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List of human characteristics and their meaning. Description of the character of people: individual qualities and examples

Features of behavior, communication, attitudes towards people, objects, work, things show the character traits that an individual possesses. According to their totality, an opinion about a person is determined. Such clichés as "the soul of the company", "bore", "pessimist", "cynic" are the result of an assessment of a person's character traits. Understanding how character is structured helps in building relationships. And this applies to both their own qualities and others.

Human character traits: classification

Types of character are determined by the prevailing traits, which in turn affect behavior and actions. They can be considered in the system of relations to work, other people, things, and oneself.

Work

  • industriousness-laziness. This “duet” can be both a character trait and express an attitude towards a particular work. A constant feeling of laziness can also indicate that a person is simply not interested in the business he is busy with, but in something else, he will prove himself better. Laziness can be a sign of lack of motivation. But excessive diligence also takes on a degree of workaholism, which can also indicate problems in personal relationships, a lack of interests.
  • Responsibility-irresponsibility. One of the most important qualities for an employee. A person who responsibly performs his duties, does not let his colleagues down, will be a valuable employee.
  • good faith-bad faith. Doing duty and doing it well are not the same thing. It is important for management that diligence is expressed not only in the mechanical performance of actions, but brings results.
  • Initiative-passivity. This quality is especially valuable for people who want to move up the career ladder. If an employee does not show initiative, does not generate ideas, hides behind the backs of colleagues, he will not develop in his profession.

Other people

  • Closeness-sociability. It shows the openness of a person, his looseness, how easy it is for him to make acquaintances, how he feels in a new company, team.
  • truthfulness-falsity. Pathological liars lie even in trifles, hide the truth, easily betray. There are people who embellish reality, most often they do it because reality seems boring or not bright enough to them.
  • Independence-conformity. This quality shows how a person makes decisions. Whether he relies on his experience, knowledge, opinion, or follows someone's lead and it is easy to suppress him.
  • Rudeness-politeness. Anger, inner feelings make a person cynical, rude. Such people are rude in queues, public transport, disrespectful to subordinates. Politeness, although it refers to positive character traits, can have a selfish background. It can also be an attempt to avoid confrontation.

Things

  • neatness-slovenliness. Creative chaos or meticulous cleanliness in the house can show how neat a person is. It can also be characterized by appearance. Sloppy people often arouse antipathy, and there are not always those who want to see a broad soul behind external absurdity.
  • thrift-negligence. You can evaluate a person by his attitude to the accumulated property, borrowed items. Although this trait of a person ended up in the material group, it can also manifest itself in relation to people.
  • greed-generosity. To be called generous, it is not necessary to be a philanthropist or give the last. At the same time, excessive generosity is sometimes a sign of irresponsibility or an attempt to "buy" someone else's favor. Greed is expressed not only in relation to other people, but also to oneself, when a person, out of fear of being left without money, saves even on trifles.

Self

  • exactingness. When this personality trait is clearly expressed, two extremes appear. A person who is demanding of himself is often just as strict with others. He lives by the principle "I could, so others can." He may be intolerant of other people's weaknesses, not realizing that each person is individual. The second extreme is built on uncertainty. A person tortures himself, considering himself insufficiently perfect. A prime example can serve as anorexia, workaholism.
  • Self-criticism. A person who knows how to criticize himself has a healthy self-esteem. Understanding, accepting and analyzing your achievements and defeats helps in shaping strong personality. When the balance is disturbed, either egocentrism or self-blame is observed.
  • Modesty. It must be understood that modesty and shyness are different concepts. The first is based on the value system instilled during education. The second is a call to the development of complexes. In a normal state, modesty is manifested in moderation, calmness, knowledge of the measure in words, expression of emotions, financial spending, etc.
  • Egoism and egocentrism. Similar concepts, but the feature here is egoism, but egocentrism is a way of thinking. Egoists think only of themselves, but use others for their own purposes. Egocentrics are often misanthropes and introverts who do not need others, who believe that no one is worthy of them.
  • Self-esteem. Shows how a person feels internally. Outwardly, it is expressed in a high assessment of their rights and social value.

Personality assessment and types of characters

In addition to the main character traits that are formed in the system of relations, psychologists also distinguish other areas:

  • Intellectual. Resourcefulness, curiosity, frivolity, practicality.
  • Emotional. Passion, sentimentality, impressionability, irascibility, cheerfulness.
  • Strong-willed. Courage, perseverance, determination.
  • Moral. Fairness, compassion, kindness.

There are motivational traits-goals that drive a personality, determine its guidelines. As well as instrumental traits-methods, they show exactly what methods the desired will be achieved. So, for example, a girl may show masculine traits of character when she persistently and proactively seeks her lover.

Gordon Allport put forward a theory about what character traits are. The psychologist divided them into the following types:

  • Dominant. They determine the behavior of the individual as a whole, regardless of the sphere, and at the same time influence other qualities or even overlap them. For example, kindness or greed.
  • Ordinary. They are also expressed in all spheres of life. These include, for example, humanity.
  • Minor. They do not particularly affect anything, often stemming from other traits. For example, diligence.

There are typical and individual personality traits. Typical ones are easy to group, noticing one of the dominant qualities or a few minor ones, you can “draw” a personal portrait as a whole, determine the type of character. This helps to predict actions, better understand a person. So, for example, if an individual has responsiveness, then most likely he will come to the rescue in difficult situation support, listen.

Personality: types of positive and negative traits

Personality is a balance of positive and negative qualities. In this regard, everything is conditional. For example, envy is considered a bad quality, but some psychologists argue that it can become an incentive to work on yourself or improve your life. The curvature of positive traits, on the contrary, can lead to their transformation into negative qualities. Persistence develops into obsession, initiative into self-centeredness.

Highlight strong and weak traits character, they often have to be remembered when filling out a resume. They terrify many, because it can be difficult to evaluate oneself. Here's a little cheat sheet:

  • Weak. Formality, irritability, shyness, impulsiveness, inability to remain silent or say "no".
  • Strong. Perseverance, sociability, patience, punctuality, organization, determination.
  • Negative. Pride, jealousy, vindictiveness, cruelty, parasitism.
  • Positive. Kindness, sincerity, optimism, openness, peacefulness.

Character traits are formed in childhood, but at the same time they can change, transform depending on life circumstances. It's never too late to change what you don't like about yourself.

The concept of character

Usually, when they try to evaluate or characterize a particular person, they talk about his character (from the Greek snaga^er - printing, chasing). In psychology, the concept of "character" means a set of individual mental properties that develop in activity and manifest themselves in typical this person modes of activity and forms of behavior.

The main feature of character as a mental phenomenon is that character always manifests itself in activity, in relation to a person to the surrounding reality and people. For example, the main character traits can be found in the characteristics of the activity that a person prefers to engage in. Some people prefer the most complex and difficult activities, it is a pleasure for them to seek and overcome obstacles; others choose simpler pursuits. For some, it is important with what results they performed this or that work, whether they managed to surpass others, while for others it may be indifferent, and they are content with the fact that they did the job no worse than others, having achieved mediocre quality. Therefore, when a person’s character is determined, they do not say that such and such a person showed courage, truthfulness, frankness, but that this person is brave, truthful, frank, i.e., the named characteristics of a person’s actions are attributed to the person himself. However, not all human features can be considered characteristic, but only essential and stable ones. For example, even very cheerful people can experience a feeling of sadness, but this does not make them whiners and pessimists.

character structure

To determine the structure or structure of a person's character means to single out the main components or properties in the character and establish the specific features due to them in their relationship and interaction.

In the structure of the existing character, we must single out two sides: content and form. The content includes features that express the orientation of the personality (sustainable needs, attitudes, interests, inclinations, ideals, goals), a system of relations to the surrounding reality and representing individually peculiar ways of implementing these relations. In the content of the character, one or the other component can come to the fore, depending on the way of life, educational influences and the requirements of the surrounding reality. This or that orientation of the personality leaves an imprint on all human behavior, although it is determined by an integral system of relations.

In different forms of character, ways of manifesting relationships, fixed emotional-volitional characteristics of behavior, temperament are expressed. People differ from each other in habits, behavior. Intellectual, volitional and emotional character traits are related to form.

“In the system of personality, four groups of character traits are distinguished, forming symptom complexes. Snmptomocomilexes are systems of interrelated mental properties.

1. Features that characterize a person's attitude to other people, to a team, to society (sociability, sensitivity, responsiveness, respect for other people and their opposite features - isolation, callousness, callousness, rudeness, contempt for people).

2. Features that show a person’s attitude to his day (hard work, a penchant for creativity, conscientiousness, responsibility, initiative, perseverance and their opposite features - laziness, a tendency to routine work, dishonesty, irresponsibility, passivity).

3. Features that show how a person relates to himself (self-esteem, pride, self-criticism, modesty and their opposite - self-conceit, arrogance, vanity, arrogance, touchiness, shyness, selfishness, self-centeredness).

4. Features that characterize a person's attitude to things

(neatness or carelessness, careful or careless handling of things) ".

“Depending on this or that structure of character, a person exhibits certain traits of behavior. The number of these traits is great. But it is possible to identify the main groups or types of character traits. These include:

a) moral (sensitivity, attentiveness, delicacy);

b) strong-willed (temper, passion, tenderness);

c) emotional (decisiveness, perseverance, firmness).

More clearly, one can define the main synthetic properties of a positive nature. “Among them are the following:

Moral upbringing of character. It characterizes a person in terms of direction and form of behavior.

Completeness of character. It testifies to the versatility of aspirations and hobbies of a person, a variety of activities, such people are distinguished by inner wealth and activity.

Wholeness of character. This is the unity of a person's mental make-up, the consistency of his relationship to various aspects of reality, the absence of contradictions in aspirations and interests, the unity of word and deed.

Character definition. It is expressed in the stability of behavior, which in all cases corresponds to established beliefs, moral and political ideas and concepts, the main direction that makes up the meaning of life and activity of the individual. You can tell in advance about such a person how he will behave in certain conditions of life.

Strength of character. This is the energy with which a person pursues the goals set for himself, this is the ability to get carried away passionately and develop a great effort of strength when meeting with difficulties and obstacles, this is the ability to overcome them.

Strength of character. It manifests itself in the sequence of actions and perseverance of a person, in the conscious upholding of views and decisions.

Balance of character. This is the most optimal ratio of restraint and activity for activity and communication with people, developed evenness of behavior.

These properties of character are in a complex, sometimes contradictory relationship. All these properties are not a natural gift, but the result of life influences, upbringing and self-education. But self-education is due to the corresponding motivation, which depends on mental processes and states.

So, character is a set of individually peculiar properties of a personality, determined by its relations and manifested in the ways of activity typical for a given personality.

In the character of each person one must see the unity of stable and dynamic properties.

"Character can mask one of the innate manifestations, enhance others, inhibit others due to the formation and strengthening of new reflex connections."

Consequently, from a natural-science point of view, character is an alloy of traits such as nervous activity and life impressions, which are fixed in the form of certain temporary nerve connections in the cerebral cortex.

Character is a consequence of the reflection of the complexity of life experiences, is formed in the process of active interaction between the individual and the environment.

Character finds its expression not only in deeds and actions, but also in speech, facial expressions and pantomime, and also leaves a seal on appearance personality and is reflected in a typical posture.

Character, reflecting life, in turn affects the way of life.

Character has great importance not only for the individual, but also for society.

Character is a holistic formation, a system of properties of personalities that are in certain relationships to each other.

“In the structure of character, content and form are distinguished. Content of character reflects the social impact of influence, constitutes the life orientation of the individual, that is, her material and spiritual needs, interests, ideals and social attitudes. In different forms of character, ways of manifesting relationships, fixed emotional-volitional characteristics of behavior, temperament are expressed. People differ from each other in habits, manners of behavior.

The character is influenced by needs, intelligence and abilities, will, emotions, orientation, temperament.

The totality of distinctive essential, typical features forms a type of character that reflects the typical conditions of people's lives.

Character traits

Character is an inseparable whole. But it is impossible to study and understand such a complex whole as character without highlighting individual aspects or typical manifestations (character traits) in it. Common traits of character are manifested in the relationship of the individual to social duties and duty, to people, to himself. The attitude to social duties and duty, first of all, is manifested in the attitude of the individual to social work. In this regard, such character traits as diligence, conscientiousness, perseverance, thrift, and the opposite of them - laziness, negligence, passivity, wastefulness are revealed. A person's attitude to work has a decisive influence on the formation of his other personal qualities. D. I. Pisarev wrote: "Character is tempered by labor, and whoever has never earned his own daily food by his own labor, for the most part remains forever a weak, sluggish and spineless person." Attitude towards people clearly appears in such character traits as sociability, politeness, goodwill, etc. The antipodes of these traits are isolation, tactlessness, hostility. As V. Hugo stated, "every person has three characters: the one that is attributed to him; the one that he attributes to himself; and, finally, the one that is in reality." In order to clarify the essence of his character, it is useful for a person to know the opinion about himself of the team in which he works and spends a significant part of his life. And above all, how orderly his relations with people are, how much people need him, how authoritative he is among them. Attitude towards oneself is manifested in self-assessment of one's actions. Sober self-assessment is one of the conditions for personal development, helping to develop such character traits as modesty, adherence to principles, self-discipline. Negative character traits are increased conceit, arrogance and boasting. A person with these traits is usually quarrelsome in a team, involuntarily creates pre-conflict and conflict situations in it. Another extreme in a person's character is also undesirable: underestimation of one's own merits, timidity in expressing one's positions, in defending one's views. Modesty and self-criticism must be combined with a heightened sense of self-worth, based on the awareness of the real significance of one's personality, on the presence of certain successes in work for the common good. Principle is one of the valuable personal qualities that give the character an active orientation. Volitional character traits. Will is understood as a complex mental process that causes the activity of a person and awakens him to act in a directed way. Will is the ability of a person to overcome obstacles, to achieve the goal. Specifically, she acts in such character traits as purposefulness, determination, perseverance, courage. These character traits can contribute to the achievement of both socially useful and anti-social goals. To do this, it is important to determine what the motive of a person's volitional behavior is. "A brave act, the motive of which is to enslave another person, to seize someone else's property, to promote oneself, and a brave act, the motive of which is to help a common cause, of course, have completely different psychological qualities." According to volitional activity, characters are divided into strong and weak. People with a strong character have stable goals, are proactive, boldly make decisions and implement them, have great endurance, are courageous and courageous. People in whom these qualities are weakly expressed or some of them are absent are classified as weak-character. They are characterized by a passive manifestation of their business and personal qualities. Often such people, having the best intentions, do not achieve significant results at work, study. Many of them sincerely experience their inability to act independently, persistently and decisively.

Volitional qualities can be cultivated in a person. IP Pavlov emphasized that a person is the only system capable of regulating itself within wide limits, that is, it can improve itself .. Weak-willed people with thoughtful pedagogical work with them can become actively active. In this case, it is necessary to take into account the individual characteristics of a person, for example, his temperament. So, it is easier for a choleric person to develop activity and determination than for a melancholic person. A person himself must train his will from a young age, develop such qualities as self-control, activity, courage.

A person's character traits are the basis on which others form an opinion about him. Personality traits determine her behavior, attitude towards herself and others, motivation, achievements. Knowing what moves a person, on the basis of which he makes decisions, you can objectively evaluate him, figure out whether he is suitable for relationships, friendship, work.

Primary and Secondary Traits

Character properties are divided into primary and secondary. It is necessary to consider them exclusively in a complex way, only in this way it is possible to add up objective opinion about a human.

Primary

Primary traits have a permanent effect on a person, but they do not always appear. For example, if a person is sociable, this does not mean that in a new or large group of people he will be the soul of the company.

The primary properties include the following:

  • The presence of intelligence. A person cannot always stick out his knowledge in any area, but at the same time remain an interesting interlocutor who knows how to keep the conversation going.
  • Openness or restraint. These properties can be considered at the first meeting. Whether the person starts a conversation on a new topic first, asks questions, makes any suggestions. He may not show initiative himself, but if questions are asked to him, he answers openly and fully. All this is evidence of openness.
  • Submission or dominance. Of course, these traits are most pronounced in situations where you can take on the role of a commander, but in an ordinary environment they are easy to see. The dominant is not afraid to take responsibility, full of enthusiasm, full of ideas. The subordinate waits for ideas from others, it is easier for him to take on the role of a performer, perhaps even a very conscientious one, only he needs someone to tell him exactly what needs to be done.

The primary features include pairs of "variability-conscientiousness", "timidity-bravery", "carelessness-seriousness", "suspicion-gullibility", etc. At the same time, the primary signs of a person do not always work. If there is doubt about the correctness of the assessment, it is necessary to repeat the session, date, interview to obtain secondary data.

Secondary

Secondary ones reflect the reaction to a specific situation. These include:

  • practicality or a penchant for fantasies;
  • openness or secrecy;
  • confidence or anxiety;
  • craving for experiments or conservatism;
  • dependence on someone else's opinion or self-sufficiency;
  • tension or relaxation.

Each person is individual, which is reflected in the primary features, habits, reactions. Not all properties are same value, the assessment should be based on only the most striking and repetitive qualities.

Surface and deep properties

Psychologist Raymond Catell has been researching two of these character traits - superficial and deep.

Surface

According to Catell, these traits are determined by the influence of the environment. They seem to be on the surface. But if an individual is different situations behaves the same way, even a superficial quality should be used in the analysis.

For example, if a timid person suddenly stands up for a friend, this does not mean that another time or under other conditions he will do the same. His act suggests that he acted bravely, but he is not a brave man.

deep

These are fundamental traits that are usually innate. Individuality is more often expressed precisely in the deep qualities of character, which remain unchanged in any situation. They are not influenced by cultural, religious or other factors.

3 assessment planes

To give a description of a person's character, you need to consider it in three planes:

  • acceptability;
  • constancy;
  • uniqueness.

Acceptability

Acceptable are qualities of character that are usually liked by the majority and are considered positive in society. For example, generosity, honesty, responsiveness. Everyone will call negative self-centeredness, greed, rudeness. These traits are unacceptable and condemned by society.

When describing a character, one must take into account that negative and positive traits can easily coexist in it, often they come as a “set”:

  • ambitiousness and rigidity;
  • intelligence and arrogance;
  • kindness and reliability;
  • generosity and irresponsibility.

Uniqueness

It must be borne in mind that despite the typology, similarities, attempts by psychologists to classify people by type, we are all unique. Personality properties can be combined with each other in different ways, creating individuality. Very often you can hear the phrases “all girls are the same”, “all men need only one”, “scorpions according to the horoscope are all like that”. This is fundamentally not true, without looking at the similarities, each person has a chance to reveal himself.

Persistence and habits

Constancy is the same behavior in similar situations and conditions. It must be distinguished from habits. They are much narrower, more limited. If you combine several habits together, you can get one character trait. For example, if a person runs every morning, this does not yet indicate his strength of character, but if you add to this proper nutrition, the ability to refuse alcohol and stick to a certain schedule, then all this can be combined, for example, into dedication or pedantry.

Assessment Methods

To evaluate a person, the following methods will help:

  • Observation in the natural environment. For example, when a girl wants to get to know a guy better, she should spend his usual day with him - meet friends, do what he likes. This will allow her to immerse herself in his life, to see it from the inside.
  • Problem setting and solution search. Another type of observation that is suitable for evaluating employees or applicants. A classic interview does not always provide an opportunity to identify the necessary character traits. To better evaluate a potential employee, you can verbally simulate a situation for him and ask him to live it - find a way out of some situation, make a difficult decision.
  • Pros and cons analysis. This assessment method is very primitive and cannot give an objective assessment, however, it is used very often. A sheet is taken, drawn in half, positive features of a person are written on one side, and negative ones on the other. To make the analysis more precise, it is possible to describe not only the properties of the individual, but also his actions.

How to describe a person's character?

This can be done from several positions:

  • His attitude towards me, his attitude to himself, his attitude to the world. These are three points that can only be considered as a complex. For example, a person treats himself and his loved ones well, but he will not care if his neighbor's dog dies. A man can be kind in principle, and then his kindness towards a particular girl does not mean deep feelings at all, it's just a trait of his character.
  • Spiritual, material, physical. You can describe a person by evaluating his spiritual values, attitude to money, physical data. For example, a person involved in ballroom dancing knows how to demonstrate himself, athletes are inherent in purposefulness and perseverance. In relation to money, we can conclude about commercialism, generosity, success, hoarding, squandering, responsibility.
  • Education, the ability to transform. From this position, it is possible to determine which features in a person were cultivated and which ones he acquired, whether he is able to change and what motivates him to do so.

Character traits are always individual. People with the same traits can evoke different emotions and impressions. When conducting an assessment, you need to remain at ease and try not to turn this process into an inquiry.

Being born, a new personality receives a unique character as a gift. Human nature can consist of traits inherited from parents, or it can manifest itself in a completely different, unexpected quality.

Nature not only determines behavioral reactions, it specifically affects the manner of communication, attitude towards others and one's own person, to work. Character traits of a person create a certain worldview in a person.

A person's behavioral responses depend on the nature

These two definitions create confusion, because both of them are involved in the formation of personality and behavioral responses. In fact, the character and temperament are heterogeneous:

  1. The character is formed from a list of certain acquired qualities of the personality's mental make-up.
  2. Temperament is a biological quality. Psychologists distinguish four types of it: choleric, melancholic, sanguine and phlegmatic.

Having the same warehouse of temperament, individuals can have a completely different character. But temperament has an important influence on the development of nature - smoothing or sharpening it. Also, human nature directly affects temperament.

What is character

Psychologists, speaking of character, mean a certain combination of traits of an individual, persistent in their expression. These traits have the maximum impact on the behavioral line of the individual in diverse relationships:

  • among people;
  • in the work team;
  • to one's own personality;
  • to the surrounding reality;
  • to physical and mental labor.

The word "character" is of Greek origin, it means "to mint". This definition was introduced by the naturalist Ancient Greece Theophrastus philosopher. Such a word really, very accurately defines the nature of the individual.


Theophrastus first coined the term "character"

The character seems to be drawn as a unique drawing, it gives rise to a unique seal that a person wears in a single copy.

Simply put, character is a combination, a combination of stable individual mental characteristics.

How to understand nature

To understand what kind of nature an individual has, you need to analyze all his actions. It is behavioral reactions that determine examples of character and characterize the personality.

But this judgment is often subjective. Far from always a person reacts as intuition tells him. Actions are influenced by upbringing, life experience, customs of the environment where the person lives.

But you can understand what kind of character a person has. Watching and Analyzing for a long time actions of a certain personality, it is possible to identify individual, especially stable features. If a person in completely different situations behaves in the same way, showing similar reactions, makes the same decision - this indicates the presence of a certain nature in him.

Knowing which character traits are manifested and dominated by a person, it is possible to predict how she will manifest herself in a given situation.

Character and traits

A character trait is an important part of a personality; it is a stable quality that determines the interaction of a person and the surrounding reality. This is a defining method of resolving emerging situations, so psychologists consider a trait of nature as a predictable personal behavior.


Variety of characters

A person acquires features of character in the course of the entire life span, it is impossible to attribute individual features of nature to innate and characterological. In order to analyze and evaluate the personality, the psychologist does not simply determine the totality individual features, but also highlights their distinctive features.

It is the traits of character that are defined as leading in the study and compilation psychological characteristics personality.

But, defining, evaluating a person, studying the features of behavior in the social plan, the psychologist also uses knowledge of the content orientation of nature. It is defined in:

  • strength-weakness;
  • latitude-narrowness;
  • static-dynamic;
  • integrity-contradiction;
  • integrity-fragmentation.

Such nuances constitute the general complete description a certain person.

List of personality traits

Human nature is the most complex cumulative combination of peculiar features, which is formed into a unique system. This order includes the brightest, most stable personal qualities, revealed in the gradations of human-society relationships:

Relationship system Inherent traits of an individual
Plus Minus
To self fastidiousness Condescension
Self-criticism Narcissism
Meekness Boastfulness
Altruism Egocentrism
To the people around Sociability Closure
Complacency Callousness
Sincerity deceitfulness
Justice Injustice
Commonwealth Individualism
sensitivity Callousness
Courtesy shamelessness
To work organization Laxity
obligatory stupidity
diligence slovenliness
Enterprise inertia
industriousness laziness
to items frugality Waste
thoroughness Negligence
Neatness Negligence

In addition to character traits included by psychologists in the gradation of relationships (a separate category), manifestations of nature in the moral, temperamental, cognitive and sthenic spheres were identified:

  • moral: humanity, rigidity, sincerity, good nature, patriotism, impartiality, responsiveness;
  • temperamental: gambling, sensuality, romance, liveliness, receptivity; passion, frivolity;
  • intellectual (cognitive): analyticity, flexibility, inquisitiveness, resourcefulness, efficiency, criticality, thoughtfulness;
  • sthenic (volitional): categoricalness, perseverance, obstinacy, stubbornness, purposefulness, timidity, courage, independence.

Many leading psychologists are inclined to believe that some personality traits should be divided into two categories:

  1. Productive (motivational). Such traits push a person to commit certain acts and actions. This is the goal-feature.
  2. Instrumental. Giving personality during any activity individuality and way (manners) of action. These are traits.

Gradation of character traits according to Allport


Allport's theory

Famous American psychologist Gordon Allport, an expert and developer of gradations of personality traits of an individual, divided personality traits into three classes:

Dominant. Such features most clearly reveal the behavioral form: actions, activities of a certain person. These include: kindness, selfishness, greed, secrecy, gentleness, modesty, greed.

Ordinary. They are equally manifested in all the numerous spheres of human life. These are: humanity, honesty, generosity, arrogance, altruism, egocentrism, cordiality, openness.

Secondary. These nuances do not have a particular effect on behavioral responses. These are not dominant behaviors. These include musicality, poetry, diligence, diligence.

A strong relationship is formed between the traits of nature existing in a person. This regularity forms the final character of the individual.

But any existing structure has its own hierarchy. The warehouse of man was no exception. This nuance is traced in Allport's proposed gradation structure, where minor features can be suppressed by dominant ones. But in order to predict the act of a person, it is necessary to focus on the totality of the features of nature..

What is typicality and individuality

In the manifestation of the nature of each personality, it always reflects the individual and typical. This is a harmonious combination of personal qualities, because the typical serves as the basis for identifying the individual.

What's happened typical character . When a person has a certain set of traits that are the same (common) for a particular group of people, such a warehouse is called typical. Like a mirror, it reflects the accepted and habitual conditions for the existence of a particular group.

Also, typical features depend on the warehouse (a certain type of nature). They are also a condition for the appearance of a behavioral type of character, in the category of which a person is “recorded”.

Having understood exactly what features are inherent in a given personality, a person can make an average (typical) psychological portrait and assign certain type temperament. For example:

positive negative
Choleric
Activity Incontinence
Energy irascibility
Sociability Aggressiveness
Determination Irritability
Initiative Rudeness in communication
Impulsiveness Behavior instability
Phlegmatic person
persistence Low activity
performance slowness
calmness immobility
Consistency uncommunicative
Reliability Individualism
good faith laziness
sanguine
Sociability Rejection of monotony
Activity Superficiality
benevolence Lack of persistence
adaptability bad perseverance
Cheerfulness Frivolity
Courage Recklessness in actions
Resourcefulness Inability to focus
melancholic
Sensitivity Closure
Impressionability Low activity
diligence uncommunicative
Restraint Vulnerability
cordiality Shyness
Accuracy Poor performance

Such typical character traits corresponding to a certain temperament are observed in each (to one degree or another) representative of the group.

individual manifestation. Relationships between individuals always have an evaluative characteristic, they are manifested in a rich variety of behavioral reactions. The manifestation of individual traits of an individual is greatly influenced by emerging circumstances, a formed worldview and a certain environment.

This feature is reflected in the brightness of various typical features of the individual. They are not the same in intensity and develop in each individual individually.

Some typical features are so powerfully manifested in a person that they become not just individual, but unique.

In this case, typicality develops, by definition, into individuality. This classification of personality helps to identify the negative characteristics of the individual that prevent them from expressing themselves and achieving a certain position in society.

Working on himself, analyzing and correcting the shortcomings in his own character, each person creates the life he aspires to.

There is a saying in Altai - "A man without character is like bread without salt." The very word "character" in Greek means "seal", "print", but if we take a figurative meaning, then we are talking about the typicality and peculiarity of human behavioral qualities. What is the concept, and what character traits exist?

The concept of character is most fully described by the science of psychology. It fully reveals all the nuances and defines it as a set of personality traits and properties that not only give a person individuality, but also explain his actions in a given situation.

Main character traits conditionally divided into several groups:

  • emotions;
  • will;
  • intelligence.

Emotional traits - aggressiveness, good nature, melancholy, artistry, etc. begin to form from early childhood, when the mental qualities of the child undergo a phased formation. And this happens under the influence of various factors.

Strong-willed character traits (pedantry, masculinity, devotion, etc.) a person acquires throughout his life. The qualities associated with the intellect - intelligence, independence, prudence, etc. - depend on an innate predisposition, which is influenced by heredity and temperament.

An important factor in the formation of a person's character is his environment. It can lead to the acquisition of both positive and negative character traits by the child. The process continues throughout life, and the list of acquired personality traits is constantly growing. If initially this happens unconsciously at the level of reflexes, then with adulthood, people begin to choose those characteristics that are closer to them.

Experts have found that the basic character traits of the child are laid down from infancy, the strong-willed traits of the baby begin to appear already in the second year of life, and at three or four, he already has business qualities.

Communication signs are most noticeable at 4-5 years old, when children are interested in and actively participate in role playing with peers. If we take into account these data, we can say for sure that a five-year-old child has his own, unique character.

What is the basis of personal qualities?

If we structure knowledge about personal qualities, then we can distinguish 4 character traits, more precisely, a block of characteristics:

  • express their attitude towards other people (compassion, sociability, guardianship, etc.);
  • traits that show how a person treats himself (selfishness, modesty, self-criticism, narcissism, etc.);
  • attitude to work (laziness, responsibility, etc.);
  • traits indicating a person's attitude to objects (thrift, accuracy, greed, etc.).

Today, there are more than one hundred definitions of personal qualities, but still science highlights the main character traits.

In business, this is:

In the field of communications, these are emotional qualities:

  • aggression or benevolence;
  • irritability;
  • modesty;
  • rancor.

Volitional qualities are associated with a person’s integrity, they are formed against the background of the struggle of motives and the assimilation moral standards. In this case, positive character traits are confidence, perseverance, purposefulness. They contribute to the personal growth of a person. Negative personality traits include - lack of will, lack of consistency, compliance.

How does nationality affect personal characteristics?

There are many stereotypes associated with nationality, for example, if you are slow, then you must be an Estonian, fisted - a Jew, temperamental - Georgians, restrained - an Englishman ....

Scientists have proven quite accurately that national character really is. And they are connected with various factors - culture, religion, upbringing and even climate. Of course, we are talking about those qualities that are revealed in the majority of representatives of the nation to one degree or another.

And what are the features of the Russian character can be identified? Many philosophers and psychologists have tried to evaluate the Russian people in terms of characteristic qualities.

Professor of Russian philosophy Lossky identified six main features:

Doctor psychological sciences Lebedeva N.M., based on the studies of Lossky, identified two, at first glance, opposite groups of properties of a Russian person:

  1. Spiritual and spiritual qualities of Russian people- includes only good performance- humility with one's own share, selflessness and self-sacrifice, deep faith, calm acceptance of the thought of the impending death, a cool attitude towards wealth, the ability to empathize and share the essential, contentment with the benefits available.
  2. passivity, inactivity- Historically, it has been simple people have been away from political and public life for centuries; and although modern people show interest in this area, but more often it is a verbal expression of will, not supported by action. From this follow the following negative character traits of a Russian person - a certain alienation from the affairs taking place in the country, the expectation of a “miracle”, the desire for anarchism, rebelliousness, the denial of discipline, different kind temptations.

Body type and character

There is an interesting theory German psychologist Ernst Kretschmer that personal qualities directly depend on the human constitution. Moreover, the majority theoretical aspects received practical confirmation. According to Kretschmer's idea, there are three characteristic types:

  1. Asthenic people ("weak") are thin, with elongated parts of the body - limbs, face, flat sternum and poorly developed muscles. They correspond to the personality traits of "schizotomy" - isolation, seriousness, stubbornness, people do not adapt well to new conditions. With mental disorders, we can talk about schizophrenia.
  2. Athletics (athletics in translation "athletic, skillful") - people of impressive growth, wide chest, strong bones and powerful muscles. Usually, heroic personalities from the epic are described in this way, however, the character traits of the “hero” are not so unambiguous. They were called iscothymics - having a calm character, lack of special impressionability, a penchant for practicality and restraint in facial expressions and gestures, they also have 3 character traits that are far from heroism - authority, a negative attitude to change and poor adaptability to new conditions. With nervous disorders, there is a risk of developing epilepsy.
  3. Picnics - (dense, fat) representatives of this group are short, full or have a tendency to set excess weight, have a large head on a short neck, a wide face, small facial features. These are cyclothymics - the main character trait of a person in this case is sociability, he makes good contact, emotionally reacts to any event, quickly gets used to new conditions. Such people tend to mental disorders to manic-depressive psychoses.

No matter how many characteristics of human traits and qualities, there is no identical character of the individual. Of course, there are generalized data, and some points may even coincide with the existing features of temperament. However, each person is a unique creation, a tangle of innate and acquired properties, features, charisma and contradictions. It is only important to remember that everyone forges his own qualities and it is important not to forget about personal growth.