PERSONALITY

DEVELOPMENT
• Personality development is the relatively
enduring pattern of the thoughts, feelings,
and behaviors that distinguish individuals
from each other.
• The dominant viewpoint in personality
psychology indicates that personality
emerges early and continues to develop
across one's lifespan. Adult personality
traits are believed to have a basis in infant 
temperament, meaning that individual
differences in disposition and behavior
appear early in life, potentially before
language of conscious self-representation
develop. The Five Factor Model of
personality maps onto the dimensions of
childhood temperament. This suggests that
individual differences in levels of the
corresponding personality traits
(neuroticism, extraversion, openness to
experience, agreeableness, and
conscientiousness) are present from
young ages.
Theories
• Psychoanalytic Theory
The Psychoanalytic Theory of personality was developed by Sigmund Freud. This theory consists of three main
ideas that make up personality, the id, the ego, and the superego. The three traits control their own sections of the psyche.
Personality is developed by the three traits that make up the Psychoanalytic theory conflicting.
• Trait Theory
– The Trait Theory of personality is one of the main theories in the study of personality. According to this theory, traits make up
personality. Traits can be described as patterns of behavior, thought, or emotion.
• Social Cognitive Theory
– The Social Cognitive Theory focuses on cognitive processes in relation to the development of personality. This theory takes into
account how individual's gather information and how they use that information moving forward. The social aspect of this theory is
explained by how this theory also views the environment that the individual is in, this includes past experiences. 
• Evolutionary Theory
– The evolutionary theory of personality development is primarily based on the evolutionary process of natural selection. From the
evolutionary perspective, evolution resulted in variations of the human mind. Natural selection refined these variations based on
their beneficence to humans. Due to human complexity, many opposing personality traits proved to be beneficial in a variety of
ways. Primitive humans were collectivists due to tribe culture. The personalities of individuals within a tribe were very similar. The
division of labor resulted in differentiation in personality traits in order to achieve a higher efficiency. Differentiation in personality
traits increased functionality, therefore becoming adaptive through natural selection. Humans continued to develop personality and
individuality through evolution.
• Lifespan Theory
– Classic theories of personality include Freud's tripartite theory and post-Freudian theory (developmental stage theories and type
theories) and indicate that most personality development occurs in childhood, stabilizing by the end of adolescence. Current
lifespan perspectives that integrate theory and empirical findings dominate the research literature. The lifespan perspectives of
personality are based on the plasticity principle, the principle that personality traits are open systems that can be influenced by the
environment at any age. Large-scale longitudinal studies have demonstrated that the most active period of personality development
appears to be between the ages of 20-40. Although personality grows increasingly consistent with age and typically plateaus near
age 50, personality never reached a period of total stability.
Determinants of Personality

Following are the factors which help in shaping one’s

personality:
1.Heredity - Heredity refers to factors that are determined
once an individual is born. An individual’s physique,
attractiveness, body type, complexion, body weight
depend on his/her parents biological makeup.
2.Environment - The environment to which an individual is
subjected to during his growing years plays an important
role in determining his/her personality. The varied cultures
in which we are brought up and our family backgrounds
have a crucial role in shaping our personalities.
3.Situation - An individual’s personality also changes with
current circumstances and situations. An individual would
behave in a different way when he has enough savings
with him and his behavior would automatically change
when he is bankrupt.
Importance of Personality Development
An individual’s personality refers to his/her appearance, characteristics, attitude, mindset and
behavior with others.

Let us go through the importance of personality

development.
• Personality development grooms an individual and
helps him make a mark of his/her own. Individuals
need to have a style of their own for others to follow
them. Do not blindly copy others. You need to set an
example for people around. Personality development not
only makes you look good and presentable but also helps
you face the world with a smile.
• Personality development goes a long way in reducing
stress and conflicts. It encourages individuals to look at
the brighter sides of life. Face even the worst situations
with a smile. Trust me, flashing your trillion dollar smile
will not only melt half of your problems but also evaporate
your stress and worries. There is no point cribbing over
minor issues and problems.