ABSTRACT
In Chapter 5, we define the trait school of thought in personality psychology. Thanks largely to the efforts of Gordon Allport, when modern-day psychologists use the term “personality”, chances are that they have traits in mind. However, as we have seen throughout the present book (and as we will see especially in this chapter), by no means to traits constitute the only constructs that psychologists need to know about individuals’ personalities. We will compare and contrast the perspectives within this school; and we will offer a critique of the trait school in general. Finally, we provide a prelude to Chapter 6 (Cognitive Perspectives on Personality).
