What is the psychological term for personality characteristics?

The term that best describes personality characteristics is "traits." In psychology, traits are understood as enduring patterns of thought, feeling, and behavior that are relatively stable across different situations and over time. Traits are integral to personality theories, as they help to define how an individual typically behaves and interacts with the world around them. For example, traits such as introversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, and openness are commonly examined within personality frameworks like the Five Factor Model. Each trait represents a dimension along which individuals can vary, thus contributing to the unique personality profile of an individual.

In contrast, behaviors refer to observable actions taken by individuals and may not necessarily reflect deeper personality traits. Emotions are transient feelings that can affect behaviors but do not encapsulate the consistent characteristics of personality. Attributes are broader and can include both traits and behaviors, making them less specific in identifying core aspects of personality itself. Hence, the most precise term for referring to stable personality characteristics is "traits."