What is the term for an innate and enduring characteristic that influences behavior?

The term that refers to an innate and enduring characteristic that significantly influences behavior is "trait." Traits are considered to be stable over time and can manifest across various situations, shaping how individuals think, feel, and act. They are foundational concepts in personality psychology, providing insight into behavioral patterns and helping to categorize individuals based on consistent characteristics. For instance, traits like extraversion or conscientiousness can influence how a person interacts socially or approaches tasks in life.

In contrast, habits refer to learned behaviors that are developed through repeated practice, emotions are responses to specific stimuli that can fluctuate, and attitudes are learned tendencies to respond positively or negatively toward certain ideas, objects, or individuals. While all these terms relate to behavioral patterns, it is the trait that specifically denotes a consistent and inherent characteristic influencing behavior over time.