PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT

THEORETICAL ASPECT:

CONCEPT OF PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT:

Personality means the constitution of mental as well as the physical health of an individual.
Personality may be defined as the characteristic pattern of behaviour that determines an
individual’s adjustment to the environment or situation.
Personality has come from a Latin word ‘Persona’ meaning to speak through (mask). As in the
ancient days masks were worn in Greece and Rome by actors, while enacting plays. Thus,
personality is used for influencing others through external appearance. However, personality is
not the external appearance alone.
Personality development refers to the process of developing, enhancing, and changing
one's personality over time. Such development occurs naturally over the course of life,
but it can also be modified through intentional efforts.
Personality development is the process by which the organized thought and behaviour
patterns that make up a person's unique personality emerge over time. Many factors influence
personality, including genetics and environment, how we were parented, and societal
variables.
Personality Development is like a journey where we learn about ourselves and how we act. It's
about getting better and changing in different ways. Imagine it as a puzzle where some parts
are inherited from our families, like how we look, and some of our behaviours. But as we grow
up, the things we do and the people we meet add more pieces to this puzzle, making it unique.
Our personality starts with things we get from our family, like being quiet or friendly. But as
we meet more people and go through different experiences, we change and grow. For example,
if we face a problem and learn how to solve it, we might become more confident. This is how
our personality develops over time, like a story with different chapters.

STAGES OF PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT:

There are three stages of Personality Development:
Childhood
Childhood is like the beginning of a story, where our personality starts to take shape. When
we're small, the people who look after us, like our parents or guardians, are the ones who guide
us on this journey. They help us feel safe when we're scared and show us love when we need
it. Just like a warm blanket on a cold day, their care wraps around us and makes us feel special.
We watch our parents and other grown-ups and learn how to do things by copying them. It's a
bit like learning a new game by watching someone else play first. We pick up how to talk, how
to behave, and how to make sense of the world. All these little experiences come together to
create our personality.

Adolescence
As we get older and become teenagers, we start to figure out who we really are. This is like
exploring many things at once. Friends and other people of our age become important. We start
to care about what they think and what's "cool." Sometimes, we might even change the way we
dress or talk just to fit in.We start to discover our own unique interests and values. We begin to
realise that it's okay to stand out and be different. Friends and trends guide us in this period.
Ultimately, we emerge with a better understanding of who we are, our strengths, and the special
qualities that make us unique.

Adulthood
When we grow up and become adults, our personalities continue to grow and change. Just like
how a tree keeps growing and getting stronger, we keep learning and becoming wiser.
Adulthood shapes who we shall be for the rest of our lives. Our jobs become an important part
of this journey. Imagine a job you really love—it's like a special tool that helps you grow even
more. It can boost your confidence and skills, making you feel capable and accomplished. The
people we meet along the way, whether colleagues or friends, also contribute to our growth.
TRAIT THEORIES OF PERSONALITY (BIG 5 PERSONALITY
TRAITS):

Many contemporary personality psychologists believe that there are five basic dimensions of
personality, often referred to as the "Big 5" personality traits. Trait theories of personality have
long attempted to pin down exactly how many traits exist. Earlier theories have suggested
various numbers. For instance, Gordon Allport's list contained 4,000 personality traits,
Raymond Cattell had 16 personality factors, and Hans Eysenck offered a three-factor
theory.Many researchers felt that Cattell's theory was too complicated and Eysenck's was too
limited in scope. As a result, the Big 5 personality traits emerged and are used to describe the
broad traits that serve as building blocks of personality.
Several researchers support the belief that there are five core personality traits. Evidence of this
theory has been growing for many years in psychology, beginning with the research of D. W.
Fiske (1949), and later expanded upon by others, including Norman (1967), Smith (1967),
Goldberg (1981), and McCrae & Costa (1987).
The Big Five Personality Traits, also known as OCEAN or CANOE, are a psychological model
that describes five broad dimensions of personality: Openness, Conscientiousness,
Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism. These traits are believed to be relatively stable
throughout an individual’s lifetime.
Conscientiousness – impulsive, disorganized vs. disciplined, careful
Agreeableness – suspicious, uncooperative vs. trusting, helpful
Neuroticism – calm, confident vs. anxious, pessimistic
Openness to Experience – prefers routine, practical vs. imaginative, spontaneous
Extraversion – reserved, thoughtful vs. sociable, fun-loving
The Big Five remain relatively stable throughout most of one’s lifetime. They are influenced
significantly by genes and the environment, with an estimated heritability of 50%. They also
predict certain important life outcomes such as education and health.
Each of these 5 personality traits are discussed in detail :

OPENNESS: Openness (also referred to as openness to experience) emphasizes imagination

and insight the most out of all five personality traits.People who are high in openness tend to
have a broad range of interests. They are curious about the world and other people and are
eager to learn new things and enjoy new experiences.
People who are high in this personality trait also tend to be more adventurous and creative.
Conversely, people low in this personality trait are often much more traditional and may
struggle with abstract thinking.
CONSCIENTIOUSNESS: Among each of the personality traits, conscientiousness is one
defined by high levels of thoughtfulness, good impulse control, and goal-directed behaviours.
Highly conscientious people tend to be organized and mindful of details. They plan ahead,
think about how their behavior affects others, and are mindful of deadlines.
Someone scoring lower in this primary personality trait is less structured and less organized.
They may procrastinate to get things done, sometimes missing deadlines completely.

EXTRAVERSION: Extraversion (or extroversion) is a personality trait characterized by

excitability, sociability, talkativeness, assertiveness, and high amounts of emotional
expressiveness.1 People high in extraversion are outgoing and tend to gain energy in social
situations. Being around others helps them feel energized and excited.
People who are low in this personality trait or introverted tend to be more reserved. They have
less energy to expend in social settings and social events can feel draining. Introverts often
require a period of solitude and quiet in order to "recharge."

AGREEABLENESS: This personality trait includes attributes such as trust, altruism,

kindness, affection, and other prosocial behaviors.1 People who are high in agreeableness tend
to be more cooperative while those low in this personality trait tend to be more competitive
and sometimes even manipulative.

NEUROTICISM: Neuroticism is a personality trait characterized by sadness, moodiness, and

emotional instability.1 Individuals who are high in neuroticism tend to experience mood
swings, anxiety, irritability, and sadness. Those low in this personality trait tend to be more
stable and emotionally resilient.
3. FACTORS AFFECTING PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT:

Different factors affecting personality can be mainly divided into two namely: Individual or
Personal Factors and Environment or Social Factors.

Individual or Personal Factors Affecting Personality Development:

The individual factors are those factors inherent in a person. Some of them are not changeable
or cannot develop. The individual factors include:

a) Heredity
Heredity is something that passes from generation to generation. You may possess some skills
your father or your mother have. It is transferred to you as an inborn character from your
parents. Traits, skills that is passed to you from your parents in the form of genetic transfer can
determine your personality.

b) Physique
You may be a short person, you may be a tall person, like that each people have different
physical appearances. Physique of a person affects his personality. That is biological makeup
or body type of a person is a factor that determine personality of that person.

c) Biological Factors
Difference in biological factors like gender, hormone level, functioning of endocrine glands
like thyroid, parathyroid, pituitary gland, adrenal gland, gonads etc. will affect personality of a
person. This determines how an individual behaves in certain situations. These biological
factors enable a person to mold the social environment according to his requirements.

d) Nervous System
Central nervous system which includes brain and the spinal cord has a fundamental and
important role in determining behavior of a person. The brain and the spinal cord play an
important role in a person’s reaction and adjustments to a situation. Thus, growth and
functioning of nervous system affects personality of a person.
Environmental or Social Factors Affecting Personality Development:
Environment has its own impact on the development of an individual’s personality. Social
factors or environmental factors are those factors which surrounds a person. Some social
factors affect the personality of a person are as follows:

a) Family
First and the foremost important factor that influence personality development of a person is
family. A child spends more time with his family so, home atmosphere influences personality
development of a child. Parent’s behavior and attitude, their expectations from the child, their
education and attention to the child, all make an influence in child’s personality development.
The type of experiences received from family in early childhood will play an important role in
the development of personality. Economic and social conditions of the family will also
influence child’s personality development.

b) School
Next social factor that affect child’s personal development is school. School atmosphere and
discipline affects personality development of a child. Teacher’s personality and character, peer
students’ attitude and character, all influences child’s personality development.

c) Maturation
Maturation is the process of learning to cope and react in an emotionally appropriate way.
Social surroundings around them helps to understand how to react to various situation. It is part
of growth, but not always happen with aging or physical growth. Maturation improves the
coordination of numerous relationships and thus in personality development of a person.

d) Early Experience
Development of brain and personality has a clear influence with the early experience of a
person. Good experience and interaction from surrounding can help child to develop positive
attitude, while bitter experience can affect negatively. So, creating positive experience at the
early stage is important for personality development.

e) Success and Failures

Success and failures are part of life and it is only how we perceive it. That is, it depends on
where we fix our frame of reference in life. When it comes to personality development, it can
consider as a factor as it has the power to motivate and demotivate a person.
f) Cultural
Cultural traditions, environment and values in a society can influence personality of a person.
This can contribute greatly to the development of believes, and moral values in a person. Along
with that culture can also influence the way people behave and develop social interaction.

g) Geography
Many studies show that geography plays an important role in personality development of a
person. Place of birth and living influences people’s lifestyle and the way they live. Thus,
determines their behavior and reactions to various situations.

e) Intelligence
Persons with different intelligence behaves or adjust differently in social environments
surrounding them. They are different in dealing with society, have different habits, etc. Thus,
it is considered as a factor that determine personality of a person.
PRACTICAL ASPECT:

1. NAME OF THE ACTIVITY: Personality development session.

2. OBJECTIVES OF THE SESSION:

 To develop self confidence and self esteem in students.

 To help students in understanding the world better.
 To develop both internal and external personality of the students
 To help students determine and achieve their individual goals.
 To help students achieve educational progress.
To help students in cultivating good communication skills.

3. DETAILS OF THE EXPERT:

Name : Ms. Aditi Jaggi Rastogi
Interaction Approach: Lecture, discussion, examples, personal experiences.

4. DETAILS OF THE STUDENT:

Name: Ayushi Shukla
Course: M.Ed ( II semester)
Age: 27 years
Gender: Female

5. POINTS DISCUSSED:

 Introduction to personality development and its importance.

 Overview of key concepts of personality.
 Practical strategies for enhancing personal growth and development.
 Interactive discussions for self reflection and skill building.
 Discussion of real life scenarios related to personality development.
 6. SUMMARY OF POINTS DISCUSSED:
In this personality development session, participants were introduced to the significance of
personal growth and the role it plays in one's life. The session delved into key concepts of
personality, exploring factors like traits, behaviors, and attitudes that shape individual identity.
Practical strategies for enhancing personal development were discussed, including setting
goals, cultivating positive habits, and improving communication skills.
Interactive discussions allowed for self-reflection, encouraging participants to assess their
strengths, weaknesses, and areas for growth. Through engaging activities and sharing
experiences, attendees gained insights into their own personalities and discovered ways to
further develop and refine them. The session emphasized the importance of continuous self-
improvement and provided participants with tools to navigate their personal journeys towards
becoming their best selves.

7. OWN EXPERIENCE:

 Facilitator provided an overview of the session's objectives and importance of personal

growth.
 Discussed how personality development impacts various aspects of life including
relationships, career, and self-esteem.
 Explored different theories of personality such as trait theory, psychoanalytic theory,
and humanistic theory.
 Identified common traits and characteristics that influence behavior and decision-
making.
 Learned techniques for goal setting and time management to achieve personal and
professional objectives.
 Practiced mindfulness exercises and stress management techniques to foster emotional
well-being.
 Discussed the importance of self-care and maintaining a healthy work-life balance.
 Engaged in group discussions and activities to reflect on personal strengths,
weaknesses, and areas for growth.
 Received constructive feedback from peers and facilitator to gain new perspectives on
personal development.
 Explored individual values, beliefs, and goals to align personal growth efforts with
aspirations.
 Summarized key learnings and insights gained from the session.
In conclusion, the session provided a valuable opportunity for self-discovery, learning, and
growth, empowering me with practical tools and strategies to enhance my personal
development journey.
8. EDUCATIONAL IMPLICATIONS OF THE SESSION:

 Incorporate modules or workshops on personality development within

educational curricula at various levels.
 Introduce students to key concepts of personality, self-awareness, and personal
growth early on in their academic journey.
 Encourage students to engage in reflective practices to assess their own
strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement.
 Promote critical thinking skills by encouraging students to analyze their
behaviours, attitudes, and beliefs in relation to personal development.
 Emphasize the importance of social and emotional competencies such as self-
awareness, self-regulation, empathy, and interpersonal skills.
 Foster a growth mindset culture where students are encouraged to embrace
challenges, learn from failures, and persist in the face of obstacles.
 Provide opportunities for students to set and pursue meaningful goals, fostering
a sense of agency and self-efficacy.
 Instill a value for lifelong learning and continuous self-improvement among
students.
 Equip students with practical strategies and resources for personal development
that they can apply beyond the classroom setting.
 Facilitate collaborative learning experiences where students can engage in peer
feedback, support, and accountability in their personal growth journey.
 Create opportunities for students to share their experiences, insights, and
strategies for personal development with their peers.
 REFERENCES

 https://unique2brilliance.com/personality-development/factors-affecting-personality-
development/
 https://www.verywellmind.com/personality-development-2795425
 chrome-
extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://egyankosh.ac.in/bitstream/123
456789/46890/1/Unit-4.pdf
 https://psychcentral.com/health/what-is-personality