Your Your PersonalityPersonality

Think of one unique quality Think of one unique quality about yourself. about yourself.

What is personality? What is personality? • Personality is a combination of traits

that makes you the person you are

• Includes habits, feelings, how you think and interact with others

• Traits are qualities that make you different from everyone else. Some are desirable, some are not.

How does your personality How does your personality develop?develop?

• Heredity

• Environment

HeredityHeredity• The passing of traits from one

generation of family to the next• Traits are passed through genes

– Determine the characteristics that will appear as you grow and develop

• Inherited traits – Eyes, hair, skin, etc. received from

parents and ancestors when you were born.

EnvironmentEnvironment• Includes all the circumstances in

your surroundings – People, home, school, community,

media, TV

• Acquired traits – develop as a result of your environment – Likes, dislikes, goals, interests, abilities,

speech, mannerisms

EnvironmentEnvironment• Home and Family

– Most important environmental factor shaping your personality

– Many personality traits are learned through imitation

• Birth Order – Size of your family

often influences your personality

Environment Environment • School and friends

– Size– Courses offered– Teachers and

coaches – Friends

• Community and others – Scout troops

Can you change your Can you change your personality? personality?

• Not easy, but it can be done if you really want to change

• If there is a trait you would like to change: – select one area at a time– write down a specific plan– set realistic goals – Put your plan into action