Personality and Mental Health
What is Mental Health?
Mental health influences how people view and interact with the world around them. The Cleveland Health Clinic explains, “Good mental health can help you develop positive and meaningful relationships with others. This ties in with how we communicate and talk with others, establish and maintain healthy boundaries, and empathize with others.”(para. 15). Mental health impacts an individual’s self-esteem and how they find value in life.
How does Personality Develop?
Behavior and thought patterns influence how personality develops. Genetics, environment, and societal variables influence patterns. Inherited qualities determine temperament. Development aims to define and explain how individuals’ behaviors are described.
How does Personality Influence Mental Health?
Personality includes the way someone thinks, feels, and behaves. For example, “You may have heard someone refer to you as ‘reserved’ or ‘talkative’, perhaps, or say that you’re ‘passionate’ or ‘calm.’ They’re describing how they perceive your personality—your typical demeanor and actions.” (HelpGuide, para 2). Personality types group people together based on behavioral patterns. For example, one model defines four types: A, B, C, and D.
Type A is highly motivated, organized, competitive, and perfectionistic. Personality Type B is relaxed and flexible but not as ambitious as Type A. Type C is conscientious and has difficulty expressing emotions. Type D is pessimistic, anxious, and prone to isolation.
Personality Types vs Personality Traits
Types are general classifications, whereas traits are specific behavior patterns. Traits exist on a spectrum and blend to form disposition. The Big Five model focuses on five characteristics: openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism. Each quality can be broken down into more specific facets. “For example, aspects of neuroticism include anxiety and self-consciousness, while aspects of agreeableness include modesty and compliance.”(HelpGuide, para 16). Each of the five traits is independent, therefore, each can describe an aspect of personality.
Echoing Hills Cares
Echoing Hills believes that each individual is created in God’s image with a purpose. We value all personalities and provide quality care for mental health.
https://health.clevelandclinic.org/why-mental-health-is-so-important
https://nobaproject.com/modules/personality-traits
https://www.verywellmind.com/personality-development-2795425
