Personality Defined

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When you look at people, you see a number of similarities among them that are easily distinguishable. Of course, you can also point out several differences. The similarity is the underlying humanity that people have. Everyone has human feelings and human thoughts.

This is where those similarities stop, however, because every person on the planet is also unique and there are no two people who are exactly alike. This is because there are not two people who have the same perspective, the same life experience and the same mind.
This is even true when it comes to identical twins. Even identical twins have difference personalities because they both experience life differently.

Personality lies somewhere between unique individuality and common humanity.

People's personalities are surrounded by how people are human in different ways. There are a number of themes with limitless variations that make up someone's personality. It looks at how the human nature that is present in all people manifests in different ways of feeling, acting and thinking. Understanding how personality is defined in its most basic sense gives you a general idea about how and why your personality is what it is.

Basic Personality Defining to Set the Groundwork

Experts use many ways to define personality, depending on whether they are focusing on people in general or a personality. When experts are looking at people in general, they create a definition for personality based on individual differences. This means that they are looking at the different types of feeling, acting, thinking and the range that separates these.

Think about physical traits that humans inherit and the great range that these fall upon. Your behavioral and mental traits have a similar range. For example, you will notice that some people are reserved and quiet while others are outgoing and talkative. These variations and differences are a common thread throughout the human population. They should be noted and embraced because these traits come together to ensure that your personality is unique and not like anyone else's that you know or will ever meet.

When experts are looking at an individual's personality, they see it as a set of long-term tendencies or enduring dispositions to feel, act and think is specific ways. They are not referring to things like compulsive handwashing and other repeated actions. They are looking at the overall tendencies, patterns and inclinations that a person has. For example, if someone is reserved and quiet up until now, then tomorrow they are most likely to remain reserved and quiet.

Now, using the example of reserved and quiet, remember that a person who has these dominant personality traits might not always be this. In fact, they can have time where they are quiet loud and outgoing. It is the overall pattern of them being reserved and quiet most of the time that experts are referring to when they are looking at a person's personality. A shy person can sometimes be bold and a bold person can sometimes be shy.

Can Someone's Personality Change with Time?

Yes, a person's personality can change with time and this is true for most people. For some, the personality changes drastically while for most, there are subtle changes. These changes are generally associated with a person's life experiences. On the most intense end of the spectrum, a trauma is something that can significantly change a person's personality. For example, someone who is usually more of a wallflower might become a strong and outspoken person after a trauma and the reserve is also true.
Someone overall development can also impact how their personality changes over time. This is generally associated with the more subtle changes that are seen when it comes to personality changes. Remember that you will still be the same person, but perhaps a little less shy than you were two decades ago due to these changes.

You now have a better understanding of how your personality is defined in the most basic sense. You can use this information to learn more about your personality and why it is the way it is. You will also get some insight into how and why your friends, family and even strangers act the way they do. This information is just basic and there is a lot more interesting information to uncover, but if you understand this, you have the basis for learning more about the human mind and how your life experiences work to shape your personality.

References:

http://www.livescience.com/41313-personality-traits.html

http://www.cnn.com/2013/03/13/business/enneagram-personality-types/​