HEALTH ENGINEERING MEDIA management GEOGRAPHY E C PHYSICS O ART L O BIOTECHNOLOGY G Y CHEMISTRY history MECHANICS psychology Personality & Human Behaviour LANGUAGE MUSIC mathematics EDUCATION agriculture DESIGN law Subject: PERSONALITY & HUMAN BEHAVIOUR Credits: 4 SYLLABUS Personality: Meaning, Nature of Personality, Classification, Sources of Influences upon Personality, Approaches, Psychoanalytical Theory - Sigmund Freud - Structures and Functional Levels Of Mind, Psychosexual Development - Nature Of Anxiety, Jung’s Analytical Theory - The Structure and the Dynamics of Personality - Characteristics Adler’s Individual Psychology - Inferiority - Superiority - Style of Life - Creative Self , Fictional Goals And Social Interest Principles, Eric Fromm - Social Analytical Theory - Karen Horney , Social And Cultural Theory Sullivan ,Interpersonal Theory, The Structure And The Dynamics Of Personality , Development Of Personality, Erickson’s – Social Development Theory Levin’s Field Theory, The Structure And The Dynamics Of Personality, Development Of Personality, Characteristics Research And Methods, Kelly’s Cognitive Theory - Personal Construct Theory - Assumption Of Human Nature, Rogee`s Phenomena Logical Theory - Murray Abraham Maslow - Self-Actualization -Hierarchy Of Needs , Development Of Personality, Allport - Trait Theory ,Meaning Of Functional Autonomy – Characteristics - Human Nature, Cattell`s Factor Theory - The Structure Of Traits, The Development Of Personality And Characteristics Suggested Readings: 1. Duane P. Schultz, Theories of Personality, Cengage Learning 2. P. Subba Rao, Organisational Behaviour, Himalaya Pub. House 3. Stephen P. Robbins, Organisational Behaviour, Pearson Education Australia PERSONALITY STRUCTURE Learning Objectives Meaning Characteristic of personality Dimensions of personality Sources of influences upon personality Approach Psychoanalytical theory Structure and functional levels of Mind Psychosexual development Nature of Anxiety Jung‘s Analytical theory—the structure and the dynamics of personality characteristics Review Questions LEARNING OBJECTIVES It is expected that after reading this unit, you will be able to: Understand and discuss the concept of personality; Understand different definitions of personality; Understand the characteristic features of personality; Understand and discuss in your own words different dimensions of personality; MEANING The word ―personality‖ has been derived from the Latin word ―persona‖ which means a mask worn through an actor while performing a character on the stage. Therefore personality is taken to mean the characteristic pattern or style of behaviour of the person revealed from his external appearance. The external properties of a person contain his dress, speech, bodily actions, postures, habits and expressions. Therefore a person endowed with good external properties is measured to possess a good personality and vice versa. But you know this is not the reality. Mere external properties can not create a personality. And if we go through this concept how and where would we rate the personality of persons like Mahatma Gandhi, Lal Bahadur Shastri. George Bernard Shaw and several others whose external appearance was not highly endowed. These persons are certainly not favored through nature in external properties. So, it was realized that personality incorporated something more than external properties and the concept of external appearance in personality was relegated to background. The word personality now stood for an all inclusive concept. It is the sum total of an individual‘s properties as a separate and unique human being. The external properties are directly observed, while the internal are only inferred from the behavior of a person. The concept of personality is a derived concept. The derivation is possible in three methods: The first is subjective, popular derivation based on subjective impressions formed through the individual‘s behavior and is expressed through evaluative expressions like charming, dominating, weak or bold personality. The second derivation of personality is based on an objective description of the overt responses of the individual. The third derivation is organism according to which personality is the inner pattern of a person‘s characteristics. In the first unit of this block, we intend to discuss several definitions of personality, characteristics features of personality and dimension of personality. We shall highlight definitions of personality from several angles like, popular definitions, political definition, psychological definition, and so on. We shall discuss how personality is organized, why we call it a dynamic system. While discussing dimensions of personality, we shall highlight trait dimension and motivation dimension. Allport‘s definition of personality best represents third concept. Definitions Of Personality Allport (1961) personality is the ―dynamic organization within the individual of those psycho-physical systems that determine his unique adjustment to his environment‖ It means that personality ―resides‖ within the individual and these systems are woven into an organization. Personality is not static but dynamic, the organizational pattern determines the kind and degree of adjustment of the individual to his environment, and this adjustment-pattern is unique to the individual. With the Latin meaning of the term personality taking backseat and acceptance of personality as an all inclusive concept scientists from different disciplines of knowledge approached personality from different angles. Their efforts can be summarized under the following headings. Popular Definitions of Personality This comprises those definitions of personality which place emphasis on social values. For instance, a person who is attractive and good looking, is liberal, easily mixes up in social situations and exhibits socially desirable characteristics, is measured in popular parlance as having the best personality. Though, this definition does not fit every individual. Going through this definition would result in some people having no personality at all. Besides, you know very well that in real life we often encounter people who have all the charms, they exhibit all the socially desirable traits but their tendencies are antisocial, for instance, noted criminal Sobhraj. He has an exterior pleasing personality but basically has a criminal behavioral tendency. He killed several innocent people. Political Definition of Personality According to political definition a person has personality only when he is charismatic, attractive and represents the masses. He should be able to present himself in an impressive manner at a public debate. His personal life should be marred with scandals. Even this definition is not acceptable for if we accept this definition then majority of political leaders should not have any personality. Biophysical Definition of Personality This category of definitions regards personality as organic internal element of a person. It regards personality as consisting of traits which lend themselves to objective measurement. For instance, Sheldon classified people on the basis of physique. He described three types of personality namely: endomorphic, mesomorphic and ectomorphic, with endo morphic being fat and fleshy, mesomorphic being athletic in build with a lot of muscles and ecto morphic being thin and bony in build. . Ominibus Definition This category comprises all those concepts which lay emphasis on the description of personality. Morton Prince (1924)‘s definition best represents this approach. According to him ― personality is the sum total of all biological, innate dispositions, impulses, tendencies, appetites and instincts of the individual and the acquired dispositions and tendencies acquired through experiences. Although all encompassing, it is criticizes on the basis of this being highly subjective and intricate. Integrative Definition Essence of this definition lies in finding order and consistency in the behaviour of an individual crossways different situations. Therefore personality is a pattern or organisation. For instance, Cagan and Haveman describe personality as the total pattern of characteristic methods of thinking; feeling and behaving that constitute the individual‘s distinctive method of relating to the environment. Psychological Definition This definition comprises all those which describe personality on the basis of variables like adjustment, temperament, uniqueness, and dynamic organization. Under this category we can place quite a number of definitions but for our purposes we will consider only a few. Personality is the dynamic organization with in the individual of those psychophysical systems that determine his unique adjustment to his environment. (Allport, 1938). Personality is the more or less stable and enduring organisation of a person‘s character, temperament, intellect, and physique that determine his unique adjustment to his environment... Personality usually refers to the distinctive patterns of behaviour (including thoughts and emotions) that characterize each individual‘s adaptations to the situations of his life or her life. Personality is usually defined as individual‘s unique and relatively stable patterns of behaviour, thoughts and emotions. (Baron, 1993). CHARACTERISTIC OF PERSONALITY Now if you cautiously analyze all these definitions of personality, you will find the following. Psychophysical systems Personality is a system that has both psychological and physical characteristics. This system is composed of interacting elements and the main elements of the system are traits, emotions, intellect, temperament, character and motives. All these elements are psychological but they are based in the neurology and endocrinology of the body. Dynamic organization It signifies that different elements of psychological system are independent but function in an interlocking manner and are subject to change. Though this change can take place over a period of time in a gradual manner. The above examples may seem to you quite radical, but changes in the personality of all individuals do come as they enter new roles, responsibilities and circumstances. Consistency Since personality is a stable organisation it also has the element of consistency. Through consistency we mean that an individual behaves in the same method in different situations and behavioral consistency is found when same situation is repeated crossways time. Psychologists provide four types of consistency. Type ―A‖ consistency: In this type the situation and behaviour remain same. For instance, a football player is asked to play match against team X and after 10 days he asked to play against the team. Type ―B‖ consistency: When the same behaviour is repeated in two different situations. For instance, a person appears for an interview before one selection board then he appears for interview for the same job before another board in the final round. Type ―C‖ consistency: When an individual is asked to behave differently in the same situation. For instance, when an actor is asked to imitate different actors. Type ―D‖ consistency: When a person behaves differently in different situations. A person is able to behave in different situations according to the demand of the situation because he is influenced through scrupulous type of traits. For instance, a person is supposed treat his students differently as compared to his colleagues. His behaviour with his parents would be different form that with his friends. Unique adjustment to environment Every person is characterized with a dynamic organisation of psychological traits that creates his adjustment. The cause for this is that experiences of every person are unique so their reaction to the environment is also unique. You may notice that even identical twins who come out of the same embryo, though have the same genetic create up, react differently to the same situation because their frame of references is unique. Development of personality structure Personality development is the natural quality of a rising organism. The path is from simple to increasingly intricate factors and situations an individual has to pass through. According to Heniz Werner, at birth the mental organisation of the infant expands slowly. Through interactions with the environment, the parts of the child‘s mental structure become progressively crystallized and differentiated from each other. The analytical stage is followed through synthesis or integration when the differentiated parts become functionally organized. From a diffused mass through progressive differentiation to an integrated whole is, then the course of development of personality structure. Consciousness Personality is conscious in that it develops out of our interaction with the environment. This interaction results in formation of concept of self. Self- concept means who we are and what we stand for. All the responses of a human being are oriented toward protection of the self concept. Potentiality for change Potential for change is another characteristic of personality. The earlier psychoanalytical view did hold personality as a rigid structure. Though, modern humanistic theories have demonstrated not only the human has the capability for reorganization but also the circumstances do foster change. Integration or organisation is the quality of the human personality that is it occurs to human beings naturally and normally. It is the normal development outcome of personality structure. Disorganization, that is, the isolation of the functions of the individual parts from the total system, is a pathological condition (Goldstein) of a psychological disorder. DIMENSIONS OF PERSONALITY Let me ask you a question. How several people you have come crossways since you grew up? A reasonable answer would be thousands. Now another question is how several of these people were similar in conditions of personality? Again a reasonable answer is that none of them was similar or identical in conditions of personality. They might have exhibited similar characteristics say for instance, extroversion but they might not have exhibited extroversion in identical quantity or manner. Therefore you can conclude from your own observation that no two people in the world are identical in conditions of personality. This principle applies to identical twins as well. Now the problem is how to explain these differences in the personality of the people. Psychologists on the basis of researches have recognized some dimensions of personality to explain differences in personality. Now the question is what are these dimensions? Actually these dimensions are category scales which help us understand behaviour of individuals in conditions of its main traits, motivational power, temperament, and character. Chiefly these dimensions are of four types: traits, motivation, temperament and character. Traits Traits are relatively permanent characteristics of personality which compel an individual to behave uniformly crossways different situations. People can be compared through measuring these traits. We call these traits relatively permanent because they change over time. For instance, an introvert person may not remain that introvert after 10 years. Some of the significant traits are (a) Introversion-extraversion; (b) Neuroticismstability (c) Psychoticism Introversion-extroversion It is a bipolar trait. People with predominance of introversion are self- centered. Such people are idealistic, imaginative, shy and secluded. Predominance of thoughtfulness steers them in the world of brooding, fantasy and daydreaming. These people take considerable time in reaching decision and are worried in relation to the future. Such people are theoretical and often are philosophers, poets, scientist and professors. Extroverts are more inclined to social activities. They are gregarious and social through nature. Such people are realistic, practical, talkative, and active. They show more interest in leadership. Though, very few people are totally extrovert or introvert. Majority of the people fall in flanked by that is, they exhibit some degree of introversion and some degree of extroversion in their behaviour and hence are described Ambiverts. Now the question is why are some people introvert and some extrovert? Are there any physiological correlates of it? Researches reveal that introvert and extroverts differ in cortical excitation level. Extroverts have lower cortical excitation threshold, so, small amount of stimulation is enough to activate them. This fact creates them sensation seeking. On the other hand cortical excitation level of introverts is quite high as a result they remain unaffected through stimulation from external environment. Neuroticism stability dimension This too is a bipolar dimension. People high on neuroticism exhibit scrupulous traits and behavioral tendencies. They show lack of emotional control and will power with an added characteristic of slowness in thought process and activity. Even small things perturb them. People with high neuroticism are high on suggestibility and low on sociability. Though, such people are also characterized through increased emotional impulsiveness. Contrary to neuroticism, people high on stability are cool and do not get easily disturbed or perturbed through conflicting issues. They are able to keep themselves under control even in most hard circumstances. They can detach themselves and think over the problem in a balanced manner so as to arrive at a right decision. This quality of them creates them realistic and problem solution oriented. As for the physiological correlates of neuroticism and stability, it is whispered that autonomic nervous system of people with high neuroticism is more reactive. These people are vulnerable to reaction to environmental incentive. Researches reveal that people with high cortical excitation threshold and increased autonomic reactivity show more acute and explicit symptoms of disorders like phobia, anxiety disorder, and obsessive- compulsive disorder. Psychoticism dimension People with this trait show lack of concentration power and weak memory. They are also characterized with insensitivity. They are more worried for themselves than for others. Element of cruelty and sensation seeking marks their behaviour and they are unable to protect themselves from danger and dangerous situations. Internal and external locus of control Locus of control refers to internal or external control over reinforcement resulting from operating response upon the environment. In fact it is the development of a generalized expectancy within the individual as to how he receives reinforcement. People with internal locus of control think that ability coupled with hard work, foresightedness and feeling of responsibility can change their fate and bring reinforcement. While people high on external locus of control think that reinforcement is not in their control that is, they can not influence the outcome of happenings. Whatever happens is ascribed to luck