Can Personality Really Be Understood?

Personality is often described, but hardly ever well grasped. Every personality is different, and that makes us who we are. Influences from within and without form our personality and by extension, our relationships, including the way we live. Many different theories have emerged to explain the various aspects of my personality. I have had the privilege to examine the theories that focus on development how the different personalities that manifest in our individual differences.

Of all the theories that we have discussed in class, only two helped me to arrive at a full appreciation of my personalities. These are Sigmund Freud's Defense Mechanism theory and Abraham Maslow. First, Maslow’s theory shed light on my personality precisely his theory on motivation and basic need. The stages that I consider as the most important are the psychological, the safety and the security theories, while the two other levels cannot be easily attained by everyone.

For me, the most significant experiences was growing up trying to survive. A large part of my journey was based on the need for the acquisition of life’s necessities and security. My mother told me that she was abandoned by her own mother at the age of 12. This forced her into the streets. I was conceived when she was only 16-year-old. Growing up, we were flat broke and living virtually from hand to mouth. The base of our house was supported with four pieces of rock. We were poor and it was real. These experiences of my childhood transformed and strengthened my sense of self-preservation and positive attitude.

Another theory that helps me is Sigmund Freud's Defense Mechanism theory. We all have a built in sense of defense mechanism. It could be anything from isolating oneself from everyone else, trying to look at the bright side life or even self-denial. For me, my defense mechanism is keeping the aspiration for a better life alive within. Whenever I’m faced with challenges, or I am feeling down because of a difficult situation, I always tell myself "hey, look, you have come thus far in your personal progress."

Another powerful driving force and sense of motivation for me is the fact that God Is. I was 13 years old when recognised and started obeying the Will of the Lord. I learnt to pray and to talk to Him and I have always looked up to him for succor and hope in trying times.

One significant lesson from the theories of personality is that we as human that are always trying to find the positive even when going through a negative situation. We have to focus on something positive as a catalyst and support to help us change the environment where we’ve come from. Besides, none is perfect. Therefore, I, like many others, have some positive and some negative attributes. As a person, I am always on the lookout for the bright side of life. I think that having a right attitude toward life makes life’s challenges easier to overcome and helps us feel more relaxed and happier. According to Maslow’s laws, people can move up the ladder from one-step to the next.

We all as a people are different from each other. Thus, my social interactions are limited due to my personality traits. I am mindful of the fact that an application the right psychological techniques might help me overcome my shyness, such as being more open to people. One of my greatest challenges is forming the right words and sentences in English language, especially since English Language is not my native language. Sometime, I get scared of talking freely to some people because they might misunderstand me. I know that speaking louder, looking at people right into their eyes, and personally beginning a conversation can help me overcome my English language weakness.

Finally, these theories represent just a part of the different ways that I went about my childhood and development. In reality, I can clearly understand now how I have changed and grown throughout my childhood looking at the many various factors that influenced my learning, as well as my physical and psychological growth and development. Growing up, my immediate environment and the interactions between my family and I determined how my mentality has now become. Thus, these theories have explained so much in the little stages of life which I have gone through so that I am able to explore and understand my childhood experiences better.