SfC Home > Behavior > Character >
Explanation of Three Character Trait Classifications by Ron Kurtus - Character Rules in Business and in Life. Key words: positive, negative, combination, behavior, people, parents, peers, success, achievement, courage, cowardice, rewards, relationships, honesty, dishonesty, government, culture, religion, laws, rules, commandments, School for Champions. Copyright © Restrictions
Three Character Trait Classifications
by Ron Kurtus (revised 29 January 2013)
Character can be divided into three distinct classifications: personal, social, and cultural character traits.
Personal character traits concern attitudes an individual has toward his or her own actions in doing things and achieving goals. Social character traits concern how a person deals with other people. Cultural character traits concern how well a person adheres to or follows the laws, rules, or codes of organizations of which he or she is a member.
Questions you may have include:
- What are personal character traits?
- What are social character traits?
- What are cultural character traits?
This lesson will answer those questions.
Personal character traits
The attitudes a person has toward activities make up his or her personal character traits. This often concerns how the person responds to challenges. These traits may be positive or negative or often in-between. Positive or good personal character traits lead to achievement of goals and success. Negative personal character traits can lead to failure or frustration.
Typical traits
Typical positive and negative personal character traits include:
Positive or Good Traits |
Negative or Bad traits |
| Courageous | Cowardly |
| Conscientious | Careless |
| Determined | Easily discouraged |
| Confident | Unsure |
| Hard working | Lazy |
Due to influence
Although the tendency toward various personal character traits is inborn, these traits are really developed from parental training and influence as a very young child. There are attitudes you are "supposed to have" that are ingrained without any logical reasoning. A mother that prevents her child from doing things will ingrain the attitude of being easily discouraged and unsure of his skills.
Personal character develops somewhat through the influence of peers and school. A teen that starts associates with "go-getters" will herself have the attitudes needed to excel.
Can be changed
Once ingrained, a personal character trait is difficult—but not impossible—to change as an adult.
Social character traits
The attitudes you have toward other people and how you deal with them make up your social character traits. Positive social character traits lead to success in relationships and gaining continued rewards. Negative social character traits can result in being distrusted or even disliked. There also extremes of these traits, as well as those in-between.
Typical traits
Typical positive and negative social character traits include:
Positive or Good Traits |
Negative or Bad traits |
| Honest | Dishonest |
| Kind | Cruel |
| Reliable | Unreliable |
| Fair | Biased |
| Considerate | Inconsiderate |
Due to influence
The tendency toward various social character traits is only slightly inborn. Most of these traits seem to be developed from parental influence and training as a very young child. Just as with personal traits, there are things that you are "supposed to do" that are ingrained without any logical reasoning. For example, a child who is abused by his parents when young will probably abuse his children because "that is what you are supposed to do."
Social character develops somewhat through the influence of peers and school. But as the saying goes, "birds of a feather flock together." Those that have started with negative social character traits will usually associate with other negative people.
May change
Once ingrained, a social character trait is difficult to change as an adult. But when people see how they lose so much from having these traits, they are often motivated to turn their lives around. A religious awakening is a good example of this.
Cultural character traits
Attitudes toward the cultural laws, rules, and values of the community, organization, and group determine a person's cultural character traits and whether or not he or she adheres to those laws.
Most people are members of community, culture and religions. Those groups have rules and laws that they expect members to follow. A person who follows or obeys the rules is judged as having good cultural character. He or she may be considered an outstanding, law-abiding citizen, a good member of the group or a devout, religious person.
Those who do not follow the rules are considered law-breakers, trouble-makers or sinners. Their character is said to be immoral, unethical, or corrupt. Most laws and rules are stated in the negative sense, telling what you cannot do.
Government laws include:
- You must not drive over the speed limit
- You must not steal (also a religious and social law)
- You must not loiter
- You must not become drunk in public
- You must pay your taxes
Those who are caught breaking the laws will suffer the consequences by being fined or incarcerated.
Cultural laws include:
- You must marry within the culture
- The man is the boss in the household
- Keep silent when quizzed by outside authorities
Religious laws include:
- Always wear a cap
- Honor your parents
- Pray five times a day
Conflict and combination
Sometimes the religious or cultural rules are in conflict of the government rules. Also, some societies have governments that only include their culture and religion, such that government laws are also religious laws.
Good and bad
A law-abiding citizen, a loyal soldier, and a devout religious person all are considered to have positive cultural character. They are often said to have good moral or ethical character to those in their group.
Would you say a person who speeds or gets drunk in public is immoral? He may bother or even hurt others by his action. That would be negative social behavior.
Changing character
If a person moves into an area with different government laws, into a different culture or change religious, he or she will need to obey a different set of rules or laws. Your character—as judged by people in this group—will depend on how well you follow their laws.
Summary
Character is the combination of personal, social and cultural character traits. Personal character traits concern attitudes toward achieving goals. Social character traits concern to how a person deals with other people. Cultural character traits concern how well a person follows government, organization and religious laws and rules.
Optimize your capabilities
Resources and references
Websites
Books
What do you think?
Do you have any questions, comments, or opinions on this subject? If so, send an email with your feedback. I will try to get back to you as soon as possible.
Share link
Click on a button to send an email, Facebook message, Tweet, or other message to share the link for this page:
Students and researchers
The Web address of this page is:
www.school-for-champions.com/character/three_classifications.htm
Please include it as a link on your website or as a reference in your report, document, or thesis.
Where are you now?
Three Character Trait Classifications