What is the difference between Personality and Temperament

Personality and temperament are often used interchangeably, but they refer to different aspects of an individual. Understanding the differences between the two can provide valuable insights into human behaviour and development.

Personality = Temperament + Character

Personality, the unique combination of characteristics and traits that define an individual, is made up of two parts: Temperament and Character.

Temperament refers to the innate set of inclinations we are born with such as habits of communication, patterns of action, values, talents and the roles we play in society and work. Each temperament has its own unique qualities, strengths and weaknesses. It is the foundation upon which the individual's personality is built. Temperament is evident from early childhood and tends to remain relatively stable throughout life. Think of it as the hardware of personality.

Character, on the other hand, is the software of personality. It is the set of habits we acquire as we grow and mature. It is influenced by societal norms, cultural upbringing, and personal experiences - the forces around us that shape our individual character.

Temperament is the inborn form of human of human nature and character is emergent from the interaction of temperament and environment. Thus, personality is the combination of nature (temperament) and nurture (character). And each individual unless arrested in its maturation by an unfavourable environment will develop the habit appropriate to its temperament.

In essence, while personality captures the overall patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving, influenced by both genetic and environmental factors, temperament focuses more on the innate aspects of an individual's behavioural style.