Explanation how Social Character Traits Important for Relationships - Power of Good Character. Also refer to attitude, positive, negative, situation, honesty, stealing, dishonest, kindness, cruelty, reliable, unreliable, considerate, inconsiderate, parents, children, Ron Kurtus, School for Champions. Copyright © Restrictions

Social Character Traits Important for Relationships

by Ron Kurtus (revised 9 November 2007)

Social character traits are the attitudes you have toward other people. These traits may be positive, negative or often in between, depending on the situation. Positive social character traits lead to good relationships with others—both personal and professional. Negative personal character traits can result in having a bad reputation, being distrusted or even being disliked. Most of these traits are established through training from parents, while others are gained from peer groups.

Questions you may have include:

• What are some typical social character traits?
• How do social character traits relate to relationships?
• How are these traits developed?

This lesson will answer those questions. There is a mini-quiz near the end of the lesson.

Typical positive and negative traits

Your social character traits may be positive or negative, depending on the situation. An example of a positive social character trait is honesty. Its opposite, negative trait is dishonesty. Most people have a trait that lies between the extremes.

Typical positive and negative social character traits with respect to other people include:

Related to your success or failure

Your attitude toward other people can help to determine whether you will be a success or failure in dealing with those people.

People will like to deal with you if your are honest and can be trusted. Employers want workers who are reliable and responsible. Romantic relationships work best when both people are kind, considerate and trustworthy.

On the other hand, if you act obnoxious toward others, you may end up having no friends. No one wants to deal with a person who is dishonest or mean-spirited.

Developed until ingrained

Although the tendency toward some social character traits is inborn, most 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. Parents that are honest usually have honest children.

Influence of peers

Social character develops somewhat through the influence of peers and school. A teen that associates with friends that are reliable will often have the same attitude toward others.

Can change as an adult

Once ingrained, a social character trait is difficult—but not impossible—to change as an adult.

In conclusion

Social character traits are the attitudes you have toward other people. Positive social character traits lead to good relationships with others. Negative personal character traits can result in being distrusted or disliked. Most of these traits are established through training from parents, while others are gained from peer groups.

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Mini-quiz to check your understanding

1. Why might people dislike someone with negative social character traits?

2. How can you help assure that people will want to deal with you?

3. If your parents were inconsiderate and rude, can you ever get good social character?

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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Social Character Traits Important for Relationships