what is trait

A trait is a specific characteristic of an individual, which can be determined by genes, environmental factors, or a combination of both. Traits can be either qualitative, such as eye color, or quantitative, such as height or blood pressure. In genetics, traits are often used to describe the phenotypic expression of different combinations of alleles in different individual organisms within a single population. Traits can also refer to distinguishing qualities of personal character, such as honesty or patience. In psychology, trait theory suggests that people differ from one another based on the strength and intensity of basic trait dimensions, which are characterized by consistency, stability, and individual differences.