405. What is the difference between a psychological trait and a psychological problem?

All psychological problems have one thing in common, the symptoms or characteristics of the problem cause psychological distress, or interfere, in some way, with successful adaptive behavior.  For example, if a person is so obsessed with order that he/she spends hours completing a simple task, then that will interfere with adaptive behavior, because the person will accomplish very little.  As a result, the person will experience a considerable amount of psychological distress.  But, if a person is very organized, but not obsessive, then he/she will probably get more done than the average person. Organized behavior is very adaptive, and will not result in distress. (But, it may cause distress in everyone else who sees how organized and efficient the person is!)