Personality summary

So you know that our childhood environment shapes our personality, but what about the environment we live in as adults? Does our personality continue to adapt to it?

Well, not really. Regardless of what experiences we go through as adults, the personality we develop in childhood stays with us for the most part.

In school, nearly everyone learned about Darwin’s theory of evolution: the organisms best adapted to their environments are more likely to survive. But what can Darwin’s ideas tell us about personality?

When you look at personality from an evolutionary perspective, it’s clear that the wide range in human personality is no accident. If there was only one, single personality that best fit to survive, all humans would’ve evolved to have it.

How many types of personality are there, and how can we define them?

Psychologists have long sought an answer to this and, after many generations of research, they have established five main personality traits, often called the big five. Our personalities are determined by what levels of each trait we have.

The next of the big five traits is conscientiousness. Conscientiousness is the ability to set a goal for yourself and then work towards achieving it. It’s a great predictor of success in your career. What do successful managers, salespeople and lawyers have in common? They’re all very dedicated to their goals, i.e., they have a conscientious attitude.

Imagine you’re studying for an exam and your friends invite you to go out. Having the self-discipline to say no is being conscientious. You know it’s more important to work towards a bigger goal than to get immediate gratification.

The more we try to understand personality, the more a certain question is bound to emerge: Is there such thing as a “perfect” personality?

Well, no, there’s not. We can’t say there’s a perfect personality because each of the five traits has its own pros and cons.

So why is this knowledge of personality traits useful, exactly? After reading about them, you’ve probably already started thinking about yours. Examining your own personality isn’t only fun – it can be very beneficial to your life.

Understanding your own personality can give you a new perspective on many things. We often see the world in only one way, which can limit our understanding. Imagine a very wealthy person, for instance. On the one hand, her life is enviable: she doesn’t have to be concerned about how much she spends on a pair of shoes or her child’s education. On the other, she might struggle to make true friends because many people want to use her for her money.

Think about your personality for a moment. Are you happy with it, or do you sometimes wish you could change it?

Well, don’t bother – you can improve yourself even if your personality traits stay the way they are.