MODERN COLLEGE OF PROFESSIONOL STUDIES

MOHAN NAGAR, GHAZIABAD

SESSION – 2021-2024
ASSIGNMENT

SUBJECT – COMMUNICATION SKILLS AND PERSONALITY

DEVELOPMENT (Z060601)

TOPIC - PERSONALITY ( ASSIGNMENT )

CLASS – B.COM 6TH SEMESTER

ROLL NO. - 210995303063

SUBMITTED BY – SUBMITTED TO –

SHALU SINGH PARUL MA’AM

DEFINITION OF PERSONALITY
Personality refers to a set of unique traits, behaviors, and patterns of thinking and feeling that
characterize an individual's distinctive psychological makeup. It encompasses aspects such as
temperament, values, attitudes, motivations, and social roles, shaping how someone interacts with the
world and others. Personality is often influenced by genetic factors, environmental experiences, and
personal development, and it plays a significant role in determining how individuals perceive and
respond to various situations in their lives.

MEANING OF PERSONALITY
Personality is a complex and multifaceted construct that encompasses various dimensions of an
individual's psychological makeup, shaping their thoughts, emotions, behaviors, and interpersonal
relationships. It represents a unique pattern of characteristics, traits, and tendencies that distinguish one
person from another and contribute to their consistency and distinctiveness across different
situations and contexts.

At its core, personality reflects the interplay between innate predispositions and environmental
influences, including cultural, familial, and social factors. It is often conceptualized as a dynamic and
evolving system that undergoes development and change over the lifespan, influenced by both
internal and external forces.

One of the key frameworks for understanding personality is the trait perspective, which posits that
personality can be described in terms of enduring traits or dimensions along which individuals vary.
Traits are relatively stable dispositions that predispose individuals to behave, think, and feel in
certain ways. The Five-Factor Model (FFM), also known as the Big Five personality traits, is a widely
accepted framework that categorizes personality into five broad dimensions: openness to
experience, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism. These traits provide a
comprehensive framework for describing individual differences in personality.

In addition to traits, personality also encompasses other psychological constructs, such as motives,
values, beliefs, self-concept, and interpersonal styles. These elements interact to shape an
individual's overall personality structure and influence their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors in
various situations.

Personality can be studied and assessed through a variety of methods, including self-report
questionnaires, observer ratings, behavioral observations, and projective techniques. These
assessments provide insights into different aspects of personality and help researchers and clinicians
understand individual differences, predict behavior, and diagnose psychological disorders.

Moreover, personality plays a crucial role in numerous aspects of human functioning and well-being,
including social relationships, vocational choices, mental health, and adaptation to life's challenges. It
influences how individuals perceive and interpret their experiences, how they interact with others, and
how they cope with stress and adversity.

Overall, personality is a fundamental aspect of human psychology that encompasses a broad range
of characteristics, traits, and dynamics. Understanding personality is essential for comprehending
human behavior, fostering personal growth and development, and promoting psychological health
and well-being.

TYPES OF PERSONALITY

1. PSYCHOANALYTICAL - Psychoanalytical refers to a profound psychological approach

pioneered by Sigmund Freud, known as psychoanalysis. This perspective delves into the depths of
the human
mind, probing the unconscious to uncover the underlying motivations, conflicts, and desires that
shape our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.

At its core, psychoanalysis suggests that much of what drives us lies beyond conscious awareness,
buried in the recesses of our psyche. Freud proposed that our earliest experiences, particularly those
from childhood, leave indelible imprints on our personality, influencing our relationships, fears, and
aspirations throughout life.

Central to psychoanalytical theory are concepts such as the unconscious mind, where repressed
thoughts and emotions reside, and defense mechanisms, which shield us from anxiety-provoking truths.
Freud's model of the mind, consisting of the id, ego, and superego, elucidates the intricate interplay
between primal instincts, rationality, and moral conscience.

In the realm of psychosexual development, Freud posited that individuals progress through distinct
stages, each characterized by unique sources of pleasure and potential conflicts. These stages,
including the oral, anal, phallic, latency, and genital stages, shape our personality and psychological
well-being.

2. INTROVERSION - An introvert is a person with qualities of a personality type known as

introversion, which means that they feel more comfortable focusing on their inner thoughts and
ideas, rather than what's happening externally. They enjoy spending time with just one or two
people, rather than large groups or crowds.

3. EXTROVERSION - Extroversion is a personality trait typically characterized by

outgoingness, high energy, and/or talkativeness. In general, the term refers to a state of being
where someone
“recharges,” or draws energy, from being with other people; the opposite—drawing energy from
being alone—is known as introversion.

COMPONENTS OF PERSONALITY

1. TRAIT - Personality traits reflect people's characteristic patterns of thoughts, feelings, and
behaviours. Personality traits imply consistency and stability—someone who scores high on a specific
trait like Extraversion is expected to be sociable in different situations and over time.

2. COGNITIVE PROCESS - Cognitive theories of personality focus on an individual's self-

perception, thoughts, what they value, and attitude toward life events. They assert that a person's
thoughts
influence emotions and thus are instrumental in the development of personality.

3. MOTIVATION & GOALS - Motivation stemming from the benefits associated with the process
of pursuing a goal such as having a fulfilling experience. Motivation. The psychological driving force
that enables action in the course of goal pursuit.

4. EMOTIONS - Emotions are an integral part of human experience and behavior. They are
complex, subjective, and multifaceted psychological states that influence our thoughts, feelings, and
actions. Emotions play a vital role in shaping our character, defining our personality, and
influencing our behavior.

5. SOCIAL & INTERPERSONAL INTERACTION - Social interaction is the process of

reciprocal influence exercised by individuals over one another during social encounters. Usually it
refers to face-to-face
encounters in which people are physically present with one another for a specified duration.

6. BIOLOGICAL & GENETIC FACTOR - In brief, personality is a comprehensive concept that

give
importance on the growth and behaviour of the child as an organised whole. Biological Factors: The
biological factors are of biogenic by nature and include those of heredity, endocrine glands, physique
and physical condition, nervous system, etc.
DETERMINANTS OF PERSONALITY

1. Genetics: Genetic factors play a significant role in determining personality traits. Research
suggests that certain personality characteristics, such as temperament and predispositions to mental
health conditions, have a genetic basis. Twin studies have demonstrated a higher concordance of
personality traits among identical twins compared to fraternal twins, highlighting the influence of
genetics.

2. Environment: Environmental factors, including upbringing, family dynamics, cultural

background, socioeconomic status, and community influences, contribute to the development of
personality. Children learn behaviors, values, and social norms through interactions with their
environment, which shape their personality traits over time.

3. Childhood Experiences: Early childhood experiences, including attachment patterns formed

with primary caregivers, parental discipline styles, and exposure to trauma or adversity,
significantly
influence personality development. Secure attachment during infancy fosters trust and security,
while adverse experiences may lead to the development of maladaptive personality traits.

4. Socialization: Socialization processes, such as interactions with peers, teachers, and other
authority figures, play a crucial role in shaping personality. Peer groups provide opportunities for
social learning, identity formation, and the internalization of societal norms and values, which
contribute to the development of personality traits and behaviors.

5. Temperament: Temperament refers to biologically-based individual differences in emotional,

motor, and attentional reactivity. Temperamental traits, such as sensitivity to stimulation, activity
level, and adaptability, influence the expression of personality. For example, individuals with a
naturally high level of sociability may exhibit extroverted personality traits.

6. Life Experiences: Significant life events, such as academic achievements, career

transitions, relationship changes, and traumatic experiences, can shape personality
development. These
experiences provide opportunities for personal growth, self-reflection, and the acquisition of new
skills and perspectives, which may impact personality traits and identity.

7. Cognitive Processes: Cognitive processes, including perception, interpretation, and decision-

making, contribute to the formation of personality. Cognitive styles, such as optimism/pessimism or
locus of control, influence how individuals perceive and respond to their environment, shaping their
personality traits and behaviors.
8. Biological Factors: Biological factors, including brain structure, neurotransmitter levels, and
hormonal fluctuations, also play a role in personality development. For example, variations in
dopamine and serotonin levels have been associated with personality traits such as impulsivity and
emotional stability. Additionally, neurobiological differences may underlie individual differences in
sensation-seeking behavior or risk-taking tendencies.

ASSESMENT OF PERSONALITY

1. BAHAVIOURAL - Assessment of personality typically involves evaluating an individual's

patterns of behavior, thoughts, and emotions to understand their unique traits, tendencies, and
characteristics. Behavioral meaning in this context refers to the significance of specific behaviors in
revealing aspects of a person's personality. For example, consistent punctuality might indicate
conscientiousness, while a preference for socializing could suggest extraversion. Understanding the
behavioral meaning allows psychologists to interpret actions within the framework of personality
theories and make
assessments about an individual's psychological makeup.

2. INTERVIEW - In personality assessment, an interview is a structured conversation between

an interviewer and an interviewee aimed at understanding the interviewee's thoughts, feelings,
behaviors, and experiences to gain insights into their personality traits and characteristics.

3. PROJECTIVE TECHNIQUE - In personality assessment, projective techniques are methods

used to uncover an individual's unconscious thoughts, emotions, and motivations by having them
respond to ambiguous stimuli, such as images, words, or situations. These techniques are based on
the premise that individuals will project their inner conflicts, desires, and feelings onto the ambiguous
stimuli,
revealing aspects of their personality that may not be readily apparent through direct questioning.

One commonly used projective technique is the Rorschach Inkblot Test, where individuals are shown
a series of inkblots and asked to describe what they see. Their responses are then analyzed based on
various factors, including content, form, and originality, to gain insights into their personality
structure, emotional functioning, and thought processes.

Another example is the Thematic Apperception Test (TAT), where individuals are presented with
a series of ambiguous pictures and asked to tell a story about each one. The stories they create are
then analyzed to uncover underlying motives, conflicts, and concerns, providing insight into their
personality dynamics, interpersonal relationships, and self-perceptions.

(i) RORSCHACH INKBLOT TEST –

The Rorschach inkblot test is a type of projective assessment in which subjects look at 10 ambiguous
inkblot images and describe what they see in each one.

In the Rorschach inkblot test, the person is asked to describe what they see in ambiguous inkblot
images. The therapist then interprets the person's answers. This projective test often appears in
popular culture and is frequently portrayed as a way of revealing a person’s unconscious thoughts,
motives, or desires.

(ii) SENTENCE COMPLETION TEST –

A Sentence Completion Test is a psychological assessment tool used to gain insight into an
individual's thoughts, feelings, attitudes, and personality characteristics. In this test, participants are
presented with a series of sentence stems, or incomplete sentences, and are asked to complete them
with the first thing that comes to mind. The responses provided by the participant are then analyzed to
discern patterns, themes, and underlying psychological processes.

The Sentence Completion Test is based on the principle that individuals will project their inner
thoughts, emotions, conflicts, and motivations onto the incomplete sentences, revealing aspects of their
personality that may not be consciously accessible or readily apparent through direct
questioning.

The test may cover a variety of topics, such as relationships, self-perceptions, aspirations, fears, and
interpersonal dynamics. The responses are often analyzed qualitatively to identify recurring themes,
emotional content, cognitive styles, and defense mechanisms.

Sentence Completion Tests are commonly used in clinical settings by psychologists, counselors, and
therapists to assess personality traits, explore unconscious processes, diagnose psychological disorders,
and inform treatment planning. They can also be utilized in research settings to study various aspects of
human behavior and cognition.

4. SELF REPORT INVETORY - A self-report inventory is a type of psychological

assessment tool in which individuals respond to a series of questions or statements about
themselves. These
assessments are designed to measure various psychological constructs, such as personality traits,
attitudes, beliefs, behaviors, and emotional states.

Self-report inventories typically consist of standardized questionnaires or scales with multiple-choice

or Likert scale response options. The questions are carefully crafted to assess specific aspects of the
individual's psychological functioning, and the responses are scored according to predetermined
criteria.
One of the key features of self-report inventories is that they rely on individuals' self-awareness and
self-disclosure to provide accurate information about their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.
Participants are asked to reflect on their own experiences and perceptions when responding to the items
on the inventory.

Self-report inventories are widely used in various fields of psychology, including clinical
psychology, counseling psychology, personality psychology, and educational psychology. They are
valuable tools for assessing individuals' psychological well-being, diagnosing psychological
disorders, evaluating treatment outcomes, and conducting research on human behavior and
cognition.

Some well-known examples of self-report inventories include the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality
Inventory (MMPI), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), the Big Five Inventory (BFI), and the State-
Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI).

Overall, self-report inventories play a crucial role in understanding individuals' psychological

characteristics and providing insights into their inner world, behaviors, and functioning. However, it's
important to recognize that self-report measures may be subject to biases, inaccuracies, and
limitations, and they should be interpreted within the context of other assessment methods and
clinical judgment.