How Personality Impacts Our Daily Lives

When we talk about someone’s personality, we mean their special traits. For example, “She is generous, caring, and a bit of a perfectionist,” or “They are loyal and protective of their friends.”

The word “personality” comes from the Latin persona. This refers to a mask worn by actors to change their identity.

Many definitions of personality exist. They all focus on the patterns of behavior and traits that predict how we act.

There are many reasons why we develop our personalities. These include genetics, our environment, and life experiences.

Personality Characteristics

So, what makes up a personality? Traits, thoughts, and emotions are key. Here are some fundamental characteristics:

Consistency: People tend to act in similar ways in different situations.

Both psychological and physiological: Personality is influenced by both our mind and body.

Affects behaviors and actions: Personality guides how we behave and respond to our environment.

Multiple expressions: Personality shows in our behavior, thoughts, feelings, and social interactions.

How Personality Develops

There are many theories about personality. Different schools of thought shape these theories. Some explain how personalities are expressed, while others focus on development.

Personality Types

Type theories say there are a few personality types linked to biology.

One theory lists four personality types. They are:

Type A: Perfectionist, impatient, competitive, work-obsessed, achievement-oriented, aggressive, stressed

Type B: Low stress, even-tempered, flexible, creative, adaptable to change, patient, tendency to procrastinate

Type C: Highly conscientious, perfectionist, struggles to reveal emotions (positive and negative)

Type D: Worrying, sad, irritable, pessimistic, negative self-talk, avoidance of social situations, lack of self-confidence, fear of rejection, appears gloomy, hopeless

Other theories, like the Myers-Briggs, also exist. The Myers-Briggs Personality Type Indicator categorizes people into 16 types. These are based on four continuums: introversion-extraversion, sensing-intuition, thinking-feeling, and judging-perceiving.

After a Myers-Briggs test, you get one of 16 personality types. Here are some examples:

ISTJ: Introverted, sensing, thinking, and judging. They are logical and organized. They also tend to judge others.

INFP: Introverted, intuitive, feeling, and perceiving. They are idealists and very sensitive to their feelings.

ESTJ: Extroverted, sensing, thinking, and judging. They are assertive and follow the rules closely.

ENFJ: Extroverted, intuitive, feeling, and judging. They are known as “givers” for being warm and loyal. They might also be overprotective.

Personality Traits

Trait theories see personality as based on internal traits that are genetically based. These include:

Agreeable: Cares about others, feels empathy, enjoys helping others

Conscientiousness: High levels of thoughtfulness, good impulse control, goal-directed behaviors

Eager-to-please: Accommodating, passive, and conforming

Extraversion: Excitability, sociability, talkativeness, assertiveness, and high amounts of emotional expressiveness

Introversion: Quiet, reserved

Neuroticism: Experiences stress and dramatic shifts in mood, feels anxious, worries about different things, gets upset easily, struggles to bounce back after stressful events

Openness: Very creative, open to trying new things, focuses on tackling new challenges

Psychodynamic Theories

Psychodynamic theories focus on the unconscious mind’s role in shaping personality. They include Sigmund Freud’s psychosexual stage theory and Erik Erikson’s stages of psychosocial development.

Behavioral Theories

Behavioral theories say personality comes from interactions with the environment. They look at what we do, not what we think or feel. Famous behavioral theorists are B.F. Skinner and John B. Watson.

Humanist

Humanist theories highlight the role of free will and personal experiences in shaping personality. Key figures include Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow.

Impact of Personality

Research into personality offers deep insights into how it evolves and changes over time. This knowledge has real-world uses.

For instance, a personality assessment can reveal your strengths and weaknesses. It might show if you’re more of an extrovert or if you’re open to new experiences.

Some tests track how personality traits change over time. They can also show how your personality influences your career, relationships, and personal growth.

Knowing your personality type can guide your career choices and job performance. It can also help find the right psychotherapy for you.2

Personality can also affect your health, like how often you see a doctor or handle stress. Research links certain traits to health behaviors.

Personality Disorders

Personality disorders are different from regular personality traits. They cause problems and distress in daily life. People with these disorders often don’t see their condition because it’s part of who they are.

These disorders include paranoid personality disorder, schizoid personality disorder, antisocial personality disorder, borderline personality disorder (BPD), and narcissistic personality disorder (NPD).4

Signs of these disorders vary but include aggressive behavior, distrust, and a lack of emotional range. Some people with BPD may even think about suicide.

If you’re feeling suicidal, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988. They have trained counselors ready to help. If you’re in danger, call 911.

For more mental health resources, check out our National Helpline Database.

If you think your personality is causing stress or depression, talk to a doctor. They can help figure out what’s going on.

Living with a personality disorder can be tough, but there’s help. Therapy and medication can make a big difference.

Understanding personality is more than just studying it. It helps in many fields like medicine and business. By learning more about personality, we can find new ways to improve health.