A trait is a distinguishing quality or characteristic, it is an individual’s relatively consistent way of thinking, feeling, and behaving across situations. The behaviour of people is determined by a combination of traits and situational factors. People communicate based on the traits they exhibit as individuals and the situations, or environments, in which they find themselves.
One of the most popular trait-factor models is the five-factor model, described by John Digman.
It is believed that most people lie in between the two polar ends of each dimension. It means that one person can exhibit more than one of the dimensions.
The five-factor model includes openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness and neuroticism.
People with high openness traits have high imagination and pay attention to inner feelings. They are also adventurous, have a broad range of interests and are independent thinkers.
People who are high in conscientiousness spend a lot of time preparing and finish important tasks right away. They pay attention to details and enjoy having a set schedule.
Individuals with extraversion personality traits enjoy being the center of attention and also easily make new friends. Since they are usually the happy type, they sometimes say things before thinking about them.
The agreeables are very caring and enjoy contributing to the happiness of others. People who are high in this trait feel empathy and concern for other people.
Neuroticism is a trait characterized by sadness, moodiness, and emotional instability. Individuals who are high in this trait tend to experience mood swings, anxiety, irritability, and sadness. Those low in this trait tend to be more stable and emotionally resilient.
