Unit_1

Personality and Its Development

• Definition of Personality

  • Derives from the Latin word 'persona' meaning 'mask'.

  • Study of personality focuses on the 'masks' projected by individuals, encompassing both external behaviors and internal psychological experiences.

  • Defined as a person's characteristic pattern of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.

• Key Concepts of Personality

  1. Organization: Personality has structure and interconnected aspects, not random.

  2. Consistency: Consistent behaviors and traits exhibited by a person.

  3. Psychological and Biological: Involves psychological experiences linked to biological processes.

  4. Influence: Personality affects interpersonal relations and interactions.

  5. Manifestation: Demonstrated through thoughts, feelings, actions.

Personality Development

• Uniqueness of Personality

  • Complex mental characteristics defining an individual's unique traits and behaviors.

  • Expressed through emotional tone (temperament) and influences values, beliefs, and expectations.

• Five Dimensions of Personality in Indian Philosophy

  1. Physical Self:

     • Involves the senses and requires proper nourishment, care, and positive reinforcement.

     • Important to foster confidence while avoiding overindulgence in sensory pleasures.

  2. Energy Self:

     • Relates to metabolism and energy control, influencing emotional states like anger and anxiety.

  3. Intellectual Self:

     • Focuses on knowledge, wisdom, and the power of discernment (buddhi).

  4. Mental Self:

     • Centers on stress management, self-control, concentration, and maintaining calmness.

  5. Blissful Self:

     • Involves maintaining happiness and calmness in adversity and life challenges.

• Factors Shaping Personality

• Hereditary Influences:

  • Genetic traits play a significant role, particularly in emotional tone.

  • Example: Poor motor skills leading to negative labeling can create a self-fulfilling prophecy.

  • Physical appearance and health outcomes affect self-perception and social interactions.

• Environmental Influences:

  • Child-rearing practices vary globally, impacting personality development.

  • North American children often encouraged toward independence, while Chinese children may emphasize family needs over self.

  • Gender socialization includes different expectations for boys and girls regarding jobs and behaviors.

  • Unique experiences and events can also significantly shape personality.

Personality Development Process

• On-going Interaction:

  • Personality evolves through the interplay of temperament, character, and external environments.

• Steps for Personality Improvement:

  1. Planning: Develop a clear, focused, and practical plan for personal aspirations.

  2. Imagination: Visualize the desired outcome through imaginative thinking.

  3. Execution: Combine planning with determination and perseverance to achieve goals.

• Key Aspects for Complete Personality:

  1. Appearance

  2. Intelligence

  3. Smartness

  4. Trustworthiness and integrity

  5. In-depth knowledge

  6. Management skills

  7. Efficiency

  8. Economic independence

  9. Moral character

  10. Beneficial contributions

• Negative Traits to Avoid:

  1. Poor hygiene

  2. Harmful attitudes

  3. Ineffective communication

  4. Irresponsibility

  5. Below-average performance

  6. Uncontrolled emotions

Factors for Developing a Strong Personality

• Social Environment:

  1. Appealing appearance

  2. Effective communication

  3. Adherence to social values

  4. Self-confidence and accountability

  5. Awareness and initiative in social situations.

• Working Environment:

  1. Integrity and trustworthiness

  2. Grasping capacity and awareness

  3. Professional communication

  4. Timeliness and accountability in duties

  5. Pleasing appearance and health.

Self-Assessment

• Purpose:

  • Process of gathering insights about oneself to inform career decisions.

  • Encourages reflection on your likes, dislikes, and reactions.

• Benefits:

  • Basis for effective CV writing, job searches, and interviews.

  • Helps create a persuasive personal narrative.

Self-Assessment Categories

1. Values: Individual principles and what matters in life.

2. Interests: Activities and topics that spark enthusiasm.

3. Personality: Motivational drives and traits.

4. Skills: Abilities in various activities.

Self-Assessment Tools

• Types:

  • Self-directed tools: Users can interpret results independently.

  • Interpretive tools: Require guidance from trained professionals.

Evaluation Tools**

Value Inventories

• Assesses personal values crucial for job satisfaction.

Interest Inventories

• Reflects individual hobbies and preferences for engaging tasks.

Personality Inventories

• Explores motivational drives and personality types for better career alignment.

Skills Assessment

• Identifies competencies that can transfer across different fields.

Computer-Assisted Self-Assessment

• Utilizes software to analyze interests for career matching.