Personality theories vary. There are more than a dozen theories of personality by as many great psychologists of all time. Each is different from the other in many ways. However, we talk about “development” of the personality, we mark some personality types as “successful” or “good” and we even run personality tests to determine the suitability of people for certain types of work. While many business-minded practitioners of “psychology” (which is mostly anything but psychology) use myths about personality to their advantage, with different theories of personality, the best psychological theorists have contributed to the weakness of the personality. personality concept.
Generally speaking, most definitions of the word “personality” mention a combination of characteristics, traits, or qualities that make up character, behavior, nature, and so on. distinctive of an individual. Such definitions stem from the assumption that there are combinations of characteristics that can be corrected (if not fixed). Such an assumption often turns out to be incorrect because the fact is that each individual is unique and different. With this as a backdrop, let’s explore some common “personality” myths.
Myth 1: Personality can be “developed.”
The so-called personality development, even if it works, occurs through the training process and the resulting learning. Through both nature and nurture, the individual’s unique personality develops in childhood itself. It is through the normal process of learning and unlearning that behavioral modifications are achieved in later years. However, the lifelong sustainability of such learning / unlearning is unlikely. It is because of this lack of sustainability that we often fail to get someone out of alcoholism or turn someone into poets at will. Labeling such temporary behavioral modifications as “personality development” helps people do business, despite their lack of genuine results orientation.
Myth 2: There are successful and unsuccessful personalities.
No individual is a permanent success or failure. Most successes can be attributed to opportunities, situations, etc. A successful army commander who wins a battle does so due to the combination of many factors such as men’s morale, weaponry, weather, or weather. You also don’t have to be a successful corporate manager just because you were successful as a warrior. Qualifying personalities as good, bad, successful or unsuccessful is therefore unrealistic.
Myth 3: leadership is a personality trait.
Leadership is situational. An individual who leads successfully in a particular situation does not need to be equally successful in all similar situations. Also, we tend to feel leadership only in acts / events that are exhibited. Leadership can occur even in situations that do not manifest. A leader can sometimes lead by even avoiding an action. But those who are used only to exhibited leadership mistake such displays for personality and personality traits.
Myth 4: Personalities can be typified.
Each individual has a unique personality. Therefore, in the real sense, personalities cannot be called types. There are many psychological and psychometric tests that divide individuals into labeled personality types. While it can serve certain general purposes, it can also harm people’s self-esteem or self-image.
Human development actually happens through people’s minds. Each person’s mindset is unique. Within certain parameters of nature, nurture, and the environment, human minds are constantly on the move to adapt to life situations. Helping human minds in this adaptation process in a socially complementary way can result in universal peace and a mutually supportive social life. Unfortunately, the trend around the world is to form personality types that follow influential individuals’ perceptions of social life, be it theological, ideological, managerial, or administrative. The result is the contamination of the minds of vulnerable people who become extremists, militants, fundamentalists, terrorists, dictators, etc. The nations of the world can prevent the contamination of people’s minds by influential individuals with faulty perceptions’ at a minuscule cost compared to their enormous expenditure on armies, weaponry, intelligence gathering, etc. But, in a social order in which we look for good or successful personality types, people who wield authority and power are unlikely to see the aspect of helping people’s minds to think, feel, and do in a way that support each other, because you may not be satisfied. your personal goals.