Reader questions and feedback on character issues. Also refer to honesty, courage, responsibility, honor, reliability, service, stealing, cheating, Ron Kurtus, School for Champions. Copyright © Restrictions
Answers to Readers' Questions on Character:
What is Character
The following 5 comments and questions have been sent in. They are listed according to date.
List of first 10 items
- Confused between Character and Personality
- Is killing or stealing acceptable behavior?
- Can character change with difference situations?
- Disagree on character and cultural rules
- Can we change our character?
Confused between Character and Personality
Question
July 20, 2009
Hi, I am a bit confused between Character and Personality and often, i would get mixed up when asked to explain on the subject. Thus, I really need this to be as simple to be understood as possible.
1) What is the definition of Character?
2) What is the definition of Personality?
3) Can you give me a few examples of traits for Character?
4) Can you give me a few examples of traits for Personality?
With these, I hope to have a better and clearer understanding between the two.
Ricky Ong - Malaysia
18040
Answer
Personality consists primarily of inborn traits. It is a tendency that can be seen even when a person is a child. One example is having an outgoing personality. Tendency to be leader or to be a serious person are also personality traits. There are a number of classifications for personality traits.
On the other hand, character is the quality in which you do something. Although affected by personality, it is primarily taught. Dishonest children usually have dishonest parents or friends. A person with a character trait of being hard-working usually learns that value from his parents. Character concerns a learned attitude toward work and toward other people.
I hope that helps you understand the difference.
Is killing or stealing acceptable behavior?
Question
July 17, 2009
Your definition of character clearly states that; it is a set of behavior traits that define what sort of person and individual is. Now I would like to know if killing, stealing, fornication etc can be regarded as positive traits in any progressive society? These in my view are very negative traits and anyone who has them can never be said to have good character. I am of the opinion that failure to base your qualification of good and bad on a solid proven experience would result in misleading of individuals who come into contact with this kind of information. I therefore would propose that you clearly spell out the positive and negative behavior traits according to your conviction in order to remove any confusion, I believe this would give readers the choice of whether to embrace or reject the teaching.
Chihombe - Zimbabwe
18031
Answer
There is a universal rule of good character that you should not harm other people or cause a loss to them.
Certainly, such actions as killing, stealing and fornication are considered negative character traits in progressive societies. But note that if your parents or friend taught you negative ways to act, you may think such actions were acceptable, even though others did not.
By looking at our other lessons on character, you can see examples of positive character, as well as explanations of what leads to those character traits.
Can character change with difference situations?
Question
January 19, 2009
Talking about Character. We see that it is something which a person learns through his environment and experiences. But it has been observed many times that in different situation people behave differently. For example- Consider a person is driving and his wife is sitting nest to him. She asked as a frustrating question. Now there are two scenarios, first, their car just passed a marriage or a college friends group who are full of joy OR in another case their car just passed a funeral or an accident. Then in both the scenario the answer to that question will be different.
Than How can we comment on a person's Character if it so effected with such on going activities?
Ravi - India
17111
Answer
Character is a determination of what is right and wrong, based on what you have been taught and learned from experiences. Personality concerns the tendency of how you react in various situations.
A person may be stern with subordinates at work but loving and gentle with his children at home. The personality differs according to situation. But in either case, his values of what is right and wrong--or his character--is fairly consistent.
But sometimes temptation can overcome character, such as when a person will steal something when he knows and believes it is the wrong thing to do.
Disagree on character and cultural rules
Question
January 18, 2009
Your suggestion that character is "following the rules of your culture" cannot possibly be true. The rules of Stalinist Russia was to inform on your parents so that they would be sent to Siberia and a death camp. Did that demonstrate good character? Hardly! In Nazi Germany your culture said that you should reveal the location of any hidden Jews so that they could be sent to the gas chambers. Good character?
Character often requires throwing the rules of your culture in the trash and doing what is right in the face of severe resistance or sometimes even death. You go on to say that character is "the judgment of the type of person you are." True you don't identify whose judgment you're talking about, but the inference is irresistible, that it is the judgment of those who set the rules of your culture. I'm sorry but in many, many cases in human experience,those people are notoriously unreliable.
The people in the first century following the rules of their culture, crucified Peter upside down for teaching about Jesus Christ. Using your definition of character, they were demonstrating good character. Are you really sure you want to stick with that definition?
In discussing changing character you say that character is taught when you are young and proceed to give three adverse examples: a cowardly man at work who is vicious with his children, a dishonest parents and an honest child, and a dishonest businessman who is devout. Now it is true you didn't say in so many words that parents and religious authorities cannot be trusted, but it is a distinction without a difference. Any young person being instructed with this material is not given even the slightest impediment in drawing this inference for him or herself. The presumed plausible deny-ability, that is retained by not explicitly attacking the child's parents or religious teachers is transparently unconvincing to say the very least. In this gambit you're fooling schoolboys and the very, very dull at best.
In your conclusion you transition from character being a matter of "following the rules of your culture" to "obey the rules of the group." It makes one wonder that if this had gone on another paragraph if character wouldn't have devolved into "be true to your harts desires."
If there is no objective standard against which a person actions, attitudes and motivations can be judged then the definition of character really doesn't matter much. It might as well be a judgment of the individual, the group or the culture. If it's not grounded in any thing objective it's not grounded at all.
Eric - USA
17110
Answer
Thanks for your feedback on this subject. It is not a simple topic.
Although you and I would consider a person who would blow himself up to kill innocent people of a different religion as a monster performing an abhorrent act, members of him family and religious culture often consider such a person a hero and someone of utmost character. It is hard to understand the values of some cultures or societies, such as in Stalinist Russia, but they alone define who is good and bad within their own groups.
Similarly, those who crucified early Christians felt that they were protecting their values and their religion, and they had good character in doing so.
We may not agree with what people in other cultures do, but you must agree they are doing is what they think is the right thing to do.
The premise in this work is that character is taught--first by parents, then by friends, teachers and social or cultural rules. Experience also plays a role, as does personality. It is possible that a child of dishonest parents may see that being honest is a better route to take. There are consequences from being dishonest, including the fact that other people often don't like those who are dishonest. A child can learn from those lessons and not follow the rules or example of his parents.
A universal rule of character is that not hurting or causing losses to others, as well as yourself lead to the best character traits. People and societies make their own choices, and in many cases those choices aren't the best.
By seeing what is most beneficial to yourself and others around, you can most toward positive character traits.
Can we change our character?
Question
February 7, 2008
1- can we change our personality by passing time? if yes how? if no why?
2-for how long can we change our bad character to good one in a social enviroment?
yosuf - Afghanistan
15298
Answer
Your character is first defined by your parents, religion and culture. As a person becomes older, his character may be influenced by friends and the social environment. Unfortunately, sometimes the character becomes bad or negative.
By realizing that negative character not only prevents a person from achieving goals, from being respected by other people, and from being accepted by those in his religion and culture, the person can vow to improve his character. It takes time to overcome old habits, but by seeing the rewards of good or positive character and behavior, a person is motivated to change his ways.
Summary
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