One challenge to the trait approach to personality is that traits may not be as stable across situations as we think they are. An explanation for this instability is that personality:

The year is 1776. the family of philosopher john locke has brought a lawsuit against thomas jefferson for copying locke's ideas. locke's family claim that jefferson's "declaration of independence" plagiarizes locke's ideas from two treatises on government. you are the judge ruling on the case. you must research how jefferson's ideas compare to locke's and determine whether or not jefferson is guilty of stealing locke's ideas. your paragraph opinion (a court document explaining how you arrived at your decision on a case) should contain the following: explain at least 2 ideas of jefferson and locke that are similar explain at least 1 idea of jefferson that is different from locke's determine whether or not jefferson is guilty of plagiarism explain why or why not ~~ you don't have to do the work for me but i really would like some with this, you ! ( if you would like to do it for me that's great too : )