A moment and a pattern
Compare a current condition with a tendency observed across situations.
The picture in words
- State
- A current condition or response.
- Trait
- A relatively consistent tendency across time and situations.
- Observation
- Several occasions help reveal a broader pattern.
Reading the illustration
States describe current conditions. Traits summarize relatively consistent tendencies while allowing for situational variation.
Try a question
What observations would help you describe someone’s usual sociability?
Show the explanation
Observe interactions across familiar and unfamiliar settings and over time. The recurring pattern gives a fuller basis for describing the tendency.
Read the sources
- Spielman, R. M., Jenkins, W. J., & Lovett, M. D. (2020). Psychology 2e. OpenStax. https://openstax.org/books/psychology-2e/pages/12-1-what-is-social-psychologySelected introductory passages inspected
- Spielman, R. M., Jenkins, W. J., & Lovett, M. D. (2020). Psychology 2e. OpenStax. https://openstax.org/books/psychology-2e/pages/11-7-trait-theoristsSelected trait-dimension passages inspected