Final answer:
Trait theory in psychology explains personality through observable and measurable traits. The Five Factor Model is a notable approach within trait theory, describing five main personality dimensions: openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism.
Step-by-step explanation:
Trait Theory of Personality Trait theory is an important perspective within psychology that explains personality as a series of observable characteristics known as traits. This approach posits that behavior can be predicted by identifying these traits, which are relatively consistent over time and across various situations. Early trait theorists like Gordon Allport classified thousands of traits into three categories: cardinal traits that dominate and shape one's entire life; central traits, which form our basic personality; and secondary traits, which appear only in certain situations. An example of a cardinal trait could be Ebenezer Scrooge's greed. Contemporary trait theorists usually focus on the Five Factor Model, also known as the "Big Five," which includes openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism. These five dimensions are believed to capture the complexity of human personality and are considered to be influenced by genetics, yet are relatively stable over a person's lifespan. Unlike other theories, such as the psychoanalytic perspective by Freud or the humanistic perspective by Rogers and Maslow, trait theory does not delve into the origins of personality but rather emphasizes the measurement and categorization of observable traits to predict behavior.