A Glossary of Descriptive Psychology Concepts

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Dispositions

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Dispositions are person characteristics identified by grouping behavior together by frequency patterns. In all cases, the frequency noted would be enough--or little enough--for "one of us" to call attention to it.

There are four categories of Dispositions:

1. Traits.
   To have a given trait is to be disposed to engage (or fail to engage) in a certain kind of behavior.
2. Attitudes.
   Like a Trait, except the behavior is focused on an object, e.g., "She hates spiders," where spiders is the object.
3. Interests
   Like an Attitude, behavior is focused on an object. Unlike Traits, Interests are not restricted to a certain kind of behavior. For example, if P is interested in chess, P will do many things related to chess.
4. Style
   Not what you do, but how you do it.