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3. Theory of Personality
This section consists of three main parts discussing about theory of personality. The first part is the definition of personality. It provides the definition
of personalities by some theorists and the function of personality in a person’s life. The second part is about types of personality. It discusses the types of personality
and the stages of personality development according to Carl. J. Jung. The third part is discussing about three personality factors that influence the characters to
develop their personalities.
a. Definition of Personality
Most psychologists agree that personality comes from Latin word “persona” which referred to a theatrical mask worn by Roman actors in Greek
dramas. While performing dramas, the actors put on masks on their faces to project their roles. While talking about personality as a term in psychological area,
this is not the real definition of personality. Personality can be described as a pattern of relatively permanent traits and unique characteristics of a person’s
behaviour Feist and Feist, 2008, p.4. It is consistent and personal. It means that there are no two people share exactly the same personalities. Studying about the
three main characters’ personalities will help us understand the reasons that makes Aibileen Clark, Minny Jackson and Eugenia ‘Skeeter’ Phelan they way they are.
b. Types of Personality
Personality is unique and personal. Each person possesses unique personalities that is not exactly possessed by others. Jung believed that each
person is motivated not only by repressed experiences but also by emotionally PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
19 toned experiences inherited by the ancestors. Therefore, he developed a theory of
personality containing his belief that people are both conscious and unconscious, introverted and extroverted, rational and irrational, and pushed by past events
while being pulled by their future expectations Feist and Feist, 2009: 98. Jung Feist and Feist, 2009: 115-119 recognized that there are various
psychological types that combined from two basic attitudes which are extraversion and introversion and four separate functions which are intuition,
sensation, thinking and feeling. Both extraversion and introversion attitudes can be combined with these four functions that will form eight possible orientations or
types which is also known as Jung’s Function Type theory. These four functions can be learned and cultivated by people as they develop their personalities. Most
people cultivate only one function, so they characteristically approach a situation relying on one dominant function. Some people cultivate two functions and a few
very mature people cultivate three functions. People who can cultivate all four functions are people who theoretically achieve self-realization or individuation.
However, that theory cannot explain the uniqueness of each individual since all people are able to cultivate those four functions.
In 1962, Isabel Myers invented the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, as known as MBTI, an indicator which consists of sixteen types of personality in individuals
Keirsey and Bates, 1978. The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator brought Jung’s typology of two attitudes and four functions with some refinements by Isabel
Myers. The indicator makes the Function Type theory of Jung available and personally significant to individual. Isabel Myers found two other functions which
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