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Metatraits
Author(s) -
Baumeister Roy F,
Tice Dianne M.
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
journal of personality
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.082
H-Index - 144
eISSN - 1467-6494
pISSN - 0022-3506
DOI - 10.1111/j.1467-6494.1988.tb00903.x
Subject(s) - trait , psychology , personality , big five personality traits , moderation , trait theory , situational ethics , social psychology , construct (python library) , variance (accounting) , cognitive psychology , accounting , computer science , business , programming language
A metatrait is the trait of having versus not having a trait It refers to whether a given trait dimension or construct can be used to describe a particular personality Using attitudes as an analog to traits, we argue that the study of personality may benefit from considering metatraits Implications for the nature of traits and for the formation and disappearance of traits within a personality are discussed We review strategies for measuring metatraits and conclude that at present it seems best to use interitem variance in responses to specific, familiar trait scales Metatraits will most commonly moderate trait effects, especially such that hypotheses about traits are appropriately tested only with trailed individuals Untraited individuals may be susceptible to fluctuating states and situational manipulations Sometimes metatraits may predict behavior directly, independently of trait level Two studies are reported to illustrate metatrait moderation of trait effects and direct prediction of behavior by metatrait