The authors present a new definition of traits, an explanation of trait dynamics in terms of meaning, a specification of trait characteristics that allows, for example, comparison of traits to determine whether a given personality disposition is a trait or not, the one relatively simple test that can be used for assessing each of the 120 best known and well-studied personality traits, and other applications and demonstrations of their new conception of traits. Annotation(c) 2003 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews. com) | The Cognitive Foundations Of Personality Traits by Shulamith Kreitler, Hardcover | Indigo Chapters