Global traits are not vacuous: A comment on Hogan and Foster

Abstract

While most of Hogan and Foster's analysis is sound, I disagree with the claim that trait concepts are completely circular. This is true only for narrowly define, tightly contextualized traits. Global traits have broad and possibly incorrect implications, which proves they are not circular, and the study of their development, processes and predictive utility is a worthy project for personality psychology.

Keywords

• traits
• personality theory
• personality research
• personality development