Chapter 1

Personality

• Is the group of behavioral and emotional traits that distinguish an individual.

3 Factors That Shape Personality• Heredity- The sum of traits that are passed

from your ancestors to you. Influences your appearance, attitude, intelligence and behavior. (inherited traits)

• Environment- All the conditions, objects, and circumstances that surround an individual. (acquired traits)

• Your response to your environment- You and a friend watch the same movie you may respond differently by thinking it was poorly acted they may think it was Oscar worthy.

Howard Gardner

• Who?

– He was a psychologist who studied intelligence. He argues that humans have multiple intelligences or learning styles. He defines 9 styles:

Howard Gardner's 9 Styles

Self Concept

The way you see yourself.

• 3 Factors that are a part of your self image:

* Your Appearance

* Your Personality Traits

* Your Abilities

How Is Your Self Concept Formed?

• Comparing yourself to your peers.

• Knowing what you can and cannot do.

• The people you grew up around parents, family members, teachers, coaches, friends.. (They influenced your SC by reacting to your behavior)

• Knowing your strengths and weaknesses.

Self-Esteem

How you feel about yourself

• If you have a positive self-esteem, you recognize your weaknesses, accept them and work to be the best you can be.

• If you have a negative self-esteem, you may or may not recognize your weaknesses but struggle accepting them.

6 Ways Individuals Grow

• Chronologically-Determined at birth and can not be altered. Each year you are one year older.

• Physical- Easiest to observe in adolescence because the body grow and goes through changes. In adulthood the body works to maintain itself.

6 Ways Individuals Grow

• Intellectually- you inherit your potential for intellectual growth. People grow differently based on their environment and their response to that env. (IQ)

• Emotionally- How one handles their feelings.

• Socially- How one relates to others.

• Philosophically- Discovering your purpose in life.

Nature vs. Nurture

• Nature- Heredity

• Nurture- Environmental

Character

Your sense of right and wrong • It is the part of your personality that helps

you make choices that are in line with your personal priorities.

• Begins in childhood by interacting with parents and adults. You learning what behaviors are acceptable and not acceptable. Then by accepting these standards as your own.

7 Virtues • Self-discipline- To be able to direct self

and control behavior

• Responsibility- To be accountable for your actions

• Honesty and Integrity- To be real, genuine, truthful. To respect self and others.

• Loyalty- To care sincerely about the wellbeing of family, friends, and country.

7 Virtues

• Compassion and Mercy- To take seriously the realities of other persons, their lives, and their emotions, as well as their circumstances.

• Motivation and Hard Work- Inner urge to take positive action.

• Perseverance- Sets goals and works hard to achieve them.

Nature and Nurture affect your Character Development

• Self Discipline- If you inherit ADD, attention deficit disorder, the way you are nurtured (your environment) will play a part in how you are able to control your behavior.

• How do you think this child born to a single mother, who works nights, and never goes to parent teacher conferences because she is to tired, self discipline will develop?

Nature and Nurture affect your Character Development

• In contrast if this same child is born to two parents where the mom stays home and goes to all parent teacher conferences. How will the child’s self disciple develop?

• Honesty and Integrity- If a child see’s his care taker constantly stealing from the store, get caught once, and deny that they stole anything. How do you think the child’s honesty and integrity will develop.

Nature and Nurture affect your Character Development

• Honesty and Integrity- If a child see’s his care taker constantly stealing from the store, get caught once, and deny that they stole anything. How do you think the child’s honesty and integrity will develop.

• What played a part in this child’s character development. Nature or Nurture?

Becoming a Responsible or an Irresponsible Adult

One of the task of adolescence is to become a responsible, independent adult.

How does one’s character development influenced by nature and nurture affect whether they become a

responsible or irresponsible adult?

Ex: A child who grows up with a parent who abuses drugs will be more likely to do so themselves. This is because it may be accepted in the household. Creating a cycle of irresponsible behavior that could lean to undesirable consequences.

Roadblocks For Responsible Adults

May be one or more:

• Poverty

• Un-employment

• Crime

• Drugs and Alcohol