why two people have different personality traits and why some traits are common?

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We keep observing others consciously and unconsciously all the time. People differ from one another widely and wildly. Why?...No two persons are alike. Why?...At the same time people have certain common traits or characteristics. Why?...What are the sources of such individual differences?...or commonality?...to what extent they differ?...to what extent they are common?...Is it possible to predict how an individual may behave in certain defined situation based on certain theoretical assumption?...How far the specific source of personality differences are stable?...are they long enduring?...or transient?...why people are unique?...can you make wild guesses on these questions?.

Psychologists have followed different paths to find answers for these questions.

Evolutionary psychologists say that different human beings ‘adapt to the environment in different ways’. They follow different strategies. This is the reason for difference in individual differences. So, as per them, “alternative adoptive strategies followed by human individuals belonging to the animal kingdom” is the reason for differences.

Some say that ‘genetic inheritance’…i.e the complex interplay of the genetic components and the environmental influences is the reason for the differences.

When we view the human beings as one extending from lower species then ‘biological under pinnings of temperament and complex behaviour’ emerges as the reason for the differences.

Some say that psychodynamic factors such as ‘unconscious  mind’ is the reason. They say that instinctive drives and forces and developmental experiences shape one’s personality. Sigmund Freud says that the unconscious determines the thinking, willing and feeling of the individuals. He stresses that internal psychological processes are of primary importance for explaining the nature of the individual. Early child hood experiences have greater impact on one’s personality. Unconscious motivation contributes to various psychological phenomena. Rationality and morality sustain our ego and super ego. Individuals resort to defense mechanism to foster their ego. Even the ‘conscious’ experience and its interaction with the ‘unconscious’ matters. Social factors play a significant role in development of an individual.

Social cognitive theorists say that ‘socialisation and the effect of cognitive processes’ are the reason for the differences. 

Freud, in his classical psychoanalytic theory says ‘human behaviour is determined by the unconscious’. According to him the structure of personality includes (a) conscious (b) preconscious (c) unconscious.

What one is presently aware of constitutes the conscious. Consciousness is riveted by our focus on what is happening at the current immediate moment, ‘here and now’.

In preconscious state we are not aware of certain facts related to our past experiences. But they are available for recall.

Unconscious refers to a state where the facts related to experience, especially emotional experience may not be felt at the ‘present’ moment. It can be voluntarily recalled by the individual. This material remains dormant and remains buried underneath in the mind.

Unconscious usually consists of the traumatic childhood experiences and tabooed sexual desires. The material hidden in the unconscious could hardly be retrieved by the awakened state of awareness. But the influence of the unconscious is felt in all aspects of behaviour.

According to Freud, mind is like an iceberg merged in water with 90% inside and 10% visible outside. Majority of our emotional experiences are buried under the unconscious and what we see as behaviour outside is only but a small portion of the mental structure.

So, this is the brief (?) about why we differ. More will follow in the days to come!

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bye....

rams