What character traits are inherent. Positive personality traits, a list of good personality traits

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The character of a person is a qualitative individual characteristic that combines stable and constant properties of the psyche that determine the behavior and characteristics of a person's attitude. Literally, translated from Greek, character means a sign, a trait. The character in the structure of the personality combines the totality of its various qualities and properties that leave an imprint on behavior, activity and individual manifestation. The totality of essential, and most importantly, stable properties and qualities determine the entire way of a person's life and his ways of reacting in a given situation.

The character of the individual is formed, determined and formed throughout his entire life path. The relationship between character and personality is manifested in activity, communication, while conditioning typical ways of behavior.

Personality traits

Any trait is a certain stable and unchanging stereotype of behavior.

Specific traits personalities in a general sense can be divided into those that set the general direction for the development of manifestations of character in the complex (leading), and those that are determined by the main directions (secondary). Leading features allow you to reflect the very essence of the character and show the main important manifestations of it. It must be understood that any trait of a person's character will reflect the manifestation of his attitude to reality, but this does not mean that any of his attitude will be directly a character trait. Depending on the environment of the individual's life and certain conditions, only some manifestations of relationships will become defining character traits. Those. a person can react aggressively to one or another stimulus of the internal or external environment, but this will not mean that the person is malicious by nature.

In the structure of the character of each person, 4 groups are distinguished. The first group includes traits that determine the basis of the personality, its core. These include: honesty and insincerity, integrity and cowardice, courage and cowardice, and many others. The second includes traits that manifest the individual's attitude directly to other people. For example, respect and contempt, kindness and spite, and others. The third group is characterized by the attitude of the individual to himself. These include: pride, modesty, arrogance, vanity, self-criticism, and others. The fourth group is the attitude towards work, performed activity or work. And it is characterized by such traits as hard work and laziness, responsibility and irresponsibility, activity and passivity, and others.

Some scientists additionally single out another group that characterizes a person's attitude to things, for example, neatness and slovenliness.

They also distinguish such typological properties of character traits as abnormal and normal. Normal traits are inherent in people who have a healthy psyche, and abnormal ones include people with a variety of mental illnesses. It should be noted that similar personality traits can be both abnormal and normal at the same time. It all depends on the degree of expression or whether it is an accentuation of character. An example of this would be healthy suspicion, but when it goes off scale, it leads to.

The decisive role in the formation of personality traits is played by society and a person's attitude towards him. You cannot judge a person without seeing how he interacts with the collective, without taking into account his affections, antipathies, comradely or friendly relations in society.

An individual's attitude to any type of activity is determined by his relationship with other persons. Interaction with other people can encourage a person to be active and innovative, or keep him in suspense, give rise to his lack of initiative. The idea of ​​an individual about himself is determined by his relationship with people and attitude to activity. The basis in the formation of personality consciousness is the direct relationship to other individuals. The correct assessment of the personality traits of another person is a fundamental factor in the formation of self-esteem. Also, it should be noted that when a person's activity changes, not only the ways, methods and subject of this activity change, but also the person's attitude towards himself in the new role of the agent changes.

Personality traits

The main feature of character in the structure of a person is his certainty. But this does not mean the dominance of one trait. Several traits can dominate the character, contradicting or not conflicting each friend. The character can lose its certainty in the absence of clearly defined features. The system of moral values ​​and personal beliefs is also a leading and determining factor in the formation of character traits. They establish the long-term direction of personality behavior.

The characteristics of an individual's character are inextricably linked with his stable and deep interests. Lack of integrity, self-sufficiency and independence of the individual is closely interconnected with the instability and superficiality of the interests of the individual. And, conversely, the integrity and purposefulness, persistence of a person directly depends on the content and depth of his interests. However, the similarity of interests does not yet imply the similarity characteristic features personality. For example, among scientists one can find both cheerful and sad people, both good and bad.

To understand the characteristics of a person's character, one should also pay attention to his affections, leisure. This can reveal new facets and features of character. It is also important to pay attention to the correspondence of a person's actions to his established goals, because the individual is characterized not only by action, but also by how he performs them. The orientation of the activity and the actions themselves form the personality's dominant spiritual or material needs and interests. Therefore, character should be understood only as the unity of the way of actions and their direction. It is on the combination of personality traits and his properties that the real achievements of a person depend, and not on the presence of mental capabilities.

Temperament and personality traits

The relationship between character and personality is also determined by the temperament of the individual, abilities and other aspects. And the concepts of temperament and personality character form its structure. Character is a set of qualitative properties of an individual that determine his actions, manifested in relation to other people, actions, things. Whereas temperament is a set of properties of the psyche of an individual that affect his behavioral reactions. The nervous system is responsible for the manifestation of temperament. The character is also inextricably linked with the psyche of the individual, but its features are formed throughout life under the influence of the external environment. And temperament is an innate parameter that cannot be changed, you can only restrain its negative manifestations.

Temperament is a prerequisite for character. Temperament and character in the structure of the personality are closely interconnected with each other, but at the same time they are different from each other.

Temperament contains mental dissimilarities between people. It differs in the depth and strength of the manifestations of emotions, activity of actions, impressionability and other individual, stable, dynamic characteristics of the psyche.

It can be concluded that temperament is an innate foundation and basis on which a person is formed as a member of society. Therefore, the most stable and permanent personality traits is temperament. It manifests itself in the same way in any activity, regardless of its direction or content. Remains unchanged in adulthood.

So, temperament is the personal characteristics of an individual, which determine the dynamism of the course of his behavior and mental processes... Those. the concept of temperament characterizes the pace, intensity, duration of mental processes, external behavioral reaction (activity, slowness), but not conviction in views and interests. It is also not a definition of the value of a person and does not determine its potential.

There are three important components of temperament that are related to the general mobility (activity) of a person, his emotionality and motor skills. In turn, each of the components owns enough complex structure and differs in various forms of psychological manifestation.

The essence of activity lies in the individual's desire for self-expression, transformation of the external component of reality. At the same time, the direction itself, the quality of the implementation of these trends is determined precisely by the characterological characteristics of the individual and not only. The degree of such activity can be from lethargy to the highest manifestation of mobility - constant lifting.

The emotional component of personality temperament is a set of properties that characterize the characteristics of the flow of various feelings and moods. This component is the most complex in its structure in comparison with the rest. Its main characteristics are lability, impressionability and impulsivity. Emotional lability is the speed at which one emotional condition replaced by another or ceased. Sensitivity is understood as the subject's susceptibility to emotional influences. Impulsivity is the speed with which an emotion turns into a motivating cause and force of actions and deeds without first thinking over them and making a conscious decision to carry them out.

The character and temperament of a person are inextricably linked. The dominance of one type of temperament can help determine the character of the subjects as a whole.

Personality types

Today in the specific literature there are many criteria by which the personality types are determined.

The typology proposed by E. Kretschmer is now the most popular. It consists in dividing people into three groups depending on their physique.

Picnic people are people who are prone to overweight or slightly overweight, short in stature, but with a large head, wide face and a short neck. Their character type corresponds to cyclothymics. They are emotional, sociable, easily adapting to a variety of conditions.

Athletic people are tall and broad-shouldered people, with well-developed muscles, a hardy skeleton and a powerful chest. They correspond to the ixotimic type of character. These people are domineering and quite practical, calm and unimpressive. Ixotimics are restrained in gestures and facial expressions, poorly adapting to changes.

Asthenic people are people prone to thinness, the muscles are poorly developed, the chest is flat, the arms and legs are long, and have an elongated face. Corresponds to the type of character of schizotimics. Such people are very serious and prone to stubbornness, it is difficult to adapt to changes. They are characterized by isolation.

K.G. Jung developed a different typology. It is based on the predominant functions of the psyche (thinking, intuition). His classification divides subjects into introverts and extroverts, depending on the dominance of the external or inner peace.

An extrovert is characterized by directness, openness. Such a person is extremely sociable, active and has many friends, comrades and acquaintances. Extroverts love to travel and take everything from life. The extrovert often becomes the initiator of parties, in companies he becomes their soul. In ordinary life, he focuses only on the circumstances, and not on the subjective opinion of others.

An introvert, on the contrary, is characterized by withdrawal, self-directedness. Such a person is fenced off from environment, carefully analyzes all events. It is difficult for an introvert to be in contact with people, so he has few friends and acquaintances. Introverts prefer solitude to noisy companies. These people have an overestimated degree of anxiety.

There is also a typology based on the relationship of character and temperament, which divides people into 4 psychotypes.

Choleric is a rather impetuous, fast, passionate and at the same time unbalanced person. Such people are prone to sudden mood swings and emotional outbursts. Choleric people do not have a balance of nervous processes, therefore they are quickly depleted, mindlessly spending their strength.

Phlegmatic people are distinguished by equanimity, slowness, stability of moods and aspirations. Outwardly, they practically do not show emotions and feelings. Such people are quite persistent and persistent in their work, while always remaining balanced and calm. The phlegmatic compensates for his slowness in work by diligence.

The melancholic is a very vulnerable person, prone to stable experience of various events. The melancholic reacts sharply to any external factors or manifestations. Such people are very impressionable.

A sanguine person is a mobile, active person with a liveliness of character. He is subject to frequent changes of impressions and is characterized by quick reactions to any events. We can easily apply it to the failures or troubles that befell him. When a sanguine person is interested in his work, he will be quite productive.

Also K. Leonhard identified 12 types, often found in people with neuroses, accentuated characters. And E. Fromm described three social types characters.

The psychological nature of the personality

Everyone has known for a long time that significant changes take place in the psychological character of the personality in the process of its development and life. Such changes are subject to typical (regular) and atypical (individual) tendencies.

Typical tendencies include changes that occur with a psychological character in the process of growing up. This happens because the older the individual becomes, the faster he gets rid of the childish manifestations in the character, which distinguish the child's behavior from the adult. Childish personality traits include moodiness, tearfulness, fears, irresponsibility. The adult traits that come with age include tolerance, life experience, rationality, wisdom, prudence, etc.

As you move along the path of life and acquire life experience, the individual changes in views on events, and their attitude towards them changes. That, together, also affects the final formation of character. Therefore, there are certain differences between people of different age groups.

So, for example, people between the ages of 30 and 40 live mainly in the future, they live with ideas and plans. All their thoughts, their activity are aimed at realizing the future. And people who have reached the age of 50 have come to the point where their present life meets simultaneously with the past life and the future one. And therefore, their character is modified in such a way as to correspond to the present. This is the age when people completely say goodbye to dreams, but are not yet ready to feel nostalgic for the years they have lived. People who have passed the 60-year mark practically do not think about the future, they are much more concerned about the present, they have memories of the past. Also, due to physical ailments, the previously taken pace and rhythm of life are no longer available to them. This leads to the appearance of such character traits as leisurely, measured, peacefulness.

Atypical, specific tendencies are directly related to the events experienced by a person, i.e. are caused by a past life.

As a rule, such character traits that are similar to those already existing are fixed much faster and faster appear.

It should always be remembered that character is not a constant value, it is formed throughout life cycle person.

Social character of personality

Individuals of any society, despite their individual personality traits and differences, have common in their psychological manifestations and properties, therefore they act as ordinary representatives of this society.

The social character of a person is general way adaptability of the individual to the influence of society. It is created by religion, culture, education system and family upbringing. It should also be borne in mind that even in a family, a child receives the upbringing that is approved in this society and corresponds to the culture, is considered normal, ordinary and natural.

According to E. Fromm, social character means the result of a person's adaptation to a particular way of organizing society, to the culture in which he is brought up. He believes that none of the well-known developed societies in the world will allow an individual to fully realize himself. From this it follows that the personality from birth is in conflict with society. Therefore, we can conclude that the social character of a person is a kind of mechanism that allows a person to exist freely and with impunity in any society.

The process of adaptation of an individual in society occurs with a distortion of the character of the individual himself and his personality, to the detriment of it. According to Fromm, social character is a kind of protection, an individual's response to a situation that causes frustration in the social environment, which does not allow the individual to freely express himself and develop fully, which deliberately puts it within the framework and limitations. In society, a person will not be able to fully develop the inclinations and capabilities inherent in him by nature. As Fromm believed, the social character is inculcated in the individual and has a stabilizing character. From the moment an individual begins to possess a social character, he becomes completely safe for the society in which he lives. Fromm identified several options of this nature.

Accentuation of personality character

Accentuation of personality traits is a pronounced feature of character traits that is within the recognized norm. Depending on the magnitude of the severity of character traits, accentuation is divided into latent and explicit.

Under the influence of specific environmental factors or circumstances, some weakly expressed or not at all manifested features can be clearly expressed - this is called latent accentuation.

Explicit accentuation is understood as extreme manifestation norms. This type is characterized by the constancy of traits for a particular character. Accentuations are dangerous in that they can contribute to the development of mental disorders, situationally-defined pathological disorders of behavior, neuroses, etc. However, one should not confuse and identify the accentuation of a personality's character with the concept of mental pathology.

K. Leongrad identified the main types and combinations of accentuations.

A feature of the hysterical type is egocentrism, an excessive thirst for attention, recognition of individual abilities, the need for approval and respect.

High degree sociability, mobility, a tendency to mischief, excessive independence, people with a hyperthymic type are inclined.

Asthenoneurotic - characterized by high fatigue, irritability, anxiety.

Psychosthenic - manifested by indecision, love of demagoguery, self-examination and analysis, suspiciousness.

A distinctive feature of the schizoid type is isolation, detachment, lack of communication.

The sensitive type is manifested by increased sensitivity, sensitivity, and shyness.

Excitable - characterized by a tendency to regularly recurring periods of melancholy, accumulation of irritation.

Emotionally labile - characterized by a very changeable mood.

Infantile-dependent - observed in people who play with children, who avoid taking responsibility for their actions.

Unstable type - manifests itself in a constant craving for various kinds of entertainment, pleasures, idleness, idleness.

Speaker of the Medical and Psychological Center "PsychoMed"

Features of behavior, communication, attitude to people, objects, work, things show the character traits that an individual possesses. On their totality, an opinion about a person is determined. Clichés such as "the soul of the company", "bore", "pessimist", "cynic" are the result of assessing the character traits of a person. Understanding how character works helps in building relationships. And this applies to both their own qualities and those of others.

Human traits: classification.

2. Other people

  • Closure-sociability... Shows the openness of a person, his relaxedness, how easy it is for him to make acquaintances, how he feels in a new company, a team.
  • Truthfulness-falsity... Pathological liars lie even in small things, hide the truth, easily betray. There are people who embellish reality, most often they do it because reality seems boring to them or not bright enough.
  • Self-Conformity... This quality shows how a person is. Whether he relies on his experience, knowledge, opinion, or is led by someone and is easy to suppress.
  • Rudeness-politeness... Anger, inner experiences make a person rude. People like that are rude in lines public transport, are disrespectful to subordinates. Politeness, although it is a positive character trait, can have a selfish motive. It can also be an attempt to get away from confrontation.

3 things

  • Neatness-sloppiness... Creative clutter or pedantic cleanliness in a home can show how tidy a person is. It can also be characterized by appearance... Sloppy people often evoke antipathy, and there are not always those who want to consider a wide soul behind the external absurdity.
  • Thrift-negligence... You can evaluate a person by his relation to the accumulated property, borrowed items. Although this trait of a person ended up in a material group, it can also manifest itself in relation to people.
  • Greed-generosity... You don't have to be a philanthropist or give your last to be called generous. At the same time, excessive generosity is sometimes a sign of irresponsibility or an attempt to “buy” someone else's favor. Greed is expressed not only in relation to other people, but also to himself, when a person, out of fear of being left without money, saves even on trifles.

4. Self

  • Exactingness... When this personality trait is pronounced, two extremes appear. A person who is demanding of himself is often just as strict with others. He lives by the principle “I could, so others can”. He may not tolerate other people's weaknesses, not realizing that each is individual. The second extreme is built on uncertainty. A person tortures himself, considering himself not perfect enough. A striking example is workaholism.
  • Self-criticism... A person who knows how to criticize himself has a healthy one. Understanding, accepting and analyzing your achievements and failures helps in building a strong personality. When the balance is disturbed, there is either self-criticism.
  • Modesty... It is necessary to understand that modesty and are different concepts. The first is based on the value system that was instilled in upbringing. The second is a call to development. In a normal state, modesty is manifested in moderation, calmness, knowledge of the measure in words, expression of emotions, financial spending, etc.
  • Selfishness and self-centeredness... Similar concepts, but the feature here is egoism, but egocentrism is a way of thinking. think only of themselves, but use others for their own purposes. Egocentrics are often misanthropes and do not need others, who believe that no one is worthy of them.
  • Self-esteem... Shows how a person feels himself internally. Outwardly, it is expressed in a high assessment of their rights and social value.

Personality assessment and types of characters.

In addition to the main character traits that are formed in the system of relationships, psychologists also distinguish other areas:

  • Intellectual. Resourcefulness, curiosity, frivolity, practicality.
  • Emotional. Passion, sentimentality, impressionability, irascibility, cheerfulness.
  • Strong-willed. Courage, persistence, determination.
  • Moral. Fairness, responsiveness,.

There are motivational traits-goals that drive the personality, determine its guidelines. As well as instrumental traits-methods, they show exactly what methods the desired will be achieved. So, for example, a girl may manifest when she persistently and proactively pursues her lover.

Gordon Allport put forward a theory about what character traits are. The psychologist divided them into the following types:

  • Dominant... They determine the behavior of the individual as a whole, regardless of the sphere, and at the same time affect other qualities or even overlap them. For example, kindness or greed.
  • Regular... They are also expressed in everyone. These include, for example, humanity.
  • Secondary... They do not particularly affect something, they are often arising from other traits. For example, diligence.

There are typical and individual personality traits. Typical ones are easy to group, noticing one of the dominant qualities or several minor ones, you can "draw" a personal portrait as a whole, determine the type of character. This helps to predict actions, to better understand a person. So, for example, if an individual is responsive, then most likely he will come to the rescue in a difficult situation, support, listen.

Positive and negative character traits.

Personality is a balance of positive and negative qualities. In this regard, everything is conditional. For example, it is considered a bad property, but some psychologists argue that it can become an incentive to work on yourself or improve your life. The curvature of the positive traits, on the contrary, can lead to their transformation into negative qualities. Perseverance develops into obsession, initiative into self-centeredness.

It is necessary to highlight the strengths and weaknesses of character, they often have to be remembered when filling out a resume. They plunge many into horror, because it can be difficult to assess yourself. Here's a little cheat sheet:

  • Weak. Formality, irritability, shyness, impulsivity, inability to remain silent or say no.
  • Strong. Perseverance, sociability, patience, punctuality, organization, determination.
  • Negative., vindictiveness, cruelty, parasitism.
  • Positive. Kindness, sincerity, optimism, openness, peacefulness.

Character traits are formed in childhood, but at the same time they can change, transform depending on life circumstances. It's never too late to change what you don't like in yourself.

As Victor Hugo used to say, a person has as many as three characters: one ascribes to him the environment, the other he ascribes to himself, and the third is real, objective.

There are more than five hundred character traits of a person, and not all of them are uniquely positive or negative, much depends on the context.

Therefore, any person who has collected certain qualities in individual proportions is unique.

The character of a person is a specific, inherent only to him combination of personal, ordered psychological traits, features, nuances. It is formed, meanwhile, a lifetime and manifests itself during labor and social interaction.

Soberly assessing and describing the character of the chosen person is not an easy task. After all, not all of its properties are demonstrated to the environment: some features (good and bad) remain in the shadows. Yes, and to ourselves we seem to be somewhat different than seen in the mirror.

Is it possible? Yes, there is a version that this is possible. Through long effort and practice, you are able to adopt the qualities you love, becoming a little better.

The character of a person is manifested in actions, in social behavior. It is visible in the attitude of the individual to work, to things, to other people and in his self-esteem.

In addition, character traits are subdivided into groups - "strong-willed", "emotional", "intellectual" and "social".

We are not born with specific traits, but acquire them in the process of upbringing, education, exploring the environment, and so on. Of course, the genotype also influences the formation of character: the apple often falls extremely close to the apple tree.

In essence, the character is close to temperament, but they are not the same thing.

In order to assess yourself and your role in society relatively soberly, psychologists advise you to write down your positive, neutral and negative traits on a piece of paper and analyze.

Try to do this and you, you will find examples of character traits below.

Positive personality traits (list)

Negative character traits (list)

At the same time, some qualities can hardly be attributed to good or bad, and you cannot call them neutral either. So, any mother wants her daughter to be shy, silent and shy, but is this good for the girl?

Again, a dreamy person can be cute, but completely unlucky due to the fact that he always hovers in the clouds. An assertive individual for someone looks stubborn, for someone - intolerable and stubborn.

Is it bad to be gambling and carefree? Has cunning gone far from wisdom and resourcefulness? Does ambition, ambition, and determination lead to success or loneliness? This will likely depend on the situation and context.

And what you will be like, you decide for yourself!

People are not alike. Everyone has their own model of behavior in society. Someone easily converges with people, finds common topics, has the interlocutor to communicate. Another person takes a long look at others, carefully selects the object of communication, ponders the course of the conversation, and so on.

It all depends on the character. Character is the model of human behavior, his reaction to the world, 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, its civilization depends on this.

Sociability, kindness, responsiveness. It is difficult and unpleasant to communicate with a rude, indifferent, cynical person.

To live, everyone must work, thereby earning a livelihood for themselves and their families.

Certain character traits help to succeed in this.

To succeed, you need to have some talents - creative thinking, perseverance, hard work, courage in making decisions. They value people who are initiative and conscientious. In collective work, it is important to trust employees. Diligence is a valuable quality.

Character can be changed because it is influenced by the communication environment.

For example, a person who is not obligatory, treating these promises easily, can turn into a responsible employee if the success of the enterprise and the lives of other people depends on his decisions and actions in the service. This is especially evident in the professions of firefighters, doctors, judges, where the fate and lives of people are decided.

Kretschmer gave an original classification of a person's character by body type:

Picnics are robust at a certain stage of obesity. Facial features are disproportionate to body parts, small. They are sociable, positive, generous. The negative character traits include a tendency to depression in a difficult life situation.

Asthenics are thin, tall individuals with an elongated face. These are closed, uncommunicative people. They prefer loneliness, they are often rude, greedy, stubborn. But it is asthenics who have developed mind and a talent for science.

Athletes are physically fit and attractive, but not emotional people... Among them there are both good and evil.

Negative traits

There are people who try to make money in dubious ways. At the same time, people who trust the deceiver, who are responsible for the result of dishonest behavior, suffer from deception.

A person's successes and failures largely depend on what place in society he gives you for himself. If he behaves confidently and calmly, it inspires respect and sympathy. Disposable is a person who adequately responds to constructive criticism, behaves with dignity.

A person should cherish and appreciate the good that he has

Modesty, as you know, is also one of the most worthy personality traits.

Mutual assistance is only good if it comes from a pure heart, without expecting a rewarding action. A person should cherish and appreciate the good 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 upbringing in character development

Plays an important role in the formation of a person's character. From childhood, the child takes an example from his parents. If they behave incorrectly in relation to loved ones, to work, to politics, the child absorbs all this and assimilates the wrong model of behavior. Over time, this model develops into character.

Growing up, a person introduces into his behavior the views instilled in him by his father and mother. The child should be brought up in an open, simple and logical for his understanding ideas about life. If adults say one thing and do the opposite, the child is lost in concepts and becomes hypocritical. At first he cannot understand such a situation. But, since adults do not clearly explain to him why they lie, he adopts such a model of behavior and also learns to lie.

Temperament and character

These concepts are related, but not identical. Temperament is associated with the human psyche. These are his innate features. The variety of personality types forms special personal relationships in society. If the character is formed in the 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, do not like to devote to their problems. They often become depressed, if you do not help to cope with this condition, the melancholic can commit suicide. Such people are influenced by the environment. If there are kind people around the melancholic, he feels great. Scientists, artists, and writers often have such a temperament. Such children do not like noisy games.

Choleric people are sociable, mobile, inquisitive. The energy of the choleric child must be directed in the right direction. He must attend sports sections, dance clubs. Otherwise, his activity can find a way out in bad rash acts. Choleric people are born leaders, they strive to stand out from the crowd, to lead. They have a certain tenacity, are greedy, some strive for quick dishonest earnings. Choleric people are prone to reincarnation, among them there are many talented actors. The tendency to pretend is manifested 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, rarely subject to bad habits. They are guided by 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 drastic changes in life.

There must be a golden mean in the character. It should be distinguished in the assessment of a person:

  • thrift from greed,
  • modesty from isolation,
  • restraint from indifference.

Before proceeding with the classification and enumeration of character traits, it is necessary to understand what character is. In Greek, "character" is a difference, an omen, a sign. From the point of view of psychology, character is a certain set of personal properties that determine a person's actions in different situations and shape it as an individual.

There is an ancient saying: "You sow an action - you reap a habit, you sow a habit - you reap a character, you sow a character - you reap a destiny." This saying briefly and succinctly reflects the place that character takes in the life and fate of a person. Therefore, it is so important to know about what kind of character traits people have in order to learn to understand their influence on the resolution of different, and especially conflict situations.

Classification of character traits

Conditionally, character traits can be divided into three main groups:

  • emotional;
  • strong-willed;
  • intellectual.

According to the direction of influence, the features are also divided into the following subgroups:

  • attitude to the outside world - people and society;
  • attitude towards oneself personally;
  • attitude to activity - learning and work.

The most basic character traits, especially those related to the emotional group, are formed in early childhood - at the stage of the formation of the child's psyche and depend on many factors. Not the least role is played by the natural predisposition of a person, which is influenced by hereditary characteristics and temperament. But the main impact is the environment.

It is in childhood that positive and negative traits of a person's character are laid in the process of gaining experience of interaction with outside world... Then, throughout life, the formation of individual features continues, and new ones may appear. And if at first this process occurs at the unconscious, reflex level, then with the acquisition of awareness, and depending on its level, a person has a choice. When this choice is realized, an opportunity opens up for character transformation, which is otherwise called personal growth.

Main character traits

Today, there are several hundred definitions of various character traits. Moreover, they can get along in one person in a variety of combinations. Depending on the direction of the impact, such traits can have both positive and negative consequences of their impact. Therefore, it is very difficult to assert with absolute certainty that these are bad character traits, and these are good ones. 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 to some extent a subjective opinion.

And yet we will try to compile a list of the main character traits that are formed in the early stages of development and therefore relate more to the emotional group, conventionally dividing them not into bad and good, but, say, into positive and negative traits of a person's character, as it is commonly considered with the public -moral point of view.

Negative traits

Anger. This is an emotional trait that can be expressed in a negative attitude of any orientation - towards oneself, people, and even towards work. If this is not a periodic, but a constant reaction, most likely its roots are in a deep resentment of children.

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 adequately assess and make correct decisions. Such a person ultimately harms others and himself.

Selfishness. This is a negative trait that concentrates and generates 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 the direction of attitudes towards other people, while in relation to itself it is subjectively considered positive.

Jealousy. This character trait is associated with selfishness and pride, since it implies a sense of possessiveness and has a destructive effect not only on others, but also on oneself, since jealousy is blind and therefore is capable of pushing to very bad deeds.

Greed. It can take different forms: greed for fame, money, things, food, pleasure, etc. Pushes a person into unseemly actions and causes rejection of others.

Envy. A person obsessed with envy hurts, first of all, himself. After all, as they say, envy - eats from the inside, sharpens like a worm. It can also do great harm to the object of envy if the owner of such a trait intends to restore the apparent imbalance in their favor in some way.

Cruelty. This trait in any form brings only destruction and suffering to those at whom it will be directed. Psychologists believe that it is a manifestation of lack of will. It can be added that often Cruel person driven by fear and self-doubt.

Positive character traits

It is believed that all character traits have their own antipode. Therefore, let's see what character traits are that are opposite to those listed above.

Kindness. Unlike an evil person, you want to communicate with a good person. Kindness also includes traits such as selflessness and participation. Is this why kind people so often try to use for their own purposes those who are dominated by negative character traits? Think about it.

Humility. Some do not 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, negate feuds and useless showdown.

Altruism. This is the complete antipode 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.

Confidence. Perhaps it is the most accurate antipode of jealousy, although some argue that its antipode is love. But it is trust, not gullibility, that is the saving bridge between loving people, which is able to unite them and give true happiness of communication with each other.

Generosity. If it spreads in all directions, it will be a unique personality. This character trait is a blessing for others, and if it is from the bottom of my heart, then for its owner.

Goodwill. Despite the fact that this trait is associated with kindness, it refers more to external manifestations, as opposed to envy, which is always secret. Goodwill blesses and attracts if it is sincere and a character trait, not a show.

Mercy. One of the best traits of a person's character. 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 is enriched spiritually.

Other character traits

There are many other character traits that can be emotional, volitional, or intellectual. They are developed already in adulthood and are based on life experience. This is how curiosity and thoughtfulness, decisiveness and independence appear. However, character strengths can enhance both positive and negative traits. For example, assertiveness combined with anger can lead to destructive effects, and when combined with kindness, it can lead to the salvation of another person. It is not for nothing that they say that there are so many people, there are so many characters, and in fact, even knowing many properties of a particular person's character, it is impossible to predict one hundred percent of his behavior in a particular situation.

Is it possible to change your character traits

It makes sense to change your traits only in a positive direction. After all, in the end, all positive traits lead to creation and improvement, and negative ones to destruction and destruction. But for this it is necessary first to come to the realization that negative traits do exist, and thereby complicate the life of the individual. And very few succeed.

Before you start drawing up a judgment about the character traits of a person, you need to have a clear idea of ​​what the properties of human nature are in general. We will 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 properties of human nature

Adventurism is often called a negative quality of human nature. Indeed, excessive enthusiasm for various adventures does not lead to anything good - at best, a person scatters his life in pursuit of pipe dreams and the implementation of chaotic projects.

However, healthy adventurism is necessarily inherent in a successful businessman - without it, innovation in entrepreneurial activity and the corresponding commercial success are impossible. If you follow this path, then you can highlight other, in principle, negative character traits that are necessary for a successful person.

Here they are: authoritarianism (the leader's decision should not be challenged), gambling (the desire to earn in unusual ways, the ability to take risks), as well as greed (again, the desire to acquire financial success) and some unscrupulousness, which is indispensable in big business. However, a certain balance will be important here, which will not allow a successful business person to turn into a complete villain.

However, let's leave business aside and move on to the character traits of ordinary people.

What are the negative traits of a person's character?

  • Let's start with pride, which in many religious movements is generally regarded as a mortal sin. A man possessed by pride thinks that the world exists only for his sake and everything is done according to his whims and for his pleasure. Such a proud man is able to inflict a lot of pain on his loved ones and never find his place in life;
  • It cannot be called a positive quality of human disposition and excessive lust for power. The desire to tell others what to do and how to do it does not arouse sympathy;
  • Selfishness and vanity are also negative traits - concentration on one's own needs and excessive boasting of one's often dubious achievements annoys and makes communication with a person of this kind extremely difficult;
  • A jealous person is able to poison the life of a loved one, turn a cozy family nest into a hotbed of scandals and even reach a crime, therefore, overestimated jealousy in character is considered one of its worst properties;
  • It is worth getting rid of resentment and envy. Envy is capable of undermining the soul from the inside, forcing to wish other people bad things - that is why the persistent expression "envy in black" appeared. Resentment is bad because a person goes inside himself, reveling in a feeling of resentment, and does not at all look for ways to solve a conflict or problem situation;
  • Cruelty and vindictiveness are considered two of the most negative qualities of human disposition. Rigidity is the flip side of another negative character trait - lack of will. A person tries to restore his lost status quo by violence and inflicting pain on the people around him;
  • The negative qualities of human nature also include: heartlessness, wastefulness, stinginess, suspiciousness, malice, self-criticism and lust.

Positive traits of character

What traits of a person's character are considered positive? One of the most important good qualities of human nature is certainty, that is, such a character trait in which a person always knows what to strive for and what to achieve the goal he needs to do.

He does not spray on insignificant and insignificant factors, but goes straight along the chosen path:

  • Diligence is also an extremely important positive feature in human nature. Without diligence, little can be achieved in life: after all, all its important milestones require regular and careful application of efforts;
  • Reasonable vigilance is also necessary for each of us - after all, it is she who will help draw the right conclusions from the most difficult situations in life and teach you to timely prevent the occurrence of problems of all sorts;
  • Endurance is a quality of character that is difficult to do without in modern life - because it is full of stress, conflict and controversial moments. The ability to withstand all the tests of life and be ready to continue on your way is a very, very valuable skill;
  • Goodwill is very useful in life. Attitude to strangers with attention and warmth, sincere care for them without the desire for profit and reward - they adorn a person, make him a worthy person;
  • Mindfulness is useful not only in career and study - this quality will help preserve health and even human life. It is important to develop this quality in oneself from childhood - an attentive person is most often successful in all spheres of life;
  • It is important and necessary to show courage in judgments and actions, because how many omissions people make, fearing to express their opinion openly or to show their talent;
  • The capacity for compassion, according to many philosophers, can save the world. One cannot indifferently pass by other people's sufferings and not lend a helping hand to those in need;
  • It is also worth learning and decisiveness - it will help you make the most difficult and important decisions in situations where any delay is destructive;
  • It is necessary to cultivate in oneself respect for other people and learn to respect oneself. It is impossible to ensure a normal working environment in the office without respect, nor is it possible to create a truly cozy and loving family circle;
  • Spiritual generosity is obligatory 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-fledged existence of an individual in society. The manifestation of touching concern for one's neighbor, sincere interest in the problems of others bring standard communication to a new, higher and more harmonious level, and the ability to enjoy life in any of its manifestations will help to overcome crises and notice the beauty of the world around;
  • People should not forget about honor: you cannot drop your dignity in the mud, humiliate your 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, an extremely rare positive quality of human nature - and it is this ability 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. Various religious and philosophical movements teach and call to humility, and this is not without reason: after all, it is humility that helps a person to realize his mistakes, not to get hung up on unreasonable and limiting pride, but recognizing defeat, start moving on.

Humility is the highest virtue and an invaluable quality not only of character, but also of a person's 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 casting a quick glance at a person.

The character of a person and his facial features are closely related, it is no accident 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 considered in more detail by a special science - physiognomy, which is used in psychology and in forensic science.

Modern recruiting agencies also do not shy away from this science - it allows you to make the recruitment of qualified personnel the most effective.

Personality traits (personality traits, personality traits) are traits and characteristics of a person that describe his internal (or, more precisely, deep) features. What you need to know about the peculiarities of his behavior, communication and response to certain situations, not specifically now, but during long-term contacts with a person.

Personal traits include deep-seated features that are both biological and social in nature, and determine more superficial, situational manifestations.

Conscientiousness, as a personality trait, in a specific situation will manifest itself as a willingness to complete the matter.

Positive personality traits are often referred to as: personality traits.

What personality traits can be ranked as personality traits? It is easier to note that it does not apply to personality traits. Personality traits are not characteristics that describe:

  1. Subjective attitude towards personality (Unusual, Amazing, Unpleasant).
  2. Physical qualities of a person (Dexterous, Handsome).
  3. Social characteristics and "titles" (Experienced, Wise, Production Leader, Saint, Enlightened).
  4. A temporary, unstable state of a person, for example, situational (Tired) or depending on mood (Dull or Radiant happiness). Unlike a position that can be quickly selected, a personality trait does not change quickly. A personality trait is a constant circumstance that can only be reckoned with, used or overcome. It's like the weather outside the window: we cannot change it, but if it rains there, we can take an umbrella and go where we need to.

Is there a complete list of personality traits? - It is impossible to create a complete, “correct” list of personality traits: on the one hand, it is endless (limited only by the capabilities of the language and the imagination of its owner), on the other hand, this list is created for the specific needs of a specific research and therefore is always arbitrary.

Trying to achieve a comprehensive description of personality, R. Cattell began by collecting all the names of personality traits found either in dictionaries of the type compiled by G. Allport and H. Odbert, or in psychiatric and psychological literature. The resulting list of names (4500 characteristics) was reduced to 171 personality traits by combining explicit synonyms.

Further, it is not always possible to say whether a certain situational personality trait is her chosen position or a stable feature. The position is, this is a certain way of thinking and attitude chosen by a person, then personality traits are stable personality traits. Unlike a position that can be quickly selected, a personality trait does not change quickly.

If a person behaves like a Victim, is this a trait or a situational choice? To answer such a question, you need to observe a person in different situations. Many of the personality traits can be simultaneously attributed to both traits and positions, while noting the "preponderance" of one or the other, characteristic of a particular culture of a given time. For example, today a position is more often than a personality trait of an adult. Few people can definitely say that he has a stable characteristic of always taking care of himself and always only at his own expense. More often a person in a given situation quickly chooses such a way of life, and in another situation he can make a different decision. However, we can also say that some people adhere to the position of the Consumer, having made a conscious choice and making it their own stable habit. And in this sense - a personality trait.

The most common list of personality traits used in classical psychological tests: MMPI, Cattell test and others. According to Cattell, these are, first of all: "isolation - sociability", intelligence, "emotional instability - emotional stability", "subordination - dominance", "restraint - expressiveness", "low normality of behavior - high normality of behavior", "shyness - courage "," Harshness - sensitivity "," gullibility - suspiciousness "," practicality - dreaminess "," straightforwardness - diplomacy "," calmness - anxiety "," conservatism - radicalism "," conformism - nonconformism "," low self-control - high self-control "," Relaxation - tension "," adequate self-esteem - inadequate self-esteem "(primary test factors), as well as" anxiety "," extraversion - introversion "," sensitivity "and" conformity "(secondary test factors).

It seems that the list of personality traits that are relevant in life is easy to continue: these are adequacy, suggestibility, good manners, sincerity, perfectionism, restraint and many others.

It is difficult to make a coherent system of personality traits, first of all, due to the fact that personality traits are related to each other not only linearly, but also hierarchically. For example, such behavioral habits as "Nodding", "Ugukanie" and "Flash eyes" are components of the ability to give signs of listening - skills and habits more high level... In turn, the signs of listening together with adjustments in the body, adjustments in the dictionary are components of the ability to listen. In turn, the ability to listen together, the ability to speak with clear theses, the skill of operating with facts and specifics and the habit of summing up are components of thoughtful communication, which in turn is part of effective communication. Effective communication is part of effective leadership, and so on.

From the point of view of the needs of practice, the list of personality traits can be significantly narrowed by highlighting the root, fundamental, personal traits proper. It is considered as such,

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