Public Health - Personality Influences - Developing a healthy personality - By Microbiology Doctor dr (doctor_dr)

Developing a Healthy Personality

Personality Influences

The term "personality" is used in a variety of contexts. Television and film personalities are referred to as personalities. You might have heard that a chatty classmate has a lot of personality." Everyone, in fact, has a lot of personality. Your personality is the unique combination of feelings, thoughts, and behaviours that distinguishes you from others. Personalities may be healthy or sick, just as bodies. You must have strong mental health in order to build a healthy personality. Mental health refers to one's mental well-being. How you feel about what occurs to you is influenced by your mental health. People who are mentally healthy, such as themselves. They're also at ease with other people and their environment.

Personality research used to be focused on persons who were not in excellent mental health. Nowadays, more research is being done on the subject of a healthy personality. Psychologists [sy KAHL uh jists] are scientists who study personality. Psychologists have discovered two key variables that assist create one's personality in their research. One area of effect is characteristics existing at birth. The other area is made up of a person's surroundings.

Heredity

People believed that everyone's personality was predetermined at birth until the late 1800s. Heredity was thought to play a role in whether you were timid, brave, intelligent, or sluggish. Heredity is the biological transmission of traits from parents to offspring. Physical features such as height and eye colour are determined by heredity. The reason why children resemble their parents is due to heredity. Certain patterns of conduct are passed down from generation to generation. Instincts are the name given to these qualities. An instinct is a pattern of behaviour that is inherited and does not need to be learnt. All newborns, for example, are born knowing how to breastfeed. Nursing comes naturally to most people.

Despite the fact that psychologists have examined a large number of people, they have only discovered a few instinctive behaviours. According to some experts, humans are born with particular sensations that govern their behaviour. Carl Jung, a Swiss psychiatrist, was a pioneer in this idea. In 1921, Jung published a book called Psychological Types. It recognised two primary personality kinds, according to Jung.

The introvert is one of them. An introvert [IHN truh vurt] is someone who is preoccupied with their own ideas. An introvert is a person who prefers to study books rather than go to parties. An extrovert [EHKS truh vurt] is someone who is fascinated by the world around them. An extrovert is someone who prefers being among others over being alone.

The ability to learn and deal with change is what intelligence is all about. Scientists investigated identical twins to assess the influence of genetics in intellect. Identical twins share the identical genetic makeup. Identical twins can have fairly comparable cognitive scores. Even if the twins grow up in separate environments, this is true.

The intelligence of brothers and sisters has also been compared by scientists. The heredity of brothers and sisters is comparable but not identical. Tween twins were shown to have higher intellect levels than brothers and sisters. These findings show that heredity has a significant impact on intelligence. Other research has found that talent in art, athletics, or languages may be handed down from parent to kid. Scientists believe that genetics has a significant impact in personality formation. Most psychologists agree that a person's circumstances have a significant impact on how inherited traits manifest. Consider the case of a youngster who is musically gifted. If this youngster receives piano instruction, he or she has the potential to become a fantastic pianist. However, if the child never receives music lessons, the inherited talent may be lost.

Figure 4 - 1 Newborns know by instinct how to nurse.

Environment

Many of the qualities that create your personality are innate, while others are acquired through your surroundings. The total of all physical and social circumstances in your immediate vicinity is your environment. Your environment includes your family, school, and neighbourhood. Learned behaviour refers to how you respond to your surroundings. Your behaviour is heavily influenced by your family. From the moment a kid is born, his or her parents begin the process of socialisation. The process of teaching behaviour based on the beliefs and habits of the family and community is known as socialisation [soh shuh lih ZAY shun]. It encompasses religious, cultural, and social teachings, as well as clothing and manners.

Some families, for example, may be extremely close. Other families may adopt a more formal approach to their interactions. Socialization takes place both inside and outside the home. Can you picture living without all of the influences you come into contact with on a daily basis? Some of these can be found in your neighbourhood. In the United States, many distinct influences may be seen.

Some Louisiana residents were accustomed to playing upbeat music and dancing at memorial services for loved ones. This is still done today. To individuals in other areas, this may not appear to be the proper way to act.

Other customs may be more difficult to discern. Unless you were with someone who had different customs, you may not think about them. Some families, for example, may be extremely close. Other families may adopt a more formal approach to their interactions. Socialization takes place both inside and outside the home. Can you picture living without all of the influences you come into contact with on a daily basis? Some of these can be found in your neighbourhood. In the United States, many distinct influences may be seen.

A positive educational atmosphere can occasionally assist youngsters with low intellect in improving their IQ.

Figure 4 - 2 Children begin imitating adults very early in life.

Conditioning is a common part of the socialisation process. Conditioning is the process of shaping behaviour through the use of punishment or reward. When parents walk away when a youngster brags, for example, the child may learn to brag less. When a kid is rewarded for being nice, he or she is more likely to desire to continue acting in that manner. Another method that youngsters learn is via modelling. The act of learning through mimicking another individual is known as modelling. A role model is someone who others look up to and emulate. Using an older brother as a role model, a child can learn to be helpful around the house. Socialization—in the form of community, home, and school—assists in the formation of your thoughts and perspectives on life.

Lesson Summary 

Your personality is the unique combination of feelings, ideas, and behaviours that distinguishes you from others. The state of your mental health influences how you feel, think, and behave. A healthy personality necessitates good mental health. Most scientists agree that both heredity and environment play a role in determining one's personality.