A Brief Description

Trait theory gives an external explanation of personality. Your personality is the result of some external force: the planets, essential fluids, body type, or inherited propensity. Ancient explanations include the Chinese zodiac, Hippocrates’ humors, and the Egyptian belief that names determine personality. More modern trait explanations were offered by Galton, Allport, Sheldon, and Cattell. Most recently, a collection of researchers summarized personality as having five dimensions (Big Five).