Effect Of Personality On Effective Communication Essay

Psychologists have come up with different definitions as further virtually as personality is concerned. However, most of them tend to agree to the fact that, personality is the individuals unique pattern of thoughts, patterns of thought, feelings and behavior that tend to persist over time and situation, (Morris & Meistos 1998p 442). agreely, Morris and Meistos have found out that personality as described in the above definition has two parts, that is, it is a unique pattern of an individual- those tenets that single out or tell an individual from another.Secondly, that personality has a spell, that is, they persist through time and across situations. The last example simply means that personality is shelter and enduring. According to James Kalat, in his introduction to psychology, the word personality has been derived from the Latin word persona which means masking, (Kalat, 1990 p 467). It traces its roots from the theatres of ancient Grecian and Rome where actors wore masks t o indicate their emotions- whether they were happy, sad or even angry.The use of the word personality, however, has a totally different meaning from the word mask. According to James Kalat (1990), a mask can be put and be removed again after the play, but personality as we saw in the definition above, indicates something fixed and enduring. Personality likewise consists all consistent ways in which the behavior of one person differs markedly from that of another person. Of the several psychologists who have wrote about personality, Sigmund Freud (1856- 1939) and Karl Jung argon the most notables ones.Sigmund Freud actually held the opinion that our behavior is based on unconscious instincts. Some of these behaviors atomic number 18 aggressive and destructive while others such(prenominal) as hunger, thirst, self-preservation, and charge up are necessary for the survival of the species. Sexual instincts according to Freud just dont mean erotic sexuality behavior but also rely to almost any kind of pleasure. Consequently, Freud regarded the sexual instincts as the most central in the development of personality.James Kalat (1990) has found that this aspect from the Freudian theory is in truth vital for the establishment of a full individual. Therefore according to him the way we communicate, address others and general relationship are determined from innate by our personality. Morris and Meisto, in their psychology an introduction have found that Carl Jung, who was a student of Freud, had a different direction as far as personality is concerned, (Morris & Meistos 1998, p 442).According to them, although the two believed in the role of unconscious in determining hu existence behavior, Jung fell out with Freuds view that the Id is the desire for sexual excitement which is light-emitting diode by the ego, Jung emphasized that the unconscious is the source of strength vitality manifested by the ego, (Morris, Maisto 1998, p 447). Further, Jung emphasized that the unconscious part of personality can break fine-tune into the personal unconscious and the collective unconscious. Therefore, according to James and Maistos (1998), personality can be said to control the all told individual.Patterns of life which include behavior, emotions, and communicational aspects such as speaking, listening, hearing and noise are all manifestations of personality. Communication, as has been found by James (1990), relates directly with personality of an in the sense that it is a help in which one has to hear and understand the views and ideas of another. In most cases emotions are aroused in the course of communication process. Emotions here can mean that the whole process can make one happy or sad, delighted or anxious,A good example of a communication process in which emotions take a centre stage is this extract taken from a play by this Nigerian play writer, Wole Soyinka in his 1965 play, the Road. Salubi Six o measure I bet. I dont know how it is, but no m atter when I go to sleep I wake up it strikes six. outright that is a miracle. Samson There is miracle somewhere but not what you say. Maybe the sight of you using the chewing stick Salubi Look Samson, its early in the morning. Go back to sleep if you are going to start again. (He starts to put his chauffeurs uniform).Samson Who lend you uniform? Salubi I deal it with my take money. (Samson goes over, feels the cloth). Samson second hand Salubi so what? Samson at least you might have washed it. Look at that blood stain- has someone laden your teeth? Salubi rubbish, no washing powder. Samson all right, all right. But you are a funny person. Funny like those street idiots. How can anyone buy uniform when he hasnt got a job? Salubi impression. I take uniform to impress all future employers. Samson With that smear on the front?Salubi (angrily going over to Samson) Go mind your own business you jobless tout. ( Qtd Soyinga . W, 1956 PP 2-3) In such a conversation with the likes of Sam son no meaningful thought can take place. There is evidence of personality with Samson assistmingly proud lounging his attack on the seemingly low status of the colleague. Eventually, a misinterpret is evident, and finally they a break out. For an individual who always has a good self impression, and is normally confident and assured, may be quite insecure in particular one to one.This means that effective passage of the message might not eventually take place. Persons introduced to celebrities have been known to stutter, flutter or be struck dumb. An individual engaged in a two person colloquy must actually reckon with several images. First, he sees himself as he feels he is. He also feels himself as he wishes the other would see him. And finally he sees himself as he suspects the other person really does see him, (Abernathy, 1959 p 7). To illustrate the foregoing, suppose you as a student go to see one of your favorite teachers.You see yourself as somewhat better-the-average st udents, though you are sure how well you are mastering this particular subject. Meanwhile you dream of being a superstar student that your instructor will automatically look at of you when matter of special awards is mentioned. Also, however from the tone of one or two comments he has made fear that the teacher sees as quite deficient. This suspicion bothers you a great deal as you prepare to talk to him. When there is a wide gap between these images tension develops, and most likely a sizeable and meaningful conversation will be affected.The hearing and listening aspects of communication are interfered with just because of anxiety and tension grip, (Abernathy, 1959 p 8). A young man or woman prepared to meet an individual, whether or not in position of authority, have always had tension because of the way they perceive this individual and also their personality. Adults should in essence be made to understand that their personality affects the way they are perceived by the young g eneration. You can imagine you being turn to by an individual with a distorted personality like in the case of Samson above.Personality in essence affects all aspects of communication, but most important listening and hearing. Furthermore, if our adults understood the personality of the young generation they are required to be addressing, for example, they should know the relevant information to relay to the teenagers. Ever comprehend of the generational gap Difference arising in the way the younger generation comes to understand the older generation is actually vested in the personality as verbalized by the two generations.It is helpful that in future adults should understand us ( Abernathy, 1959 p 10)ReferenceAbernathy, E. (1959). Fundamentals of Speech Communication. Mc. C. Brown Company Publishers. Hayes, D. (1998). Effective oral Communication. Berkshire Horder & Stoughton. Soyinka, W. (1965). The Road. Nairobi Oxford University Press. Kalat, J. W. (1990). An introduction t o Psychology. Belmont Wadworth Publishing Company. Morris, G. M. & Maisto, A. A. (1998). Psychology An Introduction. New Jersey, Prentice-Hall.