Meaning of personality :
The word personality is derived from the Latin word ‘persona‘, which means ‘fake face’. In ancient times, personality was explained in terms of physical appearance, appearance and dress. The person who had more influence on external qualities was considered more effective. But currently, personality is determined by many factors and not just external appearances. It includes thoughts, feelings, values, attitudes and behaviour. A person with a developed personality is one who is consistent, clear and confident in his thoughts, actions and feelings.
Personality is a combination of all the internal and external qualities, skills and characteristics of a person. It is the unique identity that differentiates a person from other people. A person’s personality includes his thoughts, feelings, behavior, habits, and his interactions with other individuals. Personality is complex and multidimensional, so it can be challenging to fully understand a person’s personality.
Definition of personality :
Psychologists have given the following definitions to clarify the meaning of personality –
1. According to Rex Rock, “Personality is the balance of general qualities accepted by the society.”
2. According to Guilford, “Personality is an integrated form of qualities.”
3. According to Allport, “Personality is the dynamic organization of those psycho-physical institutions within the individual which establish his unique adjustment with the environment.”
Characteristics of Personality :
Major characteristics of personality include :-
(i) Uniqueness :- The personality of every person is unique and different from the personality of any other person.
(ii) Stability :- Personality remains relatively stable over time, although some changes may occur.
(iii) Completeness :- Personality encompasses all aspects of a person, including thoughts, feelings, behavior, and physical characteristics.
(iv) Privacy :- Personality lies within the individual and is not completely accessible to others.
(v) Adaptation :- Personality allows a person to adapt to the environment and work successfully.
Measurement of personality :
Measurement methods may vary, but personality measurement methods can be classified into three main categories –
- 1. Subjective methods of personality measurement,
- 2. Objective methods of personality measurement,
- 3. Projective methods.
These are mentioned as follows-
1. Subjective methods of personality measurement :
In this method the personal biases and beliefs of the observer affect the measurement results. In this method the observer makes measurements based on his likes and dislikes and includes the following methods :
(i) Interview Method: A Tool of Personal Evaluation
Interview method is a face-to-face conversation to assess an individuals personality traits, skills and abilities. In this method, a trained examiner asks the examinee a series of questions that explore his or her experiences, thoughts, feelings, and motivations. Questions may be open-ended or specific, and the test taker usually observes the test taker’s reactions, body language, and communication skills. The responses are analyzed to gain an understanding of the test taker’s personality, values and abilities. The interview method is often used for recruitment to government positions and jobs, where assessment of personality traits is critical to the success of the candidate in the role. This method is also used by human resource departments to select employees, conduct performance appraisals, and plan development.
Advantages :
Provides personal insight that is difficult to obtain from other evaluation methods.
# Allows to understand the examinee’s motivations, values and goals.
# Assesses the test taker’s communication skills, confidence and problem-solving abilities.
Limitations :
# The results may not be completely reliable, as they depend on the honesty of the test taker and the interpretation of the tester.
# A skilled and experienced examiner is required who makes the examinee feel comfortable and obtains accurate information.
# It is up to the test taker to provide correct information, otherwise the results may be misleading. Overall, the interview method is a useful tool for assessing the personality traits and abilities of individuals. Its success depends on the honesty of the test taker and the expertise of the tester. It can be used in a variety of contexts, such as recruitment, performance appraisal and development planning, and provides an in-depth understanding of individuals.
(ii) Observation method
Observation method is a personality assessment technique in which a trained observer observes and records the behavior of the individual. The goal of this method is to assess the presence, intensity, and frequency of personality traits. Observers observe the individual’s behavior in a variety of situations and settings, such as interviews, group discussions, and role-playing exercises. The observational method is a valuable tool for personality assessment because it captures the test taker’s behavior in real time, allowing the observer to observe the dynamic nature of personality traits. This method allows a wide range of personality traits to be assessed, including social skills, communication skills, problem-solving skills, and emotional regulation.
(iii) Autobiography Method
In this method, the examiner gives a topic to test the candidate. The candidate has to write an essay on that topic based on his life experiences. On completion of the essay, the examiner reads the essay and expresses his/her opinion about the candidate. This gives information about various aspects of the personality of the candidate.
(iv) Questionnaire Method
Questionnaire method is a technique used to assess various characteristics of students. In this, students are given a list of written questions to which they have to answer ‘yes’ or ‘no’. These questions are related to students’ interests, attitudes, self-confidence, sociability and qualities like introversion. By analyzing questionnaire answers, researchers can identify students’ characteristics and behavior patterns. This method can be used to assess the academic, social and emotional development of students. The questionnaire method is a cost-effective and convenient technique that can be used to collect data from a large number of participants.
2. Objective methods of personality measurement
This method is about those whose measurement results are not influenced by the tester’s own likes and dislikes and his personal criteria. The following methods are used in this-
(i) Physical testing method
This method uses various instruments to measure and understand physical symptoms. It involves measuring the student’s height, weight, body composition and other physical characteristics. This method is useful to assess the physical health, development and overall well-being of the student. This type of testing method plays an important role in improving the physical condition of students and identifying and resolving health issues.
(Ii) Controlled Observation Method
In the controlled observation method, the personality of a student is evaluated under controlled circumstances. In this method, the researcher observes the intellectual abilities, emotional development, interests, attitudes and habits of the student. Conclusions are not drawn from limited data collected, but rather the student is placed in various controlled situations and continuously observed. Objective methods are used in this process, and only then conclusions are drawn. This method has many advantages. Firstly, it provides a comprehensive overview of various aspects of the student’s personality. Second, it allows tracking student progress over time. Finally, it can help identify specific patterns and motivators of student behavior.
(iii) Measuring Line Method
Measuring Line Method is a method of evaluating personality traits in which individuals are rated by other people living near them. In this method, a line is divided into equal parts to test a particular quality of personality. Each part represents a range or class, with the highest range at one end of the line and the lowest range at the other end. To evaluate personal qualities, the rater is asked to mark the person at the point on the line that in their opinion best represents their abilities or characteristics.
3. Projective methods
Projection method is a technique where a person is made to face a situation in which he sees his thoughts, feelings, ideas, experiences and emotions in others and reveals things that are suppressed in his consciousness. In psychoanalysis, projection is considered a defense mechanism where a person transforms his suppressed desires, which for some reason have fallen out of consciousness, and projects them onto something else. For example, expressing one’s unconscious frustrations through yelling at others or fighting. Some major projection methods are:
(i) Associative Testing Technique
In the associative testing technique, a person is given some stimulus words or sentences and is asked for his reactions. These stimuli may be in the form of pictures, sentences or words. This technique is widely used, especially in associative testing, where the person is presented with related words that motivate them to perform specific actions. The examiner speaks the words one by one and notes the spoken words as the person responds. Reaction time is also noted. Based on the responses, the tester can analyze the personality traits of the person. This technique is used to explore a person’s hidden feelings, thoughts and motivations.
(ii) Composition technique
In the composition process, some stimulating material is presented to the candidate and he is asked to compose on the basis of the same. This stimulating material can be in any form like sentence, story etc. as per its nature. In this process, the personality of the candidate is assessed by analyzing his composition.
(iii) Completion Technique
In Completion Technique, the incomplete composition is presented before the examiner as a stimulus and he is asked to complete it. These incomplete compositions can be given in the form of incomplete poem or incomplete story etc. In the end, the personality of the examiner is assessed on the basis of his actions. This technique is used to test the creativity, imagination power and language skills of the candidate.
(iv) Expression technique
In expression technique, provocative pictures or other stimuli are given to the examinees. These incentives are not clear cut and can have multiple meanings. As a result, different test takers respond differently to these stimuli. These responses help in evaluating the personality of the test taker. This technique is known as expression. Expression technique provides an opportunity for the candidate to express his ideas freely. The stimuli given do not invite any specific response, which allows the test taker to reveal his or her true feelings and thoughts. It helps in assessing personality traits, such as creativity, emotionality and aggressiveness.
Conclusion :
Personality is a complex and multidimensional concept that encompasses the specific characteristics, behaviors, and mental processes of an individual. Understanding personality helps us understand ourselves and others better and enables us to navigate through life effectively.
