Understanding Personality and Traits- Their Impact on Academic Performance and Strategies for Success
Various psychologists have worded the definition of personality differently, but the idea is the same. Mayer (2007) defines personality as an organized system of parts that develops and is shown in the actions of an individual. In this case, a system of parts refers to elements such as the self, mental models, emotions, and motives. Some psychologists contend that personality is a person’s characteristic patterns of behavior, emotion, and thought and the mechanisms of psychology- hidden or explicit- behind the patterns (Mayer, 2007). Coon & Mitterer (2013) have a similar definition. They refer to personality as an individual’s unique long-term behavioral, emotional, and thinking patterns. This means that personality is the consistency in who one is, who they have been, and who one will become. It also entails the special combination of habits, hates, loves, hopes, values, and talents that make everyone unique as a human being (Coon & Metterer, 2013). Accordingly, a deep understanding of personality traits is important because personality traits can be associated with academic performance and help individuals succeed in their studies.
Personality Traits
People exhibit stable qualities shown in many situations (Coon & Mitterer, 2013). For instance, one can describe someone’s personality traits as creative, sensitive, intelligent, orderly, sociable, or shy. More often than not, these traits are exhibited even in different circumstances, even after years. This means that personality traits are inferred from one’s behavior. For instance, when one sees another talking to strangers at a marketplace and later talks to people at a party, one may conclude that this person is sociable. This may lead to a prediction of how one might behave in the future (Coon & Mitterer, 2013). For example, understanding that this person can talk to strangers in the marketplace and then at parties can lead to the prediction that they would be sociable even at work and at school.
Influence of Personality Traits on Academic Performance
Personality traits do not have a significant direct connection with academic performance (Cupani & Pautassi, 2013). However, various studies have suggested an indirect connection of personality traits to academic performance. According to Cupani & Pautassi’s (2013) research study, students with higher conscientiousness scores also showed higher self-efficacy beliefs, set more demanding performance goals, and had more positive outcome expectations. This study also indicated that students who had higher scores of intellect or openness exhibited higher self-efficacy beliefs. Based on these findings, the more intellectually driven and responsible students set higher academic performance expectations, had higher confidence in their abilities, and were also likely to attain better academic grades due to their persistence in academic activities. In other words, behavioral tendencies that are often reflected in personality traits can influence particular habits that lead to higher academic performance. For instance, as a perseverant and talkative person, I prefer studying through group discussions, which helps my academic performance. For instance, when I sit for an examination, I quickly remember my discussions with my peers, making important points, thus improving my academic performance.
Tus (2019) also found out that personality traits only contribute to academic achievement but indirectly. His findings show that personality traits are important aspects of academic achievement and that certain personality traits are significant in pursuing academic excellence. His research indicated that students could only perform well when they adopt certain behavioral acts or habits, such as revision, group discussion, and determination, among other traits, to succeed in their academic performance. This research indicated that students were still in the process of self-development, as manifested in their academic results. The researcher suggested that the institution needs to develop a program that will mold and strengthen students’ personalities toward achieving greater academic goals. According to Tus (2019), the role of such a program is to enable students to be aware of their personality, acknowledge it, and make changes in their own behavior. The program would also allow students to maximize their learning experience in school and also support active and better performance in class.
Approaches that Would Ensure Academic Success
Therefore, as a talkative person, I spend a lot of time telling stories. Therefore, realizing this, I need to use this trait to discuss class notes and self-read notes with others to internalize my understanding and educate others in the process. This means that the approaches that I could take to ensure success in my studies include managing my time properly, prioritizing the important things such as group discussions, and setting my daily goals, even if it would mean achieving just one of them. I believe that this will help me utilize my talkative/sociable personality trait in a useful manner.
Conclusion
In conclusion, in as much as personality traits do not directly affect academic performance, they play an important role in determining behaviors that affect academic performance. Therefore, there is room for research by schools, educators, and researchers to develop proper strategies that would help students mold their personalities and boost their behavior toward their academic success. For instance, a person like myself who loves talking can use various discussion channels, including online platforms, to engage with other students and discuss class notes. In such an environment, I would be able to understand various ideas and references that are useful for my academic excellence and, at the same time, influence others in a positive manner. For example, a laid-back person may be encouraged to participate in my academic discussion if they find interesting topics. This may encourage them to voice their opinions and understanding, thus building and collecting knowledge.
References
Coon, D. & Mitterer, J.O. (2013). Introduction to Psychology: Gateways to Mind and Behavior, 13th Edition. Belmont: Wadsworth Cengage Learning.
Cupani, M., & Pautassi, R. M. (2013). Predictive contribution of personality traits in a sociocognitive model of academic performance in mathematics. Journal of Career Assessment, 21(3), 395-413.
Mayer, J. D. (2007). Asserting the definition of personality. The online newsletter for personality science, 1(1), 1-4.
Tus, J. (2019). The Impact of the Personality Traits on the Academic Achievement of the Senior High School Students. Journal of Global Research in Education and Social Science, 13(6), 208-212.
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Question 
Define personality.
Define personality traits.
Understanding Personality and Traits- Their Impact on Academic Performance and Strategies for Success
How do your personality traits influence your academic performance?
What approaches could you take to ensure success in your studies?