Speaking of a person's character, we usually mean the individual's reactions to various events taking place in his life, as well as to those people who surround him. But from the point of view of psychology, this concept is even more complex. The fact is that scientists have counted more than five hundred different character traits. However, not all of them are positive or negative. When evaluating them, a lot depends on the context. In this regard, any person who has collected certain qualities in certain proportions can be considered truly unique.
Thus, the character of a person is a specific combination of ordered and personal psychological traits, nuances and peculiarities inherent only to him alone. Its formation lasts throughout life and finds its manifestation in the process of work, as well associal interaction.
Assessing the character of a particular person and describing it is not an easy task. The fact is that some personality traits, both good and bad, are not shown to others and remain in the shadows.
Character concept
What do we mean by this term? The word "character" in Greek means "seal". In psychology, this concept means a set of personality traits that are formed during the period of growing up and are clearly manifested in the future in the personal and social life of a person. The result of this process is the stable and uniform behavior of the individual in certain situations.
However, the permanent traits of a person's character in psychology are not identical to the personality's features. A simple example can serve as confirmation of this. A person, having got into a stressful situation, showed rudeness and restraint. But we are well aware that such behavior does not mean at all that he has such a character. It is possible to talk about inherent personality traits only with the regular manifestation of such intemperance.
To define the concept of "people's characters" in psychology, many interpretations and deep definitions are used. But most often this term means the following:
- a system of sustainable behavior that contributes to the formation of a personality type;
- the line located at the junction between the inner world of the individual and the surrounding reality in which he is, or a way of adapting the individual to the outside world;
- expressed system of behavioral reactions to specificirritants.
Character Building
A person's personality traits are greatly influenced by the activity of the nervous system, or more precisely, its type. The dynamics of its manifestation is dictated by the environment.
In psychology, the formation of a person's character is considered during the period while he grows, develops and interacts with the outside world. Moreover, this process directly depends on the lifestyle of the individual, in which there is not only a physical component, but also a spiritual one, that is, motives, feelings, thoughts, etc.
A person's character gradually changes in a natural way. Moreover, this process depends primarily on age. Thus, the childish reaction of spontaneity is replaced by youthful impulsiveness, which, in turn, after a dozen or two years, turns into adult prudence. In addition, with age, the character becomes not so positive. In old age, it is usually pronounced negative. Is it possible to change a person's character? In psychology, there are different opinions on this matter. It is likely that experts will continue to argue on this topic for a long time.
In short, the character of a person in psychology is a complex relationship that exists between the orientation of the individual and social influence. Its main components are spiritual and material needs, as well as interests, beliefs, and the like.
Personality Traits
Based on the opinion of experts in the fieldpsychology, the characters of people are formed under the influence of the social group, which includes a particular individual. It can be a family, a work team, friends, etc. The group that is dominant for a person will contribute to the formation of certain character traits in him. An important role will be played by the position of the individual, as well as the degree of his interaction with those people who, like him, are members of this team.
When considering the characteristics of a person's character in psychology, several groups of personality traits are distinguished, which represent an unchanging and stable stereotype of behavior. In a general sense, they can be classified into leading and secondary. The first of them reflect the essence of character. At the same time, they show the most important and basic manifestations of it. Secondary character traits are expressed only in certain conditions. However, they are not decisive.
The characters of people in psychology are divided into 4 groups. The first of these includes those personality traits that form its basis, or, as they say, the core. This includes, for example, insincerity and honesty, cowardice and integrity, cowardice, courage, etc.
The second group includes traits that appear in a person when he communicates with other people. It can be contempt and respect, anger, kindness, etc. This group also includes some personality traits that indicate a desire for active communication. This corresponds to such qualities as collectivism, respect for others, kindness to others and sensitivity. Butopposite manifestations are also possible, indicating the individual's desire for limited communication. This is associated with restraint and callousness, contempt for others, and so on.
The third group includes those features that characterize a person's attitude towards himself. This is modesty and pride, vanity and arrogance, self-criticism, etc.
The fourth group is the attitude towards one's achievements and one's own work. It is known that people look at the process and results of their work with a variety of emotions. And it depends on the diligence of a person, his organization, responsibility and creativity. Such feelings are manifested in the case of a positive attitude towards their work. If an individual has laziness, then there is carelessness, dishonesty, and so on. This takes place with an indifferent (negative) attitude towards work.
Among the traits of people's characters in psychology, one more group stands out additionally. It indicates the relation of the individual to things. It can be, for example, neatness or, conversely, slovenliness.
The typological properties of various character traits are divided into abnormal and normal. The owners of the first of them are people who have certain mental illnesses. Normal character traits are inherent in someone who does not have any mental abnormalities. Sometimes personality traits from this classification can be both abnormal and normal at the same time. A specific conclusion can be drawn according to the degree of their severity. An example of thisserves as a he althy suspicion. But in the case when it starts to go off scale, a similar character trait is called paranoia.
Character and temperament
There is an opinion that both of these concepts mean the same thing. For a correct answer to the question, it is necessary to refer to the explanations that exist in psychology. In this scientific direction, there are four official views on the interaction of character and temperament:
- Identification. These two concepts are considered equal in meaning.
- Opposition. Such a position emphasizes the fundamental difference between the two concepts.
- Recognizing that temperament is part or even the core of character.
- The view of temperament as the actual foundation for character development.
As you can see, scientific views on these concepts are fundamentally different from each other. Nevertheless, character and temperament have a general dependence on the physiological abilities of the individual. That is, from those possessed by the human nervous system. Moreover, it is temperament that has the main influence on the formation of certain personality traits. Among them, calmness of reaction, adequate perception of a particular situation, balance, etc. However, temperament for the formation of character is not a predetermining factor. This can be confirmed by people with the same temperament and different personality traits.
Character types
In the arsenal of psychology there are many theories of various kinds. Some of them are about character.person, which is then divided into different types.
Let's look at the most common of these scientific ideas.
Kretschmer's theory
The personality and character of a person in psychology, this German scientist divided into three main groups. To each of them, he attributed people with different physiological data:
- Asthenics. Such people have a thin physique, thin legs and arms, as well as rather weak muscles. In Kretschmer's psychology, such an individual corresponds to the personality and character of a person of the schizotimic type. These are people who are characterized by stubbornness and poor adaptation to a changing environment, as well as isolation.
- Athletics. These people have a fairly strong muscular body and an ixothymic type of character. Such an individual stands out for his calmness, practicality, authority, restraint.
- Picnics. The figures of such people are quite dense and in most cases are overweight. Picnics can be distinguished by their large heads, short necks, and small facial features. Sociability, quick adaptation to changing conditions and emotionality stand out in their character.
Carl Gustav Jung Theory
This famous Swiss psychologist and psychiatrist created at first glance a rather simple classification of characters, but at the same time quite deep.
The theory of C. G. Jung considers the interaction of the conscious and the unconscious. The scientist identified the following types of people according topsychology and character:
- Extroverts. The activities and reactions of these people largely depend on the outside world, on the surrounding people and events. Extroverts are pleasant and sociable interlocutors, cheerful and open, with a lot of friends. They try to get the most out of life, while caring little about their own he alth.
- Introverts. People with this type of character are more guided by their own feelings and experiences. It is quite difficult for others to understand them. Introverts are constantly uncommunicative and closed, suspicious, differ in the desire to analyze everything, have very few friends.
- Ambiverts. In psychology, the character and personality of a person belonging to this type is considered as a combination of the two previous ones. Moreover, ambiverts borrowed all the best from extroverts and introverts. Such people are excellent analysts. They have a subtle soul and are periodically prone to wanting to be left alone. At the same time, ambiverts have such charisma, humor and wit that they can easily become the soul of a big company.
Hippocratic Theory
This ancient physician and thinker is considered the creator of one of the main ideas considering the human essence. In those distant times, the basis of his theory was the physiological component of people. However, the concept developed by Hippocrates was constantly revised, and a couple of centuries ago, she began to study the 4 types of human character proposed by him and psychology. Among them are the following:
- Choleric. People with this type of character are quite passionate, quick-tempered, andsometimes aggressive. It is difficult for them to control their emotions, as well as reactions that manifest themselves to the influence of irritating factors of the outside world. Cholerics are prone to frequent outbursts of anger, sudden mood swings, and other sudden changes in behavior. They use up their energy very quickly and deplete their stamina.
- Sanguine. This type of character includes cheerful and agile people. They, like choleric people, are characterized by sudden mood swings. But at the same time they have a stable and quick response to external factors. Sanguine people are purposeful and productive people.
- Phlegmatic. These are rather restrained people, practically not showing their emotions. They are unhurried, have a balanced psyche, stubborn and persistent in their work.
- Melancholic. Such people are impressionable and very vulnerable. They are acutely aware of their own failures. In the presence of external stimuli, melancholics show sharp reactions.
The 4 types of human character proposed by Hippocrates are still being considered by psychology today. They are considered basic and at the same time rarely manifested in their pure form. Each person may have features of each of these types, but only those belonging to one of them will be dominant. From this, it can be concluded that each of us is an individual, complex, multifaceted and unusual person.
Can you change your character?
Many people believe that personality traits are something that is given to us once and for all. However, it is not. The character of a person is not some kind of rigid system. It only definesthe propensity of an individual to act in one way or another. A person is able to start acting in different situations in a completely different style. What needs to be done for this? Change your habits, the totality of which is character. This can be done, for example, by copying the behavior of other people. This method is the most natural and simple.
If there is no such person nearby whose character would be a good example for changing their traits, you should look for the necessary types in literary works or films. Finally, you can come up with an ideal hero. After that, you will need to imagine the behavior of this person in the current situation as often as possible, thinking about what he would say or do to solve the problems that have arisen.
As we see, the question of whether it is possible to change a person's character can be answered in the affirmative in psychology.
What is our interlocutor like?
How to know the character of a person? In psychology, several techniques are offered, the use of which will allow you to find out the main personality traits of the interlocutor.
This will help you find the approach and build the right relationship with him before you get to know him well.
How to determine the character of a person? In psychology, it is recommended to do this according to the following parameters:
- Appearance. In psychology, it is recommended to determine the character by the face of a person by the eyes of the interlocutor. Attention should be paid to their position relative tonose bridges, as well as color. People with dark eyes tend to have an explosive and short temper. They are intelligent, sensitive, witty and quite selective in their choice of friends. Light eyes betray a romantic, sentimental and sensitive person. Saturated colors of the iris indicate a haughty and arrogant person. Small eyes belong, as a rule, to people who are gloomy, silent and withdrawn. But the big-eyed are sensual and courageous, which is why they most often become leaders. If the interlocutor's eyelids are somewhat swollen, then he is most likely prone to a stormy pastime.
- Behaviour. It is specific actions in a given situation that are the key to unraveling the character of a person. If the individual is active, then he is most likely sanguine or choleric. The first of them are quickly carried away by the case, but just as suddenly they can lose interest in it. Cholerics are scattered, impulsive and unrestrained. Secretive interlocutors can be phlegmatic or melancholic. The first of them will certainly begin to think over each of their actions, while showing extreme slowness. For melancholics, frequent depressions are not surprising, during which they enjoy self-pity. A closed person is usually an introvert. He will certainly prefer solitude and loneliness. The opposite of such people are extroverts who prefer big and fun companies.
- Appearance and figure. Fat and short people are mostly talkative and sociable. It is easy to have a conversation with them. People of average and tall height with a well-built figure tend totake a leading position, assertive and purposeful. People with a fragile asthenic physique are closed and uncommunicative, but at the same time they are ambitious and love to rule over others.
- Handwriting. In energetic people, when writing, all letters tend upwards. At the same time, their handwriting is straight. If the individual is ambitious, then he makes capital letters disproportionately large. If they in the written text are only slightly higher than the lowercase ones, then we can say about such a person that he is unassuming and modest.
