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REET L1+L2 · Child Development & Pedagogy

Personality: Theories and Measurement

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This page covers the meaning of personality, its key definitions, type and trait theories, Freud's psychoanalysis, and every method used to measure personality — all from an exam angle. REET 2024 carried 6 questions on this topic across its three shifts, making it one of the highest-scoring topics in CDP.

  • 6 questions in REET 2024
  • Teacher-training level
  • 10 min read
Verified 17 September 2026 · Source: NCERT Class 12 Psychology — Chapter 2: Self and Personality

How REET asks this topic

Of the 6 questions in REET 2024, 3 were directly on personality measurement — twice aspirants were asked which method is NOT projective (answer: rating scales and the 16 PF Questionnaire), and once which inventory is based on factor analysis. The remaining questions tested the exact wording of Allport's definition, Cattell's surface vs source traits, and the meaning of 'temperament'. In short, REET tests the key words in a definition, the theorist-theory pairing, and classification of tests by type — not deep calculation or long explanation.

Meaning and definitions of personality

The word 'personality' comes from the Latin 'persona', meaning a mask — the kind actors wore in Greek and Roman plays. Personality was originally linked to outward appearance, but in modern psychology it is the whole, organised pattern of a person's physical, mental, social and emotional qualities that sets them apart from everyone else.

Gordon Allport's definition (1937) is the one REET asks about most: "Personality is the dynamic organization within the individual of those psychophysical systems that determine his unique adjustment to his environment." Remember its four key terms — psychophysical systems, dynamic organization, unique adjustment, and environment. Note that 'stable organization' is NOT part of this definition, because personality keeps changing and developing.

Key features of personality: (1) it is unique — no two people have identical personalities; (2) it is dynamic; (3) it shows consistency — a general pattern of behaviour holds across different situations; (4) it results from the interaction of heredity and environment; (5) it can be learned and modified, which is exactly why the school has such a big role to play.

Temperament is the biological base of personality — a person's general tendency to react emotionally, such as staying calm, getting irritated quickly, or being highly active. Physical build, moral values (character) and intellectual ability are NOT called temperament. The determinants of personality include heredity (physique, endocrine glands, nervous system) and environment (family, school, peer group, culture) together.

Type theories of personality

TheoristBasisTypes
HippocratesBody fluids (humours)Sanguine (blood) — optimistic; Choleric (yellow bile) — irritable; Melancholic (black bile) — sad; Phlegmatic (phlegm) — calm
KretschmerBody buildAthletic, Asthenic (thin), Pyknic (rounded), Dysplastic
SheldonSomatotype (body shape)Endomorph (round), Mesomorph (muscular), Ectomorph (lean/tall)
Carl JungSocial attitude / direction of mental energyIntrovert, Extrovert; a person in between is called an Ambivert

Type theories sort people into fixed boxes; their biggest limitation is that most people don't fit neatly into a single pure type.

Trait theories and psychoanalysis

TheoristCore ideaRemember for the exam
Gordon AllportTraits are the basic unit of personalityCardinal, Central and Secondary traits; Common traits vs Individual traits
Raymond CattellIdentified traits using Factor AnalysisSurface traits — show up directly in everyday behaviour; Source traits — a deeper structure, not directly observable; 16 source traits → the 16 PF Questionnaire
Hans EysenckDimensions of personalityExtraversion–Introversion, Neuroticism–Emotional stability, Psychoticism
Costa & McCraeThe Big Five factorsOCEAN — Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, Neuroticism
Sigmund FreudPsychoanalysisId — pleasure principle; Ego — reality principle; Superego — morality/ideal; Levels of mind — conscious, subconscious, unconscious

See 'factor analysis' and '16' → think Cattell. See 'Cardinal–Central–Secondary' → think Allport.

Methods of measuring personality

CategoryMethod / testKey identifier
SubjectiveAutobiography, Case History, Interview, QuestionnaireThe person supplies information about themselves
ObjectiveControlled observation, Rating Scale, Situational testsA judge observes behaviour and rates it directly
Personality inventoriesCattell's 16 PF, MMPI (Hathaway & McKinley), MBTI (based on Jung's type theory), Eysenck's questionnairesStandardised self-report questionnaires; NOT projective
ProjectiveRorschach Inkblot Test (Hermann Rorschach, 10 cards)What a person sees in ambiguous inkblots
ProjectiveThematic Apperception Test — TAT (Murray & Morgan)Making up a story from a picture
ProjectiveChildren's Apperception Test — CAT (Leopold Bellak)For children; stories built around pictures of animals
ProjectiveWord Association Test, Sentence Completion Test, Story CompletionSay the first word that comes to mind / complete an unfinished sentence

The logic of projective tests: when responding to an ambiguous stimulus, a person unknowingly 'projects' their hidden feelings, wishes and conflicts onto it.

Using this in the classroom

SituationWhat the teacher should do
An introverted child in class never speaks up in group workGive them a chance to speak first in pair work, accept written or drawn responses as valid expression, and never label them 'shy'.
An extroverted child answers every question before others get a chanceGive them a role such as group leader or timekeeper, and set a turn-taking rule so their energy is channelled positively.
You need to understand a child's behaviour (e.g., suddenly going quiet)Don't draw conclusions from a single incident; use anecdotal records, talk to parents, and observe consistently. Projective tests should only be administered by a trained psychologist.
You need to record co-scholastic traits on the annual progress reportBuild a rating scale with clear criteria for traits like cooperation, leadership and responsibility, and take more than one teacher's opinion to reduce the halo effect.
You want to support balanced personality developmentUse activities like sport, the children's assembly (bal sabha), drama and scouting to build the social and emotional side; praise effort, not just outcome.

Memory trick / exam tip

For 'which one is NOT projective' questions, apply this rule — if the respondent knows exactly what is being asked (Questionnaire, 16 PF, MMPI, Rating Scale, Interview), it is NOT projective; if they're shown something ambiguous — a picture, a blot, a word, or an incomplete sentence (Rorschach, TAT, CAT, Word Association, Sentence Completion) — it IS projective.

Questions asked in REET 2024 (solved)

Question 13

Which of the following is not included in the concept of personality ?

  1. Aमनोशारीरिक तंत्र
  2. Bगत्यात्मक संगठन
  3. Cवातावरण में अपूर्व समायोजन का निर्धारण
  4. Dस्थिर संगठन

Explanation

ऑलपोर्ट (Allport) की परिभाषा के अनुसार व्यक्तित्व व्यक्ति के भीतर उन मनोशारीरिक तंत्रों का गत्यात्मक संगठन है जो वातावरण के साथ उसके अपूर्व (unique) समायोजन को निर्धारित करता है। इस परिभाषा में मनोशारीरिक तंत्र, गत्यात्मक संगठन और अपूर्व समायोजन तीनों शामिल हैं, परन्तु 'स्थिर संगठन' नहीं, क्योंकि व्यक्तित्व परिवर्तनशील (गत्यात्मक) है।

Question 18

Which one of the following is not a projective test method of personality measurement ?

  1. Aशब्द-साहचर्य परीक्षण
  2. Bविषय-आत्मबोधन परीक्षण
  3. Cरेटिंग मापनी
  4. Dवाक्य पूर्ति परीक्षण

Explanation

प्रक्षेपण परीक्षणों (Projective tests) में व्यक्ति अस्पष्ट उद्दीपकों पर प्रतिक्रिया देकर अनजाने में अपनी भावनाएँ व्यक्त करता है — जैसे शब्द-साहचर्य परीक्षण, विषय-आत्मबोधन परीक्षण (TAT) और वाक्य पूर्ति परीक्षण। रेटिंग मापनी (Rating Scale) एक वस्तुनिष्ठ निर्धारण विधि है जिसमें निर्णायक सीधे गुणों का मूल्यांकन करता है, इसलिए यह प्रक्षेपण विधि नहीं है।

Question 2

Which of the following trait is important structure of personality, don’t reflect in individuals day per day interactions and its can’t observe directly ?

  1. Aसतही शीलगुण
  2. Bसामान्य शीलगुण
  3. Cव्यक्तिगत शीलगुण
  4. Dमूल शीलगुण

Explanation

रेमण्ड कैटल (Cattell) ने शीलगुणों को सतही (Surface) और मूल/स्रोत (Source) शीलगुणों में बाँटा। सतही शीलगुण दैनिक व्यवहार में सीधे दिखाई देते हैं, जबकि मूल शीलगुण व्यक्तित्व की गहरी व आधारभूत संरचना हैं जिनका प्रत्यक्ष प्रेक्षण नहीं किया जा सकता। अतः सही उत्तर मूल शीलगुण (Source trait) है।

Question 15

Which of the following is not a projective test for personality ?

  1. Aवाक्यपूर्ति परीक्षण
  2. B16 व्यक्तित्व-कारक प्रश्नावली
  3. Cशब्द-साहचर्य परीक्षण
  4. Dरोर्शा परीक्षण

Explanation

प्रक्षेपीय परीक्षणों (Projective tests) में अस्पष्ट उद्दीपक देकर व्यक्ति के अचेतन भावों को जाना जाता है, जैसे रोर्शा स्याही-धब्बा परीक्षण, शब्द-साहचर्य परीक्षण और वाक्यपूर्ति परीक्षण। कैटल की 16 व्यक्तित्व-कारक प्रश्नावली (16 PF) एक मानकीकृत आत्म-रिपोर्ट प्रश्नावली है, प्रक्षेपीय परीक्षण नहीं। अतः सही उत्तर B है।

Question 9

What does the term “Temperament” refer to in personality ?

  1. Aव्यक्ति की शारीरिक उपस्थिति
  2. Bभावनात्मक और संवेगात्मक प्रवृत्तियाँ
  3. Cनैतिक मूल्य और चरित्र
  4. Dसंज्ञानात्मक अभिक्षमताएँ

Explanation

स्वभाव (Temperament) व्यक्तित्व का वह जैविक आधार है जो व्यक्ति की भावनात्मक और संवेगात्मक प्रतिक्रियाओं की सामान्य प्रवृत्ति (जैसे शांत, चिड़चिड़ा, सक्रिय) को दर्शाता है। शारीरिक बनावट, नैतिक मूल्य/चरित्र और संज्ञानात्मक क्षमताएँ स्वभाव नहीं कहलातीं।

Question 25

Which personality inventory uses factor analysis to measure traits ?

  1. Aमायर्स-ब्रिग्स टाइप इंडिकेटर
  2. Bमिनेसोटा मल्टिपेसिक पर्सनालिटी इन्वेंटरी
  3. Cकैटल का 16 पी.एफ. स्केल
  4. Dकैलिफोर्निया साइकोलॉजिकल इन्वेंटरी

Explanation

कैटल ने कारक विश्लेषण (factor analysis) की सांख्यिकीय विधि से व्यक्तित्व के 16 मूल गुण (source traits) पहचाने और 16 PF प्रश्नावली बनाई। MMPI मुख्यतः नैदानिक (clinical) कसौटी पर आधारित है और MBTI युंग के प्रकार-सिद्धान्त पर।

Practice questions

Question 1

The word 'personality' is derived from which Latin word?

  1. Aपर्सोना
  2. Bसाइकी
  3. Cईगो
  4. Dपर्सेप्शन

Explanation

'Personality' comes from the Latin word 'persona', meaning the mask actors wore in stage plays. 'Psyche' (soul/mind) is where the word 'psychology' comes from, not 'personality'.

Question 2

What did Allport call a single, highly dominant trait that shapes almost all of a person's behaviour?

  1. Aकेंद्रीय शीलगुण
  2. Bकार्डिनल (प्रमुख) शीलगुण
  3. Cगौण शीलगुण
  4. Dसतही शीलगुण

Explanation

Allport called an extremely dominant trait that colours almost a person's entire behaviour a cardinal trait. Central traits are the general major traits everyone has a few of, and secondary traits show up only in certain situations; 'surface trait' is Cattell's term, not Allport's.

Question 3

In Sheldon's classification, a tall, thin and sensitive person belongs to which type?

  1. Aएंडोमॉर्फ
  2. Bमेसोमॉर्फ
  3. Cएक्टोमॉर्फ
  4. Dपिकनिक

Explanation

In Sheldon's classification, a tall, thin and sensitive person is an Ectomorph. Endomorphs are round-bodied and Mesomorphs are muscular, while Pyknic is Kretschmer's category, not Sheldon's.

Question 4

According to Freud, which part of personality works on the 'reality principle'?

  1. Aइदम् (Id)
  2. Bअहम् (Ego)
  3. Cपराहम् (Superego)
  4. Dअचेतन मन

Explanation

The Ego balances the Id's desires against real-world constraints, which is why it operates on the reality principle. The Id runs on the pleasure principle and the Superego on morality.

Question 5

Which projective test uses pictures of animals to assess children's personality?

  1. ATAT
  2. BCAT
  3. CMMPI
  4. D16 PF

Explanation

The Children's Apperception Test (CAT), developed by Leopold Bellak, uses pictures of animals to measure personality in children. TAT is mainly for adults and uses human figures; MMPI and the 16 PF are questionnaires, not picture-based tests.

Question 6

Which of the following is NOT one of Eysenck's dimensions of personality?

  1. Aबहिर्मुखता–अंतर्मुखता
  2. Bतंत्रिकाताप–संवेगात्मक स्थिरता
  3. Cमनोविक्षिप्तता
  4. Dकर्तव्यनिष्ठा

Explanation

Eysenck proposed Extraversion–Introversion, Neuroticism–Emotional stability, and Psychoticism as his dimensions. Conscientiousness belongs to the 'Big Five' model, not Eysenck's.

Question 7

In Hippocrates' classification, a person with excess 'black bile' is:

  1. Aआशावादी
  2. Bक्रोधी
  3. Cविषादी (उदास)
  4. Dशांत

Explanation

Excess black bile was linked to the Melancholic (sad) temperament in Hippocrates' classification. Blood was linked to the optimistic temperament, yellow bile to the irritable one, and phlegm to the calm one.

Question 8

A teacher asks a child to complete the sentence 'I am most afraid of ...'. What type of method is this?

  1. Aप्रक्षेपी विधि
  2. Bरेटिंग मापनी
  3. Cव्यक्ति-इतिहास विधि
  4. Dकारक विश्लेषण

Explanation

A sentence-completion task is a projective method — while completing an unfinished sentence like 'What I fear most is...', the child unknowingly reveals their own feelings. A rating scale, by contrast, involves a judge scoring observed traits.

Question 9

While rating co-scholastic qualities, the error of giving high marks on all traits because of a good impression on one trait is called:

  1. Aप्रक्षेपण
  2. Bप्रभामंडल प्रभाव (Halo effect)
  3. Cयुक्तिकरण
  4. Dदमन

Explanation

The halo effect is the key error in rating scales, where the impression created by one good or bad trait colours the entire assessment. Projection, rationalisation and repression are defence mechanisms, not rating errors.

Question 10

An introverted Class 4 student does not speak in group discussions. What is the most suitable step for the teacher?

  1. Aउसे सबके सामने ज़बरदस्ती बोलने को कहना
  2. Bउसे चर्चा से अलग बैठा देना
  3. Cपहले जोड़ी-कार्य और लिखित/चित्र अभिव्यक्ति से धीरे-धीरे आत्मविश्वास बढ़ाना
  4. Dअभिभावकों से शिकायत करना कि बच्चा कमज़ोर है

Explanation

Introversion is a personality type, not a deficiency. Giving the child a safe space through pair work or small groups, along with alternative ways to express themselves (writing, drawing), gradually builds their confidence to participate; forcing them or isolating them only increases anxiety.

Frequently asked questions

How many questions come from personality in REET?+

There's no fixed number, but combining Level 1 and Level 2 shifts, REET 2024 carried 6 questions from this topic. It is one of the most regularly asked topics among CDP's 30 questions.

Whose definition of personality is considered the most authoritative?+

Gordon Allport's — personality is the dynamic organization within the individual of those psychophysical systems that determine their unique adjustment to the environment.

Which tests are projective?+

The Rorschach Inkblot Test, the Thematic Apperception Test (TAT), the Children's Apperception Test (CAT), the Word Association Test, and the Sentence and Story Completion tests. The 16 PF, MMPI and rating scales are NOT projective.

What is the Thematic Apperception Test (TAT)?+

TAT is a projective test developed by Murray and Morgan. The person is shown pictures of ambiguous situations and asked to build a story, and the characters' wishes and conflicts in that story are used to infer the person's own needs and feelings.

What's the difference between surface traits and source traits?+

This classification is Raymond Cattell's. Surface traits show up directly in everyday behaviour, while source (root) traits are a deeper structure of personality that can't be observed directly — these were identified through factor analysis.

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REET Syllabus

The complete official syllabus for CDP and every subject

REET 2024 Solved Paper

Questions, official answers and explanations from every shift

Official Sources

  1. NCERT Class 12 Psychology — Chapter 2: Self and Personality
  2. BSER — REET 2024 official question papers and final answer keys (original PDFs; no longer hosted on the board portal)

Change Log

  • 17 September 2026 — English pilot page published — mirrors the fact-checked Hindi page, independently bilingual-accuracy checked