Question

What is the comprehensive definition of personality? Give brief examples of each of the major elements.

Answer 1

Comprehensive Definition of personality

The word personality derives from the Latin word persona which literally means the mask that is used by actors.

Although there is no common definition for personality, let's check the following two definitions to help us understand personality better.

According to Macionis 'It's the constant pattern of thinking, feeling and acting and according to Ogburn and Nimkoff 'it's the totality of sentiments, attitudes, ideas, habits, skills and behaviors of an individual'.

Thinking - ideas

Feeling - sentiments, attitudes and behaviours

Acting - habits and behaviours

Apart from these, we can also include the physical traits that might well fall in the definition of personality because the first impression in the modern world is the appearance of a person.

Based on all the keywords mentioned above, we will be able to divide people on the following five categories.

1. Extroversion - People who are outgoing, friendly, talkative and like to work with others.

2. Agreeableness - People who are kind, affectionate and trustworthy

3. Conscientiousness - People who are goal oriented, thoughtful and have good impulse

4. Neuroticism - People who are anxious, instable in controlling emotions, moody and sad

5. Openness - People who have high imagination and open to receive ideas and explore things