Da Vinci's Ginevra de' Benci, National Gallery of Art, Washington DC.
The Libraries
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Of Interest~
Articles and Links: Library of Personality Development
When taking a "personality test," it is helpful to keep in mind the fact that, to date, science has not been able to prove the existence of actual "types" of personality. These tests are all very subjective, and even the popular Myers-Briggs Type Indicator has been known to produce different results for the same test-takers as much as 75% of the time. However, personality tests do not seem to be going away in the near future, so we have included this one from PersonalityLab.org for those who would still enjoy the novelty of having a total stranger tell them what they are like inside. (Not that there's anything wrong with that, of course!). Unlike some tests, this version allows for a range of grey areas in the answers. For many of us it is difficult to answer questions about our personalities with a simple "yes" or "no" or "always" or "never."
Here is an interesting Psychology site containing a description of Erik Erikson's theory of Psychosocial Development. (Even if you don't recognise his name, his theories underlie much of what has become household understanding of identity. In fact, it was Erikson who coined the term, "identity crisis.") Traditionally, our identity has been seen as the core that forms the basis of our personality and holds it together, but in the "post-modern" world, some psychologists dismiss the notion of a core identity as a relic of the past. One such theorist, Kenneth J. Gergen, wrote in a 1992 Psychology Today article that, "Slowly we are losing confidence that there is a coherent, identifiable substance behind the mask. The harder we look, the more difficult it is to find "anyone at home'."
Gergen attributes this loss of a core identity to technological advances that have brought about an "explosion of social connection." He says this has resulted in, "a populating of the self, that is, an absorption of others into ourselves," and adds that "Through countless exposure to others, we rapidly increase the range of appreciations, understandings, and action possibilities available to us. Through friends, acquaintances, family members, the media and so on, we come to see and to feel myriad possibilities for being..." He doesn't necessarily see the loss of an inner core as a "bad" thing however. He concludes the article with this perplexing statement: "So in the end, as the socializing technologies continue their expansion, we can move from a self-centered system of beliefs to consciousness of an inseparable relatedness with others. Perhaps then our postmodern selves will contribute to making the globe a better place for living."
No doubt developing a wide "consciousness of relatedness with others" can be a very good thing, but one would also assume that as individuals we would still value a solid inner core in order to maintain all these new relationships ethically. It would seem that the solid core would ensure our "personalities" are real, rather than simply convenient masks tailored to the audience we may currently be entertaining. But there are other factors that get in our way sometimes when we make the admirable attempt to reinforce an ethical core identity.
The following articles contribute further discussion to the subject of identity and personality development and explore the following questions: How important are our personality traits? Are there things we can change in our personalities, and if so, what are they, and how do we go about it? Which is more important -- understanding what makes up our inner core, or having something called self-esteem? Can we even have "self-esteem" if there is incongruity between our core beliefs and our actions? Questions like these have kept philosophers, sociologists, psychologists and theologians chatting in salons and coffee houses for centuries.
Childhood personality can predict adult behavior, according to the American Psychological Association's online site.
Dr. C. George Boeree points out some of the pitfalls of personality theory, and gives tips on how to negotiate the seemingly contradictory information available in this area of study.
Letting the Steam Out of Self-Esteem: "Americans may be overly focused on our sense of self worth," suggests Theodore Dalrymple.
Self-Conscious? Get Over It. Neil Parmar argues that, while it's good to recognise our shortcomings and overcome them, obsessing about them in the wrong way can sabotage our efforts.
Where personality goes awry. This APA article indicates that even if some aspects of personality can be traced to genetics, environment, parenting and peers also play a major role.
Personality is not set by the age of 30, researchers say. It can continue to change throughout life.
Long Thought Inflexible, Personality Disorders Show Evidence Of Change
