Definitions of Personality
Personality is the unique constellation of traits, behaviors, and thought patterns that define how individuals engage with the world.
From Freud’s psychoanalytic framework to the modern Big Five theory, understanding personality has shaped fields from clinical psychology to organizational leadership.
This article compiles 25 seminal definitions from pioneers like Allport, Jung, and Drucker, revealing how personality:
- Shapes workplace behavior and leadership styles
- Balances innate traits and learned adaptability
- Drives team dynamics and career success
Whether exploring emotional intelligence (Goleman) or introversion (Cain), these insights illuminate why personality remains central to human potential and professional achievement.
Let’s explore the 25 foundational definitions of personality in psychology and business.
1. Gordon Allport – “Personality is the dynamic organization within the individual of those psychophysical systems that determine characteristic behavior and thought.”
2. Carl Jung – “Personality is the supreme realization of the innate idiosyncrasy of a living being through individuation.”
3. Sigmund Freud – “Personality emerges from the interplay of id (instincts), ego (reality), and superego (morality).”
4. Raymond Cattell – “Personality is that which permits prediction of what a person will do in a given situation.”
5. Hans Eysenck – “Personality is the stable organization of character, temperament, intellect, and physique determining adaptation.”
6. Albert Bandura (Social Cognitive Theory) – “Personality is shaped by reciprocal interactions between behavior, cognitive processes, and environmental influences.”
7. B.F. Skinner – “Personality is a repertoire of learned behaviors acquired through operant conditioning.”
8. Carl Rogers – “Personality develops through the actualizing tendency—striving for congruence between self-concept and experience.”
9. Erik Erikson – “Personality evolves through psychosocial stages where identity resolves crises like trust vs. mistrust.”
10. Walter Mischel – “Personality manifests through cognitive-affective units that interact with situations.”
11. Peter Drucker – “Effective executives understand their personality strengths—what they can contribute—and work to complement weaknesses.”
12. Daniel Goleman (Emotional Intelligence) – “Personality traits like empathy and self-regulation determine leadership success more than IQ.”
13. Adam Grant – “Personality exists on spectrums (e.g., givers vs. takers) that shape workplace dynamics.”
14. Travis Bradberry – “Emotional intelligence skills overlay personality traits to determine professional effectiveness.”
15. William Marston (DISC Theory) – “Personality styles (Dominance, Influence, Steadiness, Compliance) predict workplace behaviors.”
16. Isabel Briggs Myers (MBTI) – “Personality types emerge from preferences in perception (Sensing/Intuition) and judgment (Thinking/Feeling).”
17. Robert Hogan – “At work, personality is what others perceive—your ‘reputation’—not just internal traits.”
18. Marcus Buckingham – “Great managers focus on personality strengths rather than trying to fix weaknesses.”
19. Simon Sinek – “Leadership personality must align with an authentic ‘why’ to inspire others.”
Read More: Org. Politics
20. Patrick Lencioni – “Team success depends on personality-aware conflict resolution and trust-building.”
21. Brian Little (Free Trait Theory) – “While core personality is fixed, we can act ‘out of character’ to pursue meaningful goals.”
22. Angela Duckworth (Grit) – “Personality blends with perseverance—grit predicts success better than talent alone.”
23. Susan Cain (Quiet) – “Introversion/extroversion are biological personality dimensions with workplace implications.”
24. Adam Grant & Sheryl Sandberg – “Personality is not destiny—’ learned traits’ like resilience can be developed.”
Read More: Definitions of Organizations
25. Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic – “In the digital age, personality is both a filter (social media) and a professional asset.”
In conclusion…
These 25 definitions reveal personality as the invisible architecture of human potential—shaping thoughts, behaviors, and professional success.
From Freud’s unconscious drives to Goleman’s emotional intelligence, the evolution of personality theory proves that while core traits endure, self-awareness and adaptation remain keys to growth.
In business and beyond, understanding personality unlocks both individual achievement and collective excellence.
Read Next: Definitions of Teams
Sujan Chaudhary is an MBA graduate. He loves to share his business knowledge with the rest of the world. While not writing, he will be found reading and exploring the world.