Dispositional

/ˌdɪspəˈzɪʃənəl/ adjective

Definition

Relating to a person's general mood, character, or tendency; connected to how someone is naturally inclined or suited to behave.

Etymology

From disposition (the way someone is inclined) + -al (adjective suffix). A psychology and personality term emphasizing inherent traits rather than situations.

Kelly Says

Psychologists distinguish between 'dispositional' explanations (someone failed because they're lazy) and 'situational' ones (they failed because the task was impossibly hard)—this bias is called the 'fundamental attribution error.'

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