The Personality
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The word “personality” derived from the Latin word “persona”, meaning
mask, the outward appearance. The initial conception of personality was
that of a superficial social image that an individual adopts in playing life
roles, a public personality that people project toward those around them
(Hjelle & Ziegler, (1992)).
Personality was first grouped with Philosophy, but gained its
independence in the latter 19th Century. Wilhelm Wundt began the first
Psychological laboratory experiment in 1879 – he studied introspection of
the mind – Human Personality. As the study of Psychology continued the
study of Human personality emerged.
Two objectives of Human personality/Personality psychology


To explain why people, behave as they do from an empirical, scientific
perspective. In other words, working with simple concepts that are open to
empirical test.
To help people live more satisfying lives. It is the purpose of psychologist to
find ways, for the client to promote effective and productive strategies of
coping with life events.
Who Developed Theories
When studying the people who developed these theories one must note certain
characteristics. Almost all these theorists were Caucasian. They were either
European or American born. Almost all were men, very few were women. At the
time period these individuals wrote – late 19th early 20th century – there was great
advancement in Art, Philosophy, Sciences, and Literature. Unfortunately, there was
no opportunity for women, or other ethnic minority groups.
The Patient
The Patient/Client seen by the theorist or the theories developed, were based on
Caucasian clients; the patients/clients were mostly men. These theorists believed
that their theories were for all people – gender, different ethnic groups.
This statement says:
 If the world in which people live and the factors that affect their upbringing
are so different, then surely as a result their personalities can be expected to
differ.
What do you understand this to mean?
What is Personality (definition)?
Personality means persona meaning masks – it’s an outward appearance.
Three definitions of Personality
1. The personality refers to our external and visible characteristics, those
aspects of us that other people can see.
2. A Superficial social image that an individual adopts in play life roles, a public
personality that people project towards those around them eg. What is meant
when I say “Abby has an obnoxious personality”? How do people explain
your personality?
3. Personality is relatively enduring and stable overtime and across situations, it
conveys the sense of continuity within the person from time to time, or from
setting to setting eg. Peter is Cool in every situation.
What is a Theory? A set of interrelated ideas to explain certain observations of
reality.
Personality theories enables one to explain what people are like, how such
characteristics are developed over time and influence current behaviour, and why
people behave the way they do.
The different kinds of personality theories are: psychodynamic, humanistic, social
behavioural approach, neo-psychoanalytic approach. They all talk about the
personality.
Medically reviewed by
David Susman, PhD
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