"Trait theory (also called dispositional theory) is an approach to the study of human personality."
Personality traits refer to patterns of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that distinguish individuals from one another. This topic explores the different types of personality traits and how they impact behavior.
"Traits can be defined as habitual patterns of behavior, thought, and emotion."
"Traits...differ across individuals (e.g. some people are outgoing whereas others are not)."
"Traits are aspects of personality that are relatively stable over time."
"Traits are relatively consistent over situations."
"Traits...influence behavior."
"Traits are in contrast to states, which are more transitory dispositions."
"Trait theorists are primarily interested in the measurement of traits."
"Traits are dimensions such as extraversion vs. introversion."
"Each person rates somewhere along this spectrum."
"Trait theory suggests that some natural behaviors may give someone an advantage in a position of leadership."
"There are two approaches to defining traits: as internal causal properties or as purely descriptive summaries."
"The internal causal definition states that traits influence our behaviors, leading us to do things in line with that trait."
"Traits as descriptive summaries are descriptions of our actions that do not try to infer causality."
"Trait theorists are primarily interested in the measurement of traits."
"Traits are aspects of personality that are relatively stable over time."
"Traits can be defined as habitual patterns of behavior, thought, and emotion."
"Traits...are aspects of personality that are relatively stable over time."
"Traits influence behavior."
"Traits are in contrast to states, which are more transitory dispositions."