Question

A person does not “have” or “not have” a personality trait but instead can possess varying amounts of it. This is because personality traits reflect ____________________ rather than distinct personality types.

Answer 1

Answer:

The correct answer is: continuous distributions

Explanation:

Personality traits reflect continuous distributions rather than distinct personality types. For example, when a person is referred to as neurotic or emotionally stable, it does not mean that the person can only be described in one of these ways and never the other. In other words, "neurotic" and "emotionally stable" are not qualitatively different traits. Instead, they lie on a spectrum (low to high) along a continuous distribution scale that ranges from high neuroticism to high emotional stability. Along this scale, a person can be right the middle where they are equal parts emotionally stable and neurotic. Thus, a person does not “have” or “not have” a personality trait but instead can possess varying amounts of it. This is because personality traits reflect  continuous distributions rather than distinct personality types.