Then we slowly revise them as we have new experiences. Once a stable self-concept exists, it tends to shape our subjective world by guiding what we attend to, remember, and think about. Personality Theory . An interrelated system of concepts and principles used to understand and explain personality. A system of assumptions, ideas, and principles proposed to explain personality.
Traits are relatively permanent and enduring qualities that a person shows in most situations.
If you are usually optimistic, reserved, and friendly, these qualities might be considered stable traits of your personality. Common traits . Shared by most members of culture. Show how people from a particular nation or culture are similar, or which traits the culture emphasizes. In American culture, for example, competitiveness is a fairly common trait.