A trait is a characteristic that describes someone and how they act. This theory started by Gordon Allport shows that everyone is different and there are many of traits that come together to form a unique personality.
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A personality inventory is basically just a diagnostic test for personality. These test question people over a very large range of characteristics. The MMPI (Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory) is the most popular personality inventory. This test assesses people who might have mental health issues and can only be given from a trained psychologist.
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Just like every other theory, there is some criticism. One thing is that trait theories do not say why an individual acts a certain way, they just state the basic traits of people. You aren’t able to help a person get better because you don’t know why, you just know what. Also, this test is observed by a person so there could be bias which can cause the failure of accuracy.
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