Character traits – list and explanation

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Character traits play an important role in shaping our personal and professional lives. They encompass a wide range of characteristics that determine who we are, how we interact with others, and how we navigate the world. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the concept of character traits, provide detailed lists of positive and negative traits, discuss their relevance to job applications, explore the science behind their creation, explain character traits using the NERIS model, provide strategies for improving and developing character traits and provide a detailed alphabetical list of character traits.

What are character traits?

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Character traits are enduring qualities that determine a person's behavior, attitudes, and values. They are the building blocks of our personality and guide our actions and interactions with others. Character traits can be divided into positive and negative traits, each of which has a significant impact on our lives.

Positive character traits

Positive character traits contribute to personal growth, strong relationships and professional success. They include qualities such as integrity, empathy, resilience, optimism and much more. Understanding and embodying positive character traits can lead to greater well-being and success in various areas of life. Here is a comprehensive list of positive character traits, categorized and explained:

  • Adaptability: Demonstrating flexibility and openness to change in different situations.
  • Open-mindedness: Being receptive to different perspectives and ideas.
  • Authenticity: Staying true to yourself and acting in accordance with your own values.
  • Persistence: Perseverance in the face of challenges and setbacks.
  • Gratitude: Expressing appreciation and gratitude for the positive aspects of life.
  • Humility: A humble and respectful attitude towards yourself and others.
  • Diplomacy: Handle sensitive situations with tact and diplomacy.
  • Assertiveness: Expressing opinions and needs confidently and respectfully.
  • Ambition: Set and pursue goals with determination and drive.
  • Honesty: Act with integrity, truthfulness and transparency.
  • Self-motivation: Be internally driven and motivated to achieve success.
  • Empathy: Understanding and sharing the feelings and perspectives of others.
  • Enthusiasm: Approach tasks and challenges with excitement and enthusiasm.
  • Decisiveness: Making decisions quickly and efficiently.
  • Kindness: Showing compassion, empathy and benevolence towards others.
  • Hard work: Work hard and be committed to achieving goals.
  • Flexibility: Adapt to changing circumstances and embrace new ideas.
  • Patience: Maintain calm and composure in difficult situations and show tolerance.
  • Generosity: Be willing to share time, resources, and support with others.
  • Helpfulness: Like to help others and offer support.
  • Devotion: Devoting oneself completely to a cause or task.
  • Humor: Make life easier with a sense of humor and make others laugh.
  • Initiative: Take the lead and proactively seek opportunities.
  • Integrity: Honesty, moral values ​​and ethical behavior in all areas of life.
  • Intelligence: A high mental capacity and ability to learn and understand.
  • Communication Skills: Able to communicate clearly and effectively with others.
  • Creativity: Think outside the box, develop innovative ideas and solutions.
  • Willingness to cooperate: Be willing to work with others and achieve goals together.
  • Loyalty: Staying committed and supportive in relationships and commitments.
  • Motivation: Having an internal motivation to achieve goals and be successful.
  • Courage: Be brave and face challenges.
  • Openness: Be open to new experiences, ideas and opinions.
  • Optimism: Maintaining a positive attitude and believing in the potential for growth and success.
  • Organizational skills: Be well organized and be able to complete tasks efficiently.
  • Punctuality: Arrive reliably and on time for commitments and appointments.
  • Respect: Treat others with courtesy, consideration and respect.
  • Self-confidence: Have healthy self-confidence and believe in your own abilities.
  • Self-discipline: self-control and concentration on your own goals.
  • Self-motivation: Having the ability to motivate and push yourself.
  • Sensitivity: Being empathetic and sensitive to the feelings and needs of others.
  • Teamwork ability: Able to work effectively and harmoniously in a team.
  • Tolerance: Accepting and respecting differences in opinions, cultures and backgrounds.
  • Sense of responsibility: Taking responsibility for your own actions and decisions.
  • Reliability: Consistent fulfillment of obligations and reliability.
  • Trustworthiness: Instill trust through honesty, reliability and integrity.
  • Wisdom: Act prudently and make thoughtful decisions.
  • Goal orientation: Having clearly defined goals and working towards them.

Negative character traits

Negative character traits hinder personal development, strain relationships and create obstacles in the professional environment. These include traits such as arrogance, dishonesty, impatience, irresponsibility and much more. Recognizing and mitigating negative character traits is essential for personal development and building healthy relationships. Here is a comprehensive list of negative character traits, categorized and explained:

  • Aggressiveness: tendency towards violent, hostile or confrontational behavior.
  • Arrogance: arrogance and excessive self-esteem that belittles others.
  • Egoism: Self-centeredness and lack of consideration for the needs of others.
  • Laziness: Lack of motivation and unwillingness to complete tasks or obligations.
  • Violence: Willingness or tendency to use physical or verbal violence.
  • Indifference: Lack of interest or emotional distance towards other people or situations.
  • Grumpiness: Constant dissatisfaction and negative mood that rubs off on others.
  • Underhandedness: Deception and betrayal of others without their knowledge or consent.
  • Ignorance: Ignoring or disregarding important information or needs of others.
  • Impulsivity: Acting without thinking about the consequences and without controlling your own actions.
  • Inconsistency: Lack of consistency and unreliability in words and actions.
  • Intolerance: Rejection or lack of acceptance of others' opinions, beliefs, or lifestyles.
  • Hot temper: Uncontrolled, explosive outbursts of anger and aggressive reactions to minor triggers.
  • Addiction to criticism: Constantly finding faults and criticizing others without any constructive intention.
  • Lying: Deliberately spreading false information or concealing the truth.
  • Resentment: Envy and dissatisfaction with the success or achievements of others.
  • Negligence: Lack of care and attention in the performance of duties or obligations.
  • Narcissism: Excessive self-love and self-absorption with little empathy for others.
  • Envy: dissatisfaction and desire for the possessions or success of others.
  • Pessimism: Negative attitude and expectation of failure or poor results.
  • Opinionatedness: Unyielding attitude and the desire to always be right, even when it is not justified.
  • Disrespect: Lack of respect and inconsiderate behavior towards others.
  • Inconsideration: Lack of compassion and little consideration for the needs and feelings of others.
  • Schadenfreude: Joy at other people's misfortune or failure.
  • Shyness: Excessive anxiety and discomfort in social situations.
  • Unscrupulousness: Lack of moral or ethical principles and acting without compunction.
  • Stubbornness: Stubborn adherence to one's own beliefs and refusal to compromise.
  • Impatience: Inability to wait for something or someone and irritability when delayed.
  • Infidelity: Cheating or betrayal of a trusted person or an agreement.
  • Unreliability: Unreliability and failure to fulfill promises or obligations.
  • Pompousness: Showing off and exaggerating self-praise to gain attention.
  • Cynicism: Pessimistic attitude and contempt for the good in others or the world.

Use of character traits in the application process:

Character traits play a crucial role in applications as employers look for applicants with the right qualities to be successful in their company. It is important to identify the character traits relevant to a particular position and present them effectively in resumes and cover letters. When interviewing, it is crucial to emphasize positive character traits and address or tone down negative ones. By demonstrating self-confidence and providing examples of how character traits contribute to success, applicants can stand out in the competitive job market.

The science behind the formation of character traits:

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Character traits are shaped by a complex interplay of genetics, environmental factors and life experiences. Research in psychology and neuroscience provides information about the development and stability of character traits. Genetic predispositions, early childhood experiences and long-term influences contribute to the development of certain character traits. The understanding of science , which is behind the formation of character traits, helps us to better manage our personal growth and development. Studies have shown that both nature and nurture play an important role in the formation of character traits, with genetic factors accounting for approximately 50% of the variation in character traits.  In addition, environmental factors such as family dynamics, cultural influences and life events contribute to the development and expression of character traits.

Understanding character traits according to NERIS

Die NERIS Type Explorer® Scale is a free personality assessment tool that provides insight into a person's character traits. It builds on the theories of Myers and Briggs, but also introduces new terms and preferences, including one that describes a person's response to coping with stress. By examining the extent to which the results of the NERIS Type Explorer® Scale correspond to the results of the MBTI® or other personality assessment tools, we can gain a deeper understanding of their validity and usefulness.

The NERIS Type Explorer® Scale framework offers a novel approach to personality typing. It focuses on five facets of personality: spirit, energy, nature, tactics and identity. These facets collectively contain the sixteen personalities identified in the NERIS Type Explorer® Scale. The development of these sixteen personality types is inspired by the theories and philosophies of Carl Jung as well as the work of Katharine Briggs and Isabel Briggs Myers.

Using a series of questions, the NERIS Type Explorer® Scale assesses a person's personality traits and preferences, creating a unique personality profile. The scale consists of 60 statements that participants answer and provide valuable insight into their character. The results of the assessment reveal five personality facets, each identified by a letter, which combine to create a person's unique personality type.

Mind

The Mind facet examines how people interact with their environment and process information. It categorizes people as either extraverted (E) or introverted (I). Extraverts tend to be outgoing and sociable and gain energy from social interactions, while introverts prefer solitude and introspection and gain energy from time spent alone.

Energy

The Energy facet focuses on a person's energy source and categorizes them as either Observer (S) or Intuitive (N). Observers rely on their senses and direct experiences to gather information, while intuitives rely on patterns, impressions, and their imagination to interpret the world around them.

Nature

The Nature facet examines how people make decisions and categorizes them as either thinking (T) or feeling (F). Thinking people emphasize logic and objective analysis when making decisions, while feeling people emphasize values, emotions, and the impact on others.

Tactics

The Tactics facet reflects a person's approach to work, planning and decision-making. It categorizes people as either judgmental (J) or forward-looking (P). Judgmental individuals prefer structure, organization, and clear plans, while prospective individuals prefer flexibility, adaptability, and spontaneity.

identity

The Identity facet explores a person's confidence and self-assurance, categorizing them as either Assertive (A) or Turbulent (T). Assertive people are self-confident, calm and stress-resistant, while turbulent people are self-confident, self-critical and more susceptible to stress.

Strategies for improving, developing and changing character traits

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Developing and improving character traits requires self-knowledge, commitment and a willingness to make positive changes. Although character traits are relatively stable, there are strategies and techniques that can help enhance positive traits and mitigate negative ones. Here are some approaches to consider:

Self-reflection and awareness

Self-reflection is an important first step in understanding our character traits. Take time to evaluate your strengths and weaknesses and identify the character traits you want to improve. Consider how these traits affect your relationships, your work, and your overall well-being. Get feedback from trusted friends, family members, or mentors to gain different perspectives and insights.

Set yourself clear goals

Setting clear goals will help you focus your efforts on developing specific character traits. Define what you want to achieve and set measurable goals. For example, if you want to cultivate patience, set goals like practicing deep breathing in difficult situations or activities that require waiting.

Look for role models

Look for people who model the character traits you want to develop. Study their behavior, their way of thinking and their actions. Watch how they handle different situations and interact with others. By observing and learning from positive role models, you can gain inspiration and learn how to improve your own character traits.

Practice mindfulness

Mindfulness means being fully present in the moment and being unbiasedly aware of your thoughts, feelings and behaviors. By cultivating mindfulness, you can develop greater self-awareness and improve your ability to regulate your character traits. Mindfulness practices such as meditation, deep breathing exercises, and keeping a mindfulness journal can be helpful in this regard.

Develop emotional intelligence

Emotional intelligence refers to the ability to recognize, understand and manage emotions, both in oneself and in others. It plays a crucial role in developing positive character traits such as empathy, self-control and adaptability. Improving emotional intelligence involves practicing active listening, empathizing with others, and being aware of your own emotions and their impact on your behavior.

Cultivate positive habits

Character traits are closely linked to our habits. Find habits that align with the character traits you want to develop and consciously work on incorporating them into your daily life. For example, if you want to cultivate gratitude, you should get into the habit of showing gratitude regularly, such as by keeping a gratitude journal or by verbally expressing your appreciation to others.

Look for personal development resources

There are various resources that support personal development and character improvement. Books, podcasts, workshops and online courses can provide valuable insights, practical techniques and exercises to improve your character traits. Look for resources that focus on personal growth, emotional intelligence, and character development.

Practice self-discipline

Developing character traits requires consistent effort and self-discipline. Set routines and stick to them, even when things get difficult. Practice delaying gratification and resisting impulsive behaviors. Develop a growth mindset that embraces challenges and views setbacks as opportunities to learn and grow.

Get support from others

Developing character traits is not a journey you have to take alone. Seek support from friends, family members, or mentors who can encourage, guide, and hold you accountable. Surround yourself with people who embody the qualities you strive for, as their influence can have a positive impact on your own development.

Adopt a growth mindset

A growth mindset is essential for developing and changing character traits. Embrace the belief that personal qualities and characteristics can be developed through effort, practice, and learning from mistakes. With a growth mindset, you can approach challenges with perseverance and persistence, which leads to greater character development.

Remember that developing character traits is an ongoing process that requires time, patience, and commitment. Be kind to yourself during this process, celebrate small victories and learn from setbacks. With commitment and a proactive approach, you can cultivate positive character traits and develop as a person.

Conclusion

Character traits have a major influence on our lives, our relationships and our professional success. When we understand the positive and negative characteristics that define us, we can make conscious decisions for our personal development. By harnessing the power of character traits and actively working to improve them, we can lead more fulfilling and successful lives. Embracing positive character traits, toning down negative traits, and continually striving for personal growth are important steps toward becoming the best version of ourselves.

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