We are all different. While some people are naturally outgoing and talkative, others are quiet and reserved. Some are adventurous and love trying new things, while others prefer routine and predictability.
Generous, being stuck up, having a bad temper, careless, perfectionistic, fun-loving, reserved, and cheap are all words that can be used to describe the different ways people express themselves, also known as personality.
But what is personality? Why are people different? Where do you get your personality? Does your personality remain the same throughout your lifetime, does it change, and perhaps more importantly, can you change it for the better?
This article will answer all these questions and more to help you understand everything about human personality.
What Is Human Personality?
The word "personality" comes from the Latin word "persona," which originally referred to the masks worn by actors in theater to portray different characters.
Generally speaking, personality refers to an individual's long-standing cognitive, behavioral, and emotional patterns that make them feel, think, and behave in a certain way. The unique ways in which we approach the world, act in different situations, and interpret events are what we call our personality.
Each of us has a distinctive pattern of long-term characteristics and how we interact with others and the world around us. These interrelated patterns are thought to be fixed but can change over long periods due to the effect of the environment and maturational processes.
The personality differences among people influence everything from success in school, work, and relationships to overall health, happiness, and even lifespan.
Related: Discover the Relationship Between Personality and a Person’s True Character
Major Personality Models
People have attempted to classify personalities since Hippocrates and the ancient Greeks first proposed the four basic temperaments. Today, psychologists categorize personality types based on different psychological theories. Here are the most well-known frameworks:
Personality Types A, B, C, D
One theory suggests that personality can be categorized into A, B, C, and D.
- Type A: Competitive, aggressive, work-obsessed, hostile, impatient, perfectionist, stressed.
- Type B: Flexible, relaxed, patient, creative, even-tempered, low-stress, prone to procrastination
- Type C: Perfectionist, logical, more precise, detail-oriented
- Type D: Irritable, pessimistic, anxious, hopeless, worrying, sad, gloomy, lacks self-confidence
Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)
The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) groups people into 16 personality types based on four dichotomies:
- Extraversion (E) vs. Introversion (I)
- Sensing (S) vs. Intuition (N)
- Thinking (T) vs. Feeling (F)
- Judging (J) vs. Perceiving (P)
When you take the Myers-Briggs personality test, you'll be classified into one of 16 personality types. Examples of these personality types include:
- ESTP: Extroverted (E), Sensing (S), Thinking (T), and Perceiving (P). They tend to be active, assertive, direct, and focused on tangible results.
- INTJ: Introverted (I), Intuitive (I), Thinking (T), Judging (J): They tend to be independent, original, and focused on the bigger picture.
- INTP: Introverted (I), Intuitive (I), Thinking (T), and Perceiving (P): They are also called the "Thinker" and are characterized by high intellectual and analytical thinking.
- ENTJ: Extroverted (E), Intuitive (I), Thinking (T), Judging (J): They tend to have excellent communication and leadership skills.
- ESFP: Extroverted (E), Sensing (S), Feeling (F), Perceiving (P): They tend to be spontaneous, unpredictable, and fun-loving
The Enneagram Typology
The enneagram system of personality classification believes that our core fears, needs, beliefs, and motivations determine our personalities.
It classifies people into nine personality types, namely:
The Big Five Personality Traits (OCEAN Model)
While the above three ways of classifying personality can give you a clue about the general behavior patterns, people often display traits of more than one personality, making it difficult to assign them the right personality type.
Personality psychologists, therefore, find them too simplistic to account for the differences among people. Instead, they rely on models such as The Big Five, which classifies individuals based on five core traits:
- Openness (Curious vs. Cautious)
- Conscientiousness (Organized vs. Careless)
- Extraversion (Outgoing vs. Reserved)
- Agreeableness (Compassionate vs. Competitive)
- Neuroticism (Sensitive vs. Confident)
Personality Development: Where Does Personality Come From?
Some of the biggest questions in personality psychology have something to do with how individuals develop personalities and how much of someone's personality changes throughout their lives.
Theorists such as Sigmund Freud believed personality to be static, already developed at a young age. However, due to modern personality research, we now know that personality can change over time. So, while the broad traits may remain constant, a person's overall personality can change, particularly as they age.
According to research, people tend to show signs of maturity in personality test scores, especially emotional stability, as they age. Personality change can also occur due to exposure to different environmental factors or circumstances, such as divorce or becoming a parent. You can also try to deliberately alter some aspects of your personality characteristics by trying to behave differently.
Personality Disorders
The study of personality psychology, with its various ways of understanding, organizing, and measuring individual differences, can help you understand yourself better and know how you compare to others. But that's not all.
Personality differences determine much more than self-image, including differences in health and well-being, personal success, and the quality of relationships. Even the risk of mortality is associated to some extent with the differences in personality traits.
Personality also intersects with mental health. A healthy personality allows one to manage the everyday stresses of life and develop and sustain satisfying relationships. That doesn't mean we will not have a bad day or two. However, when enduring patterns of behavior, thinking, and emotional response are inflexible and rigid, causing significant distress or difficulty in functioning, a person is likely to be diagnosed with a personality disorder.
To be diagnosed with a personality disorder, one's patterns of thought and behavior have to be different from what is believed to be expected in their culture.
The onset of personality disorders is usually in early teens or late adulthood. The cause is unknown, although genes and early childhood experiences like trauma and abuse are likely to play a role. Examples of personality disorders include borderline personality disorder, antisocial personality disorder, obsessive-compulsive personality disorder, narcissistic personality disorder, and paranoid personality disorder, among others.
Without treatment, these disorders can be long-lasting and destructive to a person's everyday life. Thankfully, there are ways to treat and manage personality disorders, including talk therapy and some medications to relieve specific symptoms like mood swings or anxiety. For proper diagnosis and treatment, seek the services of a mental health professional.
Let's Recap
From introverted to extroverted, shy to bold, and outgoing to reserved, human personality is a complex and ever-fascinating aspect of us. A combination of genetics, environmental influences, and life experiences shapes it. While personality remains relatively stable throughout a person's life, it can evolve, especially with maturity and significant life changes.
Moreover, individuals can refine aspects of their personality with conscious effort and determination, fostering personal growth and self-improvement. Understanding personality helps us better comprehend ourselves and enhances our relationships and interactions with others.
However, in cases where significant factors such as biology, trauma, and environment cause specific challenges, a person may develop unfavorable personality traits that cause distress and interpersonal conflict. Not to despair, though, as you can manage these personality disorders with the help of a mental health professional.
So, what is your personality? If you still don't know what makes you, then it's time to take any of our personality tests to find out.
