A Prelude to the Theory of PersonalityBased on Religious Thought

The present paper tries to offer a new model for studying personality by referring to religious doctrines; a model through which the structure, genesis, and of personality can be explained. The research uses descriptive- analytical method. First, an attempt was made to recognize the fundamental concepts of the model we find in religious texts. Then, the relationship between these concepts within a logical framework was examined in order to identify the basic components of personality structure. The research findings indicate that the fundamental concepts included in religious texts were soul, nature, intellect, heart, and ignorance, and that soul indicate the primary structure of personality which embodies such elements as intellect, heart, and ignorance. These elements interact with each other, and then the whole organism interacts with the environmental agents. This mutual interaction shows the interactive and dynamic aspect of personality and its outcome is something called personality formation.