According to the American Psychological Association, personality is the unique combination of traits, thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that define each person. Our personality tends to affect how we interact with the world, influenced by our genes, biology, environment, and experiences.
Personality psychology explores why people think and act differently, helping us understand how our traits impact our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.
Understanding Personality Helps Personal Growth
Understanding your unique personality can significantly contribute to your self-awareness and how you interact with others. It helps you to recognize your strengths and weaknesses and set goals for yourself.
When you understand your personality and focus on personal development, you learn what motivates you and how to use your strengths to grow.
For example, if you enjoy being alone, you can embrace it by doing activities that make you happy and give you time to recharge. On the other hand, if you thrive on being around people, you can seek out social activities that energize and fulfill you.
When you understand your personality and focus on personal development, you learn what motivates you and how to use your strengths to grow. This knowledge helps you make better choices and handle challenges.
Role of Personality in Therapy and Self-Discovery
Understanding personality plays a key role in therapy and self-discovery. Therapists and personality psychologists use personality evaluations to help clients learn more about themselves, find opportunities for growth, and make positive changes.
Studying your personality can help you understand the unique aspects that shape who you are. By delving into our personality and personality traits, we can figure out who we are and why we do things.
Exploring Personality Theories
There is a wide variety of personality theories, including:
- Psychoanalytic Theory: This theory was developed by Sigmund Freud and says that our early experiences and relationships with parents affect our personality. It also suggests that our unconscious mind also impacts how we behave.
- Humanistic Theory: This theory was made famous by Abraham Maslow and Carl Rogers, suggesting that we naturally desire to grow and achieve our potential. It focuses on self-improvement and how our experiences shape who we are.
- Trait Theory: According to this theory, our personality is made up of lasting traits, like being outgoing or agreeable.
- Evolutionary/Biological Theory: This theory proposes that our traits and behaviors may have developed to help us survive and reproduce, with biology and genetics playing a pivotal role in shaping our personality.
- Social Cognitive Theory: This theory explains that our interactions with others and the environment influence our personality.
These different behavioral theories provide us with valuable insights into the factors that shape our unique personalities. They give you ways to understand human behavior and offer perspectives on how you develop and interact with the world around you.
Understanding the Types of Personality in Psychology
The Big Five personality traits, also called the Five Factor Model (FFM), is a widely accepted and extensively researched model for categorizing and understanding human personality. These theories of personality are based on the idea that variations across five broad dimensions can describe most individual differences in personality:
- Openness to experience measures receptiveness to new ideas and creativity. Open-minded individuals value diversity and intellectual pursuits, while narrow-minded people prefer routine and familiar situations.
- Conscientiousness refers to self-discipline and responsibility. Conscientious people are diligent and goal-oriented, while less conscientious individuals might be more spontaneous and flexible.
- Extraversion measures how outgoing and susceptible to positive emotion a person is. Extroverts are generally energetic and enjoy social interactions, while introverts may prefer solitude and reflection.
- Agreeableness reflects warmth and cooperativeness in interactions. Agreeable people are empathetic and prioritize harmonious relationships, while those low in agreeableness may be more competitive or straightforward.
- Neuroticism (emotional stability) reflects how one responds to stress and negative emotions. High scorers experience more anxiety, while low scorers tend to be more emotionally resilient.
These traits are generally stable over time, influenced by genetics and life experiences. While the Big Five model is widely accepted, other personality theories look at different aspects of behavior.
Explanation of Popular Personality Assessments
Personality assessments are tools designed to help you understand your unique traits and characteristics. One well-known assessment is the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). Here’s a simple explanation of how it works:
The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) categorizes people into different personality types based on their preferences in four key areas:
- Extraversion (E) or Introversion (I): This measures how you gain energy. If you’re extraverted, you feel energized by being around others, while introverts find solitude refreshing.
- Sensing (S) or Intuition (N): This looks at how you gather information. Sensing types prefer facts and details, while intuitive types trust their instincts and look at the big picture.
- Thinking (T) or Feeling (F): This reflects how you make decisions. Thinking types rely on logic and analysis while feeling types consider emotions and values.
- Judging (J) or Perceiving (P): This shows how you approach the outside world. Judging types like structure and planning, while perceiving types prefer flexibility and spontaneity.
The MBTI uses a set of letters to represent your personality type. For instance, you may be labeled as “ISTJ,” meaning Introverted, Sensing, Thinking, and Judging. Each type has its distinctive strengths and preferences.
Remember, personality assessments like the MBTI offer insights into your tendencies, but they don’t define who you are entirely. They can be valuable tools for self-discovery, understanding how you relate to others, and exploring potential career paths that align with your strengths.
Another way of understanding personality types is with Enneagram. It breaks personalities down into 16 types that primarily revolve around the way one interacts with the world around them, as well as their emotional motivations for those behaviors (anger, fear, and self image).
Keep in mind that no personality type is better than another — each brings its unique qualities. Personality assessments are just one piece of the puzzle in understanding yourself better and building healthier relationships with those around you.
An Overview of Personality Disorders
Personality disorders are mental illnesses with ongoing patterns of inflexible and unhealthy thoughts, feelings, and actions. Notably, 1 in 5 U.S. adults experience mental illness, showing how common and important these conditions are.
According to the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-5), there are ten different types of personality disorders. They affect at least two of these areas:
- How you think about yourself and others
- How you show emotions
- How you get along with others
- How you control your actions
Some of the most common types of personality disorders include:
- Antisocial Personality Disorder: People with this disorder don’t care about others’ rights and may exhibit harmful or criminal behaviors.
- Borderline Personality Disorder: This disorder makes emotions and relationships unstable, leading to impulsive and self-harming actions.
- Narcissistic Personality Disorder: Those with this disorder think they are significantly more important than others, always seek admiration, and don’t show empathy for others.
- Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder: People with this disorder overly focus on details, schedules, routines, and job perfection. Note, this disorder is often confused for, but not the exact same as, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.
- Paranoid Personality Disorder: This disorder makes people suspicious of others, thinking they’re deceitful.
These are just a few examples of personality disorders, each presenting its unique challenges. Approximately 9% of adults in the United States have at least one personality disorder, and it’s possible to have more than one personality disorder. Understanding these disorders can aid in recognizing challenges, seeking appropriate support, and fostering personal well-being.
It is really important to talk to a professional if you are concerned about you or a loved one experiencing a personality disorder. Many online articles, videos, and other content can sensationalize different behaviors and can make people believe they have one of these disorders, like narcissistic personality disorder, for example, even when they would not actually be considered this by a professional.
Why Personality Matters in Therapy
In 2021, an estimated 14.1 million adults aged 18 or older in the United States experienced serious mental illness, representing 5.5% of all US adults. Getting support through personality therapy can contribute to improved mental well-being and better quality of life.
Knowing how personality affects mental health is vital for successful therapy. Your personalities impact how you think, feel, and act, shaping how you experience and interact with the world. When your personality traits become unbalanced or problematic, they can contribute to mental health issues.
For example, personality traits like low self-esteem can make you more susceptible to anxiety or depression. On the other hand, positive traits like resilience and emotional intelligence can improve mental well-being and help us handle stress better.
How Therapy Can Help
Kristina Anzell, a licensed clinical social worker with Grow Therapy, offers insight into how therapy can help those battling behavioral concerns. “Therapy helps you become more self-aware and understand yourself better by slowing down and taking the time to get to know yourself. The therapist will be your guide, ask you questions, and give you assignments between sessions to take time out of your busy life to work on yourself.”
Therapy plays an important role in nurturing a healthy and well-rounded personality, offering many benefits. Through therapy you can experience positive changes and growth in various parts of your life:
Identify unhealthy patterns: One of the key advantages of therapy is its ability to help you recognize and transform unhealthy patterns of thinking and behavior. By becoming aware of these patterns, you gain the tools to adopt healthier and more adaptive approaches. This can lead to improved decision-making, better emotional regulation, and enhanced overall well-being.
Develop coping skills: Life often presents challenges and stressors that can be overwhelming. Therapy gives you valuable coping skills to effectively navigate difficult situations such as stress, anxiety, and depression. By learning healthy coping mechanisms, you can manage life’s ups and downs with greater resilience and emotional stability.
Boost self-esteem: Therapy contributes significantly to building self-esteem and self-confidence. You can develop a positive self-image and belief in your abilities through therapeutic support. Your self-worth grows as you recognize your strengths and accomplishments, leading to greater self-assurance in facing life’s challenges.
Enhance your relationships: The quality of your relationships can profoundly impact your overall well-being. Therapy aids in improving communication skills and fostering stronger connections with loved ones. You can build more fulfilling and supportive relationships by developing healthier relational dynamics and deeper understanding.
Personal growth through therapy
For example, therapy can be particularly beneficial if you struggle with anxiety. A therapist can help you understand the underlying causes of your anxiety and teach you effective strategies to manage it. Through therapy, you can develop healthy coping mechanisms to handle anxious feelings and learn ways to cope with life’s stresses, ultimately leading to a more balanced and fulfilling life.
Finding a Therapist Who Specializes in Personality Psychology
If you want to understand your personality and its impact on your life, seeing a behavioral therapist who specializes in personality psychology can be highly beneficial. Here’s why:
- Understanding yourself: A specialized therapist will help you grasp your unique personality type and how it affects your thoughts, feelings, and actions, fostering self-awareness and a better understanding of yourself and your relationships.
- Developing your strengths: A personality psychology expert can identify your strengths and help you build on them, empowering you to use them to achieve your goals and lead a more fulfilling life.
- Recognizing weaknesses: You can learn to identify your weaknesses and develop effective ways to address them, leading to overall well-being and personal growth.
- Personal growth support: A therapist can guide you on your journey of personal growth, helping you reach your full potential. They’ll work with you to set goals, make plans, and provide support as you achieve personal milestones.
Remember, therapy can be tremendously helpful if you are facing challenges related to your personality. The therapist will collaborate with you and offer support as you learn more about yourself.
When searching for a therapist, keep the following factors in mind:
- Find a therapist who fits: Not all therapists are the same, so finding someone you feel comfortable with and trust is essential. Establishing a positive relationship is crucial for successful treatment. If your therapist isn’t a good fit, they should encourage you to find someone who meets your needs in case you would like to change to a new therapist.
- Commit to the process: Therapy isn’t a quick fix— it requires time and effort to bring about lasting changes. Be willing to engage wholeheartedly, actively participating in your growth and transformation.
- Be patient: Therapy results take time. It’s normal not to see immediate changes, so keep going. With patience and persistence, progress will come.
Finding the right therapist will pave the way for positive changes in your life and well-being. Anzell explains, “Therapists are trained in asking questions and reflecting back on what you need to hear. If you are honest with your therapist, they can reflect on your strengths and weaknesses and help you find ways to use your strengths to address your weaknesses.”
Find a Behavioral Therapist for You
Behavioral concerns are complex, often requiring professional intervention. Grow Therapy is home to many licensed behavioral therapists who can walk alongside you, helping you to best navigate your symptoms or understand your personality so you can work on personal growth.
Use our search tool to find a therapist in your area who specializes in your particular concerns and accepts your insurance type.
