Personality: Definition and Its Components

PERSONALITY
- comes from the Latin word “persona,” which referred to theatrical masks worn by
Roman actors in Greek dramas to portray
- SUM TOTAL OF THE QUALITIES AND CHARACTERISTICS OF A PERSON AS
SHOWN IN HIS/HER MANNER OF WALKING, TALKING, DRESSING, AND
HIS/HER ATTITUDES, INTERESTS, AND WAYS OF REACTING TO OTHER
PEOPLE
- refers to all the factors within the person that influence his characteristic way of
behaving, thinking, and feeling
- your image on others and others’ image of you

THE COMPONENTS OF PERSONALITY

1. Physical
This includes the mode of dressing, manner of walking, posture, body
build, health, complexion, and facial expression.
2. Intellectual
How a person talks and what she talks about is what matters in the
intellectual component of personality. He must develop his intellect or
“brain.”
3. Social
Good manners, correct manners are included in this aspect of personality.
To do the right thing at the right time, to act in the proper manner, to get
along well with others – these are all parts of the social sphere or
personality.
4. Emotional
This component includes a person’s likes or dislikes, whether she is
outgoing or shy, whether she is calm or nervous, and whether she loses
her temper easily or “keeps her cool.” Personality problems, such as how
to stay mentally healthy or how to avoid mental disorders are some
problems that are emotional in nature.
5. Values System (Character)
This includes a person’s attitudes, values, beliefs, and philosophy in life.
This aspect is referred to as character. It is shown in the way we judge
whether our actions and the actions of others are right or wrong.

How is personality revealed?

The typical step-by-step revelation of an individual’s personality:

 1. Appearance
- physical stature, grooming, facial features, gait, poise, etc.
2. Intelligence
- kind of words used, interests, manner or expressing oneself
3. Emotions
- emotional stability/instability
4. Socialization Skills
- manners, finesse, etc
5. The Real Self (Other Aspects of Personality)
- Values, beliefs, attitudes, philosophy of life

Why do we need to study personality?

1. To be successful in our dealings with other people

2. To understand my fellowmen
3. To see the entire representation of the individual, not just the surface
4. To avoid mistakes in evaluating and judging personalities
5. To improve our own personality as well as to understand others so that we can
adjust to them and have harmonious relations with them

PERSONALITY DIFFERENCES

1. Our Heredity
We are born with a set of genes and chromosomes which we inherit from
our forefathers and our parents. These set the limits to our potential.
2. Our Environment
This consists of your family, school, church, social groups, and other
groups with whom we interact from the very beginning. Each group puts
pressure on us and we behave in certain ways as a result of being with these
groups. Our behavior changes with each situation and with the people we are
with. We behave differently when we are with our friends than we are with our
parents, teachers, and others older than us.
3. Our Experiences
These consists of everything we do or get I touch with, everywhere we
got, in short, everything that we are exposed to in our lifetime, whether physical,
emotional, or social experiences.

Techniques in Improving Your Personality

1. Realize that improvement is needed.

2. Have a strong motive or desire to improve.
3. Take an inventory or make a checklist of the strong and weak points, of what is to
be improved.
 4. Have a step-by-step plan for improvement.

VISUAL STATEMENT
- This is composed of traits which can be and often are transmitted visually.
- This is created through an extensive study of line, shape, and color.

The Purpose of a Visual Statement:

1. To visually create a message which communicates what you want others to know
about you through your appearance.
2. To convey outwardly your level of inner confidence.

BEAUTY
- An innate quality
- A way of being
- A manner of acting
- A state of mind

1. Outer Beauty
Outer beauty is highlighted not only by personal attractiveness, but by
outer behavior, poise, and education. Your speech, diction, grammar, and
sensitivity in communication reflect your true nature.
2. Inner Beauty
To think beautiful is to be beautiful. You will begin to feel beautiful as soon
as you begin to work on your physical, emotional, mental, and aesthetic being.