Positive human qualities list for children. Strengths and Weaknesses of Character: Typology and Parenting Tips

Features of behavior, communication, attitudes towards people, objects, work, things show the character traits that an individual possesses. According to their totality, an opinion about a person is determined. Such clichés as "the soul of the company", "bore", "pessimist", "cynic" are the result of an assessment of a person's character traits. Understanding how character is structured helps in building relationships. And this applies to both their own qualities and others.

Human character traits: classification

Types of character are determined by the prevailing traits, which in turn affect behavior and actions. They can be considered in the system of relations to work, other people, things, and oneself.

Work

  • industriousness-laziness. This “duet” can be both a character trait and express an attitude towards specific work. A constant feeling of laziness can also indicate that a person is simply not interested in the business he is busy with, but in something else, he will prove himself better. Laziness can be a sign of lack of motivation. But excessive diligence also takes on a degree of workaholism, which can also indicate problems in personal relationships, a lack of interests.
  • Responsibility-irresponsibility. One of the most important qualities for an employee. A person who responsibly performs his duties, does not let his colleagues down, will be a valuable employee.
  • good faith-bad faith. Doing duty and doing it well are not the same thing. It is important for management that diligence is expressed not only in the mechanical performance of actions, but brings results.
  • Initiative-passivity. This quality is especially valuable for people who want to advance in career ladder. If an employee does not show initiative, does not generate ideas, hides behind the backs of colleagues, he will not develop in his profession.

Other people

  • Closeness-sociability. It shows the openness of a person, his looseness, how easy it is for him to make acquaintances, how he feels in a new company, team.
  • truthfulness-falsity. Pathological liars lie even in trifles, hide the truth, easily betray. There are people who embellish reality, most often they do it because reality seems boring or not bright enough to them.
  • Independence-conformity. This quality shows how a person makes decisions. Whether he relies on his experience, knowledge, opinion, or follows someone's lead and it is easy to suppress him.
  • Rudeness-politeness. Anger, inner feelings make a person cynical, rude. Such people are rude in queues, public transport, disrespectful to subordinates. Politeness, although it refers to positive character traits, can have a selfish background. It can also be an attempt to avoid confrontation.

Things

  • neatness-slovenliness. Creative chaos or meticulous cleanliness in the house can show how neat a person is. It can also be characterized by appearance. Sloppy people often arouse antipathy, and there are not always those who want to see a broad soul behind external absurdity.
  • thrift-negligence. You can evaluate a person by his attitude to the accumulated property, borrowed items. Although this trait of a person ended up in the material group, it can also manifest itself in relation to people.
  • greed-generosity. To be called generous, it is not necessary to be a philanthropist or give the last. At the same time, excessive generosity is sometimes a sign of irresponsibility or an attempt to "buy" someone else's favor. Greed is expressed not only in relation to other people, but also to oneself, when a person, out of fear of being left without money, saves even on trifles.

Self

  • exactingness. When this personality trait is clearly expressed, two extremes appear. A person who is demanding of himself is often just as strict with others. He lives by the principle "I could, so others can." He may be intolerant of other people's weaknesses, not realizing that each person is individual. The second extreme is built on uncertainty. A person tortures himself, considering himself insufficiently perfect. A striking example is anorexia, workaholism.
  • Self-criticism. A person who knows how to criticize himself has a healthy self-esteem. Understanding, accepting and analyzing your achievements and defeats helps in shaping strong personality. When the balance is disturbed, either egocentrism or self-blame is observed.
  • Modesty. It must be understood that modesty and shyness are different concepts. The first is based on the value system instilled during education. The second is a call to the development of complexes. In a normal state, modesty is manifested in moderation, calmness, knowledge of the measure in words, expression of emotions, financial spending, etc.
  • Egoism and egocentrism. Similar concepts, but the feature here is egoism, but egocentrism is a way of thinking. Egoists think only of themselves, but use others for their own purposes. Egocentrics are often misanthropes and introverts who do not need others, who believe that no one is worthy of them.
  • Self-esteem. Shows how a person feels internally. Outwardly, it is expressed in a high assessment of their rights and social value.

Personality assessment and types of characters

In addition to the main character traits that are formed in the system of relations, psychologists also distinguish other areas:

  • Intellectual. Resourcefulness, curiosity, frivolity, practicality.
  • Emotional. Passion, sentimentality, impressionability, irascibility, cheerfulness.
  • Strong-willed. Courage, perseverance, determination.
  • Moral. Fairness, compassion, kindness.

There are motivational traits-goals that drive a personality, determine its guidelines. As well as instrumental traits-methods, they show exactly what methods the desired will be achieved. So, for example, a girl may show masculine traits of character when she persistently and proactively seeks her lover.

Gordon Allport put forward a theory about what character traits are. The psychologist divided them into the following types:

  • Dominant. They determine the behavior of the individual as a whole, regardless of the sphere, and at the same time influence other qualities or even overlap them. For example, kindness or greed.
  • Ordinary. They are also expressed in all spheres of life. These include, for example, humanity.
  • Minor. They do not particularly affect anything, often stemming from other traits. For example, diligence.

There are typical and individual personality traits. Typical ones are easy to group, noticing one of the dominant qualities or a few minor ones, you can “draw” a personal portrait as a whole, determine the type of character. This helps to predict actions, better understand a person. So, for example, if an individual has responsiveness, then most likely he will come to the rescue in a difficult situation, support, listen.

Personality: types of positive and negative traits

Personality is a balance of positive and negative qualities. In this regard, everything is conditional. For example, envy is considered a bad quality, but some psychologists argue that it can become an incentive to work on yourself or improve your life. The distortion of positive traits, on the contrary, can lead to their transformation into negative qualities. Persistence develops into obsession, initiative into self-centeredness.

It is necessary to highlight the strengths and weaknesses of character, they often have to be remembered when filling out a resume. They terrify many, because it can be difficult to evaluate oneself. Here's a little cheat sheet:

  • Weak. Formality, irritability, shyness, impulsiveness, inability to remain silent or say "no".
  • Strong. Perseverance, sociability, patience, punctuality, organization, determination.
  • Negative. Pride, jealousy, vindictiveness, cruelty, parasitism.
  • Positive. Kindness, sincerity, optimism, openness, peacefulness.

Character traits are formed in childhood, but at the same time they can change, transform depending on life circumstances. It's never too late to change what you don't like about yourself.

Each of us has positive and negative qualities, the unique combination of which determines the character. The more good traits a person has, the faster he converges with people, the easier it is for him to live.

Naturally, there are no ideal people, but in each nature there is a good and bright beginning. To achieve harmony with yourself and the world around you, it is absolutely necessary to develop positive character traits. Their list includes many items, besides, different people their views on this matter, however, there are universal qualities that are equally valued (in society) and make a person better. Let's try to list and characterize some of them.

How and when is character formed? Dependence on temperament

According to psychologists, individual characteristics of temperament largely influence the personality. Depending on which of the types prevails in a person and how they combine and interact, it is possible to determine the main qualities of character.

For example, choleric people are characterized by irascibility and imbalance, while sanguine people are restless and active. However, if temperament is given to everyone from birth and is unchanged, then character must be developed and educated.

For example, the innate calmness and equanimity of a phlegmatic person can be manifested both by excessive slowness and by useful and, undoubtedly, positive determination, perseverance and accuracy. Moreover, character is formed already in early childhood, so it is necessary to educate it as early as possible.

Inheritance of character and features of education

It is widely believed that positive and negative traits character can be inherited. Many even give examples of how children and grandchildren show the same qualities as the representatives of the older generation. But, according to psychologists, education still plays a much larger role. After all, it is the family that becomes the place where the first values ​​and principles are instilled.

Adults, by their example, show the child from the very first months of his life how you can and cannot behave, lay the foundations of politeness and decency. Those character traits that are valued by parents become important for their children. It can be diligence, responsibility, or, for example, cheerfulness and friendliness.

Relationship between character and nationality

Many scientists are actively studying the dependence of the main personal qualities from a person's belonging to a particular nation. They succeeded in convincingly substantiating that different countries develop their own types of character.

It is known that the mentality has been formed for more than one century, it largely depends on the characteristics of culture, the history of philosophy and other factors. It can even be about the climate. Thus, representatives of the northern peoples tend to accumulate energy. Hence some slowness, thoroughness. Inhabitants of warm southern countries, on the contrary, generously waste energy, they are characterized by ardor and temperament. And, for example, positive features character inherent in representatives Slavic peoples- this is generosity, cordiality, a tendency to self-sacrifice.

What is meant by positive traits?

The list of good qualities includes many items. At the same time, this list will be different for everyone. However, no one will argue that the success of a person in his personal life and career, his relationships with friends and relatives, and, in the end, his attitude and perception of himself, directly depend on the character.

Positive personality traits make life easier and happier. Negative ones, on the contrary, harm primarily the individual himself.

It is quite difficult to classify in any way the good qualities of a person, because they are in close relationship with each other. However, in order to make it easier to list and characterize them, we will try to distribute them into several groups. Indeed, in order to build strong relationships or succeed at work, different personal qualities are required. In addition, there are also the main character traits, without which a person, in principle, cannot be considered positive. Perhaps you can start with them.

Universal qualities

The list of primary positive qualities can begin with politeness. After all, an ill-mannered, rude, boorish person will not be able to succeed in any area of ​​life. Politeness, based on the elementary rules of etiquette, familiar to everyone since childhood, and respect for others - this is what makes us human.

Honor is one of the qualities that make us a person. This is the true nobility of the soul, the ability to strictly follow one's moral principles, without changing them even in the most difficult life situations, the desire to behave with dignity and always remain human.

Fairness is a manifestation of character helps to be honest with yourself and others. Such a person strives to do the right thing and always remains true to his ideals, openly speaking out for what he considers right.

Reliability is another of the traits necessary for both harmony in your personal life and success in your career. A person with this quality will fulfill a promise, no matter how difficult it may be, will do his job independently of others. You can rely on it in any situation, which is why reliability is so valued.

Courage and bravery, self-confidence - qualities are undoubtedly positive. After all, a coward will not be able to achieve any height and stay on it. And heroes and daredevils remain in our hearts and memory for many centuries.

Positive qualities for relationships with other people

Indicators of character that have a direct impact on our relationships with other people are undoubtedly important for each of us. After all, a person cannot live in isolation from the collective. One of the most important qualities is kindness. Such a person warmly treats others, is always ready to help friends, does not wish harm to anyone.

Closely adjacent to him are attentiveness, responsiveness and the ability to empathize. These good qualities of a person help him to establish harmonious relationships with loved ones. After all, sincere attention to people and the ability to understand their problems is much more expensive than any gifts.

Sincerity and truthfulness are qualities that have been valued at all times worth their weight in gold. A genuine, honest attitude towards others characterizes a person from the best side.

Friendliness and openness are two more character traits that help to converge with others and find new friends. Such a person quickly establishes relationships and easily maintains them.

Do not forget about such qualities as hospitality and generosity. Such a person shares his time, things and good mood. Offers shelter and food without asking for anything in return. Welcomes guests into her home in a way that makes them feel important and significant.

Many more can be added to these qualities. Here are just a few: loyalty, tolerance, generosity, devotion, tact, and many others. The possession of these qualities makes a person attractive in the eyes of others.

Qualities that affect success in life and career

A list of positive traits that have a significant impact on success, including in business area, can be opened by such a quality as determination. A person who possesses it knows how to make plans and translate them into reality. He is not distracted by minor details and confidently goes to the goal.

Activity is also a positive quality of character, indispensable in the business sphere. No wonder they say that water does not flow under a lying stone. An active person will not wait for favors from providence, but builds his own destiny with his own hands, not being afraid of mistakes and failures.

Accuracy and conscientiousness are two more character traits that have a noticeable impact on success in business life and not only. This is the ability to accurately and diligently complete the task, not forgetting the smallest details. Neat people are attentive not only to their appearance, but also to official duties, performing them conscientiously.

A positive person, if we talk about a career, is not only executive, but also proactive. This quality implies the ability to contribute to the common cause and show oneself from the best side, without waiting for instructions from the authorities, to look for new non-standard ways to solve certain problems.

The modern world requires considerable organizational skills from a person. And this is useful not only for people in leadership positions. The ability to captivate with one's idea, organize the workflow, inspire and encourage action is valued in any situation and in every team.

Flexibility also characterizes a person in the best way. We are talking about the ability to adapt to changing circumstances, to respect the decisions of superiors. However, in any situation, you should not compromise with your own conscience.

Character traits that improve the quality of life

Gratitude and contentment are qualities that allow a person to be grateful to life for everything that happens to him. This is the ability to enjoy every gift of fate, regardless of what it brought. Such a person is not afraid to show close people how he appreciates them, he thanks every new day and has every chance to achieve harmony and become happy.

The ability to judge yourself and your actions is a quality inherent in a truly strong person. Only with the help of an unbiased assessment can you avoid mistakes and achieve success in life.

The ability to forgive is a trait that is not so common today, but is necessary for a fulfilling life. Such people do not hide and do not remember grievances, they just let them go. The ability to sincerely forgive and not hold evil is a quality inherent in a happy person.

Good quality and gender

Positive and negative qualities largely depend on gender. After all, the requirements for men and women are sometimes radically different, as well as their inherent types of character.

Reliability, self-confidence, determination are expected from representatives of the strong half of humanity. A real man is ready to support and help with the solution of any difficulties, you can always rely on him, he is brave and hardy.

And here is a typical female character, examples of which can be found not only in life, but also in films or books, are usually portrayed in a completely different way. For girls, such qualities as tenderness, patience, kindness, caring and the like are much more valuable.

A real woman is, first of all, the continuer of the family, the guardian of the family, a loving mother and wife. Moreover, some qualities that are positive for girls become completely unacceptable if they are possessed by a man and vice versa. For example, meekness adorns a woman, but not a man. And excessive perseverance or desperate courage will be to face young man, but hardly useful to a girl.

How to develop and nurture good qualities?

As mentioned above, it is necessary to educate your personality from early childhood - at first, parents do this, later - the school. But even in adulthood, you can and even need to develop your good qualities. After all, the true strength of character lies not only in what is laid down from childhood, but to a much greater extent in what is acquired through long-term self-improvement. How can this be achieved?

    First of all, you need to soberly assess yourself and determine which positive and negative character traits prevail. This is necessary in order to find out in which direction to move, what to develop, and what to eradicate.

    After a person chooses those qualities that, in his opinion, need to be educated in character, it is necessary to answer another important question: “What is this for?”. Perhaps he lacks the determination and activity to properly prove himself at work, or he is not brave enough, and this interferes with his personal life.

    Positive example plays an important role in character development. Therefore, at the next stage, it would be a good idea to choose a well-known historical or fictional person who has the necessary qualities and imagine yourself in their place, to suggest how this person would behave in a given situation.

    And, of course, practice is paramount. It is impossible to cultivate any trait in yourself, whether it be determination, courage or accuracy, without showing it. In other words, you need to gradually accustom yourself to behave in a new way. And even though this manifests itself at first only in small things, later the acquired habit will become an element of character.

It is important to equally cultivate different traits in yourself, paying attention to all facets of your personality. Only then will development be harmonious and complete. However, educating yourself, you need to remember about moderation. After all, some positive character traits can easily become negative.

One can often observe how, for example, caution borders on cowardice, frugality on stinginess, and excessive gaiety on frivolity. In addition, almost any situation in life can be viewed from different parties and see how closely good and evil, good and bad, both in man and in the whole world, coexist.

Do not forget that there are no completely ideal people, but you still need to try to make the positive character traits prevail over the negative ones. Striving for excellence, constant self-development, the desire to help those in need - this is what makes a person truly positive. And you will see how the people around you who are nearby become kinder.

Character(Greek - sign, distinctive property, distinctive feature, feature, sign or seal) - the structure of persistent, relatively constant mental properties that determine the characteristics of the relationship and behavior of the individual.

When they talk about character, they usually mean by this just such a set of properties and qualities of a person that impose certain seal to all its manifestations and deeds. Character traits are those essential properties of a person that determine a particular way of behavior, way of life. The static character is determined by the type of nervous activity, and its dynamics is determined by the environment.

Character is understood as:

  • a system of stable motives and ways of behavior that form a behavioral type of personality;
  • a measure of the balance of the inner and outer worlds, the features of an individual's adaptation to the reality around him;
  • distinctly expressed certainty of the typical behavior of each person.

In the system of personality relations, four groups of character traits are distinguished, forming symptom complexes:

  • the attitude of a person towards other people, a team, society (sociability, sensitivity and responsiveness, respect for others - people, collectivism and opposite traits - isolation, callousness, callousness, rudeness, contempt for people, individualism);
  • traits that show a person’s attitude to work, their work (hard work, a penchant for creativity, conscientiousness in work, a responsible attitude to business, initiative, perseverance and their opposite traits - laziness, a tendency to routine work, dishonesty, irresponsible attitude to work, passivity) ;
  • traits that show how a person relates to himself (self-esteem, correctly understood pride and self-criticism associated with it, modesty and its opposite traits - self-conceit, sometimes turning into arrogance, vanity, arrogance, touchiness, shyness, egocentrism as a tendency to consider center of events
  • oneself and one's experiences, selfishness - the tendency to care primarily about one's own personal welfare);
  • traits that characterize a person's attitude to things (neatness or carelessness, careful or careless handling of things).

One of the most famous character theories is the theory proposed by the German psychologist E. Kretschmer. According to this theory, character depends on physique.

Kretschmer described three body types and their corresponding three types of character:

Asthenics(from Greek - weak) - people are thin, with an elongated face. long arms and legs, flat (ore cell and weak muscles. The corresponding type of character is schizothymic- people are closed, serious, stubborn, difficult to adapt to new conditions. With mental disorders, they are prone to schizophrenia;

Athletics(from Greek - peculiar to wrestlers) - people are tall, broad-shouldered, with a powerful chest, a strong skeleton and well-developed muscles. Corresponding character type - xotimics- people are calm, unimpressive, practical, domineering, restrained in gestures and facial expressions; They do not like change and do not adapt well to it. With mental disorders, they are prone to epilepsy;

Picnics(from Greek - dense. thick) - people of medium height, overweight or prone to obesity, with a short neck, large head and broad face with small features. Corresponding character tin - cyclothymics - people are sociable, contact, emotional, easily adapting to new conditions. With mental disorders, they are prone to manic-depressive psychosis.

General concept of character and its manifestations

In concept character(from the Greek character - “seal”, “chasing”), means a set of stable individual characteristics that develop and manifest themselves in activity and communication, causing typical behaviors for it.

When they determine the character of a person, they do not say that such and such a person showed courage, truthfulness, frankness, that this person is courageous, truthful, frank, i.e. named qualities - properties this person, traits of his character, which may appear under appropriate circumstances. Knowledge of a person's character allows you to predict with a significant degree of probability and thereby correct the expected actions and deeds. It is not uncommon to say of a man of character: "He had to do it this way, he could not have done otherwise - that's his character."

However, not all human features can be considered characteristic, but only essential and stable ones. If a person, for example, is not polite enough in a stressful situation, then this does not mean that rudeness and incontinence are a property of his character. Sometimes, even very cheerful people can experience a feeling of sadness, but this does not make them whiners and pessimists.

Speaking like a lifetime human, character is determined and formed throughout a person's life. The way of life includes the way of thoughts, feelings, impulses, actions in their unity. Therefore, as a certain way of life of a person is formed, the person himself is formed. An important role is played here by social conditions and specific life circumstances in which life path person, based on natural properties and as a result of his deeds and deeds. However, the direct formation of character occurs in groups of different levels of development (, a friendly company, a class, a sports team, etc.). Depending on which group is the reference group for the individual and what values ​​it supports and cultivates in its environment, the corresponding character traits will develop among its members. Character traits will also depend on the position of the individual in the group, on how he integrates in it. In a team as a group of a high level of development, the most favorable opportunities are created for the development of the best character traits. This process is mutual, and thanks to the development of the individual, the team itself develops.

Character content, reflecting social influences, influences, constitutes the life orientation of the individual, i.e. her material and spiritual needs, interests, beliefs, ideals, etc. The orientation of the personality determines the goals, the life plan of a person, the degree of his life activity. The character of a person implies the presence of something significant for him in the world, in life, something on which the motives of his actions depend, the goals of his actions, the tasks that he sets himself.

Decisive for understanding character is the relationship between socially and personally significant for a person. Every society has its own major and essential tasks. It is on them that the character of people is formed and tested. Therefore, the concept of "character" refers more to the relationship of these objectively existing tasks. Therefore, character is not just any manifestation of firmness, perseverance, etc. (formal persistence can be just stubbornness), but focus on socially significant activities. It is the orientation of the personality that underlies the unity, integrity, strength of character. The possession of life goals is the main condition for the formation of character. A spineless person is characterized by the absence or dispersion of goals. However, the nature and orientation of the personality are not the same thing. Good-natured and cheerful can be both a decent, highly moral person, and a person with low, unscrupulous thoughts. The orientation of the individual leaves an imprint on all human behavior. And although behavior is determined not by one impulse, but by an integral system of relations, something always comes to the fore in this system, dominating it, giving a peculiar flavor to a person’s character.

In the formed character, the leading component is the persuasion system. Conviction determines the long-term direction of a person's behavior, his inflexibility in achieving his goals, confidence in the justice and importance of the work he performs. Character traits are closely related to the interests of a person, provided that these interests are stable and deep. The superficiality and instability of interests are often associated with great imitation, with a lack of independence and integrity of a person's personality. And, conversely, the depth and content of interests testify to the purposefulness and perseverance of the individual. The similarity of interests does not imply similar features of character. So, among rationalizers one can find people cheerful and sad, modest and obsessive, egoists and altruists.

Indicative for the understanding of character can also be the affections and interests of a person related to his leisure. They reveal new features, facets of character: for example, L. N. Tolstoy was fond of playing chess, I. P. Pavlov - towns, D. I. Mendeleev - reading adventure novels. Whether a person's spiritual and material needs and interests dominate is determined not only by the thoughts and feelings of the individual, but also by the direction of his activity. No less important is the correspondence of a person's actions to the set goals, since a person is characterized not only by what she does, but also by how she does it. Character can only be understood as a certain unity of direction and mode of action.

People with a similar orientation can go completely different ways to achieve goals and use their own, special, techniques and methods for this. This dissimilarity also determines the specific character of the individual. Character traits, having a certain motivating force, are clearly manifested in a situation of choosing actions or ways of behaving. From this point of view, as a character trait, one can consider the degree of expression of an individual's achievement motivation - his need to achieve success. Depending on this, some people are characterized by the choice of actions that ensure success (showing initiative, competitive activity, striving for risk, etc.), while others are more likely to simply avoid failures (deviation from risk and responsibility, avoiding manifestations of activity, initiative, etc.).

Teaching about character characterology has a long history of development. The most important problems characterology for centuries was the establishment of types of character and their definition by its manifestations in order to predict human behavior in different situations. Since character is a lifetime formation of a personality, most of its existing classifications proceed from grounds that are external, mediated factors in the development of a personality.

One of the most ancient attempts to predict human behavior is the explanation of his character by the date of birth. Diverse Ways predictions of the fate and character of a person are called horoscopes.

No less popular are attempts to connect the character of a person with his name.

Significant influence on the development of characterology had physiognomy(from the Greek. Physis - "nature", gnomon - "knowing") - the doctrine of the relationship between appearance of a person and his belonging to a certain type of personality, due to which the psychological characteristics of this type can be established by external signs.

Palmistry has no less famous and rich history than the physiognomic trend in characterology. Palmistry(from the Greek Cheir - "hand" and manteia - "fortune telling", "prophecy") - a system for predicting a person's character traits and his fate according to the skin relief of the palms.

Until recently, scientific psychology has consistently rejected palmistry, but the study of the embryonic development of finger patterns in connection with heredity gave impetus to the emergence of a new branch of knowledge - dermatoglyphics.

More valuable, in a diagnostic sense, compared to, say, physiognomy, can be considered graphology - a science that considers handwriting as a kind of expressive movements that reflect the psychological properties of the writer.

At the same time, the unity, versatility of character do not exclude the fact that in different situations the same person manifests different and even opposite properties. A person can be both very gentle and very demanding, soft and compliant and at the same time firm to the point of inflexibility. And the unity of his character can not only be preserved in spite of this, but it is precisely in this that it manifests itself.

The relationship of character and temperament

Character often compared with, and in some cases, they replace these concepts with each other.

In science, among the dominant views on the relationship between character and temperament, four main ones can be distinguished:

  • identification of character and temperament (E. Kretschmer, A. Ruzhitsky);
  • opposition of character and temperament, emphasizing the antagonism between them (P. Viktorv, V. Virenius);
  • recognition of temperament as an element of character, its core, an invariable part (S. L. Rubinshtein, S. Gorodetsky);
  • recognition of temperament as the natural basis of character (L. S. Vygotsky, B. G. Ananiev).

Based on the materialistic understanding of human phenomena, it should be noted that the common character and temperament is the dependence on the physiological characteristics of a person, and above all on the type of nervous system. The formation of character essentially depends on the properties of temperament, more closely related to the properties of the nervous system. In addition, character traits arise when the temperament is already sufficiently developed. Character develops on the basis, on the basis of temperament. Temperament determines in the character such traits as the balance or imbalance of behavior, the ease or difficulty of entering a new situation, the mobility or inertness of the reaction, etc. However, temperament does not predetermine character. People with the same temperament properties can have a completely different character. Features of temperament can contribute to or counteract the formation of certain character traits. Thus, it is more difficult for a melancholic to form courage and determination in himself than for a choleric. It is more difficult for a choleric person to develop self-restraint, phlegmatic; a phlegmatic person needs to spend more energy to become sociable than a sanguine person, etc.

However, as B. G. Ananiev believed, if education consisted only in improving and strengthening natural properties, this would lead to a monstrous uniformity of development. The properties of temperament can, to some extent, even come into conflict with the character. In P. I. Tchaikovsky, the tendency to melancholy experiences was overcome by one of the main features of his character - his ability to work. “You always need to work,” he said, “and every honest artist cannot sit idly by, under the pretext that he is not located .. If you wait for an arrangement and do not try to meet him, then you can easily fall into laziness and apathy . Disagreements very rarely happen to me. I attribute this to my being endowed with patience, and train myself never to give in to reluctance. I've learned to conquer myself."

In a person with a formed character, temperament ceases to be an independent form of personality manifestation, but becomes its dynamic side, consisting in a certain speed of the course of mental processes and manifestations of the personality, a certain characteristic of the expressive movements and actions of the personality. Here we should also note the influence exerted on the formation of character by a dynamic stereotype, i.e. a system of conditioned reflexes that form in response to a steadily repeating system of stimuli. The formation of dynamic stereotypes in a person in various repetitive situations is influenced by his attitude to the situation, as a result of which excitation, inhibition, mobility of nervous processes can change, and, consequently, the general functional state of the nervous system. It is also necessary to note the decisive role in the formation of dynamic stereotypes of the second signal system, through which social influences are carried out.

Ultimately, the traits of temperament and character are organically linked and interact with each other in a single, holistic image of a person, forming an inseparable alloy - an integral characteristic of his personality.

Character has long been identified with the will of a person, the expression "a person with character" was considered as a synonym for the expression " strong-willed person". The will is associated primarily with the strength of character, its firmness, determination, perseverance. When they say that a person has a strong character, they thereby, as it were, want to emphasize his purposefulness, his volitional qualities. In this sense, the character of a person is best manifested in overcoming difficulties, in the struggle, i.e. in those conditions where the will of man is manifested to the greatest extent. But character is not exhausted by force, it has content, determining how in various conditions the will will function. On the one hand, in volitional deeds, character develops and manifests itself in them: volitional deeds in situations that are significant for the individual pass into the character of a person, fixing themselves in it as relatively stable properties of it; these properties, in turn, determine the behavior of a person, his volitional actions. Volitional character is distinguished by certainty, constancy and independence, firmness in the implementation of the intended goal. On the other hand, it is not uncommon for a weak-willed person to be called “spineless”. From the point of view of psychology, this is not entirely true - and a weak-willed person has certain character traits, such as fearfulness, indecision, etc. The use of the term “characterless” means the unpredictability of a person’s behavior, indicates that he does not have his own direction, an internal core that would determine his behavior. His actions are caused by external influences and do not depend on himself.

The peculiarity of character is also reflected in the peculiarities of the flow of human feelings. This was pointed out by K. D. Ushinsky: “nothing, neither words, nor thoughts, nor even our actions express ourselves and our attitude to the world so clearly and correctly, as our feelings: they hear the character of not a separate thought, not a separate decision, but the entire content of our soul and its structure. The connection between feelings and properties of a person's character is also mutual. On the one hand, the level of development of moral, aesthetic, intellectual feelings depends on the nature of a person's activity and communication and on the character traits formed on this basis. On the other hand, these feelings themselves become characteristic, stable features of the personality, thus constituting the character of a person. The level of development of a sense of duty, a sense of humor and other complex feelings is a fairly indicative characteristic of a person.

Of particular importance for characterological manifestations is the relationship of intellectual personality traits. The depth and sharpness of thought, the unusual posing of the question and its solution, intellectual initiative, confidence and independence of thinking - all this makes up the originality of the mind as one of the sides of character. However, how a person uses his mental faculties will depend significantly on character. Often there are people who have high intellectual data, but do not give anything of value precisely because of their characterological features. Numerous literary images of superfluous people serve as an example of this (Pechorin, Rudin, Beltov, etc.). As I. S. Turgenev well said through the mouth of one of the characters in the novel about Rudin: “There is perhaps genius in him, but no nature.” Thus, the real achievements of a person do not depend on some abstractly taken mental capabilities, but on a specific combination of his features and characterological properties.

character structure

In general form, all character traits can be divided into basic, leading, setting the general direction for the development of the whole complex of its manifestations, and secondary, determined by the main. So, if we consider such traits as indecision, timidity and altruism, then with the prevalence of the first, a person, first of all, constantly fears “no matter how something happens” and all attempts to help one’s neighbor usually end in inner feelings and the search for justification. If the second trait is altruism, then the person outwardly shows no hesitation, immediately comes to the rescue, controlling his behavior with the intellect, but at the same time he may sometimes have doubts about the correctness of the actions taken.

Knowledge of leading traits allows you to reflect the main essence of the character, to show its main manifestations. Writers, artists, wanting an idea of ​​the character of the hero, first of all describe his leading, pivotal features. So, A. S. Pushkin put into the mouth of Vorotynsky (in the tragedy “Boris Godunov”) an exhaustive description of Shuisky - “a crafty courtier”. Some heroes of literary works so deeply and truly reflect certain typical character traits that their names become common nouns (Khlestakov, Oblomov, Manilov, etc.).

Although every character trait reflects one of the manifestations of a person's attitude to reality, this does not mean that any attitude will be a character trait. Only some relationships, depending on the conditions, become features. From the totality of the relationship of the individual to the surrounding reality, it is necessary to single out the character-forming forms of relations. the most important hallmark of such relations is the decisive, paramount and general vital importance of those objects to which man belongs. These relationships simultaneously serve as the basis for the classification of the most important character traits.

The character of a person is manifested in the system of relations:

  • In relation to other people (at the same time, such character traits as sociability - isolation, truthfulness - deceit, tact - rudeness, etc. can be distinguished).
  • In relation to the case (responsibility - dishonesty, diligence - laziness, etc.).
  • In relation to oneself (modesty - narcissism, self-criticism - self-confidence, pride - humiliation, etc.).
  • In relation to property (generosity - greed, frugality - extravagance, accuracy - slovenliness, etc.). It should be noted a certain conventionality of this classification and a close relationship, the interpenetration of these aspects of relations. So, for example, if a person shows rudeness, then this concerns his relationship to people; but if at the same time he works as a teacher, then here it is already necessary to talk about his attitude to the matter (bad faith), about his attitude towards himself (narcissism).

Despite the fact that these relationships are the most important from the point of view of character formation, they do not simultaneously and immediately become character traits. There is a certain sequence in the transition of these relations into character traits, and in this sense it is impossible to put in one row, say, the attitude towards other people and the attitude towards property, since their very content plays a different role in the real existence of a person. A decisive role in the formation of character is played by the attitude of a person to society, to people. The character of a person cannot be revealed and understood outside the team, without taking into account his attachments in the form of camaraderie, friendship, love.

In the structure of character, one can distinguish traits that are common to a certain group of people. Even the most original person can find some trait (for example, unusual, unpredictable behavior), the possession of which allows him to be attributed to a group of people with similar behavior. In this case, we should talk about typical in character traits. N. D. Levitov believes that the type of character is a specific expression in the individual character of traits common to a certain group of people. Indeed, as noted, the character is not innate - it is formed in the life and work of a person as a representative of a certain group, a certain society. Therefore, the character of a person is always a product of society, which explains the similarities and differences in the characters of people belonging to different groups.

Diverse typical features are reflected in the individual character: national, professional, age. Thus, people of the same nationality are in the conditions of life that have developed over many generations, they experience the specific features of national life; develop under the influence of the existing national structure, language. Therefore, people of one nationality differ in their way of life, habits, rights, and character from people of another. These typical features are often fixed by everyday consciousness in various attitudes and stereotypes. Most people have a formed image of a representative of a particular country: an American, a Scot, an Italian, a Chinese, etc.

The positive and negative qualities of a person are determined by the psychology of the individual and his body constitution. The system of properties and qualities of character is imprinted on the manifestation of personal characteristics.

Important! The static character is determined by the nervous system, and its dynamics - by external factors!

List of negative personality traits

  • The bad qualities of a proud person are manifested in the opinion that the whole world exists for his sake and everything should happen according to his whims and for his pleasure.
  • Lust for power is the tendency of people to thirst, with or without reason, to command, control everything and everyone.
  • Selfishness and vanity is a concentration on one's needs and an excessive love for honors.
  • The bad qualities of a jealous person are a feeling of envy for the apparent or imagined success of an opponent, especially in the field of love for an object.
  • Resentment is an attempt to attract attention and get more than a person is willing to give.
  • Envy is a feeling of annoyance caused by the well-being, success of another person.
  • Vindictiveness is the desire and readiness to respond with evil to the harm done, regardless of the expediency in this.
  • The bad qualities of a cruel person are the desire to cause suffering to any living being.

List of positive personality traits

The formation of a noble and bright image is achieved with the help of a number of individual psychological abilities of the individual:

  • Certainty is the accuracy and clarity of thought, the absence of inconsistency and confusion in the elements of thought and the thoughts themselves.
  • Stress resistance is a good human trait that is highly valued due to the ability to withstand strong negative emotional influences that cause high mental tension.
  • Mindfulness is the ability to listen to another person.
  • Compassion is pity and sympathy caused by the misfortune of other people.
  • Respect is the best qualities of a person, which lie in the ability to reckon with the interests of others.
  • Spiritual generosity is the ability to give one's strength, feelings and abilities to others.
  • Industriousness is the readiness to act with full dedication in the performance of any work.
  • Cheerfulness is a good quality positive person, which help to find in all life situations bright positives.
  • Honor is the inner moral dignity of a person.
  • Gratitude is contentment with one's talents and gifts of nature without taking it for granted.
  • Humility is the good qualities of a non-proud person who is ready to obey someone else's will.

What is most valued in women?

  • Thrift is the ability to wisely dispose of one's property and one's spiritual strength.
  • Meekness is gentleness of character.
  • Tenderness is a manifestation of touching concern for a neighbor.
  • Patience is the best quality strong man which is expressed in moral stability and clarity of mind.

What makes a perfect man?

  • Courage is the ability to act in spite of despair.
  • Wisdom is deep thinking and making decisions based on rich life experience.
  • Reliability is the best quality of a responsible person, which includes firmness in making decisions and keeping promises.

Grouping behavioral factors

  • The relationship of people to others. Sociability, sensitivity, kindness and respect are the main advantages of collectivism. The negative qualities of a person are a closed, callous, rude, deceitful, contemptuous manifestation inherent in individualism.
  • Features that determine the approach to business. Creative skills, responsibility and conscientiousness in the fulfillment of the assigned tasks, the manifestation of initiative and perseverance is positive traits person.
    Unacceptable ones are manifested in the form of laziness, inertia and indifference.
  • Attitude towards one's "I". The system of symptom complexes includes self-esteem and critical self-esteem. The positive qualities of a person are modesty and the absence of bad qualities - conceit, arrogance and vanity. Negative indicators include arrogant, touchy, shy and selfish inclinations.
  • attitude towards things. Accuracy or disdain for material goods allow us to make an assessment of the nature of the individual.

Human behavior is dictated by generally accepted standards. From the moment of birth, each individual is assigned positive and negative qualities. Their manifestation is primarily due to education, as well as the ability to cope with critical situations.

Features of the physique and character of the personality

German psychologist Ernst Kretschmer put forward a theory that promotes grouping a list of bad and good sides, based on the physique of a person:

  1. Asthenics (translated from Greek asthenic means weak) are thin individuals with an oblong face and limbs, poorly developed chest and muscles. They also belong to the group of schizothymic. The negative qualities of a person are manifested by isolation, seriousness, stubbornness, and a low level of adaptation to a new environment. Psychological disorders are accompanied by signs of schizophrenia.
  2. Athletics (wrestlers) are tall people with broad shoulders, powerful chest and strong skeleton, developed muscle tissues. The positive qualities of a person (iksotimika) are calmness and practicality, restraint. They are not impressionable and do not tolerate change. Mental disorders lead to epilepsy.
  3. Picnics are overweight kind people with medium height and short neck. Cyclothymics are distinguished by a wide face with small features. They are sociable and easily get in touch. The best qualities of a complete person are expressed by increased emotionality and easy adaptation to a new environment. Mental disorders are accompanied by manic depressive states.

Manifestation of negative qualities of people in various situations

Career. On the way to promotion the best qualities good man can replace hypocrisy, lies, vanity, hatred and arrogance.

Extreme situation. A feeling of fear for one's health and life can cause unexpected actions (deceitful, treacherous, cowardly, weak-willed, and others).

Relations. good example jealousy, stupidity, greed, grouchiness and sloppiness act. The bad qualities of a person are especially noticeable when living together with other people.

The manifestation of positive qualities of people in various situations

Extreme. Courageous, inventive, persistent and serious people enjoy great respect in society. This category includes loyal, reliable and responsive individuals who show their the best sides in a tense situation.

Significant other. Ideal relationships with loved ones require the cultivation of compliance, attentiveness and kindness. It is important to show tenderness, fidelity and patience - the main positive qualities of a person who is in a pair.

High post. When moving up the career ladder, a special indicator is moral stamina, a conscientious and hardworking attitude. The display of honest, punctual and tactful behavior is the ideal tactic of a conscientious employee.

Society attitude

According to the conventional wisdom, the good qualities of a person always lead to development. Unacceptable actions, on the contrary, are driven into a dead end. Appropriate and dignified behavior is highly valued. Important indicators fair, ambitious, and kind relations are advocated. Condemned - betrayal, pettiness, envy and indifference.

The manifestation of dark and light sides is always evaluated together. There are no ideals. With good upbringing and compliance with all the parameters of a benefactor, the presence of bad habits relating to negative properties. Each individual has the right to choose suitable model behavior throughout their lives.

being born new personality receives the gift of a unique character. Human nature can consist of traits inherited from parents, or it can manifest itself in a completely different, unexpected quality.

Nature not only determines behavioral reactions, it specifically affects the manner of communication, attitude towards others and one's own person, to work. Character traits of a person create a certain worldview in a person.

A person's behavioral responses depend on the nature

These two definitions create confusion, because both of them are involved in the formation of personality and behavioral responses. In fact, the character and temperament are heterogeneous:

  1. The character is formed from a list of certain acquired qualities of the personality's mental make-up.
  2. Temperament is a biological quality. Psychologists distinguish four types of it: choleric, melancholic, sanguine and phlegmatic.

Having the same warehouse of temperament, individuals can have a completely different character. But temperament has an important influence on the development of nature - smoothing or sharpening it. Also, human nature directly affects temperament.

What is character

Psychologists, speaking of character, mean a certain combination of traits of an individual, persistent in their expression. These traits have the maximum impact on the behavioral line of the individual in diverse relationships:

  • among people;
  • in the work team;
  • to one's own personality;
  • to the surrounding reality;
  • to physical and mental labor.

The word "character" Greek origin, it means "to mint". This definition was introduced into use by the naturalist of Ancient Greece, the philosopher Theophrastus. Such a word really, very accurately defines the nature of the individual.


Theophrastus first coined the term "character"

The character seems to be drawn as a unique drawing, it gives rise to a unique seal that a person wears in a single copy.

Simply put, character is a combination, a combination of stable individual mental characteristics.

How to understand nature

To understand what kind of nature an individual has, you need to analyze all his actions. It is behavioral reactions that determine examples of character and characterize the personality.

But this judgment is often subjective. Far from always a person reacts as intuition tells him. Actions are influenced by upbringing, life experience, customs of the environment where the person lives.

But you can understand what kind of character a person has. Observing and analyzing the actions of a certain person for a long time, one can identify individual, especially stable features. If a person is completely different situations behaves in the same way, showing similar reactions, makes the same decision - this indicates the presence of a certain nature in him.

Knowing which character traits are manifested and dominated by a person, it is possible to predict how she will manifest herself in a given situation.

Character and traits

A character trait is an important part of a personality; it is a stable quality that determines the interaction of a person and the surrounding reality. This is a defining method of resolving emerging situations, so psychologists consider a trait of nature as a predictable personal behavior.


Variety of characters

A person acquires features of character in the course of the entire life span, it is impossible to attribute individual features of nature to innate and characterological. In order to analyze and assess the personality, the psychologist not only determines the totality of individual characteristics, but also highlights their distinctive features.

It is the character traits that are defined as leading in the study and compilation of the psychological characteristics of the individual.

But, defining, evaluating a person, studying the features of behavior in the social plan, the psychologist also uses knowledge of the content orientation of nature. It is defined in:

  • strength-weakness;
  • latitude-narrowness;
  • static-dynamic;
  • integrity-contradiction;
  • integrity-fragmentation.

Such nuances constitute the general complete description a certain person.

List of personality traits

Human nature is the most complex cumulative combination of peculiar features, which is formed into a unique system. This order includes the most striking, stable personal qualities, which are revealed in the gradations of human-society relationships:

Relationship system Inherent traits of an individual
Plus Minus
To self fastidiousness Condescension
Self-criticism Narcissism
Meekness Boastfulness
Altruism Egocentrism
To the people around Sociability Closure
Complacency Callousness
Sincerity deceitfulness
Justice Injustice
Commonwealth Individualism
sensitivity Callousness
Courtesy shamelessness
To work organization Laxity
obligatory stupidity
diligence slovenliness
Enterprise inertia
industriousness laziness
to items frugality Waste
thoroughness Negligence
Neatness Negligence

In addition to character traits included by psychologists in the gradation of relationships (a separate category), manifestations of nature in the moral, temperamental, cognitive and sthenic spheres were identified:

  • moral: humanity, rigidity, sincerity, good nature, patriotism, impartiality, responsiveness;
  • temperamental: gambling, sensuality, romance, liveliness, receptivity; passion, frivolity;
  • intellectual (cognitive): analyticity, flexibility, inquisitiveness, resourcefulness, efficiency, criticality, thoughtfulness;
  • sthenic (volitional): categoricalness, perseverance, obstinacy, stubbornness, purposefulness, timidity, courage, independence.

Many leading psychologists are inclined to believe that some personality traits should be divided into two categories:

  1. Productive (motivational). Such traits push a person to commit certain acts and actions. This is the goal-feature.
  2. Instrumental. Giving personality during any activity individuality and way (manners) of action. These are traits.

Gradation of character traits according to Allport


Allport's theory

The famous American psychologist Gordon Allport, an expert and developer of gradations of personality traits of an individual, divided personality traits into three classes:

Dominant. Such features most clearly reveal the behavioral form: actions, activities of a certain person. These include: kindness, selfishness, greed, secrecy, gentleness, modesty, greed.

Ordinary. They are equally manifested in all the numerous spheres of human life. These are: humanity, honesty, generosity, arrogance, altruism, egocentrism, cordiality, openness.

Secondary. These nuances do not have a particular effect on behavioral responses. These are not dominant behaviors. These include musicality, poetry, diligence, diligence.

A strong relationship is formed between the traits of nature existing in a person. This regularity forms the final character of the individual.

But any existing structure has its own hierarchy. The warehouse of man was no exception. This nuance is traced in Allport's proposed gradation structure, where minor features can be suppressed by dominant ones. But in order to predict the act of a person, it is necessary to focus on the totality of the features of nature..

What is typicality and individuality

In the manifestation of the nature of each personality, it always reflects the individual and typical. This is a harmonious combination of personal qualities, because the typical serves as the basis for identifying the individual.

What is a typical character. When a person has a certain set of traits that are the same (common) for a particular group of people, such a warehouse is called typical. Like a mirror, it reflects the accepted and habitual conditions for the existence of a particular group.

Also, typical features depend on the warehouse (a certain type of nature). They are also a condition for the appearance of a behavioral type of character, in the category of which a person is “recorded”.

Having understood exactly what features are inherent in a given personality, a person can make an average (typical) psychological portrait and assign a certain type of temperament. For example:

positive negative
Choleric
Activity Incontinence
Energy irascibility
Sociability Aggressiveness
Determination Irritability
Initiative Rudeness in communication
Impulsiveness Behavior instability
Phlegmatic person
persistence Low activity
performance slowness
calmness immobility
Consistency uncommunicative
Reliability Individualism
good faith laziness
sanguine
Sociability Rejection of monotony
Activity Superficiality
benevolence Lack of persistence
adaptability bad perseverance
Cheerfulness Frivolity
Courage Recklessness in actions
Resourcefulness Inability to focus
Melancholic
Sensitivity Closure
Impressionability Low activity
diligence uncommunicative
Restraint Vulnerability
cordiality Shyness
Accuracy Poor performance

Such typical character traits corresponding to a certain temperament are observed in each (to one degree or another) representative of the group.

individual manifestation. Relationships between individuals always have an evaluative characteristic, they are manifested in a rich variety of behavioral reactions. On the manifestation of the individual traits of the individual has big influence emerging circumstances, a formed worldview and a certain environment.

This feature is reflected in the brightness of various typical features of the individual. They are not the same in intensity and develop in each individual individually.

Some typical features are so powerfully manifested in a person that they become not just individual, but unique.

In this case, typicality develops, by definition, into individuality. This classification of personality helps to identify negative characteristics an individual that prevent them from expressing themselves and achieving a certain position in society.

Working on himself, analyzing and correcting the shortcomings in his own character, each person creates the life he aspires to.