Personality is a set of characteristics that make up a person’s identity , influencing their way of thinking, feeling and behaving. In psychology , personality is defined as a concept that describes the individual way of being, the unique style of each individual.
When psychology scholars investigate this topic, they focus on observing behavior to infer characteristic traits of the individual. This hypothetical definition of personality considers it to be a set of characteristics that brings together elements such as cognitions, motivations and affective states that influence interaction with the environment.
As we evolve over time, our personality can also change due to constant learning and growth. On the other hand, it is important to consider how life experiences can influence the formation of our personality.
The search for personal identity
The search for personal identity is a complex and dynamic process that involves the construction and definition of our personality in psychology . This search can be the result of a number of factors, including biological and environmental influences, psychological development and life experiences.
Personality is not something static or immutable; on the contrary, it is a construct that changes as our experience and knowledge increase. This evolution can generate significant changes in our way of being, thinking and behaving, which makes us search for a personal identity that adapts to the new challenges we face.
The search for personal identity can also involve the struggle between different aspects of our personality, as if we were trying to find the perfect balance between our deepest reasons. It is a process of discovery and self-knowledge that leads us to better understand who we are and what we want to be.
Historical and cultural perspective
Personality in psychology has been the subject of study and reflection since ancient times, when philosophers such as Aristotle and Plato discussed the characteristic traits of human character. Over time, the understanding of personality has evolved as theories and approaches have been developed.
In more recent times, modern psychology emerged with the work of thinkers such as Sigmund Freud, Carl Jung and Alfred Adler, who proposed different models to understand personal development and personality formation. Each of these approaches brought its own perspective on what factors influence the construction of our personality in psychology .
Cultural perspective also plays an important role in understanding personality. In different countries and cultures, different beliefs and values can be found that directly influence the formation of our personality. For example, Western culture may tend to emphasize individualism and self-expression, while other cultures may pay more attention to harmony and cooperation. This cultural context can influence how we define and experience our own personality in psychology .
The most influential psychological theories
Understanding personality has been a central theme in psychology, and since its inception, influential professionals have developed theories that attempt to explain how our personality works in psychology .
One of the most influential theories is that of Alfred Adler, who suggested that personality is formed by the interaction between the ego (the sense of identity) and the self (the need to help others). According to Adler, our personality in psychology is built around these two opposing forces.
Another important theory is that of Swiss analyst Carl Jung, who proposed the idea of psychological types. Jung suggested that all human beings have a unique personality made up of our conscious and unconscious mind, and that we can better understand our personalities in psychology by examining these different elements.
Carl Rogers’ theory is also widely influential. Rogers suggested that personality is formed through development and growth from life experiences, and that our self-esteem and well-being are closely related to our personality in psychology .
Finally, Freud’s theory has also had a great impact on the study of personality. Freud suggested that our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are influenced by our early life experiences and our unconscious, which can affect our personality in psychology .
These theories and many others have been crucial to better understanding how our inner selves work and how we can develop greater self-awareness and understanding of our personalities in psychology .
From biological factor to social factors
Personality in psychology has been studied from different perspectives, from the search for the biological factor to the consideration of the social factors that influence our development.
In one sense, personality has a biological basis; our genes and hormones play a major role in shaping our personal identity. Studies of genetics and the human brain have revealed heritable patterns in personality, suggesting that there are innate components that influence our behavior.
However, it is also true that our social and cultural environments play a crucial role in the development of our personality in psychology . Our parents, friends, media and culture in general can influence our beliefs, values and behaviors.
Social learning theory suggests that we learn our attitudes and behaviors through interactions with others. This implies that our social and cultural backgrounds may shape our personality and psychology in a more significant way than we may realize.
Furthermore, factors such as education, social status, and economic opportunities can also influence our personality. Stress and conflict management theory suggests that how we respond to challenges and changes can reflect our personality in psychology , whether we are resilient or not.
Personality in psychology is a complex construct that results from the interaction between biological, social and cultural factors. Our personal development can be influenced by a variety of experiences and factors, from our genetic heritage to our relationships with others.
The influence of human development: Bowlby’s model
Bowlby’s model is one of the most influential in human development theory. John Bowlby, a British psychologist, proposed that a secure bond between a parental figure and the child (usually the mother) was essential for the healthy development of the individual.
Bowlby suggested that early life experiences with our parental figure can influence our behavior and personality over time. According to Bowlby, parental figures provide us with a secure base of emotional support, allowing us to feel comfortable and confident.
This secure bond develops through patterns of interaction between the parent and the child, such as empathy, reciprocity and mutual respect. Bowlby proposed that if this bond is not established properly in childhood, it can lead to symptoms of anxiety and depression later in life.
Bowlby also suggested that premature maternal abandonment (PMA) is a critical condition for a child’s later development. If a child experiences PMA, it can negatively influence his or her ability to develop good self-esteem and healthy interpersonal relationships.
Bowlby’s model has been widely used in psychological theory and practice to better understand how the bond between parent and child influences human development.
The social role and interaction in the formation of the individual.
The social role and interaction in the formation of the individual
The theory of human development teaches us that the formation of the individual is a complex process that involves the interaction between biological, psychological and social factors. In this sense, the social role and interaction with others play a crucial role in the formation of our personal identity.
The theory of attachment
Attachment theory, developed by John Bowlby and Mary Ainsworth, suggests that early life experiences with our parent or caregiver can significantly influence our behavior and personality. According to this theory, a secure bond between the parent and the child (usually the mother) is critical to the healthy development of the individual.
The importance of interaction
Interaction with other people is an integral part of the natural course of human development. Our parents, family members, and friends provide us with an emotional refuge and a context in which we can experience and learn about ourselves. This interaction also allows us to develop social skills such as communication, empathy, and cooperation.
The formation of personality
The formation of our personality is a dynamic process that involves the interaction between our previous experiences, our family and cultural background, as well as our personal beliefs and values. Our patterns of thinking, feeling and behaving are shaped through these interactions and allow us to adapt to the environment and maintain healthy relationships.
The influence of the social context
Furthermore, the social context in which we live can also influence our personal development. This includes factors such as culture, society, media and politics. These influences can shape our personal beliefs and values, as well as our behaviour patterns.
The importance of social interaction
The formation of the individual is a complex process that involves the interaction between biological, psychological and social factors. Interaction with others plays a crucial role in the development of our personality, whether through early life experiences or as we grow up. The importance of social interaction should not be underestimated; it is a fundamental factor in the formation of the individual and in healthy development.
Internal dynamics and cognitive psychology
Internal dynamics and cognitive psychology
Cognitive psychology focuses on how we process information and how our mind internalizes and organizes this information to guide our behavior. This discipline is interested in the nature of our thoughts, beliefs, and feelings, and how these elements interact to influence our decisions and actions.
The internal dynamics
Internal dynamics refers to the way our subjective mental processes are organized and related to each other. This includes our ability to reflect on ourselves, understand our own thoughts and feelings, and make informed decisions.
Cognitive psychology holds that our personal beliefs and attitudes (such as values, abilities, and motivations) are fundamental to understanding our behavior. It also emphasizes the importance of autonomous mental processes, such as attention and selection, in our ability to make decisions and learn.
The theory of attentional model
One of the main cognitive theories is the attentional model , which explains how we focus on certain information and are distracted from others. According to this model, our ability to select and process relevant information is fundamental to our learning, problem solving, and decision making.
The theory of visual processing
Another important area is visual processing , which focuses on how we evaluate and understand information through our senses. Humans process vast amounts of visual information every day, allowing us to build representations of the world and make informed decisions.
The importance of motivation
Motivation is also a key aspect in cognitive psychology. Our motivation can influence our choice of goals, our learning style, and our strategies for approaching problems. Motivation can be intrinsic (born from within) or extrinsic (spoken from without) .
Understanding thought
Finally, cognitive psychology is concerned with understanding how our subjective mental processes operate in different situations. This includes understanding how we remember and review our experience in order to learn and improve.
Internal dynamics and cognitive psychology focus on understanding the mental processes that underlie our behavior. These areas are closely related to the formation of the individual and allow us to better understand how our mind internalizes and organizes information to guide our decisions and actions.
Personality types according to perspectives: Myers Briggs, Big Five
Personality Types: Myers-Briggs and the Big Five
Personality is a broad topic that has been addressed by social scientists and psychology experts for centuries. Two of the most popular models for describing personality are Isabel Briggs Myers and Katharine Cook Briggs’ model, known as the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), and the Big Five model.
Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)
The MBTI is an instrument designed to describe personality according to four dimensions:
- Extraversion vs. Introverts : Those who prefer to interact with others and enjoy social action are extraverts, while those who prefer to be alone and sheltered in their thoughts are introverts.
- Sensing vs. Intuition : Those who focus their attention on the details of the real world and are guided by reason and logic are sensing, while those who prioritize intuition and belief in the connection between things are intuitive.
- Thinking vs. Feeling : Those who make decisions based on logic and rationality are thinkers, while those who are governed by their emotions and feelings are sentimentalists.
- Judgment vs. Perception : Those who prioritize organizing and controlling their environment are judgmental, while those who prefer to adapt and flow with the world are perceptive.
Each person falls into one of 16 categories, also known as types, presented below:
- INFJ: Introverted, intuitive, sentimental, judicious
- INTJ: Introverted, intuitive, thinker, judicious
- ISFJ: Introverted, Sensing, Sentimental, Perceptive
- ISTJ: Introverted, sensational, thinker, judicious
- ENFJ: Extraverted, intuitive, sentimental, judicious
- ENFP: Extraverted, intuitive, sentimental, perceptive
- ESTP: Extraverted, Sensational, Thinker, Perceptive
- ESFJ: Extraverse, sensational, sentimental, perceptive
The Big Five
The Big Five model focuses on five fundamental dimensions that describe personality:
- Openness to experience : Degree of openness and curiosity towards the world.
- Extraversion : Level of social interaction and outward energy.
- Assertiveness : Degree of self-confidence and ability to defend oneself emotionally.
- Neuroticism : Level of anxiety, restlessness and tendency toward depression.
- Self -consciousness: Degree of self-perception and self-evaluation.
Each person falls on a continuum for each of these dimensions, making them more flexible and complex than typical personality types. However, the Big Five perspective may be more objective and measurable than the MBTI.
While there is no single, true method for describing personality, both models—the MBTI and the Big Five—offer useful tools for understanding human complexity and the differences between individuals.
Conclusion
Conclusion
In this summary, we have explored the concepts of personality and cognitive psychology, and examined two popular models for describing personality: the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) and the Big Five.
Personality is a broad topic that has been addressed by social scientists and psychology experts for centuries. The MBTI focuses on four dimensions—extraversion vs. introversion, sensing vs. intuition, thinking vs. feeling, and judging vs. perceiving—to categorize personality into 16 types.
On the other hand, the Big Five model focuses on five fundamental dimensions – conscientiousness, extraversion, aggressiveness, neuroticism, and self-regression awareness – that describe personality in a more continuous and complex way.
Both models have their own strengths and weaknesses, and there is no single, true method for describing personality. However, they can be useful tools for understanding human complexity and the differences between people.
In the future, it is important to continue researching and refining our understanding of personality and cognitive psychology, as this may lead to improvements in areas such as education, mental health, and teamwork.
References
- Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.myersbriggs.org/
- Costa, P.T., & McCrae, R.R. (1992). NEO PI-R: Professional Manual. Psychological Assessment Resources.
- Big Five Personality Traits. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.trustworthyguide.com/big-five-personality-traits/
Note
It is important to note that personality is a complex and multifactorial topic, and there is no definitive tool or method for describing personality. These summaries and analyses are presented as a general introduction to the concepts of personality and cognitive psychology, and are not intended to be representative or exhaustive.
