PSYB30H3 Chapter Notes - Chapter 3: Personality Psychology, Trait Theory, Atomic Number
Document Summary
For much of the past century, psychologist have focused on identifying the basic traits that make up personality and identifying the nature and origins of those traits. Most personality psychologists hypothesize that traits (also called dispositions) are reasonably stable over time and at least somewhat consistent over situations. The host of a party, for example, might be friendly, generous, and poised at one party but also at other parties later on illustrating stability over time. They might also show these traits across other situations such as, smiling at those who enter the elevator with them. However, the actual degree to which traits shows stability over time and consistency across situations has been the subject of considerable debate and empirical research. Every field needs to define its key terms explicitly i. e. , species in biology or force and gravity is to physics. Individuals differ in many ways both characteristic and enduring.
