1. Once we are able to characterise someone's personality - we can predict how that person will probably behave in a variety of circumstances. 2. An understanding of personality allows us to deal with people in realistic and acceptable ways. 3. For example - if you find a child who does not like orders - the most effective way to deal with that child will be not to give orders - but to present a set of acceptable alternatives from which the child may choose. 4. Several aspects of self seem to be linked to the characteristic features of the culture in which an individual lives. 5. Similarly - a child who has feelings of inferiority needsto be treated differently from a child who is selfconfident