Personality: Components, disorders, and development phases

What is personality? Personality is made up of the characteristic patterns of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Personality of an individual arises from within the individual and remains fairly consistent throughout life.

It is something unique about a person that we are forced to comment on that person's personality. It is always third party that assesses the personality traits of a person. What people discuss about someone? How somebody looks by appearance, What dress somebody wears or how he behaves or he is dressed up or how someone moves, talks or laughs? Hence personality includes all behavioural patterns of a person.

Components of Personality:

Patterns of behaviour - There is generally a recognizable order and regularity to behaviors. Essentially, people act in the same ways or similar ways in a variety of situations.

Psychological and physiological - Although personality is a psychological construct, but it is likely to be influenced by worldly things and needs.

Behaviors and actions - How we behave and respond in a particular environment also determines one's personality traits.

Multiple expressions - Thoughts, feelings, relationships, and social interactions are the other components of personality.

A personality disorder:

It is basically a set of traits that combine to negatively affect one's life. There are wide range of causes including genetic, environmental and also the social.

This introduction was essential to understand the term "personality" but purpose of this hub is not to elaborate different theories taught in class lectures. Here point of discussion is how can a person develop his personality to lead a normal and progressive life.

Childhood:

Generally personality development is a slow process and starts from childhood. Of course, a child's personality is the result of combination of factors. Shyness or smartness are traits that are usually inherited in a child from the parents. Somehow you can improve personality of a child if he is shy but it demands great tactics. Never say in front of a child that he is very shy because it has adverse effect. He may not come out of this syndrome if you repeatedly remind him of this shortcoming. Best solution for this problem: Let him play and get mix with children of his own age. He will get smart with age though it will take some time. Encourage him to actively participate in school activities. Discuss with teachers of school but never let the child know about this. Another personality disorder during childhood may be fear. This is a natural thing and child will come out of this disorder with growing age. Some parents do silly things in presence of their children. They will ask their children to sing a song or recite a poem in presence of guests.Its OK occasionally but should not be repeated frequently.Of course encourage your kids to participate in school activities but insisting to do silly things in presence of guests have adverse effects on their personality as well as shows something abnormal on your part also. If your children are studying in a school, always pay attention to their dressing and tiffin and other requirements to meet the standards of other children studying in same school. Disparities may develop a complex (inferiority) in the children. Other then academic care, develop a taste for other hobbies in your children like music and dancing because they can learn these things well in the child. This will help them in future to adjust in the society.

Adolesence:

This transitional phase is very sensitive for development of someone's personality. Where and with whom your son or daughter passes much of the time will have a great influence on personality. A person gets influenced by several things during this particular phase. Books, movies, theatre, sports, cultural activities etc have a great influence on the personality development process. Introverts need special attention from their parents. Only solution of this problem is to get them involved as much as you can do in your day to day activities and ensure their attendance in all family functions. Spread of internet has made life both easy as well as difficult. Everything is available on the net as per the taste of the person. Parents have to take care of their children and need to have a vigil on the activities. How do they take best advantage of internet. Most of the introvert type children take shelter of the non-existing artificial world of internet. They pass their most of the time doing chat and become alienated from the real people.

Time and again we all need to have a personality test and do a self appraisal and should look for improvement of our personality based on the results of these test. Most of the people live in fool's paradise assuming they are perfect and need no efforts to develop their personality. Exposure to new societies, new places and new institutions brings great changes in the personality of all individuals. Be Smart.