The mental state of a person depends on many reasons. This may include his biological characteristics, physical condition, the environment in which he was born and raised. The term "individual" means an individual person of any age. By personality is meant the level of his development. She is considered a person who has achieved a certain social status, able to fit into a particular group. Based on this, not every individual can be called a person.
Psychological characteristics of personality
Psychologists distinguish the following psychological characteristics of personality:
- temperament;
- character;
- interests;
- addictions;
- abilities.
Personality theories
Today we will consider various theories of personality analysis in the current trends of psychology. Understanding how a person develops always depends on the direction in which this or that concept is developed.
Let's start with the dispositional theory of personality. She has different directions. In one, greater importance is attached to innate features, and in the other to acquired ones. We discuss the general outline of this theory. It consists in the following: a personality is a combination of certain internal features that predetermine our reaction in a new situation.
For example, a person is deceiving, not because it is convenient at a certain moment, but because of the inherent deceit. The most popular in this area is the theory of temperament. Thus, an individual with a congenital weak nervous system will react in one way, and morally stable by nature - in another.
The second area of personality research is the behavioral approach. Its essence is understood in the same way as everything else in the framework of behaviorism (a set of reflexes accumulated over a life of life, and nothing more).
Next comes the humanistic theory. Here the personality manifests itself as a certain structure of motives, either in the form of the “I” of the real or the “I” - of the ideal. In the latter case, a person strives for his perfect image, and then he realizes himself. When the subject cannot do this, he has a sense of worthlessness and falls into a neurosis.
Next comes the cognitive theory of personality, founded by George Kelly. He came to the conclusion that a developing person is determined by mental operations: the perception of reality and its interpretation. In the process, he develops specific cognitive patterns. And with their help, he interprets his external experience. Any person is a combination of certain schemes that allow us to realize practical wisdom. Each person can have their own hierarchy of cognitive plans. Because of this feature, each individual is unique.
And finally, we will consider an active, that is, a Russian concept of the development of human nature. It includes:
- the individual, that is, the animal part of the personality;
- subject of activity - human consciousness;
- personality itself, that is, its social part.
What is a personality structure?
This is how the structure of personality analysis is deciphered in psychoanalytic theory, in which Freud distinguishes three parts:
- Eid - is essentially identified with the individual and is the bearer of our instincts, energy, desires.
- Ego - coincides with the concept of the subject of activity, is the driving force of our consciousness and the regulation of behavior, and a way to adapt to the external environment.
- Above the "I", which contains moral principles and norms: it is personified with the personality.
In about the same way, you can subdivide Berne’s personality structure when he divided a person into a parent, adult, and child. True, unlike Freud, he considered this part of the ego, and not the unconscious, conscious and subconscious parts.
Personality and character. Psychological analysis of personality
In life, the manifestation of personality and character is very closely intertwined. They are very similar in many respects. Not always these two concepts are distinguished not only by ordinary people, but even by psychologists. Here we will talk about the theory of personality analysis. You can find quite a few psychology textbooks in which character is considered a property. And it is precisely on the basis of genetically incorporated traits in particular that an analysis of the personality is carried out, and it is not always clear what are the differences.
Indeed, we are all different. And the features of a socially developed person, as well as character traits, manifest themselves in different ways. Everyone has their own way of social analysis of personality. And, of course, when science deals with individual characteristics, one of the most popular methods of psychological cognition and classification of these differences is called typology. Indeed, each one is unique and unique. Nevertheless, in the aggregate individuality there are moments in common, the concept of repeatability. The combination of these two concepts underlies the construction of a typology. Due to this association, certain types of people can be distinguished.
On the one hand, each of them speaks of individuality, dissimilarity to others. The second facet is when a type includes unique, but common features.
The circumstances of modern psychology
It is necessary to take into account the fact that in modern psychology there is no single idea of the subject of analysis of personality development, which means that there is no one universally recognized theory that would be confirmed by all specialists in this field. On the contrary, about a hundred years ago, all psychological science was divided into many schools and areas, each of which came up with its own analytical concept. Namely: with an understanding of the subject as a whole, with specific ideas about the individual components of psychic reality and his theory of personality analysis. However, the view on the concept of "individual development" differed in the same way. We rely on the tradition that is associated with the Moscow Psychological School, that is, with the institution of Alexei Nikolaevich Leontiev. But, despite this, one common feature can be distinguished: man is a common object for many different sciences. Each of them has its own purpose and method of personality analysis. In accordance with this, in man, as in a common object, each science distinguishes its narrow subject.
Who else explores personality?
Recall: historians also study this theory. But they do it within a certain time period. They are interested in the role of man in the historical process, without using the structure of personality analysis. That is, not by the extent to which each designated event can be caused by the acts of a particular celebrity, but to what extent the event is a manifestation of the general laws of development of society.
Teachers are also engaged in the study of human abilities, but they are primarily interested in this in terms of educational work. This is their main goal. They use other methods of personality analysis.
Sociologists are exploring similar concepts. There is a large section in this area called the “sociology of personality”. The goal is to search for patterns of various social phenomena that arise as a result of the unification of people. The personality in this science is considered as an element of various social strata.
And what does psychology highlight in the process of human development? Of course, specialists are interested in what is driven by the personality, the main acting forces. In this case, a person can be controlled by various motivations (economic, legal, social, cultural). But psychology has its own goal. Since she studies the reality of human nature and can give an analysis of personality traits, it is obvious that among the diverse impulses she will seek precisely the psychological driving forces. And they, in turn, are united by a common collective word - motivation.
The main source of strength
Motivation is a collective concept that includes the diverse motivating forces of a person, such as needs, motives, drives, drives, aspirations, interests. All of them are different psychological realities, but they are united by one thing: they are the driving forces of the emotional side of life.
SWOT personality analysis
The main task and thought of this type of analysis is quite simple. To complete it, you just need a sheet of paper and a pen, as well as thirty minutes of free time. This option is suitable if you are confused in any situation and do not know what to do at all. It is very useful to make a SWOT analysis at the moment when you need to make an important decision. The results will help you do the right thing, and also show your true path.
Draw a square on a piece of paper that will be divided into equal cells. Two columns are auspicious and unfavorable. Two lines are internal and external.
Stage 1. Think about what is positive for you and your process of action at this time. Write down the data, all without exception, in 1 column. In the same way, think about it, which under these conditions is risky and capable of harming you, something that will most likely hinder you from which you will be exhausted. It was 2 columns.
Stage 2. Try to ask yourself: can I influence these things or is this in this situation in no way dependent on me? In the event that you can influence these factors, this will be regarded as your internal quality, a characteristic feature. If any change seems impossible, and you just need to take into account this effect, then this is an external phenomenon.
Now all of our cells are full. That which can help you and is internal is your strengths, and that which hinders you are weaknesses. In this case, what can become of help to you and stay outside the control zone is opportunities. They can also be called abilities. And what is an obstacle and is located outside of you is a threat.
It is sometimes believed that after filling in these 4 fields, the SWOT study is completed, and the analysis of the concept of personality is completed. In fact, here it is only just beginning. Now we must figure out what to do next.
General tips will be as follows:
- We prescribe a strategy in which we strive to rely primarily on our own strengths, and weaknesses either to compensate for something, or to invest in their formation so that they cease to be similar to weaknesses.
- At the same time, we strive to maximize the use of the disclosing abilities and somehow avoid these dangers. In particular, we thoroughly weigh two combinations: strengths + abilities. This is what we can accomplish right now and show our best. The second acceptable combination is weaknesses + threats. In this case, this is what we can lose almost everything for, and this is most dangerous if external threats are imposed on our emotional limitation and powerlessness.
SWOT: example
We suggest analyzing a common sample. Suppose an individual is looking for work. We are often quite conservative if we worked in a place before. In this case, for some reason, we can look for subsequent work in such a way that it is similar to the previous one. However, if we didn’t like the former place at all, then a SWOT study can help us get out of the rut. Someone is able to make us understand some other ways.
Suppose you know similar strengths in yourself: optimal mathematical preparation, understanding of 2 languages, analytical intelligence. Weaknesses: you have moved a little away from your own sphere, you have not watched developments and new products for a long time, and you are still not very sociable and somewhat self-contained. The dangers important to you have every chance of being associated with this organization in which you work. Maybe your plans as a whole will soon be hidden, and the working category will be disbanded. And perhaps your project has powerful rivals, here you can analyze the personality of a person. Now let's take a closer look at abilities - this is what will help introduce society to you in the shortest possible time. For example, some very good employer can currently search for employees with your qualifications. Or, at present, a set of internships in a good experimental center is underway.
Suppose you decide to think about an opportunity and take a closer look at this internship. The ability to understand languages will be a pillar, because it is your strength. But being a little sociable and non-communicative, you will have difficulty. You will have to compensate for these features, so this is your weakness.
Now, looking at the preliminary results of the SWOT-analysis, you can implement some conclusions, form projects. For example, prepare a portfolio and at the same time start an interview when looking for a new activity, or send an application for practice.
When used continuously, SWOT research can help prevent problems and track abilities in order to build and grow personality.
Child development
The development and analysis of the personality of the child should be given special attention.
There are many ways that help to understand at what stage of psychological and intellectual growth this or that baby is. But, given the low interest of children in such actions, experts suggest an alternative method - the study of children's drawings.
The kid began to eat poorly and sleep? Do you notice that something is wrong with him? It is the drawings that will help to translate the mood of your child from "children" to "adult" language! In them, the kids unconsciously express what worries them. Usually they start to draw with circles - the sun and the faces of men. This is normal until two to three years. From these simple images, you can immediately understand whether everything is fine with your child. But pictures will become more complicated with age. So a person who does not have the qualifications and professional competence in this matter is likely to misinterpret this. It is important to pay attention to the colors that the child uses. The first alarm is the predominance of dark colors. Of course, one picture may not give an answer to your question, but it can become that very important signal that should not be missed.
Children's drawings are especially valuable material in cases where you need to find out if the child has any problems. To some extent, they help to conduct a psychological analysis of the personality. It is only necessary to learn to read the works of a young artist. Most often, such images contain a deep, sacred psychological meaning. A parent can do the decryption personally, but it is worth noting that an analysis of this kind may not always be reliable. Therefore, psychologists strongly recommend contacting specialists.