Glossary / Lexicon

Deutsch: Eigenschaft / Español: Rasgo / Português: Traço / Français: Trait / Italiano: Tratto /

Trait refers to a dimension of personality used to categorize people according to the degree to which they manifest a particular characteristic.

In psychology, a trait is a stable and enduring characteristic of a person's personality or behavior. Traits are thought to be relatively stable over time and across different situations, and are used to describe and understand individual differences in personality and behavior.

There are many different models and theories of personality traits, but most agree on a few basic traits that are central to personality. These include traits such as extraversion (the tendency to be outgoing and sociable), agreeableness (the tendency to be cooperative and get along with others), conscientiousness (the tendency to be organized and responsible), emotional stability (the tendency to be calm and self-confident), and openness (the tendency to be open to new experiences and ideas).

Trait theories of personality suggest that people have a relatively fixed set of traits that influence their behavior and personality, and that these traits are relatively stable over time. Other approaches to understanding personality, such as the situational approach, suggest that personality is more influenced by the specific situations a person is in and less by stable traits.

Trait theories are useful for understanding individual differences in personality and behavior, and are often used in research and applied settings, such as in personality assessment and in the field of psychology.

Here are a few examples of traits and how they might influence behavior:

1. Someone who is high in the trait of extraversion might be more likely to seek out social situations and be more outgoing and sociable in those situations. On the other hand, someone who is low in extraversion might be more introverted and prefer to spend time alone or in small groups.

2. Someone who is high in the trait of agreeableness might be more likely to be cooperative and try to get along with others, while someone who is low in agreeableness might be more assertive and independent.

3. Someone who is high in the trait of conscientiousness might be more organized and responsible, and might be more likely to follow through on tasks and commitments. On the other hand, someone who is low in conscientiousness might be more disorganized and prone to procrastination.

4. Someone who is high in the trait of emotional stability might be more resilient and able to handle stress and negative emotions, while someone who is low in emotional stability might be more prone to anxiety and negative moods.

5. Someone who is high in the trait of openness might be more open to new experiences and ideas, and might be more curious and open-minded. On the other hand, someone who is low in openness might be more traditional and resistant to change.