At the surface, our experiences and core value system shape our character which typically informs our personality traits…but the psychology of personality is far more complex.
One general theory groups personality traits into 5 categories >>>
1. Openess -represents how willing a person is to try new things.
2. Concientiousness -refers to an individual’s desire to be careful and diligent.
3. Extroversion -measures how energetic, outgoing and confident a person is.
4. Agreeableness -refers to how an individual interacts with others.
5. Neuroticism -represents how much someone is inclined to experience negative emotions.
Understanding our personality traits allows us to cultivate healthy relationships and be aware of our triggers. It also teaches us to be kinder to ourselves because we’re aware that the cycle of life is a balance of adversity and fortune (…one day for you and one day against you). Response to this balance builds our personality, character and mindset.
An online assessment battery called the Meyers Briggs personality assessment can facilitate a better understanding of your personality through a series of questions which provides a pretty accurate formula of youness.
🔹As parents, perhaps the important thing to do is engage in conversation about personality traits in a way that helps young minds to identify, understand and recognise these traits in themselves and others.
This can be done through story books / movies. Highlight the trait or ask the child to identify the trait.
This way, you’re creating an association to something positive as well as an awareness and a vocabulary.