Persistence (psychology) facts for kids

Persistence is a special part of your personality. It's about how you keep going even when things are tough, like when you're tired or frustrated. Think of it as your inner strength to stick with a task until it's done!

Scientists who study the mind, called psychologists, measure persistence using something called the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI). They see it as one of four main "temperament" traits. Temperament traits are parts of your personality that you are born with, and they can be passed down in families.

What Is Persistence?

Persistence means you don't give up easily. If you're persistent, you keep trying even if you face challenges or feel like quitting. It's like a superpower that helps you reach your goals!

How Is Persistence Measured?

The TCI helps experts understand different parts of persistence. It looks at a few things:

• Eagerness of effort: How excited you are to start and work hard on something.
• Work hardened: How well you can handle difficult tasks and keep going.
• Ambitious: How much you want to achieve big things.
• Perfectionist: How much you want to do things perfectly and carefully.

Persistence and Other Personality Traits

Persistence is connected to other parts of your personality. Studies have shown that it's very similar to being conscientious. Being conscientious means you are careful, organized, and work hard.

Persistence is also linked to:

• Self-transcendence: This is about feeling connected to something bigger than yourself, like nature or a community.
• Activity: In another personality model, persistence is related to being active and energetic.
• Psychoticism: Persistence is the opposite of this trait, which can involve being impulsive or not caring about others' feelings.

So, if you're persistent, you're likely also someone who is hardworking and determined!

See also

In Spanish: Persistencia (psicología) para niños