The concept of character, its physiological basis

Definition, structure

Character shapes a person's personality

Character is a set of core, essential properties of a particular personality that distinguish a person as a unit of society. Its features are determined by the characteristics of the social type, namely the attitude to work, political beliefs, and interaction with other people.

An important condition for the development of character is the formation of beliefs, worldviews, and ideals. It is formed through active interaction with the environment, in the presence of activity. Develops under the influence of the team, public control and opinion.

The character is quite multifaceted. There are separate sides that cannot exist in isolation; they are interconnected and form a structure.

Identify the components of character - highlight its main properties, establish certain features in their complex interaction.

Ananyev believed that the main properties include:

• dynamic manifestations;
• direction;
• communication;
• habits.

Myasishchev, in collaboration with Kovalev, considered paired character traits, namely:

• aggressiveness and sensitivity;
• imbalance and balance;
• narrowness and breadth;
• surface and depth.

Levitov considers the following features:

• dynamism;
• complexity;
• originality;
• hardness.

Basically, researchers identify two main components:

• the first is form - expresses different ways of demonstrating temperament;
• the second - content - indicates the direction in life, material needs and social attitudes.

When we talk about character, we often look at the emotionality of the individual, take into account what she is indifferent to, what she loves, and what she hates - after all, all these moments describe the personality. It can be understood that there is a connection between feelings and character traits.

When a person is considering such a deep concept, he must take into account the presence of character traits, namely individual forms of behavior that have become habitual, in which the individual realizes his attitude to the surrounding reality. Character traits are considered exclusively when they interact with each other. A single trait acquires a certain meaning in different cases. For example, a person has a good character, in which determination and caution are combined, but it is another matter when there is only caution - the person is afraid to take any action, and is inactive.

There are two groups of traits.

1. Those that indicate direction - interests, goals, also a system that indicates the attitude towards the world around us;
2. The second group includes emotional, volitional, and intellectual traits, namely:

• will;
• temperament;
• needs;
• feelings;
• intelligence;
• beliefs.

All traits are divided into:

• main ones, leading to some goal;
• secondary ones are determined first.

When the leading trait is indecision, then a person is very worried before he commits some action, and after that he suffers from worries and tries to justify himself. In a situation where the main feature is altruism, a person selflessly helps someone and does not think about anything.

Character is manifested by systems of relationships to:

• people: responsibility and tact - isolation and rudeness;
• affairs: laziness - hard work;
• to yourself: self-confidence and humility - self-criticism, as well as pride;
• property: neatness and generosity - sloppiness and greed.

Physiological foundations of character

The physiological basis of character is a fusion of traits such as higher nervous activity and complex stable systems of temporary connections developed as a result of individual life experience. In this fusion, systems of temporary connections play a more important role, since the type of nervous system can form all the socially valuable qualities of an individual. But, firstly, systems of connections are formed differently in representatives of different types of nervous systems and, secondly, these systems of connections manifest themselves in a unique way depending on the types. For example, decisiveness of character can be cultivated both in a representative of a strong, excitable type of nervous system, and in a representative of a weak type. But it will be brought up differently and will manifest itself differently depending on the type.

Leonhard. Classification

Emotive type - communicate only with those people who understand you

Scientists have identified various types that describe character.

1. Hyperthymic. Increased contact, talkativeness, pronounced facial expressions. Belongs to energetic optimists. There are disadvantages, namely frivolity in relationships, responsibilities, and frivolity.
2. Disthymic. Characterized by low contact, a person of few words, a pessimist. The owner of such a disposition is accustomed to obey. The disadvantages are slowness. The advantages are conscientiousness, a serious sense of justice.
3. Excitable. Characterized by low contact, there is boringness.
4. Cycloid. Mood swings are typical. A person who is either overly sociable or withdrawn.
5. Stuck. Moderate sociability, boring. People are touchy, conflict-ridden, and highly sensitive to injustice. Such persons want to achieve high results, in any field.
6. Pedantic. Excessive zeal in service, constant tediousness, seriousness, conscientiousness.
7. Emotive. The desire to communicate only with those people who understand him well. Overly sensitive people, touchy, whiny, are in a depressed mood. Pros include being compassionate as well as being diligent.
8. Anxious. Low contact, indecisiveness. Such people very rarely enter into conflict. They are friendly, efficient and self-critical.
9. Demonstrative. Such special ones strive to be in first place, crave power, are very sociable, and easily adapt when communicating with new people. However, hypocritical people are often selfish. The advantages include extraordinary thinking and artistry.
10. Exalted. Increased desire to talk, falling in love. They can also be quite conflicting. They are attentive to close people and have sincere feelings. The disadvantages include alarmism and desperation.
11. Introverted. Low level of contact, characterized by isolation from the real world and isolation. Such people are prone to loneliness, introspection, and are principled.
12. Extroverted. Open to new information, they will always listen and help. They are very efficient and talkative. The disadvantages include rashness of actions, frivolity, and a tendency to gossip.

Person's character

What is human character

Translated from Greek, character is translated as “seal”, “minting”, that is, on the one hand, it is a distinctive sign, and on the other, something stable and inherent in a specific subject or object.

In psychology, character

is a set of persistent individual personality characteristics that determines the type of behavior and the form of relationships with other people.

Character traits, as personality traits, are as follows:

:

• its components have a long-term effect, stability, and do not change quickly and easily;
• character has practical significance; it determines a person’s actions in all spheres of life.

A person can show heroism, cowardice, be anxious, aggressive or soft, weak-willed. If such manifestations occur frequently and are clearly expressed externally, then they will say about the person: “He has such a character.”

When a kind-hearted and gentle person flares up under certain conditions and shows aggression, then those around him will not call it character; rather, they will attribute it to specific circumstances.

Knowledge of a person’s character allows one to predict his behavior and actions in various situations, as well as correct them if necessary. We always know in advance who we can turn to for help, with whom we are not afraid to enter into risky ventures: “He can’t do anything differently, that’s his character.”

Character Traits: General Information

Not every feature of a person can be attributed to his stable, permanent character trait. We have already said that a good-natured person can lose his temper, and, for example, an optimist can fall into melancholy. But we will not describe the first as an aggressor, and the second as a whiner.

In psychology, there are three leading groups of character traits, which together constitute it.

1 group of traits - attitude towards oneself

This group includes both positive and negative characteristics that show the individual’s attitude towards himself and his self-awareness.

Character traits with a plus sign

- inner dignity, honor, pride, self-criticism, appropriate modesty, adequate self-esteem.

Traits with a minus sign

- vanity, inflated self-esteem and self-esteem, pride (not to be confused with pride), touchiness, shyness (not to be confused with modesty).
Group 2 – attitude towards others
Characteristics showing the basis of the individual’s relationships with other people - in the family, in the team, in the circle of friends.

Character traits with a plus sign

- responsiveness, respect, communication, sensitivity, willingness to help, ability to work in a team, decency.

Traits with a minus sign

- callousness, contempt for others, snobbery, rudeness, neglect, isolation, callousness, individualism.
Group 3 of traits – attitude to activity
This group combines character traits related to one’s business, profession, and work in general.

Character traits with a plus sign

- hard work, activity, responsibility, creativity, a penchant for creativity, initiative.

Traits with a minus sign

- laziness, procrastination, irresponsible attitude to business, lack of initiative, passivity.

Based on a sample of these characteristics, you can create a portrait of a person.

Features of human character formation

For a long time, philosophers believed that character is an innate human trait. That is, he is born with a certain set of qualities that do not change during the formation process. Today this view is not supported. It has been proven that character is formed throughout life and depends on upbringing, environment, entry into a certain social group, professional activity, etc.

For the first time, the idea of ​​a significant influence on the character of external factors was expressed by the scientist D. Locke, who argued that psychophysical properties and upbringing influence the formation of character equally.

Modern science (last century) supports this hypothesis.

According to researchers, personality formation is influenced by

:

• labor education;
• personal example;
• physical education;
• self-development;
• moral and ethical education;
• correct formation of habits.

Regardless of age, the process of character formation is exposed to the influence of the information field, including the perception of the individual

:

1. cultural values, ideology cultivated in society;
2. personal example of people respected for a particular person;
3. public opinion and common judgments in society;
4. literature, television, cinema, theater.

A mature, thinking person can also correct his character. Thus, character formation occurs throughout life.

Three main factors influence its changes

:

• physiological (gender, temperament);
• social (education, culture, family, school, team);
• personal (self-development, self-education).

The first stage of character development is early infancy. At this level, it is very important to give the child love, care, and a lot of attention, since it is here that the emotional component is formed for the rest of his life.

Further personality development occurs in early preschool age. The child studies and copies the behavior patterns of adults nearby. Direct teaching with appropriate emotional reinforcement (praise) is important. It is at this age that such traits as kindness, responsiveness, and hard work are formed.

At primary school age, the main role is played by the assessment of the child’s actions and actions by adults, the concepts of “good” and “bad” are instilled. Character traits related to work appear: responsibility, punctuality.

Adolescents are actively developing moral and ethical standards and their volitional sphere. By the end of school, the character, as a rule, has already been formed; then it is only corrected.

The relationship between temperament and character

Character and temperament are often identified, but they are different concepts.

In psychology, different points of view have been expressed on this matter.

:

• both concepts are identical;
• temperament is a part, the core of character;
• two concepts are antagonists;
• temperament is the natural basis of character.

Temperament is more closely related to the properties of the human nervous system and is directly determined by them. Character is greatly influenced by society and upbringing. If character is subject to correction, then temperament is an innate property that remains with the individual for life.

The social environment in which an individual grew up and lives has a strong influence on character, while temperament remains unchanged. The content of a person’s actions depends on character, but only their manner and style depend on temperament.

Important: temperament cannot be assessed as “good” or “bad”, but character consists of those traits that can be regarded as positive or negative.

The type of temperament and character are connected and interact with each other in a single appearance of a person, forming an inseparable alloy - a characteristic of his individuality.

What are the character types?

In psychology, there are several classifications of character types. One of the most famous is the typology proposed by the American psychoanalyst Alexander Lowen.

Also in psychology, individuals are divided into introverts (closed) and extroverts (sociable).

One more typology of characters can be identified

.

Psychological character of a person

Character is one of the components of the psychological portrait of a person. But it alone is not enough to form a full-fledged opinion about a person, which is necessary, for example, for hiring a responsible job or making an informed choice in your personal life.

At the same time, you need to determine the person’s temperament.

There are four in total

:

• sanguine

  . A person with a stable nervous system is quite mobile and balanced. The processes of excitation and inhibition of the nervous system quickly appear and also quickly decline. Optimistic, sociable. The downside is that they are capable of irresponsibility and frivolity.

• choleric

  . A very mobile nervous system. It gets excited quickly, but cools down slowly. Extremely restless, always having to do something, energetic. Disadvantages: conflict-ridden, aggressive, hot-tempered.

• phlegmatic person

  . The nervous system is very stable and balanced, but not dynamic. Cannot switch from one topic to another, does not work at “high speeds”. But the result will be impressive - everything is thought out to the smallest detail. Reliable, responsible. Disadvantages - clumsy, rather dry in communication.

• melancholic

  . The nervous system is very weak, vulnerable, impressionable. Soft, sensitive people. Cons: low performance, suspiciousness, isolation.

Individual abilities are considered as the third component within the psychological portrait

:

• general, formed under the influence of intelligence. This is mental flexibility, hard work, and the ability to adapt.
• special, appealing to a certain direction: to oneself personally, to communication, to completing a task.

To compile a psychological portrait, the following are also taken into account: intelligence, emotionality, feelings, communication skills, stress resistance, self-esteem.

Social character of personality

The concept of social character was introduced into science by E. Fromm.

Social character of personality

is a set of traits that arises in people belonging to the same social group. Moreover, these special features appeared under the influence of common experiences and an identical lifestyle.

The psychologist has developed two types of social characters: unfruitful and fruitful.

Unfruitful

These types are called unfruitful because they are “takers”, believing that they can only receive benefits from the outside.

Fruitful type

This is a kind of humanistic ideal to which we need to strive. It is characterized by: reliance on one’s own strengths and their use both to receive benefits and to give to other people. A fruitful social character gives and does not receive; it is based on love, the highest degree of which is maternal love, which does not know selfishness.

Hidden and obvious accentuation of personality

Accentuation refers to the dominant personality traits, that is, some characteristics are moderately developed in us, while others are excessively developed.

As a result of accentuation (from the word “accent”, i.e. strengthening), the personality becomes disharmonious.

Strengthening individual traits

:

• cause a person’s vulnerability, are his weak point, “Achilles’ heel”;
• limits a person’s abilities in certain areas of activity.

For example, a personality with an accentuation of weak will can be used by people and is completely unsuitable for working in leadership positions.

Accentuation is not a psychological or mental deviation, but an extreme variant of the norm.

There are several reasons for this

:

• dominance of one trait is formed only at certain stages of development, and can be minimized with age;
• accentuation does not always appear, but only under certain circumstances;
• accentuation does not in any way prevent a person from adapting to society, with the exception of a number of restrictions that we mentioned above.

Depending on the dominance of one of the character traits, the following types are distinguished:

:

Accentuation is considered obvious in cases where it accompanies a person most of the time, almost always.

If the dominance of any trait appears in stressful or critical situations, then the accentuation is called hidden.