After analyzing the information and psychological measurements of more than 100 college students, the researchers found that a healthy personality can be described by the Big Five Personality Traits Scale, which divides personality into five aspects: neuroticism (emotional stability), extroversion, openness to experience, affinity and responsibility. In this study, experts and non-professionals agree that people with healthy personality are emotionally stable, open, inclusive, positive, optimistic and frank.
In the second study, the researchers continued to investigate and analyze hundreds of undergraduates. Participants were asked to choose the words that were consistent with mental health from 30 commonly used words describing personality characteristics. The results show that people, whether experts or undergraduates, have reached a surprising agreement on healthy personality, and the order of vocabulary selection frequency from high to low is: tolerance, enthusiasm, positive, frank, competitive, altruistic, active and so on. Hostility, depression, vulnerability and anxiety are considered as manifestations of unhealthy personality. The study also found that people with healthy personality tend to be more confident, able to resist impulses, control their words and deeds, concentrate, and have lower aggressive and anti-social behaviors.
For a long time, people have been interested in shaping a healthy personality. The research results published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology are not only of practical significance to the evaluation of healthy personality, but also can guide educators, clinical psychologists and even parents to shape the healthy personality of patients and children. (Li Wei)