Editing Trait theory (section)

{{short description|Approach to the study of human personality}}
{{Psychology sidebar}}
In [[psychology]], '''trait theory''' (also called '''dispositional theory''') is an approach to the study of human [[personality psychology|personality]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://dictionary.apa.org/trait-theory | title=APA Dictionary of Psychology }}</ref> Trait theorists are primarily interested in the measurement of ''traits'', which can be defined as habitual patterns of behavior, [[thought]], and [[emotion]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Kassin|first=Saul|author-link=Saul Kassin|year=2003|title=Psychology|location=U.S.|publisher=Prentice-Hall, Inc.|name-list-style=vanc}}</ref> According to this perspective, traits are aspects of personality that are relatively stable over time, differ across individuals (e.g. some people are outgoing whereas others are not), are relatively consistent over situations, and influence behaviour. Traits are in contrast to [[Mental state|state]]s, which are more transitory dispositions. Traits such as [[Extraversion and introversion|extraversion vs. introversion]] are measured on a spectrum, with each person placed somewhere along it.

Trait theory suggests that some natural behaviours may give someone an advantage in a position of leadership.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Northouse |first=Peter Guy |url=https://cmc.marmot.org/Record/.b31214915 |title=Leadership: theory and practice / |date=2010 |publisher=Sage Publications |isbn=978-1-4129-7488-2|name-list-style=vanc}}</ref>

There are two approaches to define traits: as internal causal properties or as purely descriptive summaries. The internal causal definition states that traits influence our behaviours, leading us to do things in line with that trait. On the other hand, traits as descriptive summaries are descriptions of our actions that do not try to infer causality.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Abel|first1=Steve|title=What Is a Trait Two Basic Formulations|url=https://www.doctorabel.us/personality-psychology/what-is-a-trait-two-basic-formulations.html|website=Personality Psychology|access-date=6 February 2018|name-list-style=vanc}}</ref>