What is trait theory in psychology?

Trait theory is an approach to studying human personality that focuses on measuring habitual patterns of behavior, thought, and emotion. These traits are relatively stable over time and consistent across situations, differing from temporary emotional states. Psychologists define traits either as internal causal properties that drive behavior or as purely descriptive summaries of actions.

What we know

• Trait theory is an approach to the study of human personality that centers on measuring habitual patterns of behavior, thought, and emotion. [1, 2]
• Traits are defined as relatively stable over time, consistent across situations, and influential on behavior, distinguishing them from temporary states. [2]
• There are two main approaches to defining traits: as internal causal properties that influence behavior or as purely descriptive summaries of actions. [2]
• The five-factor model groups variation in personality into openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism. [4]

Where to go next

• a case in pointWhat are the Big Five personality traits?
• compared withHow do personality states differ from traits?
• the bigger pictureHow is human personality studied in psychology?
• whoWho created the Machiavellianism personality construct?
• an unexpected connectionWhat is the dark triad in psychology?

Sources

• [1]trait theory (Wikidata Q18773) · CC0 1.0
• [2]Trait theory · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [3]Dark triad · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [4]Big Five personality traits · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [5]Machiavellianism (psychology) · CC BY-SA 4.0