What causes us to
behave as we behave?
What factors
determine our unique and consistent behavioural pattern?
Is it single factor
or multitude of factors responsible for our personality pattern?
In this blog I have tried to address these questions?
Brief Introduction
Let us start with
definition of personality,
“Personality refers
to unique and relatively stable qualities that characterise an individual’s
behaviour across different situations over a period of time” (NCERT, XII).
“The dynamic
organization within the individual of those psychophysical systems that
determine his unique adjustments to his environment” (Allport, 1961, p. 28).
Personality is an
umbrella psychological construct determined by several factors: -
Determinants
1. Biological,
2. Psychological,
3. Social,
4. Cultural, and
5. Environmental.
1. Biological
(a) Heredity – The genetic
blue print (molecular structure) sets the limit for the personality pattern
within which individual grows and develops. It defines through facial features,
sex, muscular structure, temperament etc.
(b) Brain – Brain is the
most important biological organ that determines the personality and its broad
pattern.
(c) Physical Characteristics
– The physical characteristics such as height, weight, colour of the skin, eyes
and hair colour have important bearing on the personality profile.
2. Psychological
(a) Intelligence/intellectual
– The cognitive component that determines the personality through demonstration
of problem solving ability, adaptability, decision making ability and
rationalized thinking.
(b) Attitude – It
defines the personality through perceptual approach towards objects and
environment.
(c) Emotions – Emotional
response to internal and external stimuli plays important role in defining the
interaction with other fellow beings that determines the personality.
(e) Interest – Interest
is the consistent and focused attention towards a specific object, situation or
process, determines the personality structure.
3. Social
(a) Situational – Being in social set up individual faces
social situations more often that plays instrumental role in determining the
personality. Situational factors influences decision making, relationship,
response patterns, and approach to various situations.
(b) Home and Family – Family is the fundamental institution
that makes a house, a home and have immense impact on the development of
personality. Primary learning occurs at home under the guidance and supervision
of family which plays pivotal role in determining the personality.
(c) Social Interaction – The interpersonal relations
contribute significantly in formation of identity and self which are
fundamental determinants of personality.
4. Cultural
(a) Beliefs and Traditions
– The set of beliefs and traditions earned through cultural interaction moulds
the personality making it culture dominated by learning by observation.
(b) Norms and Customs –
Norms and customs of a culture provide impetus and direction to the development
of personality through behaviour modification and learning.
(c) Values – The ideals
that are learnt from socio-cultural interaction are considered important to
imbibe. The values form the base of the
‘personality style’ which is considered to be virtuous.
(d) Religion – The set
of belief system influenced by cultural, social and geographical settings tends
to define and determine the personality development by focusing of specific
behavioural pattern.
5. Environmental
(a) Immediate environment
– The immediate environment contains the ecological component which influences
the personality development.
(b) Socio-cultural
environment – The individuals learns important ideals, lessons, concepts,
response patterns, dressing style, food habits, manners, self-control and self-regulation
in socio-cultural environment which determines the personality type.
References:
1. Allport,
G. W. (1937). Personality: A psychological interpretation. New York: H. Holt
and. Company.
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