Final answer:
A trait can be described as a relatively stable disposition to behave in a particular and consistent way. Trait theorists believe that personality can be understood by identifying and describing these characteristic ways of behaving.
Step-by-step explanation:
A trait can be described as a relatively stable disposition to behave in a particular and consistent way. Traits are long-standing patterns that propel individuals to consistently think, feel, and behave in specific ways. Trait theorists believe that personality can be understood by identifying and describing these characteristic ways of behaving. Traits can range from sociability and shyness to optimism and pessimism. Gordon Allport, a trait theorist, categorized traits into three categories: cardinal traits, central traits, and secondary traits.