Chapter 1 Personal Development 5
You are a very unique person—one of a kind. There is no other person
in the world exactly like you with the same characteristics. Look around
you to see how different people look even though they may have similar
features. Even their voices and mannerisms are different.
How Personality Develops
One factor that makes you
unique is your personality. Your
personality is the combination of
traits that makes you the person
you are. It includes your habits
and feelings. Your personality
also includes how you think and
interact with others.
You have many personality
traits. Traits are qualities that
make you different from everyone
else. Certain personality traits are
desirable, while others are less
desirable. Some of your friends
may like your honesty, while others
may complain about your laziness.
Figure 1-1 lists some typical
personality traits.
Section 1-1 Section 1-1
Your Personality Your Personality
Objectives
After studying this section, you will be able to
• explain how heredity and environment affect personality development.
• formulate ways to enhance your personality.
• compare and contrast self-concept and self-esteem.
• identify suggestions for improving self-esteem.
personality
traits
heredity
inherited traits
environment
acquired traits
self-concept
self-esteem
self-confi dence
attitudes
optimists
pessimists
Key Terms Key Terms
Personality Traits
Agreeable Easygoing Lazy
Aloof Excitable Loyal
Bashful Faithful Mature
Careful Flighty Moody
Cheerful Friendly Nervous
Confi dent Generous Responsible
Cooperative Grumpy Silly
Critical Happy Sincere
Delightful Kind Understanding
1-1 Which of these personality traits would your friends
use to describe you?
Organized for Successful Learning Organized for Successful Learning
4
Sections
1-1 Your Personality
1-2 Growing and Changing
1-3 Becoming Independent
Chapter 1 Chapter 1
Personal Development Personal Development
College
and Career
Readiness
Reading Prep
Before you read the
chapters in this unit,
answer the question
on the unit opening
page. How does this
question relate to what
is being presented in
the content?
ompanion ompanion
Website Website
www.g-wlearning.com
Companion Website
Print out the concept organizer for
Chapter 1 at the website.
Concept Organizer Concept Organizer
Use a star diagram
like the one shown
to list six things you
can do to improve
your self-esteem.
Improve
Self-Esteem
© Edyta Pawlowska/Shutterstock
Sections Sections
An easy-to-read format presents
the chapter’s main themes.
Reading Prep Reading Prep
Quick, easy activities expand reading
skills for college and career readiness.
Concept Organizer Concept Organizer
Concept organizers challenge students to
present chapter information in logical ways.
The website www.g-wlearning.com includes
activities that extend learning beyond the
classroom and downloadable concept organizers.
Companion Website Companion Website
Objectives Objectives
Objectives summarize the learning
goals for each section.
Key Terms Key Terms
Presents the new terms you will
learn in this section to expand your
vocabulary.
VI Introduction