Abstract

COMMENTARIES David C. Funder University of California, Riverside The first problem that arises in any attempt to eval- behavior, you had to emphasize how consistency tends uate "trait theory" is to figure out what it is. Pervin's to be exaggerated by those interested in traits. creative and challenging target article encounters that So let's not start again in what is really only a slightly problem repeatedly. In one place, his essay frankly different context. Emphasis on stability is going to acknowledges that "trait theory is not a monolithic de-emphasize change, and vice versa. This is a given. enterprise"; in another place, it asks plaintively, "So But that does not mean that to study one of these we what . . . unifies trait theorists as a distinct group?' The must belittle the other. In particular, it does not mean observation is an understatement, and the question is a that to focus on stability is necessarily to "exaggerate" darned good one. it. Empirically, the inescapable finding remains that Pervin's "critical analysis of current trait theory" personality assessments (in terms of personality traits) seems really to have two targets. The first is the Big made at one time often can predict