When a friend asks us about a certain person's personality, we can always think of several adjectives to describe it. But what makes one person funny and another person mean or violent? Researchers have been trying to solve this question for years. Is it gender or social role or is it as simple as popping a personality pill? Recent research shows several possible solutions of factors that may influence someone's personality and whether or not personality changes with age.
First of all, what is personality development? In a study performed by Cohn (1991) several definitions were given. The first definition states that personality development is an increasing capacity for self-control, self-examination, and self-awareness. A second definition says that people become more reflective with age, display an increasing concern with philosophical issues and exhibit greater acceptance of responsibility for themselves and others. The third definition describes a series of developmental achievements : between childhood and late adolescence individuals replace immediate desires with long-range goals, develop an ability to tolerate frustration and adopt moral values because of their apparent validity rather than because of their approval by parents or peers.
Loevinger (1976) has constructed a system in which personality development proceeds through a succession of stages. Each stage is characterized by a distinct developmental milestone or achievement. Loevinger's stages consist of the impulsive stage, self-protective stage, conformist stage, self-aware level, conscientious stage, and the individual and autonomous stages. In summary, these stages portray development as encompassing increasingly complex perceptions of the self and others. Conscious preoccupations move from the concrete to the abstract, and time orientation shifts from the immediate to the long term. The perception of other people, initially organized around simple dichotomies (e.g., nice vs. mean) becomes increasingly complex, encouraging a greater toleration of individual differences. These changes are accompanied by increasing psychological awareness and recognition of one's own internal motivations.
McGue, Bacon, &Lykken (1993) have found that the psychological changes that accompany the transition from late adolescence to early adulthood have typically been attributed to environmental factors; for example, to "culture", to social expectations and so on. An alternative, but less frequently considered possibility is that biological factors contribute to personality changes. There is a growing consensus among personality psychologist that personality stabilizes in adulthood. Nonetheless, adolescence, the period leading up to adulthood, has long been recognized as a psychologically turbulent age. Thus, for example, the rates of violent behavior, criminal activity, alcohol and drug abuse, as well as other antisocial behavior all peak before age 25 years. Yet, the majority of troubled youths do not go on to have serious problems in adulthood.
Some people feel that they adapt their personality to form specialized identities that allow them to meet the specific demands and expectations of particular roles. Others feel they are able to express their personality in a stable and consistent way, regardless of the role they are playing (Eileen, 1992). By using the "Big Five" personality dimensions, you can compare the way you see your personality in general with how you view yourself in a variety of social roles. The 'Big Five" personality dimensions include : Expressive Style, Interpersonal Style, Work Style, Emotional Style, and Intellectual Style. Your Expressive Style reflects the extent to which you are outgoing and enthusiastic, as opposed to quiet and reserved. Your Interpersonal Style concerns the way you get along with others, and the level of intimacy you maintain in your interpersonal relationships. Your Work Style refers to the degree to which you focus on your responsibilities or try to remain carefree. Your Emotional Style concerns your temperament and the way you deal with stress. Finally, your Intellectual Style refers to your tendency to prefer simplicity and tradition as opposed to complexity and change.
From these four research studies depicting personality, it has been determined that an individual's personality may be influenced by gender, social role, environmental factors, genetics, demands and expectations or taking Prozac. Some personalities do change over time. Loevinger has a system of stages he thinks every individual's personality goes through. People who are unsatisfied with their personalities are now able to take an anti-depressant drug known as Prozac that will bring out their true traits. There are not two personalities out there that are exactly the same. Everyone's journey through life takes them through different paths and short cuts that make up their individual personality.
Cohn, L.D. (1991). Sex Differences in the Course of Personality Development : A Meta-Analysis. Psychological Bulletin, 109(2), 252-266.
Donahue, Eileen. (1992). Who do You Think You Are. Psychology Today, 25(4), 68-76.
McGue, M., Bacon, S., & Lykken, D. T. (1993). Personality Stability and Change in Early Adulthood : A Behavioral Genetic Analysis. Developmental Psychology, 29(1), 96-109.
Toufexis, Anastasia. (1993). The Personality Pill. Time ,142(15), 61-62.
Contributed by Kathy Riley, December 2, 1997.