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Introduction to Personality

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Introduction to Personality
Introduction to Personality

Introduction to Personality
The purpose of this paper is to examine the personality theory by defining personality, examining theoretical approaches in studying personality, and analyzing factors that may influence an individual’s personality development. In defining personality psychologists direct not just to the role people play, but on diversified definitions. The theoretical approach use to study personality consists of observation, consistency, and accuracy for the personality theory to generate research. In analyzing factors that may influence an individual’s personality development is the reflection of an author’s assumptions about humanity. Assumptions that provide several broad dimensions that differs different personality theorists (Feist & Feist, 2009).
Personality
The first person to evolve the first modern theory of personality is Sigmund Freud followed by other men and women interested in the theories of personality (Feist & Feist, 2009). Thus, there are different terms that define the word “personality”. In fact, psychologists define personality not just to the role people play, but on diversified definitions. To understand the concept of personality theory one need to consider its background. Such as personality from an individual reference point, where theorists live and come from, trained as psychiatry or psychology, and experiences is psychotherapists or empirical research (Feist & Feist, 2009).
Feist and Feist (2009) stated, “Although no single definition is acceptable to all personality theorists, we can say that personality is a pattern of relatively permanent traits and unique characteristics that give both consistency and individuality to a person’s behavior” (p. 4). Therefore, traits and characteristics in a person is what define personality. Traits because contributes with consistency of behavior over time and stability of behavior across situations. Characteristics because of the unique qualities a



References: Feist, J., & Feist, G. J. (2009). Theories of Personality (7th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw Hill. McAdams, D., & Pals, J. (2006). A new Big Five: fundamental principles for an integrative science of personality. The American Psychologist, 61(3), 204-217. doi:10.1037/0003-066x.61.3.204

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