Week 1 - What is Personality

Week 1: What is Personality? 

Personality is the scientific study of how and why people are the way they are and provides an explanation for an individual’s feelings, thoughts, behaviors, and motivations. This week, you explore factors that could influence personality development, the role of research in defining personality, and how this relates to the development of theories of personality. 

Learning Objectives

Students will:

• Evaluate factors than can influence personality development

Learning Resources

Required Readings

Cervone, D., & Pervin, L. A. (2019). Personality: Theory and research (14th ed.). Wiley.
Chapter 1, “Personality Theory: From Everyday Observations to Systematic Theories” (pp. 1–26)

Discussion: What Influences Personality Development?

There are many factors that influence personality development in each individual.  Some of these factors are: culture, genetics, family and peers. Based on the reading and your own experience, consider which factor(s) have the greatest impact on personality development and which factors have the least impact on personality development.

To Prepare

• Consider the many factors that could influence personality development. 

By Day 4

Post which factor(s) that influence personality have the greatest impact and which factor(s) have a lesser impact on how human personality develops.

Read your colleagues' postings.