Personality vs. Persona

Definitions:

Personality is the actual Soul encompassing the physical, mental, and emotional characteristics of an individual as defined by the natal chart. (See Biorhythms)

Persona (according to the psychology of C.G. Jung) is the mask or facade presented to satisfy the demands of the situation or the environment and not representing the inner personality of the individual. Personas are often layers to protect and/or hide the Soul.

Treatise:

A person is born with a Personality. It is defined largely by the make-up of natal influences which have been studied for millennia by Astrologers. In its purest form, it is neither influenced by genetics nor environment. It is simply a clear state of being -- basically the truth of God's initial creation.

Those who meditate often find their Personality through the differences in their thought patterns as opposed to those represented by the collective conscience. This makes Personality a very subtle study of individualism. 

Persona, on the other hand, is generally quite shallow. It is very changeable and directly influenced by the environment at the time of its creation. It is used only when certain environmental influences are present. We think of these situations as required 'roles' for the Personality. Personas are generally formed through trauma to the actual Personality but may also be coached into being through the Dramatic Arts.

In the Actor's Studio an Actor learns to use a deep emotional point of reference to evoke certain emotions on stage/screen. This is a very special craft as a Personality, if not well defined and developed, may become lost in the facade of the Persona developed to meet the criteria of the 'role'.

Problem:

In its worst incarnation as an Actor, a Persona completely eclipses the Personality. A prime example of this is Heath Ledger's fall into the Joker's Persona and inability to reconnect with the Source of Heath Ledger Personality.

In its worst incarnation as civilians, and security or intelligence officers, the Personality could split into Personas -- discovered only by the diagnosis of Post-Traumatic Stress (PTS) or in the case of Single-Persona splintering; i.e. Bipolarism or Multi-Persona splintering; i.e. Schizophrenia.

Solution:

To bring the Personality forward the individual must be completely secure in the Personality. The Personality must realize when the Persona is taking the place of the Personality. A good place to start with this process is to study the relationships in the life of the Personality.

These early roles: as infant, toddler, child, preteen, teen, adult, middle age, aged -- and also roles in society: sexual, racial, national, or spiritual affiliations -- and family roles: child, parent, sibling, extended family members -- define Personas that eclipse the Personality in numerous ways.

In 'normal' relationships, those without traumatic experiences, the Personality is and remains strong.

In PTS, it is a matter of Doyling* for the moment of traumatic experience, remembering all the details (using the 5-sensory input), and allowing time for the accompanying grief.

In the case of Bipolarism, the return to wholeness is often buried beneath -- not only the trauma, but the stigma surrounding the trauma -- requiring extra therapeutic measures.

In the case of Schizophrenia, the return to wholeness is nearly impossible, as the Persona has fully eclipsed the Personality. There may also be several Personas depending on the depth and number of traumatic experiences. When the Persona(s) take(s) the position of Personality the actual Personality is then viewed as a (or many) Persona(s) -- if it is seen at all.

Final Thoughts:

Where psychology has its limitations, the study and success of behavioral health and mental wellness is still an admirable goal. In spite of the dangers related to Persona development, it seems that the Personality needs masks depending on the amount of pressure expected (or trauma experienced) in life.


*Doyling, a hypnotherapeutic process, may only be used in cases of extreme traumatic events and in the safest of controlled environments...with the induction to and termination from the subconscious mind to the conscious be both gentle and directed with the possible use of extreme prejudice to remove Personas completely and uncover Personalities safely.