Imagine starting a journey of self-discovery. You’re about to uncover the deep parts of your identity. This is what personality psychology is all about. It looks into how our minds work and helps us understand ourselves better.
By learning about our personality traits, emotional smarts, and how we think, we start a journey of change. This journey leads us to better self-awareness and personal growth.
Key Takeaways:
- Personality psychology helps us understand our natural likes, strengths, and weaknesses. This shapes how we see ourselves.
- Using personality tests can make us better at making choices, understanding others, and feeling good about ourselves.
- Thinking deeply about ourselves is key to growing and learning more about who we are.
- Knowing about our personality and emotional smarts is important for our mental health. It shows how crucial it is to know ourselves.
- Being more aware of ourselves can make our relationships, careers, and lives happier.
Introduction to Self-Awareness
What is Self-Awareness?
Self-awareness lets us see ourselves as unique individuals. It helps us think about our thoughts, feelings, and actions. This key skill helps us know our strengths, weaknesses, and what we believe in. It also shows us how others see us1. Kids start to understand themselves around 18 months old, thanks to brain growth1.
Importance of Self-Awareness
Self-awareness is key for growing personally and emotionally. It helps us grasp ourselves and our world better. This lets us control our actions and adjust to new situations2. People with high self-awareness can change their actions based on the situation, which is important in relationships and work2. It also aids in personal growth by using our strengths and finding ways to get better1.
But, too much self-awareness can make us feel awkward or nervous. This can turn into social anxiety if it’s ongoing1.
“Self-awareness allows us to better understand ourselves and our interactions with the world around us, enabling us to manage our behaviors and adapt to different situations more effectively.”
Practices like journaling, meditating, and mindfulness boost private self-awareness. They help us notice our thoughts and feelings better1. Also, learning emotional intelligence (EQ) improves self-awareness. It helps us understand our and others’ emotions, leading to better responses1.
Personality Psychology and Self-Awareness
Personality psychology looks into what makes each person unique. Understanding our personality types helps us see our thoughts, feelings, and actions better, which boosts our self-awareness.4 Tests like the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) and the Big Five personality traits show our likes, strengths, and weaknesses. This helps us understand ourselves and how we connect with others4.
Knowing ourselves is key in personality psychology. Tests give us clear insights into our natural likes, strengths, weaknesses, emotional triggers, and hidden patterns, leading to better self-knowledge.4 Understanding our personality at work can prevent mistakes, improve how we connect with others, and clear up how others see us.4 For instance, introverts might find managing stressful than extroverts, showing the need to match job roles with our personality traits.4

Developmental psychologist Philippe Rochat says there are five levels of self-awareness that grow in early life, from confusion to clear self-recognition, showing different levels of awareness and self-knowledge.5 By 18 months, babies can tell others their name and spot themselves in pictures, marking a big step in self-awareness.5
Developing Self-Awareness Through Personality Assessment
Finding out about ourselves is a deep journey of growth. Personality tests can be great guides. The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) and the Big Five personality traits are two well-known frameworks in personality psychology.
Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)
The MBTI is a well-known test that shows how we naturally prefer things and how we are different from others4. It’s based on Carl Jung’s ideas about psychological types. The MBTI looks at four main areas: Extraversion vs. Introversion, Sensing vs. Intuition, Thinking vs. Feeling, and Judging vs. Perceiving. Taking the MBTI test gives us deep insights into our strengths, how we communicate, make decisions, and react in different situations.
Big Five Personality Traits
The Big Five personality traits, or the five-factor model, give a full picture of who we are7. These traits are Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism. Knowing our Big Five profile helps us understand our natural ways and how we might act in life and work.
Tests like the MBTI and the Big Five are key for self-awareness4. They offer clear insights into our likes, strengths, weaknesses, emotional triggers, and patterns we might not see4. With this knowledge, we can make better choices, handle relationships and careers better, and reach our full potential.
“A good self-awareness tool, like a personality assessment, can help individuals understand their motivations, identify their values, comprehend others’ behaviors, and manage everyday situations more effectively.”4

How does personality psychology help with self awareness
Personality psychology is key to boosting self-awareness. It helps people understand their unique traits, likes, and habits6. Tools like the Myers-Briggs Type IndicatorMyers-Briggs Type Indicator=”https://www.personalysis.com/why-is-self-awareness-important/” target=”_blank” rel=”nofollow”>Big Five Personality Traits offer insights into strengths, weaknesses, and how we communicate and make decisions9.
Knowing oneself can improve life in many ways. It helps manage emotions, improve relationships, and make smarter choices. By linking personality traits to actions and feelings, people gain a deeper understanding of themselves. This leads to better mental health, stronger leadership, and personal growth10.
Understanding one’s personality is the first step to self-awareness. Knowing your traits helps spot patterns in behavior and emotions. It also shows what affects your choices. This knowledge lets people make better decisions, adapt to new situations, and grow personally6.
Recent studies show how using lifelog data can boost self-awareness. It helps predict sleep quality, spot personality traits, track moods, and detect depression6. This shows how technology can help us know ourselves better and grow.
“Self-awareness is the ability to recognize and understand your own personality, strengths, weaknesses, thoughts, beliefs, motivation, and emotions. It allows you to better manage yourself and your relationships with others.”
In short, personality psychology is a key to self-awareness. It helps us understand our traits and habits. This knowledge leads to better emotional smarts, smarter choices, and personal growth. It helps us live more fully and authentically.

Understanding Your Personality Type
Knowing your personality type can give you deep insights into your strengths and weaknesses. Whether it’s your Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) or your Big Five personality traits, this knowledge helps you use your talents better. It also helps you work on your weak spots11.
For example, if you prefer Intuition in the MBTI, you might be great at solving problems and thinking abstractly. But, you might not be good at details11. Those high in Openness on the Big Five might be creative but struggle with staying organized11. Knowing these traits lets you use your strengths well and improve your weaknesses. This leads to better self-awareness and growth.
Behavior Patterns
Personality tests also reveal how you usually act. An Extravert might be more outgoing, while an Introvert is more quiet and thoughtful11. Those high in Conscientiousness might be very organized, while those high in Neuroticism might feel anxious more easily11. Knowing these traits helps you predict how you’ll act in different situations. This lets you adjust your actions and how you talk to others, making you more aware of yourself and how you connect with others.
Understanding your personality type gives you insights into your strengths, weaknesses, and how you act. This knowledge helps you make better choices, improve how you communicate and make decisions, and reach your full potential for growth and happiness11.

The survey had 937 people who knew their best-fit type11. Different MBTI types used various ways to learn about themselves11. People said they got better at using their strengths, leading and feeling more confident in work and life after learning about their personality type1112. The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® (MBTI®) is often used to understand personality types. It’s widely accepted in counseling, psychology, and coaching12. Knowing your personality type helps you grow and develop personally, focusing on your strengths and areas to improve1213. The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) puts people into sixteen types based on four main traits: extraversion vs. introversion, sensing vs. intuition, thinking vs. feeling, and judging vs. perceiving13. The Five-Factor Model (FFM) of personality looks at five traits: openness to experience, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism13.
Introspection and Self-Reflection
Self-awareness is more than just personality tests. It’s about introspection and self-reflection. Journaling is a great way to explore your thoughts and feelings alone14. Writing helps you understand your reasons, values, and habits better. It also makes you more mindful, keeping you in the moment and aware of your feelings15. Through this, you can discover new things about yourself and grow in self-awareness over time.
Journaling
Introspection is about changing how you see yourself and your life14. Journaling makes this easier. It lets you look into your thoughts, feelings, and actions deeply. This can reveal patterns and insights you didn’t see before.
Journaling also helps with self-awareness and personal growth. By thinking about your experiences often, you can see your strengths, weaknesses, and what you need to work on. This helps you make better choices and move towards your goals15.

Building Emotional Intelligence
Self-awareness is a key part of emotional intelligence. It means knowing how you feel and understanding others’ feelings too17. Emotional intelligence, or EQ, was first talked about by Peter Salovey and John Mayer in the 1990s. Daniel Goleman made it popular17. It includes four main skills: knowing yourself, managing your feelings, understanding others, and building relationships17.
Knowing yourself is the first step in emotional intelligence. It helps you recognize and understand your feelings and how they affect you17. Managing your feelings means controlling them and thinking before acting on them17. Understanding others means knowing what they need and feeling for them17. Building relationships means using what you know about emotions to make connections work better17.
Having good emotional intelligence can lead to doing better in school, making better choices, and being more successful19. Some say it’s even more important than IQ for being happy and getting along with others19. Being good at handling emotions can make you more likable and help you connect with people19.
Emotional intelligence helps in leadership, talking to others, knowing yourself, controlling your feelings, and handling stress19. It makes you more understanding and helps keep friendships strong19. Learning these skills can make you more aware of your feelings, improve your relationships, and do well in social situations19.
“Emotional intelligence is the ability to sense, understand, and effectively apply the power and acumen of emotions as a source of human energy, information, connection, and influence.” – Daniel Goleman
Personal Growth and Self-Improvement
Knowing yourself can really help you grow and improve. When you understand your strengths, weaknesses, values, and habits, you can set goals and change for the better20. You might use your strengths, work on your weaknesses, or act more in line with your values. People who know themselves well can control their thoughts and actions better20. This self-reflection and changing how you act can help you reach your highest potential21.
Setting Goals
Knowing yourself helps you set goals for growth and bettering yourself. You can understand your skills and what you need to work on. This lets you set goals that fit your values and strengths.
Developing New Skills
Setting goals and learning new skills can really help you grow and improve. This process of thinking about yourself and making changes can help you reach your full potential. It also helps you keep learning and growing throughout your life21.
Benefits of Increased Self-Awareness
Knowing yourself can greatly improve your personal and work life. When you understand your thoughts, feelings, and actions, you communicate better and show empathy. This helps you get along with others23. You also know how your actions affect others, helping you solve conflicts in a good way23. This makes your relationships with family, friends, and coworkers better.
Being self-aware is key to doing well in your career. Knowing your strengths and weaknesses helps you find the right job for you23. You can manage your feelings better, make smart choices, and lead others23. This skill is linked to emotional intelligence, which is important for success23. By growing your self-awareness, you can reach your goals with confidence and purpose.
Improved Relationships
Career Success
Self-awareness boosts your career and helps you move up23. You know what you’re good at and what you prefer, so you can find the right job23. You handle your emotions well, make smart decisions, and show leadership skills, which are valued at work23. It’s also linked to emotional intelligence, a key factor in success23. By growing your self-awareness, you can achieve more in your career with confidence and direction.
“Increased self-awareness is associated with the development of better leadership skills, indicating a positive impact on leadership effectiveness.”24
Studies show that being self-aware leads to better choices, stronger relationships, and more happiness24. It helps you reach your full potential, both in life and work.
Benefit | Description |
---|---|
Improved Communication | Self-aware individuals are better equipped to communicate effectively, as they have a deeper understanding of their own thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, and can adapt their communication style to the needs of others24. |
Enhanced Decision-Making | Developing self-awareness leads to improved decision-making skills, helping individuals make better choices in various aspects of their lives24. |
Increased Happiness | Heightened self-awareness is linked to higher levels of happiness, indicating a positive correlation between self-awareness and emotional well-being24. |
Improved Job Satisfaction | Individuals with higher self-awareness tend to have better job satisfaction, implying that self-awareness can enhance workplace contentment24. |
Enhanced Leadership | Increased self-awareness is associated with the development of better leadership skills, indicating a positive impact on leadership effectiveness24. |
Challenges of Self-Awareness
“While 95% of people think they are self-aware, only about 10% to 15% of them truly are.” – Tasha Eurich26
A 2016 study showed that self-awareness and mindfulness can boost self-acceptance and confidence26. It also helps reduce stress when dealing with others. A 2015 study found that self-awareness training for employees led to better job satisfaction and well-being26. It helped them appreciate diversity more, feel more confident, and communicate better with coworkers26.
Finding the right balance is key. Don’t let self-awareness turn into anxiety or harsh self-criticism. By understanding and working on these challenges, people can use self-awareness to grow and reach their goals.
The path to self-awareness is both rewarding and tough. But with the right approach and support, people can overcome these challenges. They can grow personally and improve their well-being.
Conclusion
Understanding ourselves is key to growing and feeling good about who we are18. By learning about our unique traits and tendencies, we can better understand our thoughts and actions18. This knowledge helps us be more emotionally smart, build stronger relationships, and succeed in our careers18. Even though it can be tough, the good parts of knowing ourselves are much bigger1.
Regular self-reflection, setting goals, and always learning help us reach our best selves28. Mindfulness, meditation, and journaling can boost our self-awareness1. This awareness is key for managing ourselves, fitting into new situations, knowing our strengths and weaknesses, and getting better in all areas of life1.
Source Links
- Self-Awareness: How It Develops and Why It Matters – https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-self-awareness-2795023
- Self-Awareness: What Is It & How to Develop It – https://www.betterup.com/blog/what-is-self-awareness
- Measuring the Effects of Self-Awareness: Construction of the Self-Awareness Outcomes Questionnaire – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5114878/
- How personality tests help in improving self-knowledge – https://www.centraltest.com/blog/how-personality-tests-help-improving-self-knowledge
- Self-awareness – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-awareness
- Frontiers | Know Yourself: Physical and Psychological Self-Awareness With Lifelog – https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/digital-health/articles/10.3389/fdgth.2021.676824/full
- How can a personality assessment tool help you build self-awareness? – https://www.linkedin.com/advice/3/how-can-personality-assessment-tool-help-you-mtmsf
- Popular Personality Tests — How to Gain Self-Understanding and Set Your Goals – https://online.maryville.edu/blog/self-understanding/
- Understand Yourself with Personality Psychology – Grow Therapy – https://growtherapy.com/blog/what-is-psychology-of-personality/
- Exploring the Significance of Self-Awareness | PERSONALYSIS – https://www.personalysis.com/why-is-self-awareness-important/
- PDF – https://hk.themyersbriggs.com/content/Personality_and_self-awareness_research_TheMyersBriggsCo_2018.pdf
- Personality Type and Self-Growth – https://www.myersbriggs.org/type-in-my-life/personality-type-and-self-growth/
- Decode Your Personality: A Comprehensive Guide To Understanding Different Personality Types | MindLAB Neuroscience By Dr. Sydney Ceruto – https://mindlabneuroscience.com/personality-types/
- Demystifying Self-Awareness, Introspection, and Narcissism – https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/ambigamy/202303/demystifying-self-awareness-introspection-and-narcissism
- Introspection and How It Is Used In Psychology Research – https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-introspection-2795252
- Introspection & Self-Awareness Theory | Definition & Examples – Lesson | Study.com – https://study.com/learn/lesson/self-introspection-self-awareness-theory-overview-examples.html
- 4 Key Skills for Building Your Emotional Intelligence – https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/everyday-resilience/202404/4-key-skills-for-building-your-emotional-intelligence
- What Is Self-Awareness? (+5 Ways to Be More Self-Aware) – https://positivepsychology.com/self-awareness-matters-how-you-can-be-more-self-aware/
- 5 Key Components of Emotional Intelligence – https://www.verywellmind.com/components-of-emotional-intelligence-2795438
- Personal Development Starts with Self-Awareness – https://www.habitify.me/blog/personal-development-starts-with-self-awareness
- Personal Growth & Self-Actualization | Dr. Christina Hibbert – https://www.drchristinahibbert.com/personal-growth-and-self-actualization/
- The impact of personality on self-development – https://jigsawdiscoverytool.com/the-impact-of-personality-on-self-development/
- Why (I think) self-awareness is the most important trait a person can have – https://allihoffkosik.substack.com/p/why-i-think-self-awareness-is-the
- The Benefits of Self-Awareness – Humber River Health – https://www.hrh.ca/2022/01/27/the-benefits-of-self-awareness/
- The importance of self-awareness in becoming better leaders (YEL2023) – IHF – http://ihf-fih.org/news-insights/the-importance-of-self-awareness-in-becoming-better-leaders/
- Self-Awareness: Why It’s Good for You and How to Develop It – https://psychcentral.com/health/self-awareness
- Know Yourself: Physical and Psychological Self-Awareness With Lifelog – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8521907/
- The Effect of Trait Self-Awareness, Self-Reflection, and Perceptions of Choice Meaningfulness on Indicators of Social Identity within a Decision-Making Context – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5714897/

Amanda Cassey is an INTJ entrepreneur and former psychology researcher who writes about the nuances of the INTJ personality type on Psyche Central. Leveraging her analytical mindset and commitment to personal growth, she explores the cognitive processes, strengths, and challenges of INTJs. Her insightful content aims to foster self-awareness and provide practical strategies for fellow INTJs to thrive.