Benägenhet

Benägenhet is a Swedish noun that denotes a tendency, inclination, or predisposition to act, think, or feel in a certain way. The concept is used in everyday language as well as in psychology, medicine, and social science to describe how likely someone or something is to exhibit a particular pattern over time. Benägenhet can refer to general dispositions, such as a person’s habitual responses, or to more specific susceptibilities, such as a predisposition to certain diseases or to particular behaviors.

The term is commonly used with two grammatical constructions. With the infinitive verb, for example: “benägen att göra något” (inclined to do something). With a preposition, as in “benägenhet för” followed by a noun that designates a field or condition, such as “benägenhet för att fatta snabba beslut” or “genetisk benägenhet för sjukdomar.” The tone is largely neutral, but the surrounding context can lend a positive or negative nuance; for instance, a benägenhet att hjälpa andra is typically seen positively, while a benägenhet att överdriva kan beaktas negatively.

Etymology and related terms: Benägenhet derives from the adjective benägen, meaning inclined or disposed, with the suffix -het forming the noun. Related concepts include tendens (tendency), lutning (slant or leaning), and predisposition, which is sometimes used as a direct loanword in Swedish contexts. Understanding benägenhet involves recognizing it as a statement about likelihood or inclination rather than a definite outcome.