Explanation of Three Character Trait Classifications - Power of Good Character. Also refer to positive, negative, combination, behavior, people, parents, peers, success, achievement, courage, cowardice, rewards, relationships, honesty, dishonesty, government, culture, religion, laws, rules, commandments, Ron Kurtus, School for Champions. Copyright © Restrictions
Three Character Trait Classifications
by Ron Kurtus (20 March 2007)
Your character is the combination of your personal, social and rule-based character traits. Personal character traits concern attitudes toward your actions in to doing things and achieving goals. Social character traits concern to how you deal with other people. Rule-based character traits concern how well you follow your government, cultural and religious laws and rules.
Questions you may have include:
- What are personal character traits?
- What are social character traits?
- What are rule-based character traits?
This lesson will answer those questions. There is a mini-quiz near the end of the lesson.
Personal character traits
The attitudes you have toward activities make up your personal character traits. This often concerns how you respond 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
Social character traits concern your attitudes on how you deal with other people. These traits may also be positive or negative or often in-between. 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.
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.
Rule-based character traits
The behavior of most people is constrained by government, cultural and religious laws and rules. A person who follows or obeys the rules is judged as having good rule-based 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
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 rule-based 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 you move into an area with different government laws, into a different culture or change religious, you will need to obey a different set of rules or laws. Your character—as judged by people in this group—will depends on how well you follow their laws.
In conclusion
Character is the combination of your personal, social and rule-based character traits. Personal character traits concern attitudes toward achieving goals. Social character traits concern to how you deal with other people. rule-based character traits concern how well you follow government, cultural and religious laws and rules.
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Resources
The following resources provide information on this subject.
Websites
Books
Miscellaneous
Mini-quiz to check your understanding
If you got all three correct, you are on your way to becoming a Champion in understanding Character. If you had problems, you had better look over the material again.
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Three Character Trait Classifications