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Meaning of Traits/Characteristics in an Individual's Personality

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What does traits and characteristics mean in an individuals personality? Please describe your thoughts on traits and characteristics that have created your personal development.

What makes you unique?

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By example, tis solution discusses what traits and characteristics mean in an individuals personality i.e what makes you unique.

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1. What does traits and characteristics mean in an individual's personality?

Psychology and theorists have been interested in personality and the traits, which have specific characteristics, that make up human personality. "A trait can be thought of as a relatively stable characteristic that causes individuals to behave in certain ways." (http://psychology.about.com/od/theoriesofpersonality/a/trait-theory.htm) Different theories define personality in different ways, which leads to identifying different traits and characteristics based on the theory.

For example, the Big Five is one example of a trait theory of personality, which includes the following five traits (http://www.uoregon.edu/~sanjay/pubs/bigfive.pdf and http://www.uoregon.edu/~sanjay/bigfive.html#whatisit):

1. Conscientiousness (like organized, thorough, and planful) is a trait that suggests a tendency to show characteristics, such as self-discipline, act dutifully, and aim for achievement. The trait shows a preference for planned rather than spontaneous behavior. It influences the way in which we control, regulate, and direct our impulses. Samples items of conscientiousness trait: "I am always prepared. I am exacting in my work. I follow a schedule. I get chores done right away. I like order. I pay attention to details. I leave my belongings around. (reversed), I make a mess of things. (reversed), I often forget to put things back in their proper place. (reversed), I shirk my duties." (http://ipip.ori.org/New_IPIP-50-item-scale.htm)

2. Extroversion (talkative, energetic, assertive, and high amounts of emotional expressiveness.) is a trait that is characterized by positive emotions, surgency, and the tendency to seek out stimulation and the company of others. The hallmark characteristic of this trait is pronounced engagement with the external world, enjoy being with people, and are often perceived as full of energy. They tend to be enthusiastic, action-oriented individuals who are likely to say "Yes!" ...

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