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Articles: Arts and Culture | Culture and Civilization-5
- Mr. Vachaspati V.
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Determinants of Personality:
1. Environment:
The geographical or physical environment sometimes determines the variation in personality construction of members of a group. The personality of two cultural groups, residing in two geographical areas is found different, because of the fact that both groups have different geographical environments. For Example, Eskimos have different cultural personality than American Indians because of the fact that former have geography different to the latter. The culture and personality of people residing in hills and plain areas of India are different, as they belong to different geographical area. The cultural practices, characters, personalities of tribals inhabiting the hilly and forested area are quite different from the inhabitants of plain area. Thus, to the extent that the physical environment determines cultural development and to the extent that culture in turn determines personality, a relationship between personality and environment becomes clear. Nearly two thousand years ago, Aristotle claimed that the inhabitants of Northern Europe were full of spirit, but lack in intelligence and skill, owing to a cold climate. On the other hand, natives of Asia are intelligent and inventive but lack in spirit, and are, therefore, slaves. Thus above-cited examples reveal clearly that climate and topography determine, to a great extent, the physical and mental traits of the people, but they alone do not determine personality.
2. Heredity:
Heredity is another factor, which determines the traits of human personality. Some of the similarities in man’s personality are said to be due to common heredity. Intelligence, hardworking nature needs to have genetic base.
As an infant inherits biological characteristics from parents, they resemble parents in physical appearance and intelligence. It is due to this factor that the children of white skilled and intelligent parents are found white and intelligent. A man with good physical structure and health generally possesses an attractive personality. A man of poor health, pigmy size and ugly features develops inferiority complex. The growth of his personality is checked, rejected and hated by society. He may turn out to be a thief, dacoit drunkard. It is also problem that he may become a leader or a genius like Socrates and Napoleon. It is important to mention here that heredity alone is not solely determinant of personality, but other factors as well such as environment and culture etc.
3. Culture:
Besides, heredity and environment, it is culture, which largely determines the types of personality that predominate in particular group. It is the culture, as an important factor in shaping personality of a group. It is culture, as an important factor in shaping personality of a group, which has attracted the attention of the scholars of culture and personality school of thought, who are also designated as psychological anthropologists.
In India, the influence of culture on personality formation can be seen in different groups. The personality and status of male and female among Toda, Garo and Khasi, who are matrilineal societies, are different from Munda, Oraon etc., who are patrilineal, because both societies have different cultural patterns according to which personalities of their members are shaped. The character and personality of different tribal communities are different due to different cultural processes and practises. The personalities of Tribal, Hindu, Muslim and Sikh communities differ because they have acquired traits and complexes of their own cultural-religious beliefs and practises. It because of differences in cultures that different Hindu castes possess different character and personality.
4. Peculiar-Experiences:
Personality is also determined by another factor, namely, the particular and unique experiences. There are two types of experiences, one those that stem from continuous association of one’s own group, and second, and those that arise suddenly and are not likely to recur. The type of people, who meet the child daily, has a major influence upon his or her personality. The personality of parents does more to effect a child’s personality. If the parents are kind, tolerant, in-interested in athletics, and anxious to encourage their child’s separate interests, the child will have a different experience, and there shall be different influence on his personality, than whose parents are unkind, quick tempered and arbitrary. In the home, the style of personality is fashioned that will, by and large, characterise the individual throughout his life. Social rituals ranging from table manners to getting along with others are consciously inculcated in the child by the parents. The child picks up the language of his parents. Problems of psychological and emotional adjustment arise and are solved appropriately by each child in terms of cultural values and the standards of the family. The family set up tends to bring the child into contact with the playmates and teachers. Who are his play-game members, or his schoolteachers etc., this also determines his personality development. Group influences are relatively greater in early childhood. This is the period when the relationship of child with his mother, father and siblings affects profoundly the organisation of his drive and emotions, the deeper and unconscious aspects of his personality. A certain degree of maturation is needed before the child can understand the adult norms. The basic personality structure, that is, formed during this period, is difficult to change. Whether a person becomes a leader, a coward, an imitator, whether he feels inferior or superior, whether he becomes altruistic or egoistic, depends upon the kind of interaction he has with others. Thus group interaction moulds his personality.
Sometimes, a sudden experience leaves an abiding influence upon the personality of an individual. Thus a child may get frightened to see a bloody incident, and even after the incident, he may be obsessed by the horror and the fear. Sometimes a girl’s experience with a rapist may condemn her to a life of sexual maladjustment. A book may not often change a man to renounce the world and see God. If a man needs an accident, which cripples or weakens him, he may come to entertain the feeling of inadequacy. Lord Buddha is said to have been led to renunciation by the sight of a funeral procession. Thus, experience also determines one’s personality.
Thus, it appears clearly that the personality is a result of the combination of four factors, namely, physical environment, heredity, culture and particular experiences. These are the factors responsible for personality – it’s formation, development and maintenance. However, there is one difficulty that there is no way yet known to measure the effect of each factor or to state how the factor combine to produce a give a result. The behaviour of juvenile delinquent is affected by his heredity and by his home life. But how much is contributed by each factor cannot be measured in exact terms. It also appears that personality is a biological, social, cultural and psychological phenomenon.
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