Personality

"A global concept referring to all those relatively permanent traits, dispositions, or characteristics within the individual, which give some degree of consistency to that person’s behaviour" (Feist, 1994). In 1927 Allport found almost 50 different definitions, so for a deeper understanding it should be explained according to its role in personality theory.

A trait is a relatively permanent disposition of an individual. Traits are inferred from behaviour and are considered to be continuous dimensions on which individual differences can be arranged quantitatively (e.g. extraversion, introversion). Traits are to be distinguished from states.

States are temporary conditions within an individual such as anger, stress or fear; opposed to traits that are more permanent.

See also: personal psychology

Literature: Feist (1994), Mischel (1986), Reber (1985)

Entry by: Susanne Abele

November 10, 1997
Direct questions and comments to: Glossary master