Most of us have heard this famous story once. A teacher asks his students about the most important qualities a person should have and writes 0 (zero) side by side on the board for each of the answers. Students, having knowledge, speaking well, being rich, etc. gives the answers. After getting all the answers, the teacher turns to the students by writing the number 1 at the beginning of the zeros and says, “yes, all of these are important but you forgot one thing, none of this is worth anything if you don't have a solid personality.”
What is Personality?
The concept of personality is an important research area that has been the subject of discussions and research since the early ages and continues to attract attention today. What is personality? Where does it come from? Many different theorists have had many different answers to these questions. Personality refers to a consistent combination of many different characteristics that play a role in defining an individual and distinguishing him from other individuals.
With another definition, "personality can be defined as consistent behavioral patterns and intrapersonal processes arising from the individual himself" (Burger, 2006; 23). First of all, this definition consists of two parts. The first part is about consistent behavioral patterns. The important point here is that the personality is consistent. We can observe these consistent patterns of behavior at any time and in any situation. We expect a person who is an extrovert today to be an extrovert tomorrow. A person who is competitive at work will most likely be competitive in sports as well. Of course, an extrovert cannot be expected to be always chirpy and cheerful in some serious situations, even at parties. We must also take into account that people can change over time. However, if we are talking about personality, behavior is not just a reaction to the situation, that is, it is natural to expect consistency in people's behavior (Burger, 2006; 23).
The second part of the definition deals with the intrapersonal process. Unlike interpersonal processes, intrapersonal processes encompass all emotional, motivational and cognitive processes that develop within us that affect how we behave and feel. This is why most personality psychologists deal with topics such as depression, information processing, happiness, and denial. Of course, some of these processes are shared by all people. For example, according to some theorists, we all have a similar ability to cope with anxiety or similar processes in the face of a threat. However, how we use these processes and how these processes interact with individual differences play a role in determining our individual character (Burger, 2006; 23).
Another point to be noted is that these consistent behavioral patterns and intrapersonal processes, by definition, originate from the individual. This sentence does not mean that external factors do not affect the personality. It is inevitable that the way parents raise their children will affect what kind of adult the child will become in the future. In addition, the emotions we experience often consist of our reactions to the events we encounter. What is meant here is that behavior is not determined by the situation alone. The fear we feel while watching a horror movie is a result of the movie. However, our methods of expressing and coping with that fear originate from within (Burger, 2006; 23-24).
Studies on defining personality have led to the emergence of many different definitions. This is because the definitions are mostly formed within the framework of a particular personality theory, and each theory presents its own definition of personality.
The story of five blind men who encountered an elephant is an example of this situation. Each of them holds a separate part of the animal and they try to explain to each other what kind of animal the elephant is. The blind man holding the leg describes the elephant as long and round. The one holding the ear describes the elephant as thin and straight, while the one holding the trunk describes the elephant as long and thin. The blind man holding the tail and the blind man touching the elephant's trunk make completely different definitions for the elephant. The central theme in the story is that their descriptions are correct but incomplete, as each man knows only one part of the elephant. It is similar to the case of blind men in theories that try to define personality.
Existing personality theories generally address personality in two ways (Erkal, 2002; 246):
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Common features in the behavior of all people
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Individual differences between people
Common features are the "core of personality" of personality; The features that make up individual differences represent the "surface" of personality (periohery of personality).
Characteristics that make up the essence of personality are traits such as tendencies, predispositions and abilities that are present at birth, resistant to change, and that affect the behavior of the individual widely throughout life. The characteristics of individual separation that form the surface of personality are behaviors that can be easily observed by others, acquired through learning, and affect the behavior of the individual in a limited way. Innate characteristics are defined as a potential and these are shaped as a result of certain experiences (rewards, punishments, etc.) in certain conditions and environments. As a result of interaction with the environment, the features within the scope of the essence are formed in this way and appear as concrete, stereotyped (superficial features of the individual) features. Thus, the behavioral styles that are unique to the individual or the features that distinguish him from the others are determined. The development of the bond between the essence and the surface of the personality in a pattern is called the "personality development process" (Erkal, 2002; 246).
“There are few differences between people, but it is these differences that matter.” This view summarizes the perspective of personality psychologists. Personality psychologists are interested in what distinguishes you from the person sitting next to you (Burger, 2006; 21).
Personality and Motivation
Each individual exhibits a unique and unique personality structure. These different and unique personality structures that we have also have different motivational characteristics. (Still, personality structures in many dimensions can meet at similar and common points. Each personality type has its own motivational structures in the research area called personality typology.) This close relationship between personality and motivation can be expressed in a few important points.
First of all, the motives and needs that form the basis of the concept of motivation display a different profile in each person. Everyone has a different 'motive profile', and the pattern of these motives drives people to act in different ways. Learning which motives are influential in our lives will enable us to understand why we do what we do in our lives, and moreover, who we have become. Reiss Motives Profile You can try the test.
Secondly, each individual has a personal and unique “motivation process”. In other words, each person holds the only key that can motivate them in the best way possible. However, someone else who knows the person's motivations and process well and knows them well always has the potential to motivate that person.
Finally, goals and expectations that are important in the motivation process carry personal meaning. Each individual's goals and expectations are unique. What is meaningful to some means nothing to others. Motivation and personality are closely related when it comes to understanding others and increasing communication effectiveness. Understanding and attaching importance to the factors that motivate a person will greatly benefit our communication and relationships with that person. Whether in business or private life, people who take this information into account will be more effective and more successful in their relationships with other people.
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