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We often use the wordscharacterandpersonalityinterchangeably.
Character can shape personality, but personality also influences character.
So, What’s the Difference Between Character and Personality?
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While character and personality influence one another, character refers to our values and personality describes how we behave.
Making ourselves aware of these differences can help us understand why we are the way we are.
Character is an intrinsic part of a persons makeup; personality involves the way our character is expressed.
Character refers to the persons moral and ethical qualities.
It consists of beliefs and moral principles that can guide their behavior in discrete ways.
Both reflect who an individual is as a person and are influenced by environmental factors.
Tara M. Lally, PhD, Psychologist
Character refers to the personsmoraland ethical qualities.
It consists of beliefs and moral principles that can guide their behavior in discrete ways.
Personality has a similar impact.
Within psychological arenas, theIDrepresents [our] personality and directly represents the needs of an individual.
Which Is More Important, Character or Personality?
Character and personality go hand in hand.
Each impacts the other, and both impact your thoughts,behaviors, and actions.
Some experts say character is more important because it is what drives an individuals decisions.
Those decisions are predictors of actions.
Other experts argue that personality is more critical because it is the demonstration of a persons beliefs.
So, basically, it’s hard to say which one is more important.
Personality emerges in response to situations and our interacting with others.
Ultimately, both matter, and are critical links to understanding a person mentally, physically, and emotionally.
Both are equally important.
Character is born from caregiver development and what we see as valued both intrinsically and [by] others.
Personality emerges in response to situations and our [interactions] with others, says Dr. Lally.
How Can We Identify Our Character and Personality?
Let’s go back to those two example scenarios from earlier.
Think about how you’d respond if you walked into work and saw a cash register open.
What might your internalreactionbe?
We can then use that information togrow and evolve as we move through life.
Any of these exercises can provide you with valuable insight into who you truly are.
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