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Articles: Arts and Culture | Factors or determinants of Personality.
- Mr. Vachaspati V.
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This is continuation of the series that is on ‘Culture and Civilization’.
The factors or determinants, which affect the personality information, are as follows:
Environment:
The geographical or physical environment sometimes determines the 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 that of 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 of 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. 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.
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. Even human group inherits the same general set of biological needs and capacities. These common needs and capacities explain some of our similarities in personalities. Thus, personalities of Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, and Christian are different. Again among Hindu, personalities of different castes are different.
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 skinned 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 physical 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 or drunkard. It is so probable that he may become a leader of 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 as such environment, and culture etc.
Culture:
Besides, heredity and environment, it is culture, which largely determines the type of personality that predominates in particular group. It is the culture, as an important factor in shaping personality school of thought, who is also designated as psychological anthropologists. According to them, personality is subjective aspect of culture. They also regard culture and personality as two sides of the same coin.
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 personalities of Tribal, Muslim, Hindu and Sikh communities are different because they have acquired traits and complexes of their own cultural-religious beliefs and practices. It is because of differences in cultures that different Hindu castes possesses different character and personality.
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