individuality definition essay

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Meaning of individuality in English

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• be the very thing idiom
• calling card
• individualistic
• individualistically
• individualized
• individually
• individuate
• respectively

individuality | American Dictionary

Examples of individuality, translations of individuality.

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bits and bobs

small things or jobs of different types

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individuality

Definition of individuality

• individualism
• personality
• self-identity

Examples of individuality in a Sentence

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'individuality.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

1600, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Dictionary Entries Near individuality

individualist

individualize

Cite this Entry

“Individuality.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/individuality. Accessed 7 Apr. 2024.

Kids Definition

Kids definition of individuality, more from merriam-webster on individuality.

Nglish: Translation of individuality for Spanish Speakers

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Home — Essay Samples — Philosophy — Individualism — The Concept Of Individualism

The Concept of Individualism

• Categories: Individualism Political Philosophy

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Words: 950 |

Published: May 19, 2020

Words: 950 | Pages: 2 | 5 min read

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Personality Types

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How Personality Impacts Our Daily Lives

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

Verywell / Emily Roberts

Personality Characteristics

How personality develops, impact of personality, personality disorders.

Personality describes the unique patterns of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that distinguish a person from others. A product of both biology and environment, it remains fairly consistent throughout life.

Examples of personality can be found in how we describe other people's traits. For instance, "She is generous, caring, and a bit of a perfectionist," or "They are loyal and protective of their friends."

The word "personality" stems from the Latin word persona , which refers to a theatrical mask worn by performers to play roles or disguise their identities.

Although there are many definitions of personality, most focus on the pattern of behaviors and characteristics that can help predict and explain a person's behavior.

Explanations for personality can focus on a variety of influences, ranging from genetic effects to the role of the environment and experience in shaping an individual's personality.

What exactly makes up a personality? Traits and patterns of thought and emotion play important roles, and so do these fundamental characteristics of personality:

• Consistency : There is generally a recognizable order and regularity to behaviors. Essentially, people act in the same way or in similar ways in a variety of situations.
• Both psychological and physiological : Personality is a psychological construct, but research suggests that it is also influenced by biological processes and needs.
• Affects behaviors and actions : Personality not only influences how we move and respond in our environment, but it also causes us to act in certain ways.
• Multiple expressions : Personality is displayed in more than just behavior. It can also be seen in our thoughts, feelings, close relationships, and other social interactions.

There are a number of theories about personality , and different schools of thought in psychology influence many of these theories. Some theories describe how personalities are expressed, and others focus more on how personality develops.

Type theories suggest that there are a limited number of personality types that are related to biological influences.

One theory suggests there are four types of personality. They are:

• Type A : Perfectionist, impatient, competitive, work-obsessed, achievement-oriented, aggressive, stressed
• Type B : Low stress, even- tempered , flexible, creative, adaptable to change, patient, tendency to procrastinate
• Type C : Highly conscientious, perfectionist, struggles to reveal emotions (positive and negative)
• Type D : Worrying, sad, irritable, pessimistic, negative self-talk, avoidance of social situations, lack of self-confidence, fear of rejection, appears gloomy, hopeless

There are other popular theories of personality types such as the Myers-Briggs theory. The Myers-Briggs Personality Type Indicator identifies a personality based on where someone is on four continuums: introversion-extraversion, sensing-intuition, thinking-feeling, and judging-perceiving.

After taking a Myers-Briggs personality test, you are assigned one of 16 personality types. Examples of these personality types are:

• ISTJ : Introverted, sensing, thinking, and judging. People with this personality type are logical and organized; they also tend to be judgmental.
• INFP : Introverted, intuitive, feeling, and perceiving. They tend to be idealists and sensitive to their feelings.
• ESTJ : Extroverted, sensing, thinking, and judging. They tend to be assertive and concerned with following the rules.
• ENFJ : Extroverted, intuitive, feeling, and judging. They are known as "givers" for being warm and loyal; they may also be overprotective.

Personality Tests

In addition to the MBTI, some of the most well-known personality inventories are:

• Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI)
• HEXACO Personality Inventory
• Caddell's 16PF Personality Questionnaire
• Enneagram Typology

Personality Traits

Trait theories tend to view personality as the result of internal characteristics that are genetically based and include:

• Agreeable : Cares about others, feels empathy, enjoys helping others
• Conscientiousness : High levels of thoughtfulness, good impulse control, goal-directed behaviors
• Eager-to-please : Accommodating, passive, and  conforming
• Extraversion : Excitability, sociability, talkativeness, assertiveness, and high amounts of emotional expressiveness
• Introversion : Quiet, reserved
• Neuroticism : Experiences stress and dramatic shifts in mood, feels anxious, worries about different things, gets upset easily, struggles to bounce back after stressful events
• Openness : Very creative , open to trying new things, focuses on tackling new challenges

Psychodynamic Theories

Psychodynamic theories of personality are heavily influenced by the work of Sigmund Freud and emphasize the influence of the unconscious  mind on personality. Psychodynamic theories include Sigmund Freud’s psychosexual stage theory and Erik Erikson’s stages of psychosocial development .

Behavioral Theories

Behavioral theories suggest that personality is a result of interaction between the individual and the environment. Behavioral theorists study observable and measurable behaviors, often ignoring the role of internal thoughts and feelings. Behavioral theorists include B.F. Skinner and John B. Watson .

Humanist theories emphasize the importance of free will and individual experience in developing ​a personality. Humanist theorists include Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow .

Research on personality can yield fascinating insights into how personality develops and changes over the course of a lifetime. This research can also have important practical applications in the real world.

For example, people can use a personality assessment (also called a personality test or personality quiz) to learn more about themselves and their unique strengths, weaknesses, and preferences. Some assessments might look at how people rank on specific traits, such as whether they are high in extroversion , conscientiousness, or openness.

Other assessments might measure how specific aspects of personality change over time. Some assessments give people insight into how their personality affects many areas of their lives, including career, relationships, personal growth, and more.

Understanding your personality type can help you determine what career you might enjoy, how well you might perform in certain job roles, or how effective a form of psychotherapy could be for you.

Personality type can also have an impact on your health, including how often you visit the doctor and how you cope with stress. Researchers have found that certain personality characteristics may be linked to illness and health behaviors.

While personality determines what you think and how you behave, personality disorders are marked by thoughts and behavior that are disruptive and distressing in everyday life. Someone with a personality disorder may have trouble recognizing their condition because their symptoms are ingrained in their personality.

Personality disorders include paranoid personality disorder , schizoid personality disorder , antisocial personality disorder , borderline personality disorder (BPD), and narcissistic personality disorder (NPD).

While the symptoms of personality disorders vary based on the condition, some common signs include:

• Aggressive behavior
• Delusional thinking
• Distrust of others
• Flat emotions (no emotional range)
• Lack of interest in relationships
• Violating others' boundaries

Some people with BPD experience suicidal thoughts or behavior as well.

If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact the  National Suicide Prevention Lifeline  at  988  for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911. 

For more mental health resources, see our  National Helpline Database .

If you are concerned that elements of your personality are contributing to stress, anxiety, confusion, or depression, it's important to talk to a doctor or mental health professional. They can help you understand any underlying conditions you may have.

It is often challenging to live with a personality disorder, but there are treatment options such as therapy and medication that can help.

Understanding the psychology of personality is much more than simply an academic exercise. The findings from personality research can have important applications in the world of medicine, health, business, economics, technology, among others. By building a better understanding of how personality works, we can look for new ways to improve both personal and public health.

The Myers & Briggs Foundation.  MBTI basics .

Bornstein RF. Personality assessment in the diagnostic manuals: On mindfulness, multiple methods, and test score discontinuities .  J Pers Assess . 2015;97(5):446-455. doi:10.1080/00223891.2015.1027346

Srivastava K, Das RC. Personality and health: Road to well-being .  Ind Psychiatry J . 2015;24(1):1–4. doi:10.4103/0972-6748.160905

Mayo Clinic. Personality disorders .

Carducci BJ. The Psychology of Personality: Viewpoints, Research, and Applications . Wiley Blackwell. 

John OP, Robins RW, Pervin LA. Handbook of Personality: Theory and Research . Guilford Press.

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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Definition of individuality noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

individuality

• She expresses her individuality through her clothes.
• The plot is credible but the characters lack individuality.
• Every character stands out in the crowd, being true to their individualities.
• Becoming part of a team should not mean the suppression of individuality.
• Each song has its own individuality.
• The pictures give individuality to the room.
• This book will help you recognize your individuality.
• Traditional shop fronts add charm and individuality to High Streets.
• a feeling of individuality
• a sense of individuality

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The Oxford Learner’s Thesaurus explains the difference between groups of similar words. Try it for free as part of the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary app

Definition of 'individuality'

• individuality

Video: pronunciation of individuality

individuality in British English

Individuality in american english, examples of 'individuality' in a sentence individuality, trends of individuality.

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In other languages individuality

• American English : individuality / ɪndɪvɪdʒuˈælɪti /
• Brazilian Portuguese : individualidade
• Chinese : 独特性
• European Spanish : individualidad
• French : individualité
• German : Individualität
• Italian : individualità
• Japanese : 個性
• Korean : 개성
• European Portuguese : individualidade
• Latin American Spanish : individualidad
• Thai : ความเป็นปัจเจก, ลักษณะเฉพาะตัว, ความเป็นเอกเทศ

Browse alphabetically individuality

• individualistic
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• All ENGLISH words that begin with 'I'

Related terms of individuality

• express individuality

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• individuality

the particular character, or aggregate of qualities, that distinguishes one person or thing from others; sole and personal nature: a person of marked individuality.

individualities, individual characteristics.

a person or thing of individual or distinctive character.

state or quality of being individual; existence as a distinct individual.

the interests of the individual as distinguished from the interests of the community.

Archaic . state or quality of being indivisible or inseparable.

Origin of individuality

Synonym study for individuality, other words from individuality.

• non·in·di·vid·u·al·i·ty, noun, plural non·in·di·vid·u·al·i·ties.

Words Nearby individuality

• individualism
• individualist
• individualistic
• individualize
• individual liberty
• individually
• individual medley
• individual retirement account

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use individuality in a sentence

Eventually, Triller wants to monetize the individuality of its talent just like a record label’s artist and repertoire execs do.

Nevertheless, in 2020, scientists made important progress in understanding this balance between interdependence and individuality in biology.

Osho laid a strong emphasis on individuality — the OZYMA instructors each wear a blue T-shirt that reads, “Remove Mask, Be Original.”

Acknowledging the biology that influences our individuality may then empower us to better pool our strengths and harness our collective cognitive capacity to shape the world for the better.

A second is that individuality can be nested — one individual can exist inside another.

He called out the conformism hiding in the pose of rugged individuality .

In a community that honored sameness over individuality , a boy named Jonas learned the truth—and quickly became our hero.

But on their off hours, they embrace 'kawaii,' the trend of dressing in a cute, almost child-like style, to flaunt individuality .

There are still gorgeous gowns being produced, Tfank insists, but the individuality seems to have diminished.

Little ponds encourage individuality and innovation while also providing support and community.

She is skilful in seizing salient characteristics, and her chief aim is to preserve the individuality of her sitters and models.

Men and women alike seemed attracted by him, for his individuality was on a par with his looks.

The moment he passed out of her sight some phase of individuality promptly lit its torch.

Of the parts the young assistant of Nicolas Amati was allowed to put his individuality to, conspicuously stands the scroll.

The faces of a flock of sheep are to a stranger all alike; to the shepherd, each has its personal individuality .

British Dictionary definitions for individuality

/ ( ˌɪndɪˌvɪdjʊˈælɪtɪ ) /

distinctive or unique character or personality : a work of great individuality

the qualities that distinguish one person or thing from another; identity

the state or quality of being a separate entity; discreteness

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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