Elements Of Personality Essay, Research Paper

Theories of Personality:

(The Elements of Personality. Pp.40-42)

The personality others are presented with is composed of our words and our actions. Yet our words and actions are, or can be, consciously chosen. We decide what we’ll say, and what we’ll do. The construction of a personality is simply selecting an action while considering the impression it will make.

This is not an artificial process; in fact, we do it all the time, subconsciously if nothing else. We are conditioned by society that in certain ways of saying things can be offensive and hurtful, while other ways of saying the same things can be tolerable, even pleasant (depending on what “things” are being considered, of course). We adjust our mannerisms according to the effect we wish to achieve, to express respect to a supervisor, for example, or to demonstrate an attraction to something or someone. I allege that it is possible to consciously tune a personality.

I have heard it argued that this process is merely acting, that it is not authentically “me.” “Be yourself,” we’re told. And so we should be; the personality traits we choose should be a reflection of what is going on inside. In a sense, we are all just acting, even if it is subconscious acting. Conscious “acting” can be just as authentic a reflection of the true person.

Personality also changes according to who we’re around, as well. Everybody acts differently when at work talking to their supervisors, than they do sitting at a table in a bar. I also feel that the way someone presents himself or herself, whether it is how they are dressed, or their tone or manor of language, alters their personality at that give time as well.