Defining Personality, Intelligence, and Temperament Factors
The Dynamics of Personality
Personality is the dynamic organization of elements that shape our reality as human beings.
It is often said that life is like a theater, in which each of us plays a role, displays specific behavior, and fulfills a certain function.
Personality is a comprehensive set of physical, psychological, social, and cultural elements that belong to us. It is also defined as the set of behavior patterns and potential residing in an individual, constantly interacting between heredity and the environment—key factors that constitute our personality.
Four Key Elements of Personality
- Thought
- Affection (Emotional response)
- The way we deal with circumstances
- Specific type of Conduct (Behavior)
Three Factors Constituting Personality
1. Genotypes (Endogenous/Innate)
- Physical: Body Constitution
- Psychological: Intelligence and Temperament
2. Paratypes (Exogenous/Acquired)
- Physical: Environment
- Psychological: Education and external situations
3. Cytotype (Phenotype/Manifested)
- Sense of life, Coexistence, and Self-Defense mechanisms
- Character
Personality Structure According to Psychoanalysis
- Ego (I)
- Awareness of Reality; the ability to experience oneself as a unique and unrepeatable being.
- Superego
- The Conscience, governed by Ethics (principles) and Morality (standards).
- Id (This)
- The Unconscious of Pleasure; the primal drive that compels us to seek immediate gratification.
Understanding Intelligence
Intelligence is the ability to perceive and evaluate different paths when faced with a situation.
Components Governing Intelligence
Intelligence is driven by two main components:
- Reason: The capacity to analyze each possibility and choose the most consistent path.
- Will: The freedom to accept or reject the choice or decision made by reason.
Functions of Intelligence
- Acquisition: Learning through the senses.
- Storage: Memory and imagination retain everything acquired. This process is governed by affective tone, which influences what information is preserved and what is not.
- Development: The mental process where concepts are trained, judgments are formed, hypotheses are formulated, independent thinking is fostered, problems are analyzed, and new things are created (e.g., reasoning and ratiocinations).
Ultimately, intelligence encompasses adaptive capacity, performance capabilities, and the ability to adapt to new situations through experience.
Types of Intelligence
- Abstract-Theoretical: Developed in the field of ideas and human sciences.
- Practical-Specific: Developed in science and technology.
- Imaginary-Artistic
- Social: The ability to relate effectively to others.
Temperament: Innate Behavioral Style
Temperament is an innate way of being, based on the organic elements that differentiate us from others. It defines our primitive and natural psychological reaction to circumstances.
Temperament is manifested through feelings, emotions, and mood.
Temperament Classification (Heymans and Wiersma)
Temperaments are classified based on three dimensions: emotionality, activity, and impact or resonance.
- Apasionados (Passionate)
- Coléricos (Choleric)
- Nerviosos (Nervous)
- Sentimentales (Sentimental)
- Flemáticos (Phlegmatic)
- Sanguíneos (Sanguine)
- Amorfos (Amorphous)
- Apáticos (Apathetic)