It seems that personality is a tough one to define. But I
found a few definitions.
Personality is an entity that has a
-
consistent and ongoing set of response patterns to
stimuli in the environment;
- sense of a continuous history;
- range of emotions available;
-
range
of intensity for each emotion – for example, anger ranging from neutrality to frustration
and irritation to anger and rage.
AND
-
the
sum total of the physical, mental, emotional and social characteristics of a
person;
- an organized pattern of behaviour;
- the quality of being a person;
- the existence as a self-conscious human being;
- personal identity;
- the essential character of a person.
Though often distinguished from
each of the other terms, the word personality is sometimes used more or less as
a synonym or approximation for mind, character, disposition, soul, spirit, self
ego, integrate of human functioning, identity, et cetera. … In psychiatry its
most specific function today is perhaps that of implying a unified total, of
indicating more than intelligence or character, … In the dictionaries, among
other definitions, one finds individuality defined as ‘the quality or state of
being a person; personal existence or identity.’ (The 3 Faces of Eve see BOOKS,
ARTICLES)
’How,’ the Front Runner asked
Stanley, ‘do you think personality is formed?’ Stanley [the therapist] replies
“’No one knows, exactly,… or at what stage of life it begins to be formed. Some
insist that personality is fixed in the womb by one’s genes; others say that we
“learn” our personalities as we go through life. I don’t think the answer is
readily available or that there is one single answer.’
’For the sake of argument, let’s
envision within each individual human being a tiny, utterly priceless core,
containing one’s own persona, or personality, one’s own self. And let’s say
that during the formative years from birth to seven years old, the core is open
and very vulnerable.’ (When Rabbit Howls
see BOOKS, ARTICLES)
