Psychology: Personality Traits and the Causes of Behavior

If you take a look around you at the people you know, and even the people you don't know, you will notice that everyone is different, not only in looks, but in personality as well. Some people are quiet, while others vie for attention. Some people are naturally intelligent, and others have to work hard to get good grades or job promotions. Some people are good negotiators, while others are good sympathizers. Even within groups, such as families, cultures, and economical levels, people are different. They know different things, and they react to things differently. Have you ever wondered what determines behavior and personality? Psychology breaks personality traits and behaviors into seven views: biological, evolutionary, cognitive, psychodynamic, humanistic, and sociocultural.

The biological view is exactly what it sounds like. It suggests that certain personality traits can be carried down from parents to children. That is, you have inherited some of your parents personality traits. Has anyone ever told you that you remind them of your mother or father when they were younger? Not just physical traits get carried down.

The evolutionary view of psychology claims that your actions were molded by your ancestors thousands of years ago. The conditions they lived in, and beliefs and ideals have been passed down to you. This view relates to the views of Charles Darwin, as it suggests that environmental forces have tested (and still do, to this day) the strengths and weaknesses of people. Only the strongest, most capable survive. And those personality traits are passed down from generation to generation.

Experiences also shape us, but everyone has similar experiences. How can everyone who goes through similar experiences end up with such unique and individual personality traits? It all comes down to how we interpret those experiences. This is explained through the cognitive view. Our minds process information differently, and thus, we interpret these experiences differently. Some may see bad experiences as a way to grow and learn, while others take the opportunity to lash out at everyone for all the wrong doings done upon them.

The psychodynamic view can be credited to Sigmund Freud. It states that behavior motivations stem from irrational desires and repressed urges. According to the psychodynamic view of personality development, actions, good or bad, come from sexual impulses and internal conflicts. In this view, dreams are seen as an open window into the subconscious, and dreams are a way to find a root to the problem.

Humanists, such as Abraham Maslow, believe that actions are motivated by the necessity of fulfilling needs, basic needs all the way up to self-actualization. The humanistic view says that the way you view yourself motivates you to take action to obtain whatever it is you need, whether it's security or social status. They believe that it is our own free will to strive to be self-actualized, that is, people who have all of their needs met, and focus on things like justice and peace without hidden agendas or selfish reasons.

In the behavioral view, it is insisted that the cause of our actions and personality lies in our environment, rather than in our biology. This means that our behavior stems from external forces, rather than internal. The people around us on day to day basis affect our behaviors, just as rewards and punishments are credited for motivating our behaviors. If we have to go through something less than pleasant, we will only do it if we get something in the end that makes it worth it. For example, many people don't like getting up to go to work every single day, however, we do it to get the reward: a paycheck. In this scenario, we are being rewarded for our behavior. If one was to not go into work and not call in, he might be fired, thus not receiving a paycheck. This would be considered a punishment for his behavior.

Finally, the sociocultural view claims that people are motivated by social issues. People, by nature, are socialites. We socialize with each other, and take on the favored ideals of the society in which we are a part. Cultural expectations and limitations reflect in our actions, and mold our beliefs and ideals as individuals.

Our personality can be linked back to many different factors: family, friends, culture, biology, our subconscious. While there are several different ideas as to what molds our personality, actions, and ideals, one thing remains true: we are all unique, in our social groups and our economic statuses.