What determines our Temperament and Personality? Is it inborn OR acquired? Is it Nature OR Nurture…
I go around advocating to people that “Human Beings are products of the Environment and the Propaganda that they grow up in”. As kids we imbibe a lot of habits and thoughts by observing the behavioral patterns of our parents and the surroundings that we get constantly exposed to. These observations get stored in our young impressionable minds, which later on get used as reference points, going a long way in shaping our overall personality and ideologies.
It is said that in North Korea, when a child is still in the mother’s womb, the State’s propaganda machinery starts propagating to the fetus that the King is their God. As a result, the child comes out of the mother’s womb believing that their King is God. This belief lingers on and gets further strengthened from cradle to grave, by the constant propaganda machine. Such is the power of the external environment and the propaganda on the human brain.
If this is the case, then why are siblings born to the same set of parents, exposed to similar environments differ many a times from each other, in their nature and outlook? When I compare myself to my brother, I find that we are more apart than close in some key personality traits. To explain this phenomenon, Psychologists differentiate between Temperament and Personality.
Temperament refers to traits that determine how an individual reacts to the world. The traits of temperament are inborn with a genetic link, biological based behavioral and emotional patterns that are observable from early childhood and remain during one’s lifetime. There are broadly said to be nine traits of temperament: Activity intensity, Biological rhythms (eating, sleeping, toileting), Sensitivity levels, Intensity of Reactions, Adaptability, Adjustability, Persistence, Distractibility & Mood. It is important for parents to, early on, try to comprehend the key traits of their children’s temperament by observing and understanding their behavioral patterns and help them develop their overall personalities. Individuals too, having observed their own temperament traits, can try to consciously project the positive aspects of their temperament, making themselves more socially adaptable & acceptable.
Personality on the other hand is a complex ‘salad’ of multiple observations and experiences that a human being goes thru during his life. The word “personality” stems from the Latin word persona, which refers to a theatrical mask worn by performers to play roles or disguise their identities. Personality evolves and is amenable to change, a large part of it being created unconsciously thru “impressions” accumulated over time. Personality describes the unique patterns of thoughts, feelings, reactions and behaviors that distinguish an individual from others. It is a product of both biology and observations.
Some say, Temperament is the foundation and Personality the building…
One of the key personality traits in individuals is Extroversion VS Introversion or simply put “Is the individual an Extrovert or an Introvert”. Extroverts are “outward-turning” enjoy frequent social interactions with large groups, feel energized after spending time with other people. They are talkative, gregarious, display more energetic behavior and tend to have larger egos. Introverts are “inward-turning” tend to be thought-oriented, more reserved, enjoy meaningful interactions with smaller groups, have low social energy and feel recharged after spending time alone.
On a lighter note, you will prefer to invite extroverts to your “fun” party but will reach out to introverts for solving your problems. All human beings exhibit extroversion and introversion to some degree, but most of us tend to have an overall leaning for one over the other.
Many a times Introversion is mistaken for Shyness. Introverts are not necessarily shy whereas shy people are introverts. Shyness comes from a fear of social disapproval, stemming from lack of self-confidence whereas Introversion is a preference for quite environments and solitude. If Introverts desire, they can by some effort move across the continuum towards Extroversion over time. I, myself, am much less of an introvert now, than what I was during the first half of my life.
Society, at times becomes biased and mis-judges the capabilities of introverted people, leading to a waste of talent and energy. Most children are taught from their childhood by parents and teachers that being sociable and outgoing is necessary to achieve heights. Many parents almost sound apologetic about their kids being Introverts. This needs to change!
World history suggests that introverts brought about revolutionary changes which would not have been possible without them. Two names that immediately pop up in the mind are that of Mahatma Gandhi & Rosa Parks. The start of the Civil Disobedience Movement in India which led to the colonizers exiting in 1947, was laid on June 07, 1893 when a shy & reticent Gandhi refused to obey orders and was forcibly removed from a whites-only carriage of a train in South Africa. In 1955 had the timid & soft-spoken Rosa Parks not had the courage to say NO to the bus driver who ordered her to give her seat to a white passenger, the sustained bus boycott movement in America that inspired mass protests and speeded the pace of civil rights reforms, would not have got ignited.
Susan Cain, author of the book “Quiet” says that introversion is not a “second-class” trait, both introverts and extroverts enrich society. She gives examples of some well-known introverts such as Isaac Newton (had he not been sitting alone in contemplation under the tree, the apple would not have fallen on his head), Albert Einstein, J.K Rowling, Steven Spielberg etc. Susan further says that some of the most effective leaders have been introverts such as Charles Schwab, Bill Gates, Brenda Barnes, CEO of Sara Lee and James Copeland former CEO of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu.
Management guru Peter Drucker writes that among the most effective leaders he encountered over half a century, some were ultra-gregarious and others locked themselves in their offices. While choosing CEOs, Board of Directors should be careful in choosing candidates who focus on building organizations and not their egos.
To conclude, part of our personality is inborn, a gift of Nature and a significant part of it evolves based on how we are Nurtured. Parents must early on, observe the key temperamental traits of their children which will assist them in developing their children’s personalities. They must also remember that they are under constant observation by their children and their own behavioral traits would largely influence the future personalities of the child.
It is also important that all individuals understand the different traits of their personality and try to project the positive traits to become more socially adaptable and acceptable.
Finally, we all need to acknowledge that Introverts are no less than Extroverts. Both have their own positives and in their own way both make significant contributions to the Society.
Mukulism : A Point of View
MUKULISM : A POINT OF VIEW 