader or manager.
Dynamics of the Self-actualisation
(Cont)
– Self-actualisation need – It’s the highest level of the Maslow Hierarchy of needs. This need is
activated only after the esteem needs are met.
– It is the drive to become all that you are capable of becoming , including growth, achieving your
potential and self –fulfilment. The freedom to make your own decisions at home and work.
End of Chapter !

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PERSONALITY

– Define the term Personality

– Explain how personality can be measured – INTRODUCTION .

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