What is personality?

Personality is defined as the enduring personal characteristics of individuals. It is the sum total of the typical ways of thinking, acting, and feeling that makes each person unique or different from all other individuals. In addition, personality arises from within the individual and remains fairly consistent throughout life. Personality is the some total of ways in which an individual reacts and interacts with others. Personalities is the sum total of individual’s psychological traits, characteristics, motives, habits, attitudes, beliefs and outlooks.

Goals of STUDYING personality THEORIES

1. To organize the characteristic of personality

2. To explain the variations in personality

3. To describe normal / health and abnormal personalities

FREUD’S PSYCHOANALYTIC THEORY OF PERSONALITY

The theory regards human personality as significantly influenced by two basic forces i.e. sex and aggression constantly seeking expression in individuals. He worked to discover how the unconscious mind and motives of sex and how aggression influence our behavior. Freud thought of personality as an ice bag with the tip showing above water.

1. The part of personality that we are aware of in every day life as the conscious mind and is the tip of the ice

2. Below this is the preconscious mind that contains information that we have learnt but not thinking about right now.

3. Beneath the pre- conscious lies the unconscious mind that contains materials not readily available to us e.g. our fears and unpleasant memories are repressed into the unconscious mind.

The theory consist of three major concepts i.e. ID, EGO & SUPER EGO

The ID

All the in born biological urges are collectively known as ID. The individual various reflexes and two forces mentioned earlier.

- The sex impulses or the life instinct (Eros) concerns survival. The need for food, water and sleep are paramount.

- The aggression impulse or the death instinct (Thanatos) is manifested in aggression behavior towards self as well as others. The id therefore, allows the pleasure principles which require immediate satisfaction regardless of the circumstances.

The EGO

A the growing infant learn to reach to the outer environment the expression of the id becomes the executive problem solving dimension of personality operating in the service of the id. The ego follows the reality principle meaning it requires suspension of the pleasure according to the circumstances of the environment.

The Super-EGO

This consists of societal and parental values that have been instilled in the person. Throughout life the ego is confronted with another force in a personality that develops through contact with other people especially teachers. The child acquires values and standards of behaviors known as the super ego. The super ego has got two main dimensions of the conscience and the ego ideal.

1. The conscience: this discourages expression of behaviors regardless of whether it is undesirable by parents and elders or develops under the influence of threats and punishments.

2. The ego ideal: this arises from encouragement, praise and other rewards given to a child whether he/she behaves in a certain way or striving to achieve certain goals that parent’s desire. The super ego is idealistic rather than realistic.

According to Freud an individual’s personality is the result of the interaction of these three forces.