Traits Versus Characteristics

Personality has two aspects:
Inherited behavior (traits)
Learned behavior (characteristics)
When combined, they form what?s referred to as personality type. However, there?s a significant difference in the two aspects: Traits can?t be changed because they?re the fixed part of one?s neurological hardwiring, and characteristics can be changed since they?re acquired through external influences and experiences.
Traits

Traits are responsible for telling our brain how to develop and function, meaning directing it in gathering and processing information and making decisions. Traits are what drive the choices we make and how we decide to put them into action. Our behavior then tells other people how to interact and communicate with us, and defines how we?ll deal with them. Traits determine how we learn and utilize our intuition. They regulate our problem-solving preferences and define our perception of what constitutes trouble. Consequently, they also influence the kinds of solutions we?re most apt to create. In addition, traits are responsible for:
Establishing our value system, the principles and core beliefs that serve as our code of conduct, and producing the behavior we use to support them
Developing our natural talents and influencing how they?re expressed
Generating our perceptions, both internally and externally, and influencing what we do with them
Directing our emotional reactions and our rational responses to experiences and situations
Determining what motivates and irritates us
Choosing the people we?re attracted to and those we?ll have a natural tendency to avoid
Characteristics

Characteristics refer to our learned behavior, the stuff that reflects our conditioning – meaning other people?s perceptions, opinions, criticisms, social expectations, and experiences. They?re responsible for the formation of the learned habits, attitudes, and comfort zones that ultimately impact our quality of life.
The motivation behind the development of characteristics is primarily to make us behaviorally acceptable so that we can fit into a social structure. However, in doing so they?re responsible for creating many of the false perceptions we have of ourselves, the ones that inhibit what we become and what we?re capable of achieving.
For example, if you were repeatedly told as a child that you?d never be good at something, you?d begin to believe it, thus creating limitations and insecurities around your capabilities. The result would be that throughout your life, you?d probably avoid engaging in any activities that might bring those insecurities to the surface.
There?s an interesting aspect to the behavioral patterns created by characteristics. They?re the mental barriers and insecurities that in many cases are stronger than our ability to overcome them. Consequently, we may not bring our natural talents and strengths into expression. In addition, characteristics are responsible for:
Overriding our innate decision-making preferences, thus causing us to make choices for other people?s reasons rather than our own
Driving us to stay in situations, relationships, jobs, and lifestyles that are limiting and unhealthy because that?s what?s expected of us
Suppressing our individuality and uniqueness
Encouraging us to follow the path of least resistance
Creating fears and insecurities
Behaving in certain ways based on environmental requirements such as gender roles
Spending time developing responsibilities and tasks that may not be well matched with our personality traits
As you seek to understand more about personality, it?s helpful to keep these three important factors in mind :
People want to fit in, and as a result will take on what they perceive to be the behavior norm for their environment – even if it isn?t in alignment with their personality boundaries.
It?s human nature to judge people based on first impressions that may not reflect the true nature of their personalities.
There?s a natural tendency to compare other people?s behavior with our own to determine whether their personality is compatible with ours.
However, if you understand that personality is more than what you see on the surface, then you?ll have the opportunity to really get to know new acquaintances and discover their natural talents. You may realize that someone you misread initially is exactly who you?ve been seeking for a job, or is most compatible in a social relationship. You might even find yourself more appreciative of the differences in people because you?ll recognize that their strengths are your weaknesses, and how those variations offer the greatest opportunity to create a dynamic team of self-motivated people.

ANKITA

PGDM-1st SEM