In the field of psychology, 'character' and 'personality' are two frequently mentioned but easily confused concepts. The two are closely related and have significant differences. Correct understanding of the difference between personality and personality will help us to have a deeper understanding of individual differences, behavioral tendencies and mental health status.
💡 Want to know your personality type? Welcome to try our professional personality test and psychological test scale to comprehensively analyze your psychological traits.
What is character? ——Stable characteristics of individual behavior and emotions
Character refers to the stable behavioral patterns and emotional reaction tendencies that an individual shows in daily life. It is mainly reflected in interpersonal communication, emotional expression and treatment of stress.
Main characteristics of personality
- Strong stability : slow personality changes and relatively long-lasting for a long time;
- The behavior is obvious : it can be reflected intuitively through words, behaviors and ways of doing things;
- Moderation of emotional reactions : such as irritability, steady, sensitive, calm, etc.;
Common personality dimensions (from the five major personality theories)
- Extrovert vs. Introvert : social activity level;
- Emotional stability vs. Neuroticism : Is it easy to be anxious when facing stress;
- Pleasantness (affinity) : whether it is friendly and empathetic;
- Conscientiousness (sense of responsibility) : whether it is punctual and organized;
- Openness (thinking flexibility) : whether you are willing to accept new ideas and experiences.
📌Recommended test: Big Five personality test
What is personality? ——The overall manifestation of psychological structure
Personality is a combination of individuals' cognition, emotions, motivation and behavior. It not only includes explicit behavioral characteristics, but also covers deeper belief systems, self-awareness and values.
The core composition of personality
- Cognitive traits : way of thinking, worldview;
- Emotional traits : emotional regulation method, emotional expression;
- Motivation system : goal driving force, self-realization pursuit;
- Behavioral style : habitual reactions and self-control ability;
The mainstream theoretical model of personality
| Theoretical name | Core point |
|---|---|
| Freudian Psychological Dynamics | Personality consists of three parts: the self, the self, and the superego. Subconscious conflict affects behavior |
| Five personality models | Systematized evaluation of personality in five dimensions |
| Jungian personality type theory | Emphasize personality preferences such as introversion-extroversion, thinking-emotion |
| Social Cognitive Theory (Bandura) | Behavior is the result of interaction between individuals, environments and behaviors |
📌Recommended test: Myers-Briggs Personality Type Indicators (MBTI Test)
The difference and connection between personality and personality
Core difference
| project | character | Personality |
|---|---|---|
| Category size | Part of personality | A broader structure including personality |
| Expression level | Mostly manifest in behavior and emotions | Including cognition, motivation, emotions, values, etc. |
| Observability | Easier to observe through external behavior | Systematic evaluation is required to understand deeply |
| stability | Stable but variable | More stable, longer formation period |
Their connection
- Character is a dimension of personality;
- Personality determines the direction of character formation;
- The long-term behavioral pattern of personality reflects the core characteristics of personality;
- In psychological assessment, personality tests are often used as a supplementary means of personality assessment.
Practical application scenarios of personality and personality
| Application areas | effect |
|---|---|
| Psychological counseling | Used to identify the root causes of behavioral disorders, anxiety and other problems |
| Career Planning | Match career personality model and improve career satisfaction |
| Recruitment | Determine the degree of matching candidates and positions |
| educate | Help teachers understand students' differences and optimize teaching methods |
🔗Read Extension: How to use psychological tests scientifically in recruitment
FAQ
Q1: Which one is easier to change, personality or personality?
Generally speaking, personality is more susceptible to environmental influences and changes in the short term , while personality has stronger stability.
Q2: Do children already have a complete personality?
Children are still in a critical period of personality development in the early stages, and their personality traits have initially emerged, but a complete personality has not yet been formed .
Q3: Is a good personality equal to a good personality?
Not exactly the same. A person may show a friendly personality, but there may still be cognitive bias or emotional disorders in his personality.
Conclusion: Understand personality and personality, and understand the true self
Character and personality form the core of the individual's psychological structure, and they interact and shape our thoughts, emotions and behaviors. In psychological research, clinical intervention and daily life, understanding these two concepts can help us better understand ourselves, others and social behavior patterns.
If you want to have a deeper understanding of your personality and personality traits, we recommend you to try our platform:
- 🔍Professional Psychological Test Collection
- 🧠Professional personality test series
- 📋Psychology Scale Tool Collection
Link to this article: https://m.psyctest.cn/article/0lxnQL5J/
If the original article is reprinted, please indicate the author and the source in the form of this link.
