For the second installment of my identity series, I wanted to focus on personality. Personality is a
complex topic, and there are many different definitions of personality, however it can be broadly defined
as a person’s characteristic patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving that distinguish them from others.
Here we will explore some aspects of this concept.
Personality Theory
There are many theories of personality in the research literature, and it can be difficult to know where to
start. Whichever theory we subscribe to, it can be helpful to have a framework from which to approach
the topic from. First we will consider the Five-Factor Model of Personality, otherwise known as the “Big
Five.”
Each trait is a spectrum on which one can rank high or low in each category. The five traits are as
follows:
1. Openness–refers to the degree of intellectual curiosity, creativity, and preference for novelty.
2. Conscientiousness–refers to the tendency to be organized and dependable.
3. Extraversion–refers to the tendency to seek the company of others and talk.
4. Agreeableness–refers to a measure of one’s trusting and helpful nature.
5. Neuroticism–refers to a predisposition to psychological stress.
Another popular model of personality is the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, which produces a 4-letter code based on 4 factors.
Your individual code can be any combination of these traits:
1. Introversion vs. Extroversion (how do you direct and receive energy?)
2. Sensing vs. Intuition (how do you prefer to take in information?)
3. Thinking vs. Feeling (how do you come to conclusions?)
4. Judging vs. Perceiving (how do you approach the outside world?)
A Quick Word on Personality Quizzes
A simple google search will bring up dozens of “personality quizzes” that claim to be able to tell us who
we are simply by answering a series of questions. The validity of these measures can range from
supported by evidence to completely baseless, and it is important to determine what research, if any, the
personality measure is based on before determining if it can be a useful tool or not.
Regardless of which of the many theories is used, defining and viewing our personality
through a certain lens can increase our awareness of self and behaviors. By better understanding our
personality, we can have a better idea of where our strengths and weaknesses lie, which gives us more
direction to guide our efforts. Another way of guiding our behaviors is through values, which will be
discussed in the next installment of the identity series! If you would like to go more in depth into your own
personality traits and identity, you can always make an appointment with a counselor at Tx Harmony Counseling Center. Give us a call anytime. 832-352-1600 You can also reach us through our website by clicking HERE.
