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An overview of personality Theory

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How does one define personality? What are the theoretical approaches in the study of personality? What factors influence an individual's personality development. Questions like these are discussed.

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How does one define personality? What are the theoretical approaches in the study of personality? What factors influence an individual's personality development. Questions like these are discussed.

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Personality is a distinct field within the overarching discipline of social psychology. Personality psychology is more concerned with the internal traits or character of individuals whereas social psychology is more concerned with how social and cultural forces shape and influence who we are. Therefore, personality is defined as those aspects of the person that are not easily influenced by social forces and instead are characteristics of that individual that are (1) consistent across situations, (2) consistent over the lifespan, and (3) internal. In sum, personality is the set of psychological traits and mechanisms within the individual that are organized and relatively enduring and that influence her or his interactions with , and adaptations to, the psychological, physical, and social environment (Larsen & Buss, 2007).

The manner in which personality traits are conceived ranges from completely nontheoretical to strongly theoretical. The most nontheoretical manner is based on the lexical assumption. That means that it is ...

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