Personality traits are fairly consistent and predictable patterns of behaviors, thoughts, and feelings. Cardinal traits are dominant personality characteristics that strongly determine a person’s behavior. Such traits are so strong and persistent that the individual becomes associated with that quality. While other personality traits are present earlier in life, cardinal traits become more apparent as…
How much do you know about personality psychology? Put your knowledge to the test with this brief quiz.
An implicit personality theory is a theory that people form about the traits, characteristics, behaviors, and personalities of other people. When you meet someone new, you form an impression of them, but this first impression is based on very limited information. The impressions that you form are influenced by a variety of factors, including assumptions,…
Personality psychology explores the unique patterns of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that define who we are. It seeks to uncover what drives our individual traits and how they influence our interactions with the world. Key Takeaways What Is Personality Psychology? Personality psychology is a branch of psychology that studies the patterns of thoughts, feelings, and…
People with a Type A personality are ambitious, competitive, and perfectionistic—which can be advantageous at times, and stressful in others.
The id, ego, and superego are important are components of personality in Freud’s psychoanalytic theory. Learn more.
Introverts make up an estimated 40% of the population, but people with this personality type are often seen as something of a mystery. What exactly is an introvert? To understand the meaning of introversion, looking at the characteristics of introverts share can be helpful. What Does Introvert Mean? Introversion is one of the major personality…
Success stems from many factors, including hard work, circumstances, and sometimes, a little luck. However, research also suggests that certain personality traits for success can increase a person’s chances of doing well in various endeavors. Such traits help act as guiding principles that allow people to navigate the challenges they face more effectively. So what…
There have been a lot of articles making the rounds on social media about how to tell if you are an extrovert or an introvert. A lot of these are fun and interesting, but to be honest I find many of them rife with cliches, stereotypes, and sweeping generalizations. Not All Extroverts and Introverts Are…
If you are learning all about Erik Erikson’s stages of development, it can be really helpful to have a psychosocial summary chart. We have a free, printable chart available that briefly summarizes each stage, the approximate ages at which each stage takes place, as well as the possible outcomes that can take place at each…
Why do some people choose to give up their time, money, or even safety to help other people? According to the U.S. Department of Labor, 30% of adults in the United States spend some time volunteering to help others each year. According to many psychologists, it is compassion that drives people to reach out and…
Self-actualization involves reaching your full potential as an individual. Learn more about how you can become a more self-actualized person.
While there have been many different theories of personality, many psychologists today believe that personality is made of five broad dimensions, a notion often referred to as the big five theory of personality or the five-factor model. The Big 5 personality traits the theory describes are: The Big Five Personality Traits We mentioned these big…
The Keirsey Temperament Sorter is a self-inventory personality questionnaire developed by psychologist David Keirsey and introduced in his 1978 book titled Please Understand Me. Keirsey based his assessment on the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). The Keirsey Temperament Sorter categorizes people into one of four different temperaments: Gaurdian, Artisan, Idealist, and Rational. Each temperament is then…
Maladaptive perfectionism is a psychological trait characterized by an excessive preoccupation with flawless performance, an unrelenting pursuit of unrealistically high standards, and an inability to accept anything less than perfection. It often results in impaired functioning and emotional distress, leading to procrastination, anxiety, depression, and feelings of inadequacy or failure. Adaptive vs. Maladaptive Perfectionism In…
Understanding personality traits helps decode human behavior. From describing ourselves to improving relationships, grasping these traits illuminates our actions and interactions. Exploring a personality traits list can help you think about these characteristics, whether you are evaluating your own personality or coming up with ideas for your characters. What Are Personality Traits? Personality traits are…
Erikson’s stages of development explain how personality develops and changes throughout the course of the entire lifespan. It is one of the major child development theories that has influenced our understanding of how kids develop through childhood and later life. The eight stages in Erikson’s theory are: This article discusses Erikson’s stages of development and…
