329 Ch09_personality to post

Personality Overview

• Definition: Personality is the combination of characteristics or qualities that form an individual's distinctive character.

• Etymology: The term originates from the Greek word 'persona,' meaning a mask that represents a character in a play.

• Common Expressions:

  • "He has a good personality" (social skills)

  • "She has a lot of personality" (social impact)

  • "He has a neurotic personality" (strongest quality)

Concepts of Personality

• General Characteristics:

  • Each person's usual behavior and style of interaction with the world.

  • Can vary depending on specific situations.

• Measurement:

  • Often analyzed through mean-level changes or rank-order consistency across different contexts.

• Theoretical Frameworks:

  • Trait Approaches: Focus on consistent patterns of behavior.

  • Psychodynamic Perspective: Examines the unconscious influence of childhood experiences.

  • Social Cognitive Approaches: Looks at how beliefs and social interactions shape personality.

  • Cognitive Perspective: Focuses on thought processes.

  • Mid-Life Crisis Theories: Challenge traditional views on personality change through aging.

The Big Five Personality Traits

• Extraversion: From congenial to solitary.

• Openness: From closed-minded to open to new experiences.

• Conscientiousness: Reflecting organizational skills and dependability.

• Agreeableness: Ranges from compassionate to confrontational.

• Neuroticism: Variation from emotional stability to emotional instability.

Stability and Change in Personality

• Myth of Rigidity: Research by Costa & McCrae (1999) proposed that personality traits become fixed after age 30.

  • Recent findings suggest personality traits remain dynamic throughout life.

• Maturity Principle: Individuals often become more agreeable and emotionally stable as they age.

• Rank-Order Stability: Studies reveal that stability in personality traits tends to increase from childhood to older adulthood.

Influences on Personality Change

• Biological Factors: Genetics play a significant role in personality traits.

• Contextualist Factors: Interaction with the environment influences personality traits.

  • Life experiences reflect and further shape personality.

• Coping Mechanisms: Older adults may use emotion-focused coping effectively for better stress management, reflecting personality development.

Personality and Health

• Conscientiousness: Linked to lower mortality rates and chronic illnesses such as stroke, diabetes, and Alzheimer's disease.

• Neuroticism: Associated with higher risks for conditions like depression, substance abuse, and heart disease.

Myth Busting on Aging and Personality

• Concept of Mid-Life Crisis:

  • Challenged by the lack of strong evidence supporting a universal mid-life crisis.

• Age and Personality Connection:

  • Chronological age does not strictly relate to personality changes.

  • Significant variance exists; aging does not equate to loss of personality depth or quality.

Possible Selves Theory (Markus & Nurius, 1986)

• Emphasizes that views about the self help guide choices and aspirations.

• People strive to reach positive possible selves while avoiding feared ones.

• Older adults might lower expectations for increased satisfaction with achieved goals.

• Life Narratives: Life stories reflect parts of personality, shaping how individuals perceive themselves and their experiences.