People are not alike. Everyone has their own model of behavior in society. Someone easily gets along with people, finds common topics, and encourages the interlocutor to communicate. Another person looks closely at those around him for a long time, carefully selects the object of communication, thinks about the course of the conversation, and so on.
It all depends on the character. Character is a person’s model of behavior, his reaction to the world, his internal state. Character is formed as a result of hereditary qualities and upbringing.
A person lives in a society of people and his attitude towards others plays a significant role. The quality of life of society and its civilization depend on this.
Sociability, kindness, responsiveness. It is difficult and unpleasant to communicate with a rude, indifferent, cynical person.
To live, everyone must work, thereby obtaining a livelihood for themselves and their families.
Certain character traits help you succeed in this.
To achieve success, you must have certain talents - creative thinking, perseverance, hard work, courage in decision making. They value people who are proactive and conscientious. In teamwork, it is important to trust employees. Efficiency is a valuable quality.
Character can be changed because it is influenced by the communication environment.
For example, a non-obligatory person who takes these promises lightly can turn into a responsible employee if in the service the success of the enterprise and the lives of other people depend on his decisions and actions. This is especially evident in the professions of firefighters, doctors, judges, where the destinies and lives of people are decided.
Kretschmer gave an original classification of human character according to body type:
Picnics are strong people at a certain stage of obesity. Facial features are disproportionate to body parts, small. They are sociable, positive, generous. Negative character traits include a tendency to depression in difficult life situations.
Asthenics are thin, tall individuals with a long face. These are closed, uncommunicative people. They prefer loneliness and are often rude, greedy, and stubborn. But it is asthenics who have a developed mind and talent for science.
Athletic people are physically developed and attractive, but not emotional people. Among them there are both good and evil.
Negative character traits
There are people who try to make money in dubious ways. At the same time, people who trusted the deceiver suffer from deception and are held responsible for the result of dishonest behavior.
A person’s successes and failures largely depend on what place he assigns to you in society. If he behaves confidently and calmly, this evokes respect and sympathy. A person who adequately responds to constructive criticism and behaves with dignity is liked.
A person should cherish and appreciate the good things he has
Modesty, as we know, is also one of the most worthy personality traits.
Mutual assistance is only good if it comes from a pure heart, without expectation of reciprocal action. A person must cherish and appreciate the good things that he has. You cannot demand and expect incredible luck from life without doing anything to achieve great results. , but without stinginess.
The role of education in the development of character
Plays a big role in shaping a person’s character. From childhood, a child follows the example of his parents. If they behave incorrectly towards loved ones, towards work, towards politics, the child absorbs all this and learns the wrong model of behavior. Over time, this model develops into a character.
Growing up, a person introduces into his behavior the views instilled in him by his father and mother. A child should be brought up with open, simple and logical ideas about life for him to understand. If adults say one thing and do the opposite, the child becomes lost in concepts and becomes hypocritical. At first he cannot understand this situation. But since adults do not clearly explain to him why they lie, he accepts this model of behavior and also learns to lie.
Temperament and character
These concepts are related, but not identical. Temperament is related to the human psyche. These are his innate characteristics. The diversity of personality types forms special personal relationships in society. If character is formed in an environment of communication, then a person is born with a special temperament. It can be guessed in a person from a very early age by behavior.
There are 4 types of temperaments:
Melancholic people are vulnerable, nervous people. They find it difficult to get along with people and do not like to share their problems. They often become depressed; if this condition is not helped, a melancholic person may commit suicide. Such people are influenced by the environment. If there are kind people around a melancholic person, he feels great. Scientists, artists, and writers often have this temperament. Such children do not like noisy games.
Cholerics are sociable, active, and inquisitive. The energy of a choleric child must be directed in the right direction. He must attend sports clubs and dance clubs. Otherwise, his activity may find a way out in bad, thoughtless actions. Choleric people are born leaders; they strive to stand out from the crowd and lead. They have a certain tenacity, they can be greedy, some strive for quick dishonest earnings. Cholerics are prone to transformation, and there are many talented actors among them. The tendency to pretend is evident from childhood.
Sanguine people are balanced, calm people. You can rely on them - in a difficult situation they will always find a way out. They are not afraid of difficulties and are rarely exposed to bad habits. They use common sense in everything. Sanguine people do not like loneliness, they like to communicate with people, they have a good sense of humor. They have almost no negative character traits.
Phlegmatic people are mentally stable. Their strengths are intelligence. Restraint, composure. They do not like sudden changes in life.
There must be a golden mean in character. It is necessary to distinguish in assessing a person:
- thrift from greed,
- modesty from isolation,
- restraint from indifference.
Before we begin to classify and list character traits, it is necessary to understand what character is. In Greek, “character” is a difference, a sign, a sign. From the point of view of psychology, character is a certain set of personal properties that determine a person’s actions in various situations and form him as an individual.
There is an ancient saying: “If you sow an action, you will reap a habit; if you sow a habit, you will reap a character; if you sow a character, you will reap a destiny.” This saying briefly and succinctly reflects the place that character occupies in the life and destiny of a person. Therefore, it is so important to know what character traits people have in order to learn to understand their influence on the resolution of various, and especially conflict, situations.
Classification of character traits
Conventionally, character traits can be divided into three main groups:
- emotional;
- strong-willed;
- intellectual.
According to the direction of impact, traits are also divided into the following subgroups:
- attitude towards the outside world - people and society;
- attitude towards oneself personally;
- attitude to activity - learning and work.
The most basic character traits, especially those that belong to the emotional group, are formed in early childhood - at the stage of formation of the child’s psyche and depend on many factors. An important role is played by a person’s natural predisposition, which is influenced by hereditary characteristics and temperament. But the main influence is the environment.
It is in childhood that positive and negative character traits of a person are formed in the process of acquiring experience in interacting with the outside world. Then, throughout life, the formation of individual traits continues, and new ones may appear. And if at first this process occurs at an unconscious, reflexive level, then with the acquisition of awareness, and depending on its level, a person has a choice. When this choice is realized, the opportunity opens up for transformation of character, which is otherwise called personal growth.
Basic character traits
Today there are several hundred definitions of various character traits. Moreover, they can coexist in one person in a variety of combinations. Depending on the direction of influence, such traits can have both positive and negative consequences of their influence. Therefore, it is very difficult to say with one hundred percent certainty that these are bad character traits and these are good. In most cases, it makes sense to talk about certain sets of properties that in a certain situation can have a great influence on the consequences of solving certain problems, defined as positive or negative, which again will be a subjective opinion to a certain extent.
And yet, let’s try to compile a list of the main character traits that are formed in the early stages of development and therefore belong more likely to the emotional group, conditionally dividing them not into bad and good, but, say, into positive and negative character traits of a person, as is commonly believed in social circles. -moral point of view.
Negative character traits
Anger. This is an emotional trait that can be expressed in a negative attitude of any direction - towards oneself, people and even towards work. If this is not a periodic, but a constant reaction, most likely its roots are in deep childhood resentment.
Pride. In religion, such a trait is even considered one of the grave sins. Because a person in whom this quality is very strongly manifested loses the ability to make adequate assessments and make correct decisions. Such a person ultimately causes harm to both others and himself.
Selfishness. This is a negative trait that concentrates and gives rise to a whole host of others. In fact, it can become the quintessence of all unseemly character traits, but, as a rule, it has a negative impact in relation to other people, while in relation to oneself it is subjectively considered positive.
Jealousy. This character trait is associated with selfishness and pride, since it presupposes a sense of possessiveness and has a destructive effect not only on others, but also on oneself, since jealousy is blind and therefore can lead to very bad actions.
Greed. It can have different forms: greed for fame, money, things, food, pleasures, etc. Pushes a person to unseemly actions and causes rejection from others.
Envy. A person obsessed with envy causes harm, first of all, to himself. After all, as they say, envy eats you from the inside, sharpens you like a worm. It can also bring great harm to the object of envy if the owner of such a trait intends to somehow restore the apparent imbalance in his favor.
Cruelty. This trait in any form brings only destruction and suffering to those to whom it is directed. Psychologists believe that it is a manifestation of lack of will. It can be added that often a cruel person is guided by fear and self-doubt.
Positive Character Traits
It is believed that all character traits have their opposite. Therefore, let's look at what character traits there are that are opposite to those listed above.
Kindness. Unlike an evil person, you want to communicate with a good person. Kindness also implies such traits as selflessness and participation. Is this why those who have predominantly negative character traits so often try to use good people for their own purposes? Think about it.
Humility. Some people don't like this quality because for some reason it is considered slavish. In fact, this is a very good trait that can work wonders - for example, stop destructive conflicts, nullify infighting and useless showdowns.
Altruism. This is the complete opposite of selfishness. An egoist will never understand an altruist, but an altruist will understand, listen, forgive and even help. An amazing trait that is an endangered species, but in vain.
Trust. Perhaps it is the most accurate antipode of jealousy, although some argue that its antipode is love. But it is trust, and not gullibility, that is the saving bridge between loving people that can connect them and give true happiness in communicating with each other.
Generosity. If it spreads in all directions, it will be a unique personality. This character trait is a blessing to others, and if it is from the heart, then to its owner.
Goodwill. Despite the fact that this trait is associated with kindness, it refers more to external manifestations, in contrast to envy, which is always secret. Kindness blesses and attracts if it is sincere and is a character trait and not a show.
Mercy. One of the best character traits of a person. We can safely say that this world is based on mercy, as one of the forms of universal love. By developing this trait, a person becomes enriched spiritually.
Other character traits
There are many other character traits that can be emotional, strong-willed or intellectual. They are developed already during adulthood and are based on life experience. This is how curiosity and thoughtfulness, determination and independence appear. At the same time, character strengths can enhance both positive and negative traits. For example, assertiveness combined with anger can lead to destruction, and combined with kindness it can lead to the salvation of another person. It is not for nothing that they say that, as many people as there are, there are so many characters, and in fact, even knowing many of the character traits of a particular person, it is impossible to one hundred percent predict his behavior in a specific situation.
Is it possible to change your character traits?
It only makes sense to change your traits in a positive direction. After all, in the end, all positive traits lead to creation and improvement, and negative ones lead to destruction and destruction. But to do this, you must first come to the realization that negative traits really exist, and thereby complicate the individual’s life. And very few succeed in this.
Before you begin to formulate a judgment about the character traits of a particular person, you need to have a clear idea of what the properties of human nature generally are. Let's begin to act according to the list of human character traits and according to a clear gradation, dividing the character according to the principle of black and white, that is, into its positive and negative features.
Negative qualities of human nature
Adventurism is often called a negative quality of human nature. And indeed, excessive passion for various adventures does not lead to anything good - at best, a person scatters his life in the pursuit of unrealistic dreams and the implementation of chaotic projects.
However, healthy adventurism is necessarily inherent in a successful businessman - without it, innovation in entrepreneurial activity and corresponding commercial success are impossible. If you follow this path, you can identify other, basically negative character traits that a successful person definitely needs.
Here they are: authoritarianism (the leader’s decision should not be questioned), gambling (the desire to earn money in unusual ways, the ability to take risks), as well as greed (again, the desire to achieve financial success) and a certain unprincipledness, which cannot be avoided in big business. However, a certain balance will be important here, which will not allow a successful business person to turn into a complete scoundrel.
However, let's leave business aside and move on to the character traits of ordinary people.
What are the negative character traits of a person?
- Let's start with pride, which in many religious movements is generally considered a mortal sin. A person overwhelmed by pride thinks that the world exists only for his sake and that everything is done according to his whims and for his pleasure. Such a proud person is capable of causing a lot of pain to his loved ones and never finding his place in life;
- Excessive lust for power cannot be called a positive quality of human character. The desire to tell others what and how to do does not inspire sympathy;
- Selfishness and vanity are also negative traits - concentration on one’s needs and excessive boasting of one’s often dubious achievements irritates and makes communication with a person of this type extremely difficult;
- A jealous person is capable of poisoning the life of a loved one, turning a cozy family nest into a hotbed of scandals and even leading to crime, therefore excessive jealousy in character is considered one of his worst qualities;
- It is worth getting rid of resentment and envy. Envy can undermine the soul from the inside, forcing you to wish bad things on other people - that’s why the stable expression “to be jealous in a black way” appeared. Resentment is bad because a person withdraws inside himself, reveling in the feeling of resentment, and does not at all look for ways to resolve a conflict or problem situation;
- Cruelty and vindictiveness are considered two of the most negative qualities of human character. Rigidity is the other side of another negative character trait - lack of will. A person tries to restore his lost status quo through violence and infliction of pain on those around him;
- The negative qualities of human nature also include: callousness, wastefulness, stinginess, suspiciousness, malice, self-criticism and lust.
Positive character traits
What human character traits are considered positive? One of the most important good qualities of human nature is certainty, that is, a character trait in which a person always knows what to strive for and what he needs to do to achieve the goal.
It is not scattered on unimportant and unimportant factors, but goes straight along the chosen path:
- Hard work is also an extremely important positive feature in human nature. Without hard work, little can be achieved in life: after all, all its important milestones require regular and careful application of effort;
- Reasonable vigilance is also necessary for each of us - after all, it is precisely this that will help us draw the right conclusions from the most difficult life situations and teach us how to promptly prevent the occurrence of problems of all kinds;
- Endurance is a character quality that is difficult to do without in modern life, because it is full of stress, conflict and controversial issues. The ability to withstand all the trials of life and be ready to continue on your path is a very, very valuable skill;
- Kindness is very useful in life. Treating strangers with attention and warmth, sincere care for them without the desire for profit or reward - adorns a person, makes him a worthy person;
- Mindfulness is useful not only in career and study - this quality will help preserve a person’s health and even life. It is important to develop this quality in yourself from childhood - an attentive person is most often successful in all areas of life;
- It is important and necessary to show courage in judgments and actions, because how many omissions people make, being afraid to express their opinion openly or show their talent;
- The ability to compassion, according to many philosophers, can save the world. You cannot indifferently pass by the suffering of others and not extend a helping hand to those in need;
- It is also worth learning determination - it will help you make the most difficult and important decisions in situations where any delay is disastrous;
- It is necessary to cultivate respect for other people and learn to respect yourself. Without respect, it is impossible to ensure a normal working environment in the office; it is also impossible to create a truly cozy and loving family circle;
- Spiritual generosity is required in a person - the ability to give one’s strength, feelings, talents and abilities to others, to share joys and opportunities with them;
- Tenderness and cheerfulness are important for the full existence of an individual in society. Showing touching concern for your neighbor, sincere interest in the problems of others takes standard communication to a new, higher and harmonious level, and the ability to enjoy life in all its manifestations will help you overcome crises and notice the beauty of the world around you;
- People should not forget about honor: they must not throw their dignity into the dirt, humiliate their own personality with lies or base aspirations. It is important to learn to be honest not only with others, but also with yourself - then most mistakes can be avoided;
- The ability to be grateful is the most magnificent and, unfortunately, extremely rare positive quality of human nature - but it is precisely this that allows others and the person himself to realize the value of his life and talents.
Finally, I would like to note such a positive property of human nature as humility. Humility is taught and called for by various religious and philosophical movements, and this is not without reason: after all, it is humility that helps a person realize his mistakes, not get hung up on unreasonable and horizon-limiting pride, but having recognized defeat, begin to move on.
Humility is the highest virtue and an invaluable quality not only of character, but also of the human soul.
It is important to remember that any qualities of a person’s character are always reflected on his face and an attentive psychologist is able to draw correct conclusions about a person simply by taking a quick glance at a person.
A person’s character and his facial features are closely related; it’s not without reason that even a very handsome person with an evil soul quickly ceases to be attractive to others, and a kind and warm look can decorate even the most unsightly appearance.
This connection is examined in more detail by a special science - physiognomy, which is used in both psychology and criminology.
Modern recruitment agencies also do not shy away from this science - it allows them to make the recruitment of qualified personnel the most effective.
Character- this is a unique set of qualities that determine the originality and uniqueness of each individual person, his personality and behavior. Understanding character facilitates the process of communication between people and helps to avoid controversial or conflict situations. The very concept of “character” is of Greek origin and denotes the characteristics of the psycho-emotional manifestation and expression of an individual.
Character Traits
Each of us, without much thinking, can easily and quickly name various character traits. This list can be very capacious. But in order to determine the characteristic type of a particular individual, one should know not only its main features, but also be able to indicate which of them are defining and which are only complementary. In modern psychology there are:
- leading traits, which in fact are the determinants of character as a whole;
- secondary traits that complement and individualize a particular personality.
Knowing the leading features allows you to determine the essence of all character, its “backbone”.
The presence of two identical traits in two people does not indicate the identity of their character. So, both have a love of truth and timidity at the same time. If the first one has fearfulness leading feature, then, most likely, he will not outwardly express his disapproval of the actions or behavior of others that contradict his internal beliefs. He would rather remain silent, arguing in his heart about the wrongness of those around him. And vice versa, if another’s leading quality is love of truth, and the secondary one is timidity, then he will not fail to point out to others that they are wrong, fearing only in the depths of his soul the consequences of his statements.
The characteristic features are divided into the following main groups in relation to various everyday aspects:
- attitude towards other people (tactfulness, friendliness, rudeness, sociability, isolation, sincerity, truthfulness, deceit, etc.);
- attitude to work, activity (responsibility, hard work, dishonesty, laziness, irresponsibility, etc.);
- attitude towards oneself (self-criticism, narcissism, modesty, arrogance, self-confidence, pride, vanity, etc.);
- attitude towards property and property (generosity, frugality, accuracy, carelessness, sloppiness, etc.).
The dominant group is the first (i.e., attitude towards others), since man is a social being, the main features of his behavior are formed and manifested in society. The assessment of behavior by others influences the formation and understanding of character as a whole.
Character Structure
The structure highlights features of both individual properties and those common to a certain group of people: national, age or professional. The image and way of life, features of everyday life, even language and national structure influence the formation of common features for groups and even entire nations. Thus, people of one nationality differ from another in their lifestyle, habits, type of thinking, etc. At the everyday level, typical common features create certain stereotypes. Most of us have our own idea about the inhabitants of a particular country, their habits and morals: the Italians, the French, the Japanese, etc.
All this is true to some extent: character is not an innate or hereditary trait, it formed in the process of personality development as a representative of a certain group or community. It is a product of society, which can explain similar or different traits in the morals of people of different groups.
Accentuation- this is the increased development of certain traits characteristic of an individual. Thus, a distinction is made between extroverts (open and sociable people) and introverts (closed and unsociable).
There is the following classification of character by accentuation, according to which the following types of character are distinguished:
- Hyperthymic. The defining properties of this type are: talkativeness, sociability, such people have well-developed facial expressions. Along with this, such people are often irritable and frivolous, but at the same time they are very energetic and proactive.
- Disthymic. The traits that define this type are isolation and pessimism. Such people avoid noisy companies, but highly value friendship; they have a heightened sense of injustice. When making important decisions, they are often slow and clumsy.
- Cycloid. For this type of accentuation, the defining feature is the frequent change of mood, depending on which they are either withdrawn into themselves, or, on the contrary, sociable beyond measure.
- Excitable. A distinctive feature of this type of accentuation is conflict. Such people are difficult to communicate with, are often authoritarian in the family, and are difficult to get along with in groups. They are neat and attentive when they are calm, but in a bad mood they are often irritable and hot-tempered.
- Stuck. These are very intractable individuals who love to teach everyone. They often cause various conflicts to arise. The demands they place on others (as well as on themselves) are very high.
- Pedantic. The defining feature of this type is increased (sometimes excessive) attention to detail. Such people do not strive for leadership; they are conscientious, but they like to grumble about any reason.
- Anxious. Individuals with this type are insecure. They strive to avoid conflict situations, and in cases of such they seek support from others. Friendliness and self-criticism are also defining features of their character, but their lack of willpower often makes them the subject of jokes or ridicule.
- Demonstrative. Representatives of this type of character easily make contact, can adapt to any situation, and are prone to intrigue. One of their defining properties is self-confidence, which often becomes the cause of disputes and conflicts. People with this character are artistic and courteous, they have unconventional thinking. They can often be boastful, hypocritical and selfish.
In modern psychology there are many classifications.
Types of temperament
Temperament has a huge influence on the formation of this or that type of character, which has been noted since the times of the Ancient World. Thus, Hippocrates divided all temperaments into four main types:
- – a cheerful, cheerful, balanced person who soberly assesses the situation and acts thoughtfully.
- Choleric– a person who reacts quickly to external events; he can often be unreasonably harsh and inclined to commit rash acts. As a rule, choleric people are hot-tempered and unbalanced.
- – a person characterized by emotional stability and endurance. It is almost impossible to bring him out of a state of mental balance and peace.
- Melancholic– an individual with increased nervous sensitivity; nervous stress and shock are strictly contraindicated for people of this type.
It should be noted, however, that in their so-called pure form these types of temperaments are extremely rare. As a rule, the temperament is of a mixed type (one type may have some traits of both phlegmatic and sanguine, both choleric and melancholic).
The relationship between temperament and human character
The words “character” and “temperament” are often compared with each other; they often replace each other.
In psychology, there are four fundamental views on the relationship between them:
- unity of temperament and character, their identification (according to the teachings of E. Kretschmer and A. Ruzicki);
- opposition of temperament and character, their antagonism (teachings of P. Viktorov, V. Virenius);
- recognition of a person’s temperament as the core or element of his character (according to S. Rubinstein, S. Gorodetsky);
- recognition of temperament as the natural basis of the entire character (according to L. Vygotsky, B. Ananyev).
Both the types of temperament and the types of a person’s character depend on the characteristics of his physiology and the type of nervous system. A person's character is formed when his temperament is quite developed. Temperament is the basis of character, but does not predetermine it. People with the same type of temperament may have different character traits. The type of temperament can influence whether it helps or hinders the development of certain character traits. For example, it is much more difficult for a phlegmatic person to cultivate sociability than a sanguine person, and a choleric person requires much more effort to become balanced than a phlegmatic person, etc.
The character and temperament of a person are closely interrelated with each other; together they constitute a person’s individuality, the foundations and description of his behavior.
Character(Greek - sign, distinctive property, distinctive feature, feature, sign or seal) - a structure of persistent, relatively permanent mental properties that determine the characteristics of relationships and behavior of an individual.
When they talk about character, they usually mean just such a set of properties and qualities of a person that leave a certain stamp on all its manifestations and actions. Character traits constitute those essential properties of a person that determine a particular way of behavior or way of life. The statics of character are determined by the type of nervous activity, and its dynamics are determined by the environment.
Character is also understood as:
- a system of stable motives and modes of behavior that form a behavioral type of personality;
- a measure of balance between the internal and external worlds, the characteristics of an individual’s adaptation to the reality around him;
- a clear definition of the typical behavior of each person.
In the system of personality relationships, there are four groups of character traits that form symptom complexes:
- a person’s attitude towards other people, the team, society (sociability, sensitivity and responsiveness, respect for others - people, collectivism and the opposite traits - isolation, callousness, callousness, rudeness, contempt for people, individualism);
- traits that show a person’s attitude to work, his business (hard work, a penchant for creativity, conscientiousness in work, a responsible attitude to work, initiative, perseverance and the opposite traits - laziness, a tendency to routine work, dishonesty, irresponsible attitude to work, passivity) ;
- traits that show how a person relates to himself (self-esteem, correctly understood pride and the self-criticism associated with it, modesty and its opposite traits - conceit, sometimes turning into arrogance, vanity, arrogance, resentment, shyness, egocentrism as a tendency to consider center of events
- yourself and your experiences, egoism - the tendency to care primarily about your personal good);
- traits that characterize a person’s attitude towards things (neatness or sloppiness, careful or careless handling of things).
One of the most famous theories of character is the theory proposed by the German psychologist E. Kretschmer. According to this theory, character depends on physique.
Kretschmer described three body types and three corresponding character types:
Asthenics(from Greek - weak) - people are thin, with long faces. long arms and legs, flat (ore cell and weak muscles. The corresponding type of character is schizothymics- people are closed, serious, stubborn, difficult to adapt to new conditions. In case of mental disorders, they are prone to schizophrenia;
Athletics(from Greek - characteristic of wrestlers) - people are tall, broad-shouldered, with a powerful chest, strong skeleton and well-developed muscles. The corresponding character type is ixothymics- people are calm, unimpressive, practical, domineering, restrained in gestures and facial expressions; They do not like change and do not adapt well to it. In case of mental disorders, they are prone to epilepsy;
Picnics(from Greek - dense. thick) - people of average height, overweight or prone to obesity, with a short neck, large head and a wide face with small features. The corresponding type of character is cyclothymics - people are sociable, sociable, emotional, easily adapting to new conditions. With mental disorders, they are prone to manic-depressive psychosis.
General concept of character and its manifestations
In concept character(from the Greek character - “seal”, “minting”), means a set of stable individual characteristics that develop and manifest themselves in activity and communication, determining typical modes of behavior for it.
When determining the character of a person, they do not say that such and such a person showed courage, truthfulness, frankness, that this person is courageous, truthful, frank, i.e. the named qualities are the properties of a given person, his character traits that can manifest themselves under appropriate circumstances. Knowing a Person's Character allows you to predict with a significant degree of probability and thereby correct expected actions and actions. It is often said about a person with character: “He had to do exactly this, he could not have done otherwise - that’s his character.”
However, not all human features can be considered characteristic, but only significant and stable ones. If a person, for example, is not polite enough in a stressful situation, this does not mean that rudeness and lack of restraint are a property of his character. Sometimes, even very cheerful people can feel sad, but this will not make them whiners and pessimists.
Speaking as a lifetime person, character is determined and formed throughout a person’s life. The way of life includes the way of thoughts, feelings, motives, actions in their unity. Therefore, as a certain way of life of a person is formed, the person himself is formed. A big role here is played by social conditions and specific life circumstances in which a person’s life path takes place, based on his natural properties and as a result of his actions and actions. However, the actual formation of character occurs in groups of different levels of development (groups of friends, class, sports team, etc.). Depending on which group is the reference group for the individual and what values it supports and cultivates in its environment, the corresponding character traits will develop in its members. Character traits will also depend on the individual’s position in the group, on how he integrates into it. In a team as a group of a high level of development, the most favorable opportunities are created for the development of the best character traits. This process is mutual, and thanks to the development of the individual, the team itself develops.
Character content, reflecting social influences, influences, constitutes the life orientation of the individual, i.e. her material and spiritual needs, interests, beliefs, ideals, etc. The orientation of the individual determines the goals, life plan of a person, and the degree of his life activity. The character of a person presupposes the presence of something significant for him in the world, in life, something on which the motives of his actions, the goals of his actions, the tasks that he sets for himself depend.
Crucial for understanding character is the relationship between what is socially and personally significant for a person. Every society has its own most important and essential tasks. It is on them that the character of people is formed and tested. Therefore, the concept of “character” refers to a greater extent to the relationship of these objectively existing tasks. Therefore, character is not just any manifestation of firmness, perseverance, etc. (formal persistence may simply be stubbornness), but a focus on socially significant activities. It is the orientation of the individual that underlies unity, integrity, and strength of character. Possessing goals in life is the main condition for the formation of character. A spineless person is characterized by the absence or scattering of goals. However, the character and direction of a person are not the same thing. Both a decent, highly moral person and a person with low, unscrupulous thoughts can be good-natured and cheerful. The orientation of the individual leaves an imprint on all human behavior. And although behavior is determined not by one impulse, but by an integral system of relationships, in this system something always comes to the fore, dominating it, giving a person’s character a unique flavor.
In a formed character, the leading component is a belief system. Conviction determines the long-term direction of a person’s behavior, his inflexibility in achieving his goals, confidence in the justice and importance of the work he is doing. Character traits are closely related to a person’s interests, provided that these interests are stable and deep. Superficiality and instability of interests are often associated with great imitation, with a lack of independence and integrity of a person’s personality. And, conversely, the depth and content of interests indicate the purposefulness and perseverance of the individual. Similarity of interests does not imply similar character traits. Thus, among rationalizers one can find cheerful and sad people, modest and obsessive people, egoists and altruists.
Indicative for understanding character can also be a person’s attachments and interests associated with his leisure time. They reveal new features, facets of character: for example, L. N. Tolstoy was fond of playing chess, I. P. Pavlov - small towns, D. I. Mendeleev - reading adventure novels. Whether a person’s spiritual and material needs and interests dominate is determined not only by the thoughts and feelings of the individual, but also by the direction of his activities. No less important is the correspondence of a person’s actions to the goals set, since a person is characterized not only by what he does, but also by how he does it. Character can perhaps be understood only as a certain unity of direction and course of action.
People with similar orientations can take completely different paths to achieving goals, using their own special techniques and methods to achieve this. This dissimilarity also determines the specific character of the individual. Character traits, having a certain motivating force, are clearly manifested in the situation of choosing actions or methods of behavior. From this point of view, the degree of expression of an individual’s achievement motivation—his need to achieve success—can be considered as a character trait. Depending on this, some people are characterized by a choice of actions that ensure success (showing initiative, competitive activity, risk-taking, etc.), while others are more likely to simply avoid failures (deviation from risk and responsibility, avoidance manifestations of activity, initiative, etc.).
Teaching about character - characterology has a long history of its development. The most important problems of characterology for centuries have been the establishment of character types and their definition by their manifestations in order to predict human behavior in various situations. Since character is the lifetime formation of a personality, most of its existing classifications are based on grounds that are external, indirect factors in personality development.
One of the most ancient attempts to predict human behavior is to explain his character by his date of birth. Various ways of predicting the fate and character of a person are called horoscopes.
No less popular are attempts to connect a person’s character with his name.
A significant influence on the development of characterology was exerted by physiognomy(from the Greek Physis - “nature”, gnomon - “knowing”) - the doctrine of the connection between the external appearance of a person and his belonging to a certain type of personality, thanks to which the psychological characteristics of this type can be established by external signs.
Palmistry has a no less famous and rich history than the physiognomic direction in characterology. Palmistry(from the Greek Cheir - “hand” and manteia - “fortune-telling”, “prophecy”) - a system for predicting a person’s character traits and his fate based on the skin texture of the palms.
Until recently, scientific psychology invariably rejected palmistry, but the study of the embryonic development of finger patterns in connection with heredity gave impetus to the emergence of a new branch of knowledge - dermatoglyphics.
Graphology, a science that considers handwriting as a type of expressive movements that reflect the psychological properties of the writer, can be considered more valuable in diagnostic terms compared to, say, physiognomy.
At the same time, unity and versatility of character do not exclude the fact that in different situations the same person exhibits different and even opposite properties. A person can be at the same time very gentle and very demanding, soft and compliant and at the same time firm to the point of inflexibility. And the unity of his character can not only be preserved, despite this, but it is precisely in this that it manifests itself.
The relationship between character and temperament
Character are often compared with, and in some cases these concepts are replaced with each other.
In science, among the dominant views on the relationship between character and temperament, four main ones can be distinguished:
- identification of character and temperament (E. Kretschmer, A. Ruzhitsky);
- contrasting character and temperament, emphasizing the antagonism between them (P. Viktorv, V. Virenius);
- recognition of temperament as an element of character, its core, an unchangeable part (S. L. Rubinstein, S. Gorodetsky);
- recognition of temperament as the natural basis of character (L. S. Vygotsky, B. G. Ananyev).
Based on the materialistic understanding of human phenomena, it should be noted that what character and temperament have in common is dependence on the physiological characteristics of a person, and above all on the type of nervous system. The formation of character significantly depends on the properties of temperament, which is more closely related to the properties of the nervous system. In addition, character traits arise when temperament is already sufficiently developed. Character develops on the basis of temperament. Temperament determines character traits such as balanced or unbalanced behavior, ease or difficulty of entering a new situation, mobility or inertness of reaction, etc. However, temperament does not determine character. People with the same temperamental properties can have completely different characters. Features of temperament can promote or counteract the formation of certain character traits. Thus, it is more difficult for a melancholic person to develop courage and determination than for a choleric person. It is more difficult for a choleric person to develop restraint and phlegmatic behavior; a phlegmatic person needs to spend more effort to become sociable than a sanguine person, etc.
However, as B.G. Ananiev believed, if education consisted only of improving and strengthening natural properties, this would lead to a monstrous uniformity of development. The properties of temperament may, to some extent, even come into conflict with character. In P. I. Tchaikovsky, the tendency to melancholic experiences was overcome by one of the main features of his character - his ability to work. “You always need to work,” he said, “and every honest artist cannot sit with his hands folded, under the pretext that he is not in the mood... If you wait for favor and do not try to meet him, then you can easily fall into laziness and apathy . Dislikes very rarely happen to me. I attribute this to the fact that I am gifted with patience, and I train myself never to give in to reluctance. I learned to conquer myself.”
In a person with a formed character, temperament ceases to be an independent form of personality manifestation, but becomes its dynamic side, consisting in a certain speed of mental processes and personality manifestations, a certain characteristic of expressive movements and actions of the individual. Here it should be noted the influence exerted on the formation of character by a dynamic stereotype, i.e. a system of conditioned reflexes that form in response to a steadily repeating system of stimuli. The formation of dynamic stereotypes in a person in various repeated situations is influenced by his attitude to the situation, as a result of which excitation, inhibition, mobility of nervous processes, and, consequently, the general functional state of the nervous system can change. It is also necessary to note the decisive role in the formation of dynamic stereotypes of the second signaling system, through which social influences are carried out.
Ultimately, the traits of temperament and character are organically connected and interact with each other in a single, holistic appearance of a person, forming an inseparable alloy - an integral characteristic of his individuality.
Character has long been identified with a person’s will; the expression “a person of character” was considered as a synonym for the expression “a strong-willed person.” Will is associated primarily with strength of character, its firmness, determination, and perseverance. When they say that a person has a strong character, they seem to want to emphasize his determination, his strong-willed qualities. In this sense, a person’s character is best demonstrated in overcoming difficulties, in struggle, i.e. in those conditions where human will is most manifested. But character is not limited to strength; it has content, determining how the will will function under various conditions. On the one hand, character is formed in volitional actions and is manifested in them: volitional actions in situations that are significant for the individual pass into a person’s character, becoming fixed in him as his relatively stable properties; these properties, in turn, determine human behavior and his volitional actions. The strong-willed character is distinguished by certainty, constancy and independence, firmness in achieving the intended goal. On the other hand, there are often cases when a weak-willed person was called “spineless.” From a psychological point of view, this is not entirely true - and a weak-willed person has certain character traits, such as, for example, timidity, indecisiveness, etc. The use of the concept “characterless” means the unpredictability of a person’s behavior, indicates that he lacks his own direction, an internal core that would determine his behavior. His actions are caused by external influences and do not depend on himself.
The originality of character is also reflected in the peculiarities of the flow of a person’s feelings. K. D. Ushinsky pointed out this: “nothing, neither words, nor thoughts, nor even our actions express ourselves and our attitude to the world as clearly and truly as our feelings: in them one can hear the character of not a separate thought, not a separate decision, but the entire content of our soul and its structure.” The connection between feelings and character traits of a person is also reciprocal. On the one hand, the level of development of moral, aesthetic, and intellectual feelings depends on the nature of a person’s activity and communication and on the character traits formed on this basis. On the other hand, these feelings themselves become characteristic, stable personality traits, thus constituting a person’s character. The level of development of a sense of duty, a sense of humor and other complex feelings is a rather indicative characteristic of a person.
The relationship between a person’s intellectual traits is especially important for characterological manifestations. Depth and sharpness of thought, unusualness in posing a question and its solution, intellectual initiative, confidence and independence of thinking - all this constitutes the originality of the mind as one of the aspects of character. However, how a person uses his mental abilities will depend significantly on character. It is not uncommon to encounter people who have high intellectual abilities, but who do not provide anything valuable precisely because of their characterological characteristics. An example of this is the numerous literary images of superfluous people (Pechorin, Rudin, Beltov, etc.). As I. S. Turgenev said well through the mouth of one of the characters in the novel about Rudin: “Perhaps there is genius in him, but there is no nature.” Thus, a person’s real achievements depend not on abstract mental capabilities alone, but on a specific combination of his characteristics and characterological properties.
Character Structure
In general All character traits can be divided into basic, leading, setting the general direction for the development of the entire complex of its manifestations, and secondary, determined by the main. So, if we consider such traits as indecisiveness, timidity and altruism, then with the predominance of the former, a person, first of all, is constantly afraid that “something might not work out” and all attempts to help his neighbor usually end in internal experiences and searches for justification. If the leading trait is the second one - altruism, then the person does not outwardly show any hesitation, immediately goes to help, controlling his behavior with his intellect, but at the same time he may sometimes have doubts about the correctness of the actions taken.
Knowledge of leading features allows you to reflect the main essence of character, show its main manifestations. Writers and artists, wanting an idea of the character of the hero, first of all describe his leading, core features. Thus, A.S. Pushkin put into the mouth of Vorotynsky (in the tragedy “Boris Godunov”) an exhaustive description of Shuisky - “a crafty courtier.” Some heroes of literary works reflect certain typical character traits so deeply and correctly that their names become household names (Khlestakov, Oblomov, Manilov, etc.).
Although every character trait reflects one of the manifestations of a person’s attitude to reality, this does not mean that every attitude will be a character trait. Only some relationships become traits depending on the conditions. From the entire set of relationships of the individual to the surrounding reality, character-forming forms of relationships should be distinguished. The most important distinguishing feature of such relationships is the decisive, primary and general vital significance of those objects to which a person belongs. These relationships simultaneously serve as the basis for the classification of the most important character traits.
A person’s character is manifested in a system of relationships:
- In relation to other people (in this case, one can distinguish such character traits as sociability - isolation, truthfulness - deceit, tactfulness - rudeness, etc.).
- In relation to business (responsibility - dishonesty, hard work - laziness, etc.).
- In relation to oneself (modesty - narcissism, self-criticism - self-confidence, pride - humiliation, etc.).
- In relation to property (generosity - greed, frugality - wastefulness, neatness - sloppiness, etc.). It should be noted that this classification is somewhat conventional and there is a close relationship and interpenetration of these aspects of the relationship. So, for example, if a person is rude, then this concerns his relationship with people; but if at the same time he works as a teacher, then here it is already necessary to talk about his attitude to the matter (dishonesty), about his attitude towards himself (narcissism).
Despite the fact that these relationships are the most important from the point of view of character formation, they do not simultaneously and immediately become character traits. There is a certain sequence in the transition of these relationships into character properties, and in this sense it is impossible to put, for example, the attitude towards other people and the attitude towards property, since their very content plays a different role in the real existence of a person. A person’s attitude towards society and people plays a decisive role in the formation of character. The character of a person cannot be revealed and understood outside the team, without taking into account his attachments in the form of camaraderie, friendship, and love.
In the character structure, one can identify traits common to a certain group of people. Even in the most original person you can find some trait (for example, unusualness, unpredictability of behavior), the possession of which allows you to classify him into a group of people with similar behavior. In this case, we should talk about typical character traits. N.D. Levitov believes that a character type is a specific expression in the individual character of traits common to a certain group of people. Indeed, as noted, character is not innate - it is formed in the life and activity of a person as a representative of a certain group, a certain society. Therefore, a person’s character is always a product of society, which explains the similarities and differences in the characters of people belonging to different groups.
Individual character reflects a variety of typical traits: national, professional, age. Thus, people of the same nationality are in living conditions that have developed over many generations and experience the specific features of national life; develop under the influence of the existing national structure and language. Therefore, people of one nationality differ in their lifestyle, habits, rights, and character from people of another. These typical features are often recorded by ordinary consciousness in various attitudes and stereotypes. Most people have a formed image of a representative of one country or another: an American, a Scot, an Italian, a Chinese, etc.
Behavior largely depends on what kind of character a person has. Each has its own characteristics. Character is a combination of a number of psychological properties (there are more than five hundred in total). But there are also certain nuances that manifest themselves in different situations and relationships. Character traits are divided into positive and negative, congenital and acquired. Each can tell a lot about a person.
What kind of character does a person have?
Correct assessment begins with determining what types of character people have. All traits are distributed into five main groups:
Social
It includes traits determined by attitude:
To yourself;
I will sell labor and it;
To society.
Emotional
It includes:
Expressiveness;
Impressionability;
Cheerfulness;
High and low emotionality;
Impulsiveness;
Impressiveness;
Unstable emotionality.
Strong-willed
It includes:
Focus;
Determination;
Persistence;
Uncertainty;
Courage;
Discipline;
Independence.
Intelligent
It includes:
Reasonableness;
Depth and flexibility of intelligence;
Resourcefulness;
Mindset (practical or theoretical);
Frivolity;
Intelligence;
Curiosity;
Thoughtfulness.
Moral
It includes the following features:
Rigidity;
Kindness;
Responsiveness;
Honesty and similar qualities.
To compile a psychological portrait, certain qualities are noted.
What are the character traits of a person?
The positive ones include:
Adequacy, altruism, activity;
Fearlessness, frugality, prudence, nobility;
Generosity, good manners, politeness, attentiveness, cheerful disposition, will, high morality;
Humanism, gallantry, harmony;
Friendliness, delicacy, conscientiousness, discipline, foresight, diplomacy, efficiency, kindness, good nature;
Naturalness;
Femininity, cheerfulness;
Caring, thrifty;
Ingenuity, initiative, diligence, sincerity, intelligence;
Creativity, sociability, correctness, culture, competence, collectivism, eloquence;
Curiosity, affection, ease of communication;
Wisdom, masculinity, peacefulness, dreaminess;
Tenderness, independence, reliability, observation, resourcefulness;
Experience, sociability, charm, education, caution, responsibility, neatness, responsiveness, talent, objectivity;
Decency, positivity, practicality, understanding, friendliness;
Decisiveness, romance, cordiality;
Self-criticism, modesty, intelligence, conscientiousness, independence;
Tactfulness, hard work, desire for creativity, patience;
Smiling, perseverance, poise, respect, perseverance, courtesy, perseverance;
Thriftiness, charisma, courage;
Chastity, determination;
Sincerity, honesty, sensitivity;
Generosity, playfulness;
Energy, economy, enthusiasm, empathy, erudition.
Negative qualities include all the antipodes of the listed traits.
For example:
Aggressiveness;
Vulgarity;
Impudence;
Envy;
Arrogance;
Falsehood;
Commercialism;
Narcissism;
Touchiness;
Selfishness;
Callousness, etc.
Every positive trait has an opposite meaning. However, there are some qualities that can be called neutral:
Shyness;
Silence;
Assertiveness;
Shyness;
Daydreaming.
For some people these are positive qualities, for others they may be negative. For example, assertiveness. In business it is sometimes necessary, but in personal relationships it sometimes gets in the way. Shyness is good for a girl, but is perceived negatively when it appears in a young man. When drawing up a psychological portrait, all of the above positive qualities, their antipodes and other features are taken into account.
A person’s character is not formed instantly, but until old age. The social environment is of great importance. For example, the volitional qualities inherent in a person manifest themselves in emergency situations when endurance, courage, stubbornness, etc. are required. Emotionality is mental manifestations that arise in certain situations. In this case, feelings can be negative or positive, dynamic or stable, neutral. If we talk about intelligence, then this includes the individual characteristics and quality of thinking of an individual. For example, criticality, stupidity, breadth of soul, flexibility in any relationship, etc.
The character of people greatly influences their perception of the environment. Some consider everyone good or bad, others only themselves. Each person has a certain attitude:
To yourself (self-esteem, self-criticism, self-respect, etc.);
Labor (punctuality, accuracy, negligence, etc.);
Environment (politeness, isolation, sociability, rudeness, etc.).
As a result, a certain temperament is formed. It includes qualities that are constant for a particular person:
1. Sanguine people are very mobile and efficient, but they quickly get tired of hard work. They have bright facial expressions and strong expressions of emotions. They are sociable, responsive, balanced. They look at everything from a positive point of view and are optimistic. They have a cheerful disposition.
2. Cholerics are characterized by sudden mood swings, hysteria, and impetuosity. They have frequent outbursts of anger, short temper, but quick release.
3. Melancholic people are pessimists, they worry excessively about any matter, and are often in an anxious state. Such people are very distrustful of others, vulnerable, reserved, and have good self-control.
4. Phlegmatic people have very low activity. However, they are very reasonable, cold-blooded and prudent. Any task is always completed.
Separately, it is worth noting that each nationality has its own character traits, although there are many common features. The Russians have the greatest diversity.
Their character is very different from other nationalities.
Main criteria:
A) Spiritual generosity, which most nationalities do not have.
b) Compassion.
V) Craving for justice.
G) Patience, endurance, perseverance.
d) Negative qualities include pessimism, foul language, laziness, and hypocrisy. The positive ones are responsiveness, loyalty, compassion, humanity.
Russians are easily distinguished by a combination of character traits, one of which is a special sense of humor, which other nationalities are not always able to understand. The set of qualities is so diverse that most people experience excessive expression of emotions. Some traits may change throughout life. However, other qualities remain unchanged. However, negative traits are not always regarded as negative. Sometimes they emphasize dignity.
For example:
1. Selfishness is not only ignoring other people, but also putting one's own interests first. Such a person has his own opinion and will not follow the lead of others.
2. Self-confidence can improve productivity and performance. Then the person feels self-satisfied, which ultimately brings positive results for society.
3. Envy sometimes pushes a person to work better and achieve the best result.
4. Stubbornness helps you achieve any goals you set.
The character of any person consists of positive and negative qualities. As a result, a certain type is formed. For example, a person can be lazy, but kind and sympathetic. The other is angry, but very hardworking and aspiring. At the same time, women are always more emotional, selfless, good-natured, and patient. Men are most often restrained, decisive, and responsible.
Characters of people and problems
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- § In relation to other people (in this case, one can highlight such character traits as sociability - isolation, truthfulness - deceit, tactfulness - rudeness, etc.).
- § In relation to business (responsibility - dishonesty, hard work - laziness, etc.).
- § In relation to oneself (modesty - narcissism, self-criticism - self-confidence, pride - humiliation, etc.).
- § In relation to property (generosity - greed, frugality - wastefulness, neatness - sloppiness, etc.). It should be noted that this classification is somewhat conventional and there is a close relationship and interpenetration of these aspects of the relationship. So, for example, if a person is rude, then this concerns his relationship with people; but if at the same time he works as a teacher, then here it is already necessary to talk about his attitude to the matter (dishonesty), about his attitude towards himself (narcissism).
Despite the fact that these relationships are the most important from the point of view of character formation, they do not simultaneously and immediately become character traits. There is a certain sequence in the transition of these relationships into character properties, and in this sense it is impossible to put, for example, the attitude towards other people and the attitude towards property, since their very content plays a different role in the real existence of a person. A person’s attitude towards society and people plays a decisive role in the formation of character. The character of a person cannot be revealed and understood outside the team, without taking into account his attachments in the form of camaraderie, friendship, and love.
In the character structure, one can identify traits common to a certain group of people. Even in the most original person you can find some trait (for example, unusualness, unpredictability of behavior), the possession of which allows you to classify him into a group of people with similar behavior. In this case, we should talk about typical character traits. N.D. Levitov believes that a character type is a specific expression in the individual character of traits common to a certain group of people. Indeed, as noted, character is not innate - it is formed in the life and activity of a person as a representative of a certain group, a certain society. Therefore, a person’s character is always a product of society, which explains the similarities and differences in the characters of people belonging to different groups.
Individual character reflects a variety of typical traits: national, professional, age. Thus, people of the same nationality are in living conditions that have developed over many generations and experience the specific features of national life; develop under the influence of the existing national structure and language. Therefore, people of one nationality differ in their lifestyle, habits, rights, and character from people of another. These typical features are often recorded by ordinary consciousness in various attitudes and stereotypes. Most people have a formed image of a representative of one country or another: an American, a Scot, an Italian, a Chinese, etc.