Recasting Psychopathology Mechanisms as Traits

Dimensional models of psychopathology describe the kinds of mental health problems people can have without explaining what maintains those problems. Explanation requires understanding mechanisms. Yet, this knowledge has been slow to accumulate due to lacking a framework to organize, measure, and compare mechanisms. I propose a path forward by recasting mechanisms as dimensional traits––individual differences in how people select, perceive, react to, and shape everyday situations. A trait framework turns psychopathology mechanisms into constructs in their own right that can be taxonomized, measured, compared between people, and used to guide treatment decisions. I outline concrete steps to create a mechanism taxonomy, describe how to assess mechanisms with intensive longitudinal methods, then present current and future applications of this framework to advancing research and mental health treatment.