This presentation explores the concept of personality, including its meaning, characteristics, and types. It covers major theories of personality such as Freud’s psychoanalytic theory, trait theory, humanistic theory, and behavioral theory. Learn how personality is shaped by heredity, environment, and experiences, and understand its role in behavior, mental health, and interpersonal relationships. Ideal for students of psychology, nursing, and social sciences.

2. Introduction to Personality
• Personality refers to the unique set of
characteristics, behaviors, and
thoughts that define an individual.
• It influences how we interact with the
world and respond to different
situations.

3. Definition & Meaning of Personality
• Definition: Personality is the
combination of emotional, attitudinal,
and behavioral response patterns of an
individual.
• Meaning: It is the way a person thinks,
feels, and behaves, making them
unique from others.

4. Nature of Personality
 Personality is dynamic and can change over time.
 It is influenced by genetics, environment, experiences,
and culture.
 It includes both conscious and unconscious behaviors.
 Self-consciousness.

5. Traits of Personality
• Openness: Creativity and curiosity
• Conscientiousness: Responsibility and
organization
• Extraversion: Sociability and energy
• Agreeableness: Kindness and
compassion
• Neuroticism: Emotional stability and
stress levels

6. Theories of Personality
 A Greek physician known as “Father of Medicine”
based on the individual’s temperaments, human beings
are classified into

8. Hans Eysenck’s Classification (1967):
 Distinct types in his theory of personality are introversion,
extraversion, neuroticism and psychoticism.
 Based on psychological traits, these are of two types.
 Type A personality :
 The personality type prone for psychopathology
 Competitive drive
 Restlessness
 Honesty
 Sense of urgency

9. Conti…
 Impatience
 Hard driving
 Living under constant pressure
 Seeks recognition & advancement
 Multiple activities with deadlines to meet
 Cope up more constructively with stressors might be
useful

10. Conti…
 Type B personality :
 Calmer
 More philosophical
 Easy going
 Non competitive
 Little dull
 Longer life
 Struggle to control situation but when they
fail to do so, they stop coping.

11. Gordon Allport’s Classification (1937):
Cardinal Traits – These are the most
powerful traits that define a person's
entire life. Everything they do is
influenced by this trait.
• Example: Mahatma Gandhi is known
for non-violence; this was his
dominant trait.

12. Conti…
 Central Traits – These are general characteristics found in
everyone. They shape our daily behavior and personality.
 Example: Being kind, honest, or hardworking are central
traits that many people have.
 Secondary Traits – These are situational traits that appear only
in certain conditions.
 Example: A person might be shy at work but fun and
outgoing with friends.

13. Psychoanalytic Theory (Freud)
• Id: Instinctual desires
• Ego: Rational decision-maker
• Superego: Moral consciousness
• Personality develops through stages:
• Oral (0-1 year)
• Anal (1-3 years)
• Phallic (3-6 years)
• Latency (6-12 years)
• Genital (12+ years)

14. Psychosocial Theory (Erikson)
• Erik H Erikson, born in 1902 built on freud’s theories by
• Development through 8 life stages from infancy to old
age.
• Each stage presents a conflict that must be resolved for
healthy personality development:

16. Assessments of Personality
• Personality assessment is a systematic and
comprehensive study of an individual's
characteristic ways of thinking, feeling, and
behaving.
• To understand what makes a person unique –
their habits, feelings, reactions, and behavior
patterns.

17. Common Methods:
• Observation: Watching behavior in real situations.
• Interviews: Asking questions (structured or casual).
• Questionnaires & Inventories: Self-report tools like:
• MMPI (Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory): A questionnaire
that helps understand personality and check for emotional or
psychological problems.
• Big Five Personality Traits: Measures personality in 5 main areas:
Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, and
Neuroticism.
• Projective Tests: Open-ended tests like inkblot or story-based pictures
(e.g., Rorschach, TAT).

18. Development of Personality Across
Age Groups
• Childhood: Basic traits and behaviors develop.
• Adolescence: Identity and self-awareness evolve.
• Adulthood: Stable personality traits form.
• Old Age: Reflection on experiences and wisdom
growth.

19. Importance of Personality Knowledge
for Nurses
• Helps in understanding patient behavior.
• Improves communication and empathy.
• Aids in mental health assessment and counseling.
• Enhances teamwork and professional relationships.