A trait in psychology is a reasonably stable feature or quality that affects the way an individual thinks, feels, and acts in various circumstances. Traits are said to be the building block of personality as they form consistent patterns of behavior in human beings. The qualities of extraversion and conscientiousness, as an example, will make a person who is higher in extraversion tend to be more outgoing, energetic and sociable; whereas a person who is higher in conscientiousness will be organized, responsible and goal oriented.
The contemporary studies of personality tend to be based on the Five-Factor Model that defines five dimensions of traits namely openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism. Traits are not regarded as fixed but are just tendencies which interrelate with the settings and experiences, that is, they can be termed differently depending on the situation. The recent literature lays stress on the genetic, biological, and social factors on traits, as well as their significance to forecast the mental health, career success, and overall well-being. Knowledge of traits enables the psychologists to evaluate personality better and to also guide personal development.