As a way of maximizing our potential, contemplate our aims, analyze our qualities and skills,

set goals, the term "Personal Development" encompasses all this and more. It is a lifelong
process - it has a beginning but there is no end to the process. The more we learn and

acquire knowledge, the more well realize the magnitude of knowledge available for us to
grow and improve.

Through Personal Development, our focus would be on improving ourselves in our own eyes.
It enables you to achieve what you wish to, for the simple reason that it develops several
qualities in you and through this development you will emerge better equipped to achieve
what you want.

It enables you to bring out the best in ourselves and others as well.

Perhaps most importantly, Personal Development helps you to become more positive as a

person. While we focus on our development and develop ourselves, we will also desire the
improvement of others and the environment.
Through our journey of Personal Development, our Self Confidence, Self-Motivation and
Self Esteem are positively affected.

Personal Development helps you to realize the value and importance of -

1) Personal Empowerment & Creating a Social Awareness of the Importance of

Empowerment

2)Importance of Self-Motivation
3) Finding Meaning in Your Life

4) Significance of Positive Attitude and much more...

Every individual is characterized by unique behavior, feelings and mannerisms, that makes
them different from another. Personality Development is the development of the

systematic emotional and behavioral changes that reflects the individuality of a person.

We often refer to a person's temperament as their "nature", keeping in mind the role of
genetic factors.

However, the environment that a person exists in is known to influence the person through
a process of "nurturing".

Our journey through life results in our interaction with others, the environment and

experiences. This experience we have, results in the spontaneous development of our

Personality.

Unlike, Personal Development, many a time, any focused and conscious effort to improve
our Personality is often consciously undertaken for our improvement in other's eyes.

Personality enhancing skills that would give us better prospects of creating the desired
impression is often highlighted to us before an interview or a scenario that requires us to
be in the eyes of the public.

Interview Skills, Body Language, Communication Skills, Building Self Image, Personal
Grooming are some of the workshops or courses often suggested.

However, if we are asked about the connection between the two, the major one would be
that, Personal Development would enhance and develop our Personality over a period of

time. As we improve by making changes that are profound, such as through education or

enriching experiences like social work, involvement in charity, our Personality would reflect
the positive development that occurs through our experience.

A Personality Development course or workshop is one that would enable us to be noticed

faster for the changes we desire but whether it filters into our concern for the overall
quality of whatever we do in our life is highly questionable.

While the quest to attend a workshop or course in Personality Development may be due to
the image that you seek, the goal of Personal Development is a quest that one undertaken

not just keeping the importance of self improvement in mind but for enhancing the quality
of life - with a sense of reverence .

A pursuit in Personal Development will undoubtedly transform your life through the

vibrancy and passion you will start experiencing each day - from continuously imbibing
knowledge that is for us seek and enjoy.

Developing our Personality would cease to be a matter of concern or thought when we

focus on developing ourselves - through Personal Development.

Definition

Personality development is the development of the organized pattern of behaviors and

attitudes that makes a person distinctive. Personality development occurs by the
ongoing interaction of temperament , character, and environment.

Description

Personality is what makes a person a unique person, and it is recognizable soon after
birth. A child's personality has several components: temperament, environment, and
character. Temperament is the set of genetically determined traits that determine the
child's approach to the world and how the child learns about the world. There are no
genes that specify personality traits, but some genes do control the development of the
nervous system, which in turn controls behavior.
A second component of personality comes from adaptive patterns related to a child's
specific environment. Most psychologists agree that these two factorstemperament
and environmentinfluence the development of a person's personality the most.
Temperament, with its dependence on genetic factors, is sometimes referred to as
"nature," while the environmental factors are called "nurture."

While there is still controversy as to which factor ranks higher in affecting personality
development, all experts agree that high-quality parenting plays a critical role in the
development of a child's personality. When parents understand how their child responds
to certain situations, they can anticipate issues that might be problematic for their child.
They can prepare the child for the situation or in some cases they may avoid a
potentially difficult situation altogether. Parents who know how to adapt their parenting
approach to the particular temperament of their child can best provide guidance and
ensure the successful development of their child's personality.
Finally, the third component of personality is characterthe set of emotional, cognitive,
and behavioral patterns learned from experience that determines how a person thinks,
feels, and behaves. A person's character continues to evolve throughout life, although
much depends on inborn traits and early experiences. Character is also dependent on a
person's moral development .
In 1956, psychiatrist Erik Erikson provided an insightful description as to how
personality develops based on his extensive experience in psychotherapy with children
and adolescents from low, upper, and middle-class backgrounds. According to Erikson,
the socialization process of an individual consists of eight phases, each one
accompanied by a "psychosocial crisis" that must be solved if the person is to manage
the next and subsequent phases satisfactorily. The stages significantly influence
personality development, with five of them occurring during infancy, childhood,
and adolescence .

Common problems

Infants who are just a few weeks old display differences between each other in how
active they are, how responsive they are to change, and how irritable they are. Some
infants cry constantly while others seem happy and stay fairly quiet. Child development

research conducted by the CDI has identified nine temperamental traitsthat may
contribute to a child's personality development being challenging or difficult:

activity level (how active the child is generally)

distractibility (degree of concentration and paying attention when the child is not
particularly interested)
intensity (how loud the child is)
regularity (the predictability of biological functions like appetite and sleep)
sensory threshold (how sensitive the child is to physical stimuli: touch, taste, smell,
sound, light)
approach/withdrawal (characteristic responses of a child to a new situation or to
strangers)
adaptability (how easily the child adapts to transitions and changes such as switching to
a new activity)
persistence (stubbornness, inability to give up)
mood (tendency to react to the world primarily in a positive or negative way)

Temperamental traits are enduring personality characteristics that are neither "good"
nor "bad." Early on, parents can work with the child's temperamental traits rather than
oppose them. Later, as the child grows up, parents can help the child to adapt to his or
her own world in spite of inborn temperament.

KEY TERMS

Behavior A stereotyped motor response to an internal or external stimulus.

Character An individual's set of emotional, cognitive, and behavioral patterns learned and accumulated
over time.
Cognition The act or process of knowing or perceiving.

Cognitive The ability (or lack of) to think, learn, and memorize.

Gene A building block of inheritance, which contains the instructions for the production of a particular
protein, and is made up of a molecular sequence found on a section of DNA. Each gene is found on a
precise location on a chromosome.
Identity The condition of being the same with, or possessing, a character that is well described,
asserted, or defined.
Maturity A state of full development or completed growth.

Personality The organized pattern of behaviors and attitudes that makes a human being distinctive.
Personality is formed by the ongoing interaction of temperament, character, and environment.
Socialization The process by which new members of a social group are integrated in the group.

Temperament A person's natural disposition or inborn combination of mental and emotional traits.

Introduction
In this article, I will attempt to highlight the differences between personal development and
personality development. Many people seem to think that they mean one and the same thing but
this is not the case. They are two distinct aspects of development that take place in the lives of
every individual.

Every individual is born into a family and is influenced by the genes, environment and several
other factors. The personality of individuals evolves all through their life time and at various
stages, some or all of these factors determine the type of behaviour that is exhibited. Some aspect
of our personality is in-born, while what we experience, see and learn all play a role in who we
eventually become. Some of the first influences that we received from our parents affect the way
we behave and the type of personality we develop. Those who were shown adequate love and care
by parents and guardians usually grow up to have a healthy character while those who lacked this
develop certain dysfunctional character and behaviour. Most of those who did not have a healthy
family upbringing often develop negative traits such as moodiness, anger, bitterness that affects
them all through life except they make serious decisions to handle them. The environment at
home influences our attitudes and behaviour while the school environment also helps to shape our
thoughts and perceptions about issues and life in general. This also contributes in our character is
moulded. Another way our personalities are influenced is through our peers. All these affect the
personality development of the individual.
Personal development occurs as a result of an individual's decision to make his life better. It
requires personal effort and consistent planning for it to succeed. At every stage of our lives, there
are things we should do that will help improve our position in life. It is a process that is targeted at
improving our skills and abilities. What one individual determines as development in his life may
differ from the other because our callings and purposes are different. An engineer has things that
he must do to enhance his career in terms of training, education and professional experience/
exposure. The demands will not be the same with what a teacher is required to do before he
becomes qualified. Their personal development process would not be the same. In the same way, a
basketball professional's personal development goals would differ from that of a baseball player
because they are in clearly different paths. For personal development to be effective there must
be a goal and then it should be followed up with a plan that would make it work. Any personal
development goal that is without a plan would not succeed eventually.
I shall discuss the above topics further and try to also present a clearer and correct analogy of
their differences.

Personal Development vs. Personality

Development

Understanding Personal Development

Personal Development is usually described as what individuals do to make their lives better. It is
something that goes on throughout the life of an individual because at every stage in our lives,
there are things we look forward to becoming; goals we aspire to achieve and steps that need to be
taken to make our lives better. Personal development involves assessing the skills and abilities you
possess and determining the areas that need improvement. If there is a need for new skills to be
learnt and developed, a plan is put in place to accomplish this. It also involves developing the goals

and objectives that will bring about growth and progress in your life. These goals may be in the
area of your career, relationship, business and politics. Personal development helps you strategize
and plan for growth in any area you have chosen to pursue. It helps you have a fulfilled and
balanced life. Every individual has a need for personal development and this continues almost
through life.
One of the foremost theories on personal development was propounded by Abraham Maslow and
it is called the process of self-actualization. This is the desire that exists in every individual to
become all that they are capable of becoming. It is important to note here that self-actualization
would be impossible without the individual understanding his feelings and focusing on the things
he needs to do to make his life better. Maslow's theory stressed that personal development is
dependent on certain needs being met and that these needs form a hierarchy. He also stated that
through the course of life, the level of need that motivates the behaviour in an individual change
over time. The various levels of needs are as follows: Self Actualization: Reaching your full
potential, achieving all you want to achieve.
Aesthetic needs: Need for beauty and order, creativity.
Cognitive needs: The desire to know and understand. The need for meaning.
Esteem needs: Feeling of competence, self esteem self respect.
Love and Belongingness: Giving and receiving trust, acceptance, affection.
Safety needs: Feeling of safety from all dangerous and psychological situations, security of health.
Physiological needs: Basic needs of food, water, oxygen, shelter, sleep and relaxation.
Benefits of Personal Development
Personal Development provides great benefits to individuals but it is necessary that they clearly
define their personal development goals. This will enable them know if they have been successful
whenever they assess themselves later in the future. Some of its benefits include:
- It helps individuals become more aware of their potentials and abilities. As you embark on this
journey of personal development, you become more aware of who you are, your goals, objectives,
values, beliefs and purpose in life. It helps you identify the things that you need to do in order to
make progress in life. At every stage of your life, there is always a better place and a better
position to aspire to. Personal development enables you look forward to a better life no matter
your level of achievement and attainment.
- Personal development gives individuals a clear sense of purpose and direction. It helps you to
identify and pursue your goals in life. It helps you make wise and right decisions. In pursuing your
personal development plans, you will need to also remove anything and anyone that may be a
source of distraction to you.

- It also makes you become more focused and effective in all that you do as your purpose in life
becomes clearer. Personal development helps you to focus on the things which will assist you
pursue and achieve your main purpose in life. It enables you to conserve more energy and strength
than in a situation when you are involved with so many things at a time. This also makes the
accomplishment of your goals and objectives easier and this will ultimately increase your level of
productivity.
- Your personal development goals enable you to become motivated and give you a reason to live
each day. Without the right motivation, you will not be able to find a reason to keep moving on in
the pursuit of your dreams. It helps you to keep moving in the face of tough challenges and
resistance. It also enables you build resilience to face up to situations. Through the process, all the
skills and experiences help you become confident and strong to cope with any challenge.
- It helps you sift through your relationships to identify the ones that add to you and discard the
ones that are not good for you. The relationships you keep determine to a large extent how far you
will go in the achievement of your goals.
Personality Development
On the other hand, Personality Development describes the development of an organized way of
behaviour and lifestyle that distinguishes one individual from another. It is developed through the
interaction of certain factors such as your temperament, character and environment. It is your
personality that makes you different from others even though you may look the same or live in the
same household; each person is unique and so also are their reactions to situations. Even relations
that are brought up in the same household develop their own unique way of handling issues or
responding to the challenges they face. Personality speaks about what makes you different and it
can be seen in a child immediately he or she is born into the world. The personality of the child is
made up of various components. These are the temperament, environment and character.
When we talk of the temperament, these are genetically determined traits that a child comes with
into the world. They influence the behaviour of the child greatly and influence the child's approach
to the world and even the way he or she learns in the process. It is said that there are no particular
genes which control personality traits, but it is agreed that genes control the nervous system
development and this also controls behaviour. From childhood, parents would notice the
behaviours of their children at their early stage. Some of them may exhibit stubborn, happy and
grumpy behaviour. Most of the emotional responses that children exhibit at this stage tend to
continue through their development.
The EAS model was developed using three dimensions: emotionality, sociability and activity. This
was to help determine how many temperaments exist. Emotionality refers to a child's emotional
reaction to external stimuli. It postulated for example, that a highly emotional child may cry easily,
get excited easily or be more fearful while a child with low emotions may be more relaxed. For
adults, it stated that high emotionality may be related to artistic endeavours and relationships.

Sociability talks about an individual's ability to interact with others. Those that are high in this
tend to prefer team sports and interact comfortably in social settings while those who are low on
this prefer activities that they can do alone. They are usually uncomfortable with strangers or new
situations. Our level of sociability affects how we make friends and our career choices.
The other one is Activity. This talk about the level of energy a child has. Those high on this prefer
physical activity and are less likely to settle down.
The environment influences how a child grows up and the type of personality he possesses. It is
advised that parents should ensure that they provide quality care which would help their children
develop properly.
The personality development of every individual continues throughout their lifetime and is
determined majorly by both internal and external influences that surround them. These include
the traits with which they were born and all the experiences acquired at various stages of their
existence.
Personality Development Stages
Personality Development in individuals move from one stage to the other and it is important to
stress that no stage is more important than the other. From the time of birth into adulthood,
individuals are continuously developing their personality. The first stage is the stage of infancy up
to age 2. This is the period when infants are exposed to situations where they learn how to trust or
not to trust. Those who are catered for properly, naturally develop a good and healthy personality
and have a clear sense of direction and purpose in life. Whereas, those who are not taken care of
properly develop abnormally and never seem to find a sense of purpose. The next stage is the
toddler stage which starts from about 18 months until 4 years. Children at this stage start
developing their will power and start to assert themselves in various situations. There is also the
school age stage when children begin to get excited and desire to explore more. They start to
develop a lot of confidence, develop a sense of humour and also begin to understand that their
actions have consequences. Children also start to show a spirit of competitiveness when playing
with peers. Physical manifestations also include the appearance of permanent teeth. The other
stage is the Adolescence. This is described as the years from puberty to adulthood. It is usually
divided into early, middle and late adolescence and is marked by biological changes, intellectual
and emotional development in the individual.