Structure of personality based on Islamic sources in trait approach paradigm (report of qualitative study)

This study aimed to collect personality traits and find personality structure from Islamic sources. In doing so, investigating Islamic sources (Holy Qoran, Hadiths, and the Islamic ethics books) around 25000 words were collected and after removing recurring and vague cases and of biological, ritualistic, and temporary states, a list of 103 trait words based on experts in Islamic sources were created. In the next phase, semantic relations between words in regards of meaning inclusion, antonymy, synonymy, using two methods of component analysis and structural semantics were investigated and as a result synonymous and antonymous, general and definite, original and sub-original, convergent and divergent, single-center and multi-center were distinguished. Results of this phase of study indicated that some traits have synonyms and some have antonymy; also, two opposing traits correspond to one semantic area because they locate on one continuum. Finally, with locating co-area words, all of the 103 words collected in the previous phase have been categorized in 15 lexical sectors. In addition, I tried to distinguish in each sector the central and basic dispositions from the peripheral and exterior dispositions. Eventually, results if qualitative study using language semantics method and conceptual correlations of words resulted in 15 dispositions or super-traits as main personality factors: collectedness, tranquility, bigheartedness, friendliness, gentleness, tractability, commitment, happiness, gregariousness, chastity, perseverance, cleverness, humility, bond-seeking, and accountability.