Definition of Characteristics: types and explanatory value

What is a feature? It is a trait or a singularity that identifies someone or something. Normally the term is used in the plural, since there are several elements that serve to describe the different realities. It is worth highlighting that those issues that distinguish and differentiate may be associated with the personality, the character, the physique of a person or the symbolic aspect. Precisely, it has its origin in the Greek from the word kharakteristikos (understood as the detail of a person that allows to distinguish it, differentiate it), and this comes from kharakter (character).

Likewise, it is called characteristics or technical or natural aspects to that information that is typical of a subject, object or state and that defines it as such.

All those aspects or variables that configure the state and identity of a particular entity, which can be a person, an animal, a plant, an object or even a condition or scenario.

Feature types

Physical description

Everything that has a certain shape can be described from observable properties. Thus, an individual has particularities related to his size and external appearance, and there is talk of a certain height, weight, the color of his eyes and hair, etc. If we refer to a specific object or a territory, we also state a series of physical elements.

Do you want to expand?: Physical characteristics

Psychological description

When we meet a person beyond his physical appearance, we can already talk about his psychological characteristics. An individual can be generous, sincere, impulsive and kind and all these personality traits of his express the different aspects of the human dimension of him.

When referring to animals, we speak of the physical aspect but also of the temperament (for example, we say that a dog is big and affectionate).

Do you want to expand?: Personality and the 8 existing types according to Carl Jung

Objectivity and subjectivity

In a description we can use objective or subjective characteristics or a combination of both. In the language of everyday life, it is common to use both subjective and objective terms (we say that a person is objectively tall and kind, a clearly subjective trait and opinionable). In the scientific context, the characteristics of any reality must be indicated objectively, otherwise it falls into subjectivism, an antiscientific approach.

A subjective view, and divergent opinions

On the other hand, it is important that we mention that the characteristics that are mentioned about someone or something often result from the subjectivity of each one, because for example, for me someone may be the kindest thing to me and for another it may not be so for nothing. Meanwhile, for someone Juan may have very dark hair and for another that hair may not be dark enough.

Another case in which the characteristics are detailed is when describing or defining a social set How can it be an ethnic group, a nation, a political party. All these entities have unique and shared points that define them as such and that give them an identity in contrast with others of the same class and, as with the cases cited above, they are those that facilitate the differentiation and inclusion, as appropriate.

Explanatory value: the main and secondary

Not all characteristics have the same explanatory value. In fact, some of them are essential and make up the fundamental of something, while others are accessory or secondary. If we think, to give a simple example, in soccer, its main characteristics are the basic rules of the game and the secondary ones are the aspects that intervene in the game. game but that do not make up its essence (the offside rule is basic and essential to play soccer but the choice of one part of the field or another is a matter high school).

The definition of the characteristics of a thing takes place in various fields, one of the most common being technical.

For example, the establishment of technical characteristics that configure a device or technological artifact. Before the acquisition of an apparatus or device, such as a car, a detail of the aspects that compose it as such is often also received. Among them, class and quality of the engine, velocity maximum reached, interior composition of the vehicle, type of bodywork and wheels, accessories and / or special attachments, etc.

Another case can occur with the purchase of a phone mobile or one computer. Frequently, the seller will establish the specific specifications of the device in detail, even in comparison with other similar or related ones. For example, type of memory, screen, special options, price, uses and functions.

In as much and in this sense, the knowledge of the characteristics that this or that artifact shows will be decisive at the time of acquiring them or not, because it is precisely the prior knowledge of some issues that certain devices or machines have that lead someone to want buy. If in the product offer one does not present those characteristics that are sought, we will not buy it and if we will lean towards those that do have them.

Particularities observed in the animal kingdom

Also animals and plants, in addition to people and objects have their own and very distinctive characteristics of their species, for example a cat has the following characteristics: it has four legs, a body covered by abundant fur and meow.

Virtual world of gamers

On the other hand, at the request of the role playing games, the concept of characteristic allows to designate that property that defines a fictional, imaginary being, who clearly participates in the aforementioned game. Now, the characteristics in question can be mental or physical and will always be expressed from numerical values ​​that are recorded on a sheet formally called the character sheet.

Fotolia photos: pakpong / kuroksta / rodjulian

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