What People Get Wrong About Traits vs States

When it comes to using personality, trait, and behavior assessments, most people approach the assessments with a goal of understanding which traits they have or don’t have.

Trait Theory vs State Theory

Trait Theory

This is the approach of Trait Theory: an assumption that traits are relatively stable, enduring dispositions to behave in a certain way.

Under trait theory, for example, you’re either extraverted or introverted.

If you view a personality assessment as an answer to a question about who you are and what shapes your behavior, then you subscribe to Trait Theory. Under Trait Theory, the assessment is an ending point: it gives you a summary of your traits, some guidance on how to work with them, and sends you off. This theory allows no room for growth.

State Theory

State Theory proposes a different paradigm:

Under State Theory, any “trait” is latent within you, and emerges as a temporary condition or mood that fluctuates based on the context, environment, or internal condition.

State Theory helps explain why you might be “Extraverted” at a party or when life feels manageable, but “Introverted” while working on a complex project, or when under stress.

Which one you subscribe to will play a big influence on your perspectives your own capacity to evolve, how you handle interpersonal communications, and how you navigate the world.

State Theory uses the assessment as a starting point. It says “here’s what’s showing up now, based on your current contextual environment.” From there, the work is to understand the conditions that lead to your current dominant traits and behaviors.

The Big Mistake in Evaluating Traits vs States

The big mistake people make in this area is assuming that certain characteristics are traits while others are states.

Many people assume that traits are long-term characteristics and “part of your personality,” while states are temporary conditions.

This misses the point, and is the reason why most people misuse personality and behavior assessments.

State Theory says that all traits are states.

It assumes that under different conditions you can express different traits and behaviors. The goal is to understand the conditions you need in place to bring out the traits that are latent within you.