Chapter 1

Introduction
In simple language by personality, we mean the totality of everything about an individual his/her
emotions, ethical, mental, physical, social and spiritual make up. It includes and individual’s
appearance, emotionality, sociability, intelligence, character and moral traits.
The term ‘personality’ is derived from a Latin word “Persona” which means the mask ( as a
actor ).
There are two main definitions on personality by the researchers :-
Usually Allport’s definition is considered to be comprehensive and clear. It lays stress on these
characteristics of personality ; (i) Dynamic nature, (ii) Heredity and Environment, (iii)Wholeness.
An individual’s behavior, attitude, characteristics, mindset towards others make his personality.
Enhancing one’s personality defined as a process of Personality development. Personality
development sessions guide an individual as to how he/she can develop his/her personality.
The term ‘personality disorder’ references diagnostic categories however, there are mostly no
categorical cut-offs for problems in personality traits and personality processes. Hence, in
referencing problems in the personality domain, the term ‘personality problems’ is used to
analyses that we may best advance our understanding of individual variation in violence. One of
the major reasons for analysis personality, personality disorder and violence is to advance
psychological and psychiatric treatments. Broadly speaking, it means that criminal justice
personality see society as the primary and major client, aim to control crime, whereas mental
health professionals view the patient as the client, aim to improve
functioning and reduce the stress of the client. The latter aim is still viewed as highly contentious
by some mental health professionals. People with different personality, until recently, have had
fewer mental health professionals willing to take responsibility for their treat and a dearth of
services available to them.
Personality is determined and effect by the interaction of temperament / nature traits with the
environment or by birth. Each person including child comes in the world with a factory like body
and mind installed wiring.
Temperament or nature is a set of inborn traits that arrange and organize the child’s approach
towards the world. They are instrumental tools in the development of the child’s distinct and
separate personality. These traits also determine and verify that how the child goes and learn
about the world around him or her. These traits appear to be relatively stable and clam from birth
of the individual. They are durable characteristics that are actually never either “good” or “bad”.
When parents understand the temperament and nature of their children, they can avoid blaming
each other for issues that are normal rise for their child’s temperament / nature. Some children are
noisier as well as naughty than others. Some are cuddlier like a teddy bear than others. Some have
more regular sleep patterns than others. When parent starts to understand how their child
responds to certain situations either good or bad, they learn to anticipate or predict issues that
might present difficulties for their child. The Parents can prepare their child for the conditions or
in other cases that they may avoid a potentially difficult situation altogether. Parents can tailor
their parenting strategies to the particular temperamental and nature, characteristics of their own
child. They can also avoid thinking
that a behavior that reflects a temperament trait and nature represents a pathological condition
that requires treatment. Parents feel more effective as they understand and appreciate their ward’s
unique personality. When the demands and expectations of people and the environment are
compatible with the ward’s nature there is said to be a “goodness-of-fit.”
When the condition of two things being so different in nature as to be incapable of coexisting,
you have what is known as a “personality conflict”. Early on parents can work with the ward’s
temperamental traits and nature traits rather than in opposition or disagree to them. Later as the
child matures the parents can help and guide to their ward’s to adapt to their world by
accommodating to their temperamental traits.
The term ‘personality’ has been derived from the Latin word ‘persona’ meaning ‘mask’. The
actors wore the mask to play their role on the stage in Greek Theatres during those days.
Personality is all that a person is. It is the totality of his or her being and includes his or her
mental, emotional, physical, temperamental makeup. His/Her personality is constituted by
capacity, potentiality, experience, perception, memory, imagination, instincts, habits, thoughts,
sentiments and creative thinking. His/Her cloth, style of life, beliefs, mannerism, customs, and
habits color his/her personality.
Personality is a product of heredity and environment. It is the combination of inner and outer
qualities of an individual and also the combination of id, ego, superego and social stimulus of the
individual.
There are some factors that can influence the individual Personality.
(Figure 1: Factors of Personality)
Biological Factor: The hereditary or biological factors play an important role in personality.
Infants show certain characteristics of their personality even during the first few weeks of their
lives. The individual’s biological constitution is a predisposing factor. It determines the general
direction in which his personality is likely to develop. There are three specific biological factors
in the development. They are Physique, Chemique and Nervous System.
Physique can be consider as height, weight, physical appearance, physical strength, general
health, complexion, fat, abnormalities, disabilities, activeness etc.
Chemique can be understood by or we can say effects of the thyroid glands, thyroxin hormone,
growth, diet, sleep, changes in body, restless, irritable, worries, unstably in mood of the person
etc.
Nervous system are sensory organs the gateway of knowledge. The efficiency of the sensory
organs depends up on the well developed quality of the nervous system. Intellectual efficiency
like physical power, patience, insight, adjustment, thinking and reasoning all
Biological Factor
Sociological Factor
Psychological Factor
depend upon the efficiency of the nervous system. Any injury of the nervous system will effect
the personality of the individual.
Sociological Factor: Home, school, language and culture are powerful sociological factor, which
influence one’s personality.
In Home Parents Attitude towards their children. Over ambitious parents want their children to
achieve something beyond there actual capabilities, which result failure, loss of respect, feeling
of guilt and shame. Some parent prefer and love male child, which affects the development of
the female child. Worst treatment of stepparents affects the mind of the children. Death of
parents causes many problems, which affects the development of the child. Too many children
in a family do not get adequate care, which affects the personality of the individual. Education
and socioeconomic status of parents also affect the personality of child. More others factors can
be include in this etc. influence the personality.
In School the system of the school are responsible for shaping the personality of the children.
Like Personality of the heads, teachers, and other staff members. Discipline and Infrastructure of
the school. Suitable curriculum and methods of teaching.
In Language effective communication is a sign of dynamic personality. The ability of using the
language brings out the meaningful interaction, understanding and appreciation.
In Culture influence the development of personality. Modern man is different from ancient man.
Geographical environment is also responsible for culture difference. This geographical variation
causes personality variation among people. An African jungle man differs in personality when
compared to a city person.