thesis statement about personality traits

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Personality Traits Essays (Examples)

1000+ documents containing “personality traits” .

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Personality traits psychology-personality.

Personality The term personality can simply be defined as a person's unique image; what makes them different from other people in terms of attitudes, abilities, capacity, interests, behavioral modes, and individual structures, and determines how they interact with the environment. It is crucial for people to identify and understand their own personalities, because only then will they be able to uncover those things that are important to them and which require their time, effort, and commitment. Moreover, knowing our personalities opens up opportunities for us to discover our weaknesses and, hence, improve how we relate and interact with others in a diverse environment. It is for these reasons that I took the initiative to undertake the Big Five Personality Test, which I must say was a worthy cause and helped me understand my personality for my own good, but more importantly, for the good of the people around me. The test results….

Out of Service. (2014). The Big Five Personality Test. Out of Service. Retrieved 12 September 2014 from  http://www.outofservice.com/bigfive/results/?oR=0.55&cR=0.833&eR=0.812&aR=0.806&nR=0.188 

Santrock, J.W. (2010). Life Span Development (13th ed.). New York: McGraw Hill

Personality Traits A the Conscientious

Extroverted managers enjoy most high-stress decision-making situations. They may are prone to the errors typical of managers who make decisions quickly and rely on biases and heuristics, but the stress level of the situation is less a factor. These managers are more stressed by having to spend long hours researching and carefully considering decisions. They will have made up their mind early in the process and not understand the point of progressing further. Open managers are stressed most by routine decisions. Such decisions are viewed a tedious, and will therefore receive less attention. This leads to decision-making that fails to consider the full scope of information. Agreeable managers are stressed by situations that are antagonistic in nature. Decisions that have a negative impact on others, such as layoffs, cause them the most stress. They are prone to delay on such decisions and may choose to mitigate the damage they cause rather than….

Works Cited:

Cox, B., Borger, S., Taylor, S., Fuentes, K., Ross, L. (1999). Anxiety sensitivity and the five-factor model of personality. Behavior Research and Therapy. Vol. 37, 7, 633-641.

Hartman, R. & Betz, N. (2007). The five factor model and career self-efficacy: General and domain-specific relationships. Journal of Career Assessment. Vol. 15, 2, 145-161.

Matthews, G., Emo, A., Funke, G., Zeidner, M., Roberts, R., Costa, P. & Schulze, R. (2006). Emotional intelligence, personality and task-induced stress. Journal of Exp Psychol Appl. Vol.12, 2, 96-107.

Page, J., Bruch, M. & Haase, R. (2008). Role of perfectionism and five-factor model traits in career indecision. Personality and Individual Differences. Vol. 45, 8, 811-815.

Personality Different People Possess Different Personality Traits

Personality Different people possess different personality traits. In seeking to define individuals' core personalities, researchers have in the past outlined/identified several core personality dimensions. This text concerns itself with the 'Big 5' personality traits. The 'Big 5' Personality Traits Personality in the words of Griffin and Moorhead (2011) "is the relatively stable set of psychological attributes that distinguish one person from another." As the authors point out, there exists a need for managers to familiarize themselves with various primary personality attributes and the impact they have on the behavior of people in organizational situations. Numerous personality traits have been identified in the past. However, in an attempt to ease the description and analysis of personalities, researchers have in recent times identified several generalized personality traits (Hellriegel and Slocum, 2007). The 'Big Five' personality traits according to Nelson and Quick (2007) "include extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, emotional stability, and openness to experience." In the section….

Griffin, R.W. & Moorhead, G. (2011). Organizational Behavior: Managing People and Organizations (10th ed.). Mason, OH: Cengage Learning.

Hellriegel, D. & Slocum, J.W. (2007). Organizational Behavior (11th ed.). Mason, OH: Thomson Higher Education.

Nelson, D.L. & Quick, J.C. (2007). Understanding Organizational Behavior (3rd ed.). Mason, OH: Thomson Higher Education.

Personality Traits

Five Factor Model Personality traits The Five Factor Model of personality traits: Evaluating universal and non-universal constructs of personality The Five Factor Model of personality traits suggests that all human beings can be judged according to the degree to which they manifest five specific traits: openness, conscientiousness, extroversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism. It is true that "lexical studies, which examine personality factors in trait adjectives from different languages, have had somewhat mixed results [regarding their universality]. E, A, and C. factors almost always appear, but N. And O. sometimes do not" yet the concepts themselves still seem to exist cross-culturally (McCrae, n.d.: 2). The degree to which societies value different qualities may vary, but the universal presence of these qualities is noteworthy. For example, "extraverts are lively, cheerful, and sociable; introverts are sober and taciturn… Conscientiousness is seen in organization, punctuality, and purposefulness" (McCrae n.d.: 2). The United States may value extroversion more so than….

Allik, Juri, Realo, Anu & Mottus, Rene, Borkenau, Peter, Peter Kuppens, Hr-eb?'c-kova, '

Martina. (2010). How people see others is different from how people see themselves:

A replicable pattern across cultures. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology,

99 (5): 870 -- 882.

Personality Traits Agreeableness Friendly Compassionate vs Cold Unkind

Agreeableness & Workplace Diversity Agreeableness and Workplace Diversity The Big Five framework of personality traits is a common psychological categorization of very broad dimensions of human personality (Hurtz & Donovan, 2000). The five dimensions are surgency, agreeableness, adjustment, conscientiousness, and openness to experience. Each dimension consists of multiple traits that may be applicable to an individual's personality. Together the Big Five comprise the Five Factor Model (FFM). Of the five dimensions, agreeableness is probably the least well understood. It references tendencies to attempt to work well with others. Adjectives that best describe agreeableness in a person include compassionate, friendly, social, warm, and easygoing. Many who fall into this category are highly social and make friends easily. In personality assessments those who score highest for agreeableness respond favorably to statements such I am kind to people, warm and caring, I cooperate with others easily, I consider myself as a high performer, and I usually….

Esque, T.J, & Gilmore, E.R (2003). Making an Impact; Building a Top Performing Organization from the Bottom up. Performance Improvement, 42(1), 47 -- 49.

Hurtz, G.M., & Donovan, J.J. (2000). Personality and job performance: The Big Five revisited. Journal of Applied Psychology, (85), 869-879.

Westerman, J.W. & Simmons, B.L. (2007). The effects of work environment on the personality-performance relationship: an exploratory study. Journal of Managerial Issue, (23), 339-97.

Zimmerman, R.D. (2008). Understanding the Impact of Personality Traits on Individuals Turnover Decision: A Meta-Analytical Path Model. Personnel Psychology Journal. (54), 93-107

Personality Traits and Violence

Individuals Who May Become Violent The headlines today are replete with anecdotal accounts of people described as "the quiet type" who then go on to commit inexplicable violent acts. Conversely, in other cases, violent acts are committed by people who are presciently described as "a bomb waiting to explode" Furthermore, it is also reasonable to suggest that virtually anyone can become violent under certain circumstances. To determine the facts, this paper provides a review of the relevant peer-reviewed literature concerning the characteristics of individuals who may become violent and a discussion concerning how these characteristics contribute to increased violence in those who are mentally ill. A summary of the research and important findings concerning predispositions to violence are provided in the conclusion. eview and Discussion There are a number of factors that can contribute to a predisposition to violence, including gender, personality traits such as impulsive-aggressive behaviors, marital status and various environmental….

Antonius, D. & Sinclair, S.J. (2013, August 1). Assessing the heterogeneity of aggressive behavior traits: Exploratory and confirmatory analyses of the reactive and instrumental aggression personality assessment inventory (PAI) scales. Violence and Victims, 28(4),

Kumar, P.N. & Rajmohan, V. (2013, October-December). An exploratory analysis of personality factors contributed to suicide attempts. Indian Journal of Psychological

Medicine, 35(4), 378-383.

Five Factor Personality Test (http://www.personalitytest.org.uk/) was developed for use in online psychological research. It consists of forty-one questions and is based on the "Big Five" model that states that there are five main dimensions necessary to broadly describe human personality. The five factors are extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, neuroticism, and openness. After taking the test and reading the results, I was surprised at the accuracy of the test in profiling me the way I see myself. My score on the extraversion factor was about average. This factor refers to preferences and behaviors in social situations. I believe it is accurate to say that I am generally comfortable in most social situations and yet I prefer that I am not the center of attention. Both of these qualities have served me well in the workplace. In my position, I am often called upon to meet new people and talk to them about the….

Big Five Personality Traits the

The component traits are the weakest and most loosely related of any of the other four factors of personality and thus the weakest in replication studies (257). People who are considered to be "open" often express their creativity, intellectual curiosity, and their need for variety in characteristic ways across a variety of mediums (Leary & Hoyle 259). They are usually quite verbally fluent, humorous, and expressive in their interpersonal interactions (259). Open individuals will often decorate their living and working spaces in ways that reflect who they believe themselves to be as individuals. They will often have a variety of books and magazines around, which is why it is easy for researchers to pick up on the clues of an open individual. Interestingly enough, researchers have found that open people use fewer past tense verbs and enjoy frequenting restaurants, bars, and coffee shops. Open people will tend to join their personal….

Works Cited

Buss, David M. & Hawley, Patricia H. The Evolution of Personality and Individual Differences.

USA: Oxford University Press; 1st Edition, 2010.

John, Oliver P., Robins, Richard W., & Pervin, Lawrence a. Handbook of Personality, Third

Edition: Theory and Research. The Guilford Press; Third Edition, 2010.

Leadership Theories for Personality Traits

setup of the management team of the new department and the manner in which the team leadership members would be chosen centered in their personality assessments, psychoanalytical individualities and professional experience and competencies within the industry. In addition, the memorandum will offer an explanation of how the personality assessment results of each and every member were put together to create methods of leadership which are centered on the situational interests or conditional interests with regards to operational earnestness and cultural dissimilarities of the members for this project. Evaluate the personality assessment results Northouse (2013) opines that, the human behavior methodology includes the different manners in which one can look at leaders and also their followers or subordinates. esearch studies undertaken by Carl Jung (1993) have been in correlation with the Myer-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) research study that was employed to evaluate the performance of an individual by making use of four….

Arvidsson, M., Johansson, C., Asa, E., and Akselsson, R. (2007). Situational leadership in air traffic control. Journal of Air Transportation, 12 (1), 67-86.

Betts, S.C., Santoro, M.D. (2007). Integrating leadership theories and team research: a conceptual framework based on level of analysis and type of control. Journal of Organizational Culture, Communication and Conflict, 11(1), 1-17.

James, M. (2003). Using the myers-briggs type indicator as a tool for leadership development? apply with caution. Journal of Leadership & Organizational Studies, 10(1), 68.

Jung, C.G. (1993). Psychological types. New York, NY: Modern Library.

Stability of Personality Traits in

BPD patients may occasionally show apparent remission or normalcy in traits such as neuroticism, while hysteric or depressive personality disordered-patients will manifest these traits more consistently. This also highlights the level of 'hope' one should have about what is seen as an improving sign during treatment. While a marked reduction in neuroticism might be a sign of responsiveness in a depressive personality type, in a BPD patient it may merely be another manifestation of the illness, part of the BPD cycle, of finding someone or someone to fixate upon to ease the patient's lack of a sense of core identity. In particular, neuroticism and conscientiousness "showed greater mean-level change, with neuroticism declining faster and conscientiousness increasing faster, in the BPD group" as compared with other traits in the FFM (Hopwood 2009, p.806). BPD's controversial nature as a diagnosis is not seriously disputed by the authors, and opponents of the diagnosis….

Hopwood, C.J. (et al. 2009, November). The stability of personality traits in individuals with borderline personality disorder. Abnormal Psychology, 118(4):806-15.

Oldham, John M. (2004, July 1). Borderline personality disorder: An overview. The Psychiatric

Times. Retrieved July 19, 2010 at  http://www.psychiatrictimes.com/borderline-personality/content/article/10168/53976

Prue Alice Munro 750-1000 Words Personality Traits

Prue" Alice Munro. 750-1000 words. personality traits characters motivation. kind character Prue, weak, strong, determined, optimistic, arrogant, afraid, timid, shy. Is character dynamic, static, protagonist, antagonist epiphany. Alice Munro's short story "Prue" puts across an account in the life of a middle-aged woman as she struggles to make it through her late forties on her own. The story's protagonist is apparently capable to understand the importance of youth and feels that it is not abnormal for her to be denied matters that are typically available to young people. Prue accepts her faith but considers that her condition is not critical, as she believes that she is entitled to fight for her well-being. Her relationship with Gordon, "a helpless, baffled soul, squirming around inside his doughty forties" (Munro, p. 132) is essential in having readers understand more in regard to Prue. It is obvious that their connection is principally based on….

What Types of Skills Personality Traits a Computer Programmer Needs

Skills and Personality Traits of a Computer Programmer Computer programmers write, test, and maintain the detailed instructions, called programs, that computers must follow to perform their functions. They also conceive, design, and test logical structures for solving problems by computer. Many technical innovations in programming-advanced computing technologies and sophisticated new languages and programming tools-have redefined the role of a programmer and elevated much of the programming work done today. Job titles and descriptions may vary, depending on the organization. Computer programs tell the computer what to do, which information to identify and access, how to process it, and what equipment to use. Programs vary widely depending upon the type of information to be accessed or generated. For example, the instructions involved in updating financial records are very different from those required to duplicate conditions on board an aircraft for pilots training in a flight simulator. Although simple programs can be written in….

Bibliography

California Employment Development Department. "What Does A Computer Programmer Do?" California Occupational Guide Number 81. 2002. June 14, 2005. .

Commonwealth of Virginia. "Career Guide For Computer Programmer." June 14, 2005. .

Humber College. "Computer Programmer." 2005. June 14, 2005. .

California Employment Development Department "What Does A Computer Programmer Do?" California Occupational Guide Number 81. 2002. June 14, 2005. .

Analyzing NEO 4 Personality Test

NEO Personality Inventory – 4 (NEO-4) This personality test was formulated by tweaking the Revised NEO Personality Inventory (NEO-PI-R). While NEO-PI-R provides information on the five personality domains namely Extraversion, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, Openness to Experience, and Neuroticism, the NEO-4 only offers information on four of these domains. The omitted domain is Neuroticism. The developers of the NEO-4 test have indicated that the test is suitable for use in employment and personal counseling settings that involve activities like career development, career counseling, and employee training. This is where these four domains mainly focus upon. The four domains used for the NEO-4 test will avail information regarding many aspects of the individual's personality. According to the developers of the test, it is possible to interpret the four domains at the global factor level. There are six personal styles that can be interpreted from the four domains. These styles are interactions, interests, attitudes, activity,….

Personality Trait and Factor Theories Personality Trait

Personality Trait and Factor Theories: Personality trait and factor theories have been developed as a means of identifying common elements within the personality of different people, indeed the entire populace. Within any given group of people there are common threads of experiences, similar nurturing, and even shared genetic, yet the personality of each member is a unique construction individual elements which work together. Among those who have produced work in this area are aymond Cattell and Hans Eysenck. Each used scientific factor analysis to identify common traits or permanent dispositions of people. Cattell has identified a large number of personality traits, whereas Eysenck's research extracted only three general factors.(mcgraw-hill.com, online) Like Freud who identifies the id, ego and superego as the measurements of the personal mind, will and emotion, the categories identified by these researchers give men the ability to understand the unique functions of the person, emotions and desires. Allport's Dispositional Theory Allport….

Theories of personality, dispositional theories. (2002) McGraw Hill higher education. Accessed 23 Nov 2003. Web Site:  http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0072316799/student_view0/part4/chapter13/chapter_outline.html 

Ver Wys. C.

2001) Department of Cognitive Science Renesslear Polytechnic Institute. Accessed 23 Nov 2003. Web Site:  http://www.rpi.edu/~verwyc/bandura.htm .

Boeree, G. (1998) Albert Bandura: Personality Theories. Accessed 23 Nov 2003. Web site:  http://www.ship.edu/~cgboeree/bandura.html .

Positive and Negative Personality Traits

Entrepreneurial Personality Traits Discerned Entrepreneurship, and successful entrepreneurship in particular, is far from a perfect science. Success in this field is predicated on a host of different factors, including various aspects of marketing, product, client base, market conditions, and possibly even some luck. Nonetheless, there are a number of different traits of entrepreneurs that one is able to study and which may truly affect the ability of one to succeed in this role. Furthermore, there are certain conditions and other characteristics that could compromise the former, and even instances in which the former is able to compromise the latter. Fortunately, there is a bevy of research which has explored these personality traits and their impact both on entrepreneurs and their particular ventures. A prolonged examination of this research, in addition to a synthesis of findings, readily demonstrates the personality traits of most importance to entrepreneurs are those pertaining to assertion and….

Creative Writing

Family and Marriage

Personality The term personality can simply be defined as a person's unique image; what makes them different from other people in terms of attitudes, abilities, capacity, interests, behavioral modes, and…

Business - Management

Extroverted managers enjoy most high-stress decision-making situations. They may are prone to the errors typical of managers who make decisions quickly and rely on biases and heuristics, but the…

Personality Different people possess different personality traits. In seeking to define individuals' core personalities, researchers have in the past outlined/identified several core personality dimensions. This text concerns itself with the…

Sports - Women

Five Factor Model Personality traits The Five Factor Model of personality traits: Evaluating universal and non-universal constructs of personality The Five Factor Model of personality traits suggests that all human beings can be…

Agreeableness & Workplace Diversity Agreeableness and Workplace Diversity The Big Five framework of personality traits is a common psychological categorization of very broad dimensions of human personality (Hurtz & Donovan, 2000).…

Individuals Who May Become Violent The headlines today are replete with anecdotal accounts of people described as "the quiet type" who then go on to commit inexplicable violent acts.…

Five Factor Personality Test (http://www.personalitytest.org.uk/) was developed for use in online psychological research. It consists of forty-one questions and is based on the "Big Five" model that states that…

The component traits are the weakest and most loosely related of any of the other four factors of personality and thus the weakest in replication studies (257). People who…

setup of the management team of the new department and the manner in which the team leadership members would be chosen centered in their personality assessments, psychoanalytical individualities…

Article Critique

BPD patients may occasionally show apparent remission or normalcy in traits such as neuroticism, while hysteric or depressive personality disordered-patients will manifest these traits more consistently. This also…

Prue" Alice Munro. 750-1000 words. personality traits characters motivation. kind character Prue, weak, strong, determined, optimistic, arrogant, afraid, timid, shy. Is character dynamic, static, protagonist, antagonist epiphany. Alice Munro's…

Education - Computers

Skills and Personality Traits of a Computer Programmer Computer programmers write, test, and maintain the detailed instructions, called programs, that computers must follow to perform their functions. They also conceive,…

Annotated Bibliography

NEO Personality Inventory – 4 (NEO-4) This personality test was formulated by tweaking the Revised NEO Personality Inventory (NEO-PI-R). While NEO-PI-R provides information on the five personality domains namely Extraversion,…

Personality Trait and Factor Theories: Personality trait and factor theories have been developed as a means of identifying common elements within the personality of different people, indeed the entire populace. Within…

Entrepreneurial Personality Traits Discerned Entrepreneurship, and successful entrepreneurship in particular, is far from a perfect science. Success in this field is predicated on a host of different factors, including various…

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Key Tips and Examples to Start Personality Essays

Table of Contents

Personality is what sets people apart from others. It’s what makes them unique. Some personality traits are easy to see, and some are more hidden and harder to read.

A personality essay aims to help readers to understand a person better by getting to know their personality. And as with other types of essays, the introduction is a vital element. You can get more readers interested in your work with a good introduction.

We’ve gathered some excellent  personality essay introduction examples  to help you get started.

What Is a Personality Essay?

Before starting a personality essay, it’s essential to understand what personality is first.

Generally, personality is defined by various thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that make someone unique. It is believed that personality comes from within individuals; it rarely changes and is consistent throughout life.

We can find examples of personality in how we describe other people’s traits. For example, “She is generous, caring, and somewhat perfectionist.” Or “They are loyal and protective toward their friends.”

A personality essay can tackle the subject of personality in general or introduce the author’s personality. It can also discuss how different people can express themselves and predict how they might act within a particular situation.

Tips on Writing a Personality Essay Introduction

Writing an essay about your personality can be challenging since it’s like showing your inner self to other people.

You will need to brainstorm and explain what personality traits you have and why you have them. And if you’re writing an essay about personalities in general, you will also need to do thorough research. Here are some tips that will help you along:

Organize Your Ideas

Try to write down your ideas on paper to organize them better. This will keep you from feeling overwhelmed. It’s also helpful to make a draft about what you want to talk about in your essay. Don’t be pressured when making your draft. You can revise it later on if you want to. 

An introduction needs an exciting hook, sufficient background information, and a strong thesis statement .

• Hook : You can start your introduction with an intriguing question or an interesting anecdote to draw readers in.
• Background Information : Research and use supporting details that can bridge your hook and your thesis statement.
• Thesis Statemen t: The thesis statement is where you state your essay’s central point. It should present a strong argument.

Keep It Genuine

Personality essays need to show your raw self. Write about your personality, whether it be positive or negative. Highlight your positive qualities and discuss what you do to improve the negative ones.

Questions to Answer When Writing About Your Personality

It’s helpful to ask yourself questions, so you can reflect on your personality or the consequences of your personality. Answering these kinds of questions will aid you in establishing your thesis. Here are some sample questions that can help you write your personality essay.

1. What personality trait are you most proud of?

Highlight those qualities that make you an asset to anyone you work with. Make sure you play up your great qualities and downplay any bad ones.

2. Why do you have these traits? Do you plan to keep them? 

Try to explain how you got your traits. Do you think you acquired these traits during your childhood? Or was it a result of a life experience or trauma? Phrase your answers in a way that readers can relate to them.

3. How will these traits help you daily and at work?

Explain why you are proud of specific qualities and how they impact your relationships. Put greater emphasis on behaviors that facilitate a better relationship with others. After all, teamwork is all about individuals with different personalities working well together.

Personality Essay Introduction Examples

Example 1: introduction to personality.

Everything about a person is what makes them unique. Every person is different; therefore, everyone has their personality. This is what defines them as individuals in every aspect and stage of development in their lives. Personalities are what makeup who we are. It differentiates us from others around us.

Example 2: My Personality

Everyone has unique traits that make them who they are. And many psychologists have generated theories about why we have these personalities. It’s normal to feel that you are different from the people around you. This is because none of us are the same. Everyone is different. And there isn’t anything wrong with that. I am an introvert who enjoys reading, exercising, and taking time. But I am also a talkative person when I’m with my closest friends. This shows how a myriad of personalities can characterize one person.

Example 3: Personality As a Unique Potential

Milton once famously said, “every person is unique in his own way.” Everyone in this world has potential and reason for living. The big question is whether or not we are aware of this unique potential that we possess. I, for one, am aware of my unique potential. I’m the kind of person who can make everybody feel comfortable. My friends characterize me as someone friendly and fun to be around. I am also a perfectionist who is looking for the best in everything.

Example 4: the Importance of Understanding Personalities

The concept of personality is one of the central topics in psychology and psychoanalysis. Several scientific theories characterize the process of personality development. Understanding this process is a crucial factor in the children’s upbringing and education of people.

There are many ways to start a personality essay . You can write one that’s about yourself. Or you can choose to look at the subject of personality from a broader perspective.

This may depend on the topic assigned to you. Starting a personality essay is hard, but it helps to look at some personality essay introduction examples. Hopefully, you got the inspiration you need from this article. Go and write that essay!

Abir Ghenaiet

Abir is a data analyst and researcher. Among her interests are artificial intelligence, machine learning, and natural language processing. As a humanitarian and educator, she actively supports women in tech and promotes diversity.

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Personality Theses Samples For Students

18 samples of this type

Regardless of how high you rate your writing abilities, it's always a worthy idea to check out a competently written Thesis example, especially when you're dealing with a sophisticated Personality topic. This is exactly the case when WowEssays.com database of sample Theses on Personality will come in handy. Whether you need to brainstorm a fresh and meaningful Personality Thesis topic or survey the paper's structure or formatting peculiarities, our samples will provide you with the necessary material.

Another activity area of our write my paper website is providing practical writing support to students working on Personality Theses. Research help, editing, proofreading, formatting, plagiarism check, or even crafting fully unique model Personality papers upon your demand – we can do that all! Place an order and buy a research paper now.

Free Developing A Model Of Brand Personality In The Sport Industry Thesis Sample

Developing a model of brand personality in sport industry, the influence the design of a tattoo on a persons body directly affects another thesis sample.

perceptions of the tattooed person’s character (Applied Psychology) (Advanced Statistical Data Analysis)

Authors note

I hereby declare that this work is my own and not copied from any other source and that all sources have been acknowledge.

CHAPTER 1—INTRODUCTION6Purpose of the StudyProblem and Significance Research Question/Hypotheses7 Definition of TermsLimitations DelimitationsAssumptions

CHAPTER 2—LITERATURE REVIEW8CHAPTER 3—METHODOLOGY .Model Research DesignInstrument Data Collection Data AnalysisVariablesLimitations Delimitations AssumptionsCHAPTER 4—RESULTS Data Screening Scale Development Analyses of Primary Hypotheses Analyses of Secondary Hypotheses CHAPTER 5—DISCUSSION Discussion of Findings Implications of the Limitations on Present and Future Research Recommendations Practical Application of Results Future Research

Expertly Written Thesis On Leon: The Professional Movie To Follow

About the movie “leon: the professional.".

The movie “Leon: The Professional” was released in 1994. It was the French crime thriller which was later dubbed in the English language. The story revolves around two characters ‘Leon’ a hitman and a 12 years old young girl ‘Mathilda’ who was a depressed child. The characters depict situations where they had gone through different mental stages. This paper analyzes ‘Leon’ and ‘Mathilda’ human behaviors in the film and relates them to psychoanalytical theories developed by theorists, i.e., Jung and Freud.

Describing the behavior of Movie Characters: Leon & Mathilda

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Aggressive And Violent Behavior Thesis Examples

This is an improvement especially as far as citing your sources. However, you either did not read, understand, or follow the comments on your first draft. You were supposed to add quotations to your claims as well as examples of research to support your argument.

How Does Online Gaming Addiction Affect The Social Lives Of People/Teenager? Thesis Examples

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Free Thesis On Psychoanalysis Of Det Teddy Daniels - Shutter Island

In the 2010 film Shutter Island, Leonardo DiCaprio plays Det. Teddy Daniels, a US Marshal investigating a disappearance at an isolated psychiatric facility. However, the truth of the investigation turns out to be far more complicated than he could have imagined; Daniels is, in fact, a man named Andrew Laeddis, who murdered his wife after she killed their children in an act of mania. The grief from this caused him to separate himself from that identity and become Teddy Daniels, a completely different person.

Early Childhood Education Thesis

Early childhood education.

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Writing a Character Analysis Essay | Step-by-Step Guide

I’m also going to give you a ton of examples.

This post is split into four parts for easy navigation:

• What is a Character Analysis Essay?
• What is the best Format to Use?
• 11 Character Analysis Example Ideas
• Template, Checklist and Outline for Your own Piece

In this post, I’m going to explain to you clearly and in a step-by-step way how to conduct a character analysis.

1. What is a Character Analysis Essay?

Let’s get you started with some really simple details about what a character analysis is:

• A Quick Definition: A character analysis essay zooms-in on a character in a book, movie or even real life. It provides what we sometimes call a ‘sketch’ of a character.
• The Purpose of a Character Analysis: The purpose of a character analysis is to reveal interesting details about the character that might contain a broader moral message about the human condition. For example, Atticus Finch is not just a lawyer in To Kill a Mockingbird. Rather, he provides us with a moral message about the importance of doing what you believe is right even though you know you will likely fail.

2. What is the best Character Analysis Essay Format?

Character analysis essays do not have just one format.

However, let me offer some advice that might act as a character analysis essay outline or ‘checklist’ of possible things you could discuss:

1. Start with the Simple Details.

You can start a character analysis by providing a simple, clear description of who your character is. Look at some basic identity traits such as:

• Race (if relevant)
• Social class (if relevant)
• Protagonist or Antagonist? A protagonist is the character who is our central character in the plot; the antagonist is often the protagonist’s opponent or challenger.
• Major or minor character?

2. What are the character’s distinctive personality features?

Your character might have some really clearly identifiable character traits. It’s best to highlight in your character analysis the exact traits that this character possesses. Some common character traits include:

I recommend you take a moment to write down what you think the top 3 to 5 words are that you’d use to explain your character’s personality traits. These will be important to discuss throughout your character analysis.

Sometimes a character may start out with some personality traits, but change over the course of the text. This is quite common; and one clear example of this is Lady Macbeth she deteriorates from a cutthroat power player to a guilt ridden shell of a person roaming the halls of the castle. This dramatic character change is something that makes her very interesting, and is worthy of discussion!

3. What are the character’s key relationships?

Does your character have a close relationship with a certain person in the storyline?

You might want to discuss the character’s relationships as a part of your character analysis. These relationships may reveal some key personality traits of your character.

For example, in Shakespeare’s play Hamlet, Horatio is the loyal offsider to Hamlet. Through his actions in staying by Hamlet through thick and thin, we learn that he is a deeply loyal character.

Examining the character’s relationships with their friends and foes therefore is very useful for digging deeper into who this character actually is, and what personality traits they have when they are put to the test within the narrative.

4. What are the character’s motivations?

Another thing you might want to examine are the character’s motivations . What do they desire most in the world? Some common motivations for characters in stories are:

• A simple life
• To serve others

This list really could be endless, but I hope the above examples give you a bit of an idea of the sorts of traits to look out for. By mentioning and examining the motivations of the character, we will come closer and closer to learning exactly what moral message this character might be able to tell us.

5. What are the character’s key conflicts?

Stories tend to have a beginning, a complication, and a resolution.

The complication involves conflicts and challenges that need to be overcome. For Edmund in Narnia, it’s cowardice. For Romeo and Juliet, it’s the conflict between love and family loyalty. Here’s some other common conflicts for characters:

• Whether to stay loyal to a friend;
• To overcome obstacles to love;
• To seek a way out of a challenging situation;
• To escape war or poverty;
• To persevere through imprisonment;
• To overcome personal fear

Again, this list is endless.

Knowing the character’s core conflict gets us even closer to knowing the moral that the character is trying to teach us.

For example, in Romeo and Juliet, the challenge of Romeo and Juliet being together despite their families’ objections teaches us something. Personally, I believe it teaches us the importance of letting go of old grudges in order to let love bloom.

This moral lesson was taught to us through conflict: namely, the conflict that Romeo and Juliet were right in the center of.

6. What are the character’s epiphanies?

Sometimes a character has an epiphany. This often happens towards the end of the story and helps the character overcome the challenge or conflict that we discussed in the point above.

Here’s an example of an epiphany:

• In the Lion King, Simba runs away from his tribe to live in exile. After a chance encounter with his childhood friend Nala, he has an epiphany that he has a duty to his tribe. This leads him back home to fight Scar and return freedom to Pride Rock.

Not all characters have an epiphany. But, if they do, I strongly encourage you to write about it in your character analysis.

7. Examine the moral message the character teaches us.

Finally, conclude by examining the moral message behind the character. Nearly every character has something to teach the reader. Authors put a lot of thought into creating complex characters with whom we can relate. We relate to the character and say “wow, they taught me a lesson about something!”

The lesson might be something like:

• Money doesn’t buy happiness;
• Loyalty to family comes above all else;
• Love gives life meaning;
• Honesty is always the best policy

This is the core of your character analysis essay. If you can pick out exactly what moral message the character teaches you, you’ll be well on your way to writing a strong character analysis.

Below I’m going to give you some examples to help you out. I know it can be hard to really get your head around a character, so sometimes the best thing is to look at some samples!

3. Here’s 13 Example Character Analysis Essay Ideas.

Most times when we create a character analysis, we’re exploring the deeper moral stories / aspects of humanity. Here’s some example ideas. I’ve tried to outline in less than a paragraph exactly what your key point will be about each character:

• Atticus Finch from To Kill a Mockingbird: A character who teaches us a lesson about standing up for what’s right, even if you know you’re likely to lose.
• Huckleberry Finn from Huckleberry Finn: A character who reveals our inner desire for freedom from the elements of society that constrain us.
• Dudley from Harry Potter: A character whose personality tells us a cautionary tale of the perils of middle-class narcissism, parents’ desire to wrap their children in cotton wool, and the lack of discipline we perceive in contemporary childhoods.
• Jack from Lord of the Flies: A character who represents the innate desire for power that seems to lurk not too far from the surface of the human condition. When social structures are stripped away, he quickly reverts to violence and superstition to assert control over his peers.
• Lady Macbeth from Macbeth: Lady Macbeth teaches us a valuable lesson about the perils of contravening our own morality. She starts out a cutthroat killer but is increasingly consumed by the guilt of her own actions. While we may be able to escape full punishment from outside forces, it is the inner guilt that might eat us away to our last.
• The Boy who Cried Wolf: The boy who cried wolf is a character whose fatal flaw is his desire for attention and adulation. His repeated attempts at gaining the attention of others leads the townspeople to no longer take him seriously, which causes him harm when he actually needs the villagers to take him seriously to save his life. He teaches us the virtue of honest and humility.
• Nick Carraway from the Great Gatsby: Nick shows us all the inner conflict between the trappings of wealth, glamor and spectacle; and the desire for simplicity, honesty and community. He is drawn by the dazzling world of East Egg, New York, but by the end of the novel sees live in East Egg as shallow and lacking the moral depth of his former life in small town Minnesota.
• Alice from Alice in Wonderland: In many ways, Alice represents the child within all of us. She is a character of goodwill to all and who looks upon the world (or, rather, Wonderland) with awe. Travelling with a cadre of flawed characters, she learns with them the importance of seeking strength from within.
• The Nurse in Romeo and Juliet: Like many Shakespearian characters, the nurse’s role is both as loyal confidante to a central character and comic relief. Shakespeare uses minor characters to regale his crowd and sustain viewer interest between scenes.
• Lucy in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe: Lucy represents a surprising character whose youthfulness and small stature make her an underrated character by all around her. Nonetheless, she possesses within the bravery and loyalty necessary to carry out the quest for Aslan. Lucy represents the goodness in children and, by extension, all of mankind.
• Anne in Anne of Green Gables: Anne occupies the typical literary role of young girls in many classical novels: she represents innocence and wonder, and her contraventions of rules are seen through a prism of childhood innocence. This frames Anne not as a deviant but as a precious soul.
• Simba from The Lion King: Simba’s story follows his struggle with growing up, embracing his destiny and duty to his family, or fleeing towards freedom and a ‘no worries’ lifestyle. Simba flees Pride Rock and goes through an existential crisis with his existentialist friends Timon and Pumba. When he runs into an old childhood friend, he realizes how shallow his new carefree life has become and reflects upon his obligation to his community back home.
• Woody from Toy Story: Woody starts out Andy’s favorite toy, but when Andy gets a new flashier toy, Woody’s status amongst the toys falls apart. Woody’s key character challenge is to learn to be humble and inclusive living within the group. By the end of the movie, Woody realizes his duty to love and serve Andy is more important than his own status within the group.

4. Here’s an Example Template for your own Character Analysis Essay

Feel free to use this brainstorming template to get you started with your character analysis essay. I recommend filling out as many of these key points as you can, but remember sometimes you might have to skip some of these points if they’re not relevant to your character.

Once you’ve brainstormed the ideas in Table 1, follow the character analysis essay outline in Table 2 to stay on track for your character analysis essay. Do remember though that each assignment will be different and you should adjust it based on your teacher’s requirements.

Here’s Table 1, which is a brainstorming template for your character analysis essay:

And here’s Table 2, which is an example character analysis essay outline. This is for a 1500 word character analysis essay. Change the word count according to how long your essay should be:

Read Also: 39 Better Ways to Write ‘In Conclusion’ in an Essay

Character analyses can be really tough. You need to know your character really well. You might even need to re-read (or watch) your book or movie a few times over to get to know the character really well.

I recommend when you re-read or re-watch the text before you write your character analysis, have the checklist I provided above handy and take notes. Then, use the essay outline I provided above to put all of those notes together into a clear and thorough final character analysis essay.

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Dr. Chris Drew is the founder of the Helpful Professor. He holds a PhD in education and has published over 20 articles in scholarly journals. He is the former editor of the Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education. [Image Descriptor: Photo of Chris]

• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ 5 Top Tips for Succeeding at University
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Downloadable Content

The relationship between the big five personality traits and likelihood of experiencing flow

• 2019 December
• Masters Thesis
• Kennedy, Joel W.
• Williams, Gary
• Luévano, Victor
• Guichard, Annie
• College of Science
• Psychology and Child Development
• California State University, Stanislaus
• http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12680/mp48sd71x

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How to Write a Character Analysis Essay: Examples & Outline

A character analysis is an examination of the personalities and actions of protagonists and antagonists that make up a story. It discusses their role in the story, evaluates their traits, and looks at their conflicts and experiences. You might need to write this assignment in school or college. Like any other essay, your character analysis should contain an introduction, a conclusion, and a thesis.

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Want to know how to write a character analysis essay? Not sure how to start? We understand. Whichever piece you choose – Lady Macbeth, A Rose for Emily, or something else, – analyzing a character for the first time might be challenging. No worries, we are here to help! In this guide by our custom writing experts, you will find a step-by-step guide, outlining and writing tips, as well as a number of character analysis examples.

• 📔 Character Analysis Definition
• 🧙 Types of Characters
• 📝 Writing Guide
• 🖥️ Formatting Tips

📑 Character Analysis Essay Examples

📔 what is a character analysis essay.

A character analysis essay is an assignment where you evaluate a character’s traits, behaviors, and motivations. It requires critical thinking and attention to detail. Unlike descriptions, analyses focus on a character’s personality and internal drives. It explains how those factors shape the narrated events.

So, what you need to do is to see the characters as if they were real people who feel and act just as we do. Ensure there are no baseless assumptions and interpretations: the ideas you present should be supported by quotes from the text.

Character: Definition (Literature)

How do you define a character? It is a person, a creature, or an animal that makes up the story’s world. A character can be based on a real-life person, or it can be entirely fictional. It is someone who thinks, feels, and acts.

We use the word “character” in many different contexts. For instance, it can denote someone eccentric or worthy of our admiration. In both contexts, the term “character” means a distinctive personality. Similarly, in an analysis, your task is to show what makes a character stand out.

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Characterization: Literary Definition & Examples

Characterization is the process by which a character’s personality is revealed. It presents characters’ traits, feelings, and motives to the reader. For this reason, characterization is closely connected to character analysis. It helps us to understand the characters better throughout the reading process.

Characterization can be direct and indirect .

• Direct characterization is when the narrator directly tells the audience what the personality of a character is.
• In contrast, indirect characterization shows things that hint at a character’s nature.

Here are some examples of direct characterization taken from Patti Smith’s Just Kids :

“But he always suppressed his real feelings, mimicking the stoic nature of his father.”

Here we see a direct description of a character. The author straightforwardly talks about Robert’s feelings. In comparison, look at the description of a woman taken from John Steinbeck’s The Snake :

“He looked around at her again. Her dark eyes seemed veiled with dust. She looked without expression at the cat’s open throat.”

These lines don’t directly reveal anything about the woman, but the reader can understand that she is cold and dangerous. It’s an indirect characterization that focuses on looks and actions to convey the message to the reader.

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🧙 Types of Characters for Your Essay

When it comes to characters, they can be divided into several groups. For example, characters can be:

• Protagonists or antagonists,
• Static or dynamic,
• Flat or round.

These types define how much the characters change through the course of the story and their role in it.

Character Type: Definition

In psychology, a character type is defined by a combination of personality traits that coexist in an individual. Authors incorporate different types of characters into their works to convey the message and make the story more exciting or relatable to the reader.

There are three ways to categorize a character type:

• by archetypes,
• by their role in the narrative,
• by their ability to change throughout the story.

If you are about to write a character analysis essay, being familiar with character archetypes is essential. They have been categorized by a generation of writers, including the Swiss psychologist Carl Jung and the American literary theorist Joseph Campbell. A lot of characters we see in today’s literary works are rooted in them.

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Archetypes include the Trickster, the Ruler, the Lover, the Sage, and others. The Hero is one of the most notable archetypes. Hercules or Achilles can be good examples of heroic protagonists. They are strong and courageous; they meet challenges and save the day by helping others.

Main Character: Definition & Examples

The main character and the protagonist often get mixed up. Most narratives also have the figure of the antagonist , whose actions affect the plot and stimulate change. Let’s have a look at the similarities and differences between these types.

The main character is central in the narrative. We experience the story through their eyes. They don’t necessarily have to be protagonists, though it happens in many cases.

The crucial difference between the main character and the protagonist is that the protagonist goes through changes throughout the story. The main character, however, is there to guide the reader through the experience. Often they help to show a different, darker side of the protagonist.

To understand the difference better, let’s turn to some examples.

What’s a Static Character?

Now that we’ve learned about the main character and the protagonist, we will closely look at other types of character classifications. One of the ways to categorize a character is by their ability to change throughout the story.

A static or simple character is someone who undergoes little or no significant changes. They often exist for comedic purposes. Here are some examples:

Complex Character: Definition & Examples

Complex or dynamic characters are the opposite of static characters. Characters of this type change as the book progresses. They display different qualities, emotions, and motives. They become more complicated and interesting to the reader as the story unfolds.

Check out these examples of dynamic characters:

Other Kinds of Characters

You already know about several ways to define a type of character. Now, let’s go over some other types, starting with flat and round characters.

Similar to dynamic and static ones, round and flat characters represent two different ends of a spectrum. Round characters usually come with an in-depth background. They are traditionally protagonists, antagonists, or those close to them. In contrast, flat characters are two-dimensional, and there is not much depth to them.

For the examples, we will turn to the novel Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.

Finally, here are some bonus character types for you:

• Stock characters have a fixed set of traits and are flat. Most of the time, they exist for comical relief.
• Symbolic characters represent a concept or a theme that goes beyond them. They can be round and flat as long as they symbolize a particular notion or phenomena.
• Sidekick is a secondary character who supports the protagonist.
• The love interest is someone with whom the main character is infatuated.
• Foil is someone who’s set in contrast with the protagonist, thus putting more emphasis on the latter’s qualities.

Characterization Essay: Which Character Type to Choose

Before you start writing a paper, it essential to decide on the character you’re going to analyze. There are different types of characters in every story, so you need to choose which one suits your essay topic the best.

Usually, it’s best to choose a dynamic and round character . With static and flat ones, there may not be enough substance for you to analyze. However, some such personalities can be interesting to work with. For instance, a flat character such as Mr. Collins can be symbolic of something. Then, you can talk about how it embodies a specific idea or notion. You can also look at how they affect other characters in the story.

📝 How to Write a Character Analysis Step by Step

Now, we’re going to discuss how to write your paper step-by-step. But first, here are some pre-writing steps for you to consider:

• Choose a character for analysis.
• Take notes while reading;
• Define the type of the character and their role in the story;
• Pay attention to their descriptions and actions.

How to Analyze a Character: Description Examples

Knowing how to organize your work is an essential skill. Certain things need special attention if you are describing a character:

• physical appearance,
• emotional state,
• how the character speaks,
• behavior and personality traits,
• relationships with other characters.

When you analyze a character, try to look at them as if they were a real-life person. You want to know their motive, learn about how they feel, and understand why they think in a certain way. Ask yourself:

• How did the character change throughout the story (if at all)?
• What do other characters say about them? Can their words be trusted?
• Where is the character physically and emotionally? What brought them here?
• What is the character ready to do to achieve their goal?

Now, let’s look at the character of Franklin from the short story Just Before the War with the Eskimos by J.D. Salinger:

Character Profile Template for Writing

When writing your essay, use this character analysis template:

In the following sections, we’ll discuss each step in detail.

Character Analysis Outline: How to Start a Character Analysis

The beginning of your essay is its crucial part. It sets the mood and grabs the reader’s attention. There are many different ways to write a character analysis introduction, but here are the most effective ones:

• Use a quotation. It’s a great way to make a catchy hook. If it relates to the character and reflects their nature, it can also help to set the tone for analysis. In case you are using a quotation from somewhere else, mention the source in parentheses.
• Talk about the book or story. Mention the author, the name of the story, and the genre. Briefly describe the main events that are taking place in the story.
• Introduce the character. State their role in the story (define whether they are a protagonist, an antagonist, etc.) Then, explain whether the character is static or dynamic. Finally, describe them in 2-3 sentences.

The final part of an introduction is a thesis statement.Read on to learn how to write one!

Character Analysis Thesis Statement & Examples

A thesis is the key component of every essay, and character analysis is not an exception. It’s crucial to develop a good and clear thesis statement that includes all the aspects of your paper. For instance, if you plan to write a 4-paragraph body, including 4 points in your thesis.

What should a character analysis thesis include? Well, try to think of any trait that the character possesses that has to do with their downfall or somehow influences the story. Think about how this trait affects the character’s relationship with others or how it contributes to their motive or aspiration.

Take a look at the following examples:

How to Write Character Analysis Paragraphs for the Main Body

The main body of your essay can include as many paragraphs as you need. In this part, you introduce the character and analyze them. We have already talked in this article about what kind of questions should be answered in these paragraphs. The most important points are:

• Describe the character and their role within the story.
• Give the audience an explanation of the character’s motives.
• Show what message the author wanted to convey through this character.

Keep in mind that every paragraph should have a topic sentence that captures its main idea.

Tsukuru Tazaki’s spiritual rebirth also affects his physical appearance.

Character Analysis Conclusion: How to Write

The conclusion part of your essay summarizes all the information you have mentioned and restates the thesis. Here is some advice for your conclusion paragraph:

🖥️ Character Analysis Essay Format

Most college assignments and essays are written according to the APA or MLA format. Both styles have the same formatting, which requires:

• a double-spaced paper with 1-inch margins,
• a page header with page numbers flush right,
• an 11-12-point font.

While writing an essay on characters, pay special attention to quotations. Here are some tips for APA in-text citations:

• When you summarize or paraphrase the information, mention the author’s name and publication date in brackets. Example: According to Collins (1997.)
• When you quote directly from the source, add the number of the page, as well. Example: “There is a view that…” (Collins, 1997, pp. 134-135.)
• If the source includes three or more authors, use the abbreviation “et al.” after the first author’s name. Example: (Collins et al., 1997)

As for MLA format:

• You can write the author’s name in the sentence. Example: As Collins mentions in his essay<…>.
• You can mention the author’s name in the parentheses at the end of the sentence. Example: (Collins, J.K.)
• The last option is to use either footnotes or endnotes.

Below you’ll find a collection of character analysis essay examples and a downloadable sample to inspire you even more.

• The Grandmother in A Good Man Is Hard to Find: Character Analysis
• Willy Loman in Death of a Salesman: Character Analysis
• Jay Gatsby and Nick Carraway: Character Analysis
• Prospero in The Tempest: Character Analysis
• Agamemnon in the Iliad: Character Analysis
• Lord Pococurante in Candide: Character Analysis
• Andromache in the Iliad: Character Analysis
• Character Analysis of the Knight from The Canterbury Tales
• Essay on Soldier’s Home: Analysis of the Characters

Character Analysis Example (Downloadable)

Roald Dahl’s  Matilda  is one of the most famous children’s novels of the 20th century. The protagonist of this tale is Matilda Wormwood, a five and a half-year-old girl with a brilliant and lively mind that distances her from the rest of the family. Matilda’s character is particularly interesting as she has a powerful personality with extraordinary mental abilities, and she manages to overcome all the obstacles that surround her.

Character Analysis Essay Topics

• Character analysis of Abbas from A.D.: New Orleans After the Deluge .
• Jay Gatsby in The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald.
• Beowulf and Hamlet : similarity and diversity of the characters.
• Personal and social failures of Willy Loman in Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller.
• Character analysis of Othello .
• Analyze the characters of Stanley and Blanche from A Streetcar Named Desire .
• The tragedy of Mathilde Loisel from The Necklace by Guy de Maupassant.
• Character analysis of Huck Finn from Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn .
• Moral force of Kate Lipton from Double Helix by Nancy Parker.
• Character analysis of Thorvald and Nora in Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House .
• Discuss the character of king Creon in Antigone .
• Analyze the personality of Lydia from Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice .
• Compare Nick Carraway and Tom Buchanan from The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald.
• Describe the peculiarities of Lord Pococurante in Candide .
• Sarty Snopes in William Faulkner’s Barn Burning : character analysis.
• Analyze the character of Biff Loman in Death of a Salesman.
• Personality of Nora in A Doll House by Henrik Ibsen.
• Examine the main characters of The Yellow Paper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman.
• Personality change of the main character in Edgar Alan Poe’s The Black Cat .
• Analyze the characters of E. Hemingway’s A Clean, Well-Lighted Place .
• Describe the main characters of the novel The Overstory by Richard Powers.
• Controversial personality of Vladek in Maus: A Survivor’s Tale by Art Spiegelman.
• Character analysis of Victor Frankenstein in Frankenstein by Mary Shelley .
• Discuss the character of Creon in Oedipus the King .
• The manipulative character of Iago in Willian Shakespeare’s Othello .
• Analyze the characters of Nil and Kristine in A Doll’s House .
• Eccentricity of Grendel’s character in Beowulf .
• Describe the main characters of Four Summers by Joyce Carol Oates.
• Examine the characters of Harold Krebs and his mother in Ernest Hemingway’s Soldier’s Home .
• Analyze common and different traits of the characters in The Monkey’s Paw .
• Character peculiarities of Rostam and Sohrab in Shahnameh by Ferdowsi Tousi.
• How does the character of Elizabeth Bennet in Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen differ from the rest of her family?
• The behavior and meaning of the characters in Nicholas Rowe’s The Tragedy of Jane Shore.
• Compare the characters of Victor Frankenstein and the monster in Frankenstein or the Modern Prometheus by Mary Shelley.
• Discuss the differences of main characters in Everyday Use by Alice Walker.
• Examine the character of Connie in Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been by Joyce Carol Oates.
• The influence of social pressure on the characters of Chopin’s Desirée’s Baby and Sedaris’ A Modest Proposal .
• Dynamic feminist characters of Delia and Jig in Sweat by Z. Hurston and Hills Like White Elephants by E. Hemingway.
• Analyze the personality traits of Emily in William Faulkner’s A Rose for Emily .
• Examine the characters of The Quiet American by Graham Greene.
• Henry ΙV by William Shakespeare : analysis of main characters.

Now you know everything necessary for writing an excellent character analysis. What character would you like to analyze? Let us know in the comments!

Further reading:

• How to Write a Literary Analysis Essay Step by Step
• Literature Review Outline: Examples, Approaches, & Templates
• Library Research Paper: Example & Writing Guide [2024]
• How to Write a Critique Paper: Tips + Critique Essay Examples
• 435 Literary Analysis Essay Topics and Prompts [2024 Upd]
• How to Write a Literature Review: Actionable Tips & Links

❓ Character Analysis FAQ

A character analysis involves:

1. description of a character; 2. explanation of how they change throughout the story; 3. their role in the narrative; 4. relationships with other characters; 5. what idea the author wanted to convey through the character.

A character analysis creates a description that contains their most important qualities. It provides a new perspective of a character that reveals more about what it’s like to be human. It can also point to a moral or a lesson.

Literary analysis uses the technique of tracing the character development. This technique is usually used to understand the theme of the work better. Through tracing a character’s development, we can learn more about the story’s message and how it’s conveyed.

A summary paragraph in a character study should include answers to the questions “what,” “who,” “where,” and “why.” You should mention who narrates the story, where the story is set, its theme, and the message it conveys.

• Critical Concepts: Character and Characterization: Kansas State University
• Analyzing Novels & Short Stories: Texas A&M University
• Guidelines for Writing a Character Analysis Essay: Tidewater Communite College
• Literary Criticism: Thesis Examples: The University of Texas at Arlington
• Writing a Literary Analysis Paper: Germanna Community College
• Flat and Round Characters: Encyclopedia Britannica
• Literature: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• How to Write a Book Analysis: Kean University
• Elements of Literary Analysis: Alamo Colleges District
• Defining Characterization: Read Write Think
• APA Style: General Format: Purdue University
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Is Personality Genetic?

Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the "Everything Psychology Book."

• Genetics vs. Environment
• Temperament vs. Personality
• Personality Traits
• Trait Changes
• Key Principles

Personality traits help make us unique individuals, but not everyone agrees on exactly how many different traits exist or what factors contribute to these characteristics. Is personality genetic, or does the environment play a greater role in shaping who were are?

Both genetics and environment play a part in the development of personality, although the specific degree to which each one plays a part often depends on the specific personality trait in question.

This article discusses how personality traits are defined, whether personality is genetic, and how traits can sometimes change over time.

What Are Personality Traits?

Traits are typically defined as the different characteristics that make up an individual's personality . Personality traits are relatively stable patterns of thoughts, feelings, and actions that distinguish people as individuals.

Trait theory  suggests that our personalities are made up of a number of different broad traits. For example, extroversion (often known as extraversion) is a personality dimension that describes how people interact with the world. Some people are very extroverted and outgoing, for example, while others are more introverted and reserved.

In the past, it was believed that personality traits changed very little over the course of a lifetime. Some longitudinal studies have revealed that traits are more nuanced than previously believed and that some personality changes can and do occur over time.

Is Personality Genetic or Environmental?

What matters more when it comes to personality, nature or nurture ? Just how much does your DNA influence your personality? Researchers have spent decades studying family, twins, adopted children and foster families to better understand how much of personality is genetic and how much is environmental .

Both nature and nurture can play a role in personality, although large-scale twin studies suggest that there is a strong genetic component.

While the exact degree varies depending on the trait, genetics does have an influence on personality. Twin and adoption studies indicate that human personality is around 30% to 60% heritable.

This certainly does not mean that the environment does not play a role in shaping personality. Personality traits are complex, and research suggests that genetic and environmental factors shape traits. These two forces interact in various ways to form our individual personalities.

One of the best-known longitudinal studies looking at the heritability of personality characteristics, the Minnesota Study of Twins Reared Apart, has long been cited as evidence that traits are primarily inherited. However, one recent critique has called the results into question by noting that important data about the control group was excluded from publication.

A 2018 study published in the journal Molecular Psychiatry concluded that interactions between more than 700 genes had a greater influence on certain personality traits than cultural and environmental influences.

Are People Born With Certain Personality Traits?

Are personalities born or made? The fact that children exhibit personality characteristics in infancy suggests that genetics plays a part, but changes in personality over time also point to a nurture component as well.

Kids display early signs of their personality in the form of temperament , which is estimated to be 20% to 60% due to genetics. Children generally have one of three basic temperaments: easy, difficult, or slow-to-warm-up.

But how much does childhood temperament influence personality later in life? A child's basic temperament is important in determining how they interact with their environment. Because of this, these different interactions contribute to different experiences.

While your temperament, or disposition, influences your personality, they are not the same and can be quite different. Your temperament affects how you behave and how you interact with your environment. Your personality, on the other hand, encompasses your beliefs, thoughts, traits, characteristics, and behaviors that develop as you age.

Your temperament includes the basic dispositional traits that you are largely born with. It is temperament that influences how you behave, your social interactions, and how you respond to the environment. Such experiences then play a part in shaping the development of your personality.

Types of Traits

What would you say if someone asked you to list the personality traits that best describe you? You might rattle off a variety of traits such as kind, aggressive, polite, shy, outgoing, or ambitious. If you were to make a list of every personality trait, it would probably include hundreds or even thousands of different terms used to describe different aspects of personality.

Psychologist Gordon Allport once created a list of personality traits that included more than 4,000 terms.

The question of just how many personality traits there is has been the subject of debate throughout much of psychology's history, but many psychologists today rely on what is known as the big five model of personality.

According to the big five model , personality is composed of five broad dimensions. Individual personalities may be either high, low, or somewhere in between on each of the five core traits.

Evidence suggests that these big five personality traits tend to be inherited to a certain degree. The five traits that make up personality and are influenced by genetics are openness, conscientiousness, extroversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism, sometimes referred to by the acronym OCEAN.

• Openness : creative, open to trying new things, happy to think about abstract concepts
• Conscientiousness : high levels of thoughtfulness, good impulse control, and goal-directed behaviors
• Extroversion : sociability, talkativeness, assertiveness, and excitability
• Agreeableness : trust,  altruism , kindness, affection, and other  prosocial behaviors
• Neuroticism : sadness, moodiness, emotional instability, worries about many different things

Most of the characteristics you might use to describe your own personality fall under one of these broad headings. Personality traits such as shy, outgoing, friendly, and sociable are aspects of extroversion, while traits such as kind, thoughtful, organized, and ambitious would be part of the conscientiousness spectrum.

Research indicates that heritability explains around 40% to 60% of the variance in big five personality traits.

Each of these five traits represents a continuum. Some people are low in certain traits and high in others. In fact, many people are somewhere in the middle of many or most of these characteristics.

Personality Trait Changes

When it comes to some of the broad, dominant traits, change tends to be difficult. When it does occur, these changes tend to be very subtle.

A very extroverted person , for example, might become somewhat more reserved over time. This does not mean that they will transform into an introvert. It simply means that a subtle shift has occurred, and the person's extroversion has been slightly modified. The individual is still outgoing and gregarious, but they might find that they also enjoy solitude or more quiet settings on occasion.

Research suggests that people do tend to become more introverted as they grow older.

In both of these examples, the individual's core personality trait has not changed altogether. Instead, changes over time, often the result of experiences, have led to subtle shifts in these central traits.

Principles of Personality Traits

Researchers have also suggested that a number of basic principles have emerged from investigations into personality.

• Identity development principle : People develop a stronger identity as they age and maturity brings a greater commitment to and maintenance of this sense of self. During the younger years of life, people are still exploring different roles and identities. As people age, they begin to feel stronger loyalty to the identity they have forged throughout their life.
• Maturity principle : People tend to become more agreeable, emotionally stable, and socially dominant as they grow older.
• Plasticity principle : While personality traits tend to be stable, they are not set in stone. They are subject to environmental influences at any stage of life.
• Role continuity principle : It is the consistency of roles that leads to continuity in personality traits rather than consistency in environments.

Consistent roles in life play a part in maintaining the stability of personality, but personality traits can also change throughout life. Personality changes somewhat with age, as people develop stronger identities and become more emotionally stable.

A Word From Verywell

While research suggests that genetics play an important role in personality, it is also important to recognize that other factors do have an influence. In many cases, the environment influences the expression of genes.

Personality tends to be fairly stable, but that doesn't mean it is etched in stone. Instead, certain factors, including age and identity, impact how personality shifts and changes over time.

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Harris MA, Brett CE, Johnson W, Deary IJ. Personality stability from age 14 to age 77 years . Psychol Aging . 2016;31(8):862-874. doi:10.1037/pag0000133

Koenig LB. Twin studies in personality research . In: Carducci BJ, Nave CS, Nave CS, eds. The Wiley Encyclopedia of Personality and Individual Differences . 1st ed. Wiley; 2020:415-419. doi:10.1002/9781118970843.ch139

Zwir I, Arnedo J, Del-Val C, et al. Uncovering the complex genetics of human character . Mol Psychiatry . 2020;25(10):2295-2312. doi:10.1038/s41380-018-0263-6

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By Kendra Cherry, MSEd Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the "Everything Psychology Book."

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Home > Graduate School > Theses > 502

Academic Burnout In College Students: The Impact of Personality Characteristics and Academic Term on Burnout

Daphne Norez , Fort Hays State University Follow

Document Type

10.58809/FUEL3102

Date of Award

Degree name.

Master of Science (MS)

Dr. Leo Herrman

Burnout is a condition which can affect people in a variety of settings. It is associated with reduced productivity and satisfaction; increased rates of mood disorders such as depression and anxiety and a plethora of physical problems including increased inflammation biomarkers and cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, sleep disturbances, changes in appetite, fatigue, lowered immunity, headaches, and gastrointestinal distress. Burnout has primarily been studied as an occupational hazard, but there is increasing evidence that it is a condition that can be experienced in other settings, such as school. The purpose of this study was to investigate how personality characteristics (such as extraversion, conscientiousness, neuroticism) and term classification (freshman, sophomore, etc.) affect academic burnout in a sample of college students. This paper includes a brief summary of the history of the study of burnout, a discussion of the existing literature on the topic, hypotheses suggested by previous studies conducted in this field, and a description of the method, results, limitations, possible future directions and conclusions of this study.

For questions contact [email protected]

Recommended Citation

Norez, Daphne, "Academic Burnout In College Students: The Impact of Personality Characteristics and Academic Term on Burnout" (2017). Master's Theses . 502. DOI: 10.58809/FUEL3102 Available at: https://scholars.fhsu.edu/theses/502

© 2017 Daphne Norez

Since March 16, 2018

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