Module-1

Individual differences and personality

Why it is important to study Personality?

The more you know about personalities, the better you will be able to understand why

people do the things they do, and how to communicate with them. People who design

advertisements are experts at how people think, and can come up with advertisements

that help to sell their products. Society's leaders are experts at making people want to

follow their way of doing things. If you understand other people, you are also more likely

to get along with them and not have wars.

Studying your own personality is also good. The more you understand about how your

mind works and how you think and feel, the better you are able to control your mind and

not just react blindly to what's going on around you.

The term personality comes from the Latin word persona meaning "mask". Allport

defined personality as "the dynamic organization within the individual

of those psychophysical systems that determine his characteristic behavior

and thought."

Structure of Personality

According to Allport, the basic units of personality are personal dispositions.

A. Personal Dispositions

Allport distinguished between common traits, which permit inter-individual comparisons,

and personal dispositions, which are peculiar to the individual. He recognized three
overlapping levels of personal dispositions, the most general of which are cardinal

dispositions that are so obvious and dominating that they can not be hidden from other

people. Not everyone has a cardinal disposition, but all people have 5 to 10 central

dispositions, or characteristics around which their lives revolve. In addition, everyone has

a great number of secondary dispositions, which are less reliable and less conspicuous

than central traits.

Personality theories

(a) Type and Trait approaches: This focus on people’s characteristics, stubbornness,

shyness and so forth and how these characteristics are organized into systems;

(b) Dynamic approaches: Focuses on on-going interactions among motive, impulses and

psychological processes;

(c) Learning and Behavioral approaches: emphasize the ways habits are acquired through

basic condition or learning processes;

(d) Humanistic approaches: emphasize the Self and the importance of the individual’s

subjective view of the world.

Individual Differences

That people differ from each other is obvious. How and why they differ is less clear and

is the subject of the study of Individual differences (IDs). Although to study individual

differences seems to be to study variance, how are people different, it is also to study

central tendency, how well can a person be described in terms of an overall within-person

average. Indeed, perhaps the most important question of individual differences is whether

people are more similar to themselves over time and across situations than they are to

others, and whether the variation within a single person across time and situation is less
than the variation between people. A related question is that of similarity, for people

differ in their similarities to each other. Questions of whether particular groups (e.g.,

groupings by sex, culture, age, or ethnicity) are more similar within than between groups

are also questions of individual differences.

Individual difference psychology examines how people are similar and how they differ in

their thinking, feeling and behavior. For example, people can be classified according to

intelligence and personality characteristics.

Activities

• Discussion on relating themselves with their parents, for e.g. what are some of

traits similar to their parents and some traits that are unique to them in order to

emphasize the importance of nature and nurture in personality development.

• Debate if we are born with a personality or we acquire it

• How the statement, “ I love my parents” is interpreted differently by the students

to explain individual differences.

 Module –II
Socialization

Human infants are born without any culture. They must be transformed by their

parents, teachers, and others into cultural and socially adept animals. The general

process of acquiring culture is referred to as socialization. Successful socialization

can result in uniformity within a society.

A continuing process whereby an individual acquires a personal identity and

learns the norms, values, behavior, and social skills appropriate to his or her social

position. Learning the customs, attitudes, and values of a social group, community, or

culture. Socialization is essential for the development of individuals who can

participate and function within their societies, as well as for ensuring that a society's

cultural features will be carried on through new generations. Socialization is most

strongly enforced by family, school, and peer groups and continues throughout an

individual's lifetime.

Socialization is important in the process of personality formation. While

much of human personality is the result of our genes, the socialization process can

mold it in particular directions by encouraging specific beliefs and attitudes as well as

selectively providing experiences. This very likely accounts for much of the

difference between the common personality types in one society in comparison to

another. For instance, the Semai tribesmen of the central Malay Peninsula of

Malaysia typically are gentle people who do not like violent, aggressive individuals.

In fact, they avoid them whenever possible. In contrast, the Yanomamö Indians on

the border area between Venezuela and Brazil usually train their boys to be tough and

aggressive.
How are People Socialized?

Socialization is a learning process that begins shortly after birth. Early

childhood is the period of the most intense and the most crucial socialization. It is

then that we acquire language and learn the fundamentals of our culture. It is also

when much of our personality takes shape. However, we continue to be socialized

throughout our lives. As we age, we enter new statuses and need to learn the

appropriate roles for them. We also have experiences that teach us lessons and

potentially lead us to alter our expectations, beliefs, and personality.

Socialization is the process by which children and adults learn from others.

We begin learning from others during the early days of life; and most people continue

their social learning all through life (unless some mental or physical disability slows

or stops the learning process). Sometimes the learning is fun, as when we learn a new

sport, art or musical technique from a friend we like. At other times, social learning is

painful, as when we learn not to drive too fast by receiving a large fine for speeding.

Types of Socialization

Natural socialization occurs when infants and youngsters explore, play and

discover the social world around them. Planned socialization occurs when other

people take actions designed to teach or train others -- from infancy on. Natural

socialization is easily seen when looking at the young of almost any mammalian

species (and some birds). Planned socialization is mostly a human phenomenon; and

all through history, people have been making plans for teaching or training others.
Both natural and planned socialization can have good and bad features: It is wise to

learn the best features of both natural and planned socialization and weave them into

our lives.

Positive socialization is the type of social learning that is based on

pleasurable and exciting experiences. We tend to like the people who fill our social

learning processes with positive motivation, loving care, and rewarding opportunities.

Negative socialization occurs when others use punishment, harsh criticisms or anger

to try to "teach us a lesson;" and often we come to dislike both negative socialization

and the people who impose it on us.

Our prior socialization helps explain a gigantic chunk of who we are at

present -- what we think and feel, where we plan to go in life. But we are not limited

by the things given to us by our prior social learning experiences; we can take all our

remaining days and steer our future social learning in directions that we value. The

more that we know about the socialization process, the more effective we can be in

directing our future learning in the ways that will help us most.

Activities

• Write a short note on any of the following:

o Friends who have helped you in the process of adapting to Amity

University.

o Discuss your strong personal beliefs that shapes your behaviour with

others.

o Role played by your parents in the process of your socialization.

o Any important figure you remember who has helped in shaping you

the way you are.

 Module-III

Patriotism and National Pride

Every social group has its own notions of loyalty. The institution of family

embeds loyalty to the family as a social group. When a son and his wife and children

separate from the rest of the family or when brothers divide their property, the

neighborhood reacts with sorrow and not glee. Caste associations emphasize the

benefits which come from an active participation and cooperation between different

members of the same caste. Tribal groups, too, emphasize similar benefits from

collaboration.

The notion of patriotism is different from such forms of group loyalty. The difference

lies in its close affinity with the state. Patriotism is not based upon kinship or of

shared descent like in families, castes and tribes. Patriotism is based upon the idea of

a nation and its central institution, the state.

What is Patriotism?

The standard dictionary definition reads “love of one's country.” This captures the

core meaning of the term in ordinary use; but it might well be thought too thin.

Stephen Nathanson (1993, 34–35) defines patriotism as involving:

1. Special affection for one's own country

2. A sense of personal identification with the country

3. Special concern for the well-being of the country

4. Willingness to sacrifice to promote the country's good

 Accordingly, patriotism can be defined as love of one's country, identification with it,

and special concern for its well-being and that of compatriots.

Patriotism and nationalism

In the 19th century, Lord Acton contrasted “nationality” and patriotism as

affection and instinct vs. a moral relation. Nationality is “our connection with the

race” that is “merely natural or physical,” while patriotism is the awareness of our

moral duties to the political community (Acton 1972, 163). Patriotism involves pride

in, or endorsement of, one's country.

National Pride

Quiz

What are the national pride of India?

(a) National Flag : The National Flag of India was designed by Pingali Venkayyaand

and adopted in its present form during the meeting of Constituent Assembly held on the

22 July 1947, a few days before India's independence from the British on 15 August,

1947. It served as the national flag of the Dominion of India between 15 August 1947 and

26 January 1950 and that of the Republic of India thereafter. In India, the term "tricolour"

refers to the Indian national flag. In the national flag of India the top band is of Saffron

colour, indicating the strength and courage of the country. The white middle band

indicates peace and truth with Dharma Chakra. The last band is green in colour shows the

fertility, growth and auspiciousness of the land. This Dharma Chakra depicted the "wheel

of the law" in the Sarnath Lion Capital made by the 3rd-century BC Mauryan Emperor

Ashoka. The chakra intends to show that there is life in movement and death in

stagnation.
National Emblem : The National Emblem features Four lions standing back to back on a

platform. There is a wheel in the centre of the platform. A bull stands on the right of the

wheel and a horse on its left. If you see the corners of the base you'll spot the outlines of

other wheels. The words Satyameva Jayate ('Truth Alone Triumphs') from an ancient

book the Mundaka Upanishad are written below the picture in Hindi.

National Anthem: The National Anthem is the song Jana-gana-mana. It was written by

the Nobel Prize winning poet, Rabindranath Tagore in Bengali, but it is the Hindi

translation which is used officially. Tagore's poem Bharat Bhagya Vidhata has five

stanzas but only the first stanza is the National Anthem. The National Anthem was

adopted by the Constituent Assembly on 24 January 1950.

The playing time of the National Anthem is 52 seconds.

National Song: The song Vande Mataram, composed in Sanskrit by Bankimchandra

Chatterji is India's National Song.

The song was chosen because it had inspired many people during India's struggle for

freedom.

National Bird: The Indian peacock (Pavo cristatus) is the National Bird of India.

The peacock is a swan-sized bird with a tail of colourful feathers.

National Animal: The National animal is the majestic tiger (Panthera tigris).

The tiger is a big 'wild' cat with a thick yellow coat of fur, marked with dark stripes.

It's strength and speed make it one of the most feared animals in the jungle.
National Flower: The National Flower of India is the lotus. This beautiful flower is

found on the surface of lakes and even dirty ponds especially during the rainy season. Its

stem and roots are not visible as they stay under the water. The lotus is a popular symbol.

Sometimes it is used to show how a good thing can grow out of a bad place.

Activity: Ask students what are some things about India they would remember and

would feel proud about if they migrate to another county.

e.g. Indian food, festivals, culture, Dress

 Module-IV

Human Rights, Values & ethics

Human rights refer to the "basic rights and freedoms to which all humans are

entitled." Examples of rights and freedoms which have come to be commonly thought

of as human rights include civil and political rights, such as the right to life and

liberty, freedom of expression, and equality before the law; and economic, social and

cultural rights, including the right to participate in culture, the right to food, the right

to work, and the right to education.

In the present age of democracy, there is always a tendency to put all

emphasis on the rights and to forget that rights also imply duties. Every right carries

with it a duty. If one has the right to follow one’s own religion, it is one’s duty to

allow others to follow their own. Rights and duties are equally important and that is

why our Constitution has laid down certain duties for the citizens along with rights.

The inclusion of fundamental duties in the Constitution is for the feeling of patriotism

and to give solidarity to the nation. These duties are incorporated with the purpose to

help the citizens follow a code of conduct, which would strengthen the nation, protect

its sovereignty and integrity and promote the ideas of harmony. The late Prime

Minister Indira Gandhi mentioned, “If people keep the fundamental duties in their

mind, we would soon witness peaceful and friendly relations.”

Our Constitution lays down that it shall be the duty of every citizen of India

• To abide by the Constitution and respect its ideals, the national flag and the

national anthem.
 • To cherish and follow the noble ideas, which inspired the national struggle for

independence.

• To uphold and protect the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India.

• To defend the country and render national services when called upon to do so.

• To promote the harmony and the spirit of common brotherhood among all the

people of India transcending religious, linguistic and regional or sectional

diversities, to renounce practices derogatory to the dignity of women.

• To value and preserve the rich heritage of our composite culture.

• To protect and improve national environment including forests, lakes, rivers

and wildlife and have compassion for living creatures.

• To develop scientific temper, humanism and the spirit of inquiry and reform.

• To safeguard public property and to abjure violence.

• To strive towards excellence in all spheres of individual and collective

activity, so that the nation constantly rises to higher levels of endeavour and

achievement.

Nothing can be got without paying the price. If we want certain rights, we will

have to perform certain duties also. Every right implies a duty. These duties make us not

only good citizens but also responsible citizens.

Fundamental duties have put the fundamental rights in the right perspective. They

have balanced one thing with the other. Fundamental duties have been added to make the

citizens patriotic and make them realize the importance of protecting the sovereignty and

integrity of their country.

• Fundamental duties have been incorporated in the Constitution of India to

promote the ideas of harmony in the land of diversities and to strengthen the

nation.

Values When we think of our values, we think of what is important to us in

our lives (e.g., security, independence, wisdom, success, kindness, pleasure). Each of

us holds numerous values with varying degrees of importance. A particular value may

be very important to one person, but unimportant to another. are conceived of as

guiding principles in life which transcend specific situations may change over time,

guide selection of behaviour and events and which are part of a dynamic system with

inherent contradictions. Values the moral principles and beliefs of a person or group

Milton Rokeach (1973; 1979) “an enduring belief that a specific mode of conduct or

end-state of existence is personally or socially preferable to an opposite or converse

mode of conduct or end-state of existence”.

• Values are beliefs. But they are beliefs tied inextricably to emotion, not

objective, cold ideas.

• Values are a motivational construct. They refer to the desirable goals people

strive to attain.

• Values transcend specific actions and situations. They are abstract goals. The

abstract nature of values distinguishes them from concepts like norms and

attitudes, which usually refer to specific actions, objects, or situations.

• Values guide the selection or evaluation of actions, policies, people, and

events. That is, values serve as standards or criteria.

 • Values are ordered by importance relative to one another. People’s values

form an ordered system of value priorities that characterize them as

individuals. This hierarchical feature of values also distinguishes them from

norms and attitudes.

Ethics is Investigation into the basic concepts and fundamental principles of human

conduct. It includes study of universal values such as the essential equality of all men

and women, human or natural rights, obedience to the law of land, concern for health

and safety and, increasingly, also for the natural environment.

Activities

Group presentations on various religious beliefs and their understanding in today’s

world (i.e. Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, Sikhism, Judaism, Jainism and

so on).
 Module-V

Managing Diversity

Diversity refers to any perceived difference among people: age, race, religion,

functional specially, profession, sexual orientation, geographic origin, and lifestyle,

tenure with the organization or position and any other perceived difference. Diversity

is more than equal employment and affirmative action.

Elements of Diversity

• Age

• Gender

• Ethnicity

• Race

• Physical Ability

• Sexual Orientation

• Physical Characteristics

• Income

• Education

• Marital Status

• Religious Beliefs

• Geographic Location

• Parental Status

• Personality Type

Diversity:
 The uniqueness of all individuals; includes everyone.

Diversity management

R. Roosevelt Thomas defined managing diversity as “a comprehensive managerial

process for developing an environment that works for all employees.”

 Diversity management is about full utilization of people with different

backgrounds and experiences.

 Effective diversity management strategy has a positive effect on cost reduction,

creativity, problem solving, and organizational flexibility.

Ensuring that diversity is made visible and fruitful remains a central concern of

diversity management.

Activity

Group presentations on various religious beliefs and their understanding in today’s

world (i.e. Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, Sikhism, Judism, Jainism and so

on).