Do Our Projects Shape Our Personality? with Brian Little
Jul 2, 2021
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Personality assessment and motivation innovator, Brian Little, shares insights on how personal projects shape our personality, exploring the roots of personality, the concept of authenticity, and the impact of projects on relationships. He also discusses the transformative power of music and recommends books on personal growth.
Human personality is influenced by three roots: biogenic, sociogenic, and idiogenic, which interact to impact human flourishing.
Personal projects play a significant role in well-being, providing meaning and joy, but conflicting projects can lead to tension and burnout.
Deep dives
The Three Roots of Human Personality
Professor Brian Little explains that human personality is influenced by three roots: the biogenic roots (biological and biochemical features), sociogenic roots (cultural norms and influences), and idiogenic roots (personal projects). These three roots interact to impact human flourishing. Understanding the influence of these roots can help us better understand ourselves and others.
Personal Projects and Authenticity
Personal projects are extended sets of personally salient actions in specific contexts that provide meaning, structure, and connection in our lives. These projects are not always what they appear to be on the surface, as people may engage in projects that go against their biogenic dispositions or cultural norms. Authenticity can be expressed in different ways, depending on whether it aligns with personal enjoyment, cultural expectations, or singular personal traits. Balancing these different forms of authenticity can be complex and may impact well-being.
The Impact of Personal Projects on Well-Being
Personal projects have a significant impact on well-being. They can provide meaning, structure, and joy in our lives. However, projects that conflict with our biogenic dispositions or personal values can lead to tension and burnout. Conflicting projects and the lack of meaningful, manageable, and connected projects can also hinder flourishing. Understanding the impact of personal projects and managing their interactions can contribute to sustainable well-doing, enhancing health, happiness, and overall well-being.
Professor Brian R. Little has been a major innovator in the field of personality assessment and motivation, beginning when he received his Ph.D. in personality psychology from the University of California, Berkeley, and most recently he has been the 2020 winner of the Henry A. Murray Award for distinguished research on the study of lives. He is currently a Senior Fellow in Person-Analytics at the Wharton School, the University of Pennsylvania, and Distinguished Research Professor Emeritus at Carleton University in Ottawa. He is also a widely renowned educator, having received major awards for his teaching at a number of universities, including Harvard where for four consecutive years he was elected a Favorite Professor by his students. Along with Brian’s bestselling books – “Me, Myself and Us: The Science of Personality” and the “Art of Well-Being”; Brian has a very popular TED talk that has been viewed over 20 million times.
In this week's episode, Brian Little shares insights from his innovative research on how our personal projects shape our personality.
Thanks so much for joining me again this week. If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of this post.
You can also listen to all the episodes of Making Positive Psychology Work streamed directly to your smartphone or iPad through stitcher. No need for downloading or syncing.
Until next time, take care! Thank you, Brian!
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