Trait Theories

Definition

Trait theories of personality focus on identifying and describing consistent patterns of behavior, thoughts, and emotions that characterize individuals. These theories suggest that traits are relatively stable over time and across different situations.

Related terms

Big Five Personality Traits:

The Big Five personality traits are five broad dimensions (openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, neuroticism) used to describe human personality. Each trait represents a range of characteristics that people may possess.

Trait Stability: Refers to the degree to which an individual's traits remain consistent over time. Some traits may be more stable than others.

Trait Situational Interaction: This concept suggests that while traits play a significant role in shaping behavior, situational factors can also influence how those traits manifest in specific contexts.