Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Human personality traits refer to the enduring patterns of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that distinguish individuals from one another. These traits are relatively stable over time and across different situations.
Genetic factors play a role in shaping human personality traits by influencing the expression of certain genes that contribute to specific characteristics.
Environmental influences such as upbringing, cultural norms, and life experiences also impact the development and expression of human personality traits.
The Big Five model is a widely accepted framework that categorizes human personality into five dimensions: openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism.