Theory of Personality (D564) Practice Exam

In the context of personality, what does the term "trait" refer to?

1. An emotional response

2. A consistent characteristic or quality

3. A social role

4. An unconscious conflict

The correct answer is: A consistent characteristic or quality

The term "trait" in the context of personality refers to a consistent characteristic or quality that influences how an individual behaves across different situations. Traits represent stable patterns in a person's thoughts, emotions, and actions, making them predictive of behavior over time. For instance, if someone is described as being outgoing, that trait suggests they are likely to behave sociably in a variety of contexts. This understanding of traits is integral to many theories of personality, such as the Five Factor Model, which posits that personality can be boiled down to five broad dimensions of traits—openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism. Traits help psychologists and researchers categorize and understand individual differences in personality, enabling them to make predictions about behavior and interpersonal interactions.