Overview

Personality Psychology asks: Who are you? Why are you shy while your brother is outgoing? It studies the stable traits that make us unique.

Core Idea

The core idea is traits. Personality is built from a set of enduring characteristics that predict behavior across different situations.

Formal Definition

The dynamic organization within the individual of those psychophysical systems that determine their characteristic behavior and thought.

  • The Big Five (OCEAN): The scientifically accepted model.
    1. Openness (Creative vs. Conventional).
    2. Conscientiousness (Organized vs. Careless).
    3. Extraversion (Outgoing vs. Solitary).
    4. Agreeableness (Friendly vs. Critical).
    5. Neuroticism (Nervous vs. Confident).

Intuition

  • Myers-Briggs (MBTI): Popular (INTJ, ENFP) but scientifically weak (low reliability). It’s “astrology for business people.”
  • Nature vs. Nurture: Personality is about 50% genetic. You are born with a temperament.

Examples

  • Introvert vs. Extrovert: It’s about stimulation. Introverts are easily overstimulated and need quiet to recharge. Extroverts need more stimulation to feel normal.
  • Psychopathy: A personality disorder characterized by low empathy and high impulsivity. (The Dark Triad: Narcissism, Machiavellianism, Psychopathy).

Common Misconceptions

  • Misconception: Personality is fixed at birth.
    • Correction: It is stable but can change slowly. People generally become more Conscientious and Agreeable as they age (Maturation Principle).
  • Misconception: You are either/or (Introvert OR Extrovert).
    • Correction: It’s a bell curve. Most people are Ambiverts (in the middle).
  • Social Psychology: Focuses on the situation, while Personality focuses on the person.
  • Intelligence: Often studied alongside personality (Individual Differences).
  • Genetics: The biological basis of traits.

Applications

  • Hiring: Companies use personality tests to screen employees (Conscientiousness predicts job performance).
  • Dating: Compatibility.

Criticism and Limitations

  • Person-Situation Debate: Mischel argued that the situation predicts behavior better than personality traits. (e.g., An honest person might steal if starving).

Further Reading

  • Quiet: The Power of Introverts by Susan Cain
  • Personality: What Makes You the Way You Are by Daniel Nettle