Personality refers to the unique patterns of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that distinguish a person from others. It is a collection of interrelated behavioral, cognitive, and emotional patterns that biological and environmental factors influence. These patterns are relatively stable over long time periods, but they change over the entire lifetime. Personality includes major traits, interests, drives, values, self-concept, abilities, and emotional patterns.
Various theories explain the structure and development of personality in different ways, but all agree that personality helps determine behavior. Trait-based personality theories, such as those defined by Raymond Cattell, define personality as traits that predict an individuals behavior. On the other hand, more behaviorally-based approaches define personality through learning and habits. Nevertheless, most theories view personality as relatively stable.
The field of personality psychology studies the nature and definition of personality as well as its development, structure and trait constructs, dynamic processes, variations (with emphasis on enduring and stable individual differences), and maladaptive forms. There are different personality types, such as Type A and Type B personalities, which are characterized by different traits and behaviors.
