Trait Theories of Personality

Definition

Trait theories of personality are psychological perspectives that focus on identifying and categorizing the stable, enduring characteristics (traits) that differentiate individuals from one another. These theories suggest that our personalities are made up of a combination of various traits, which influence our behavior and reactions to different situations.

Related terms

Big Five Traits:

These are five broad dimensions used in trait theories to describe human personality - openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism.

Trait Assessment: This refers to the process of measuring an individual's traits using various assessment tools such as questionnaires or interviews.

Trait Stability: This term describes the consistency or stability of an individual's traits over time and across different situations.