neiging

Neiging is a Dutch noun meaning a tendency, inclination, or predisposition toward a particular behavior, attitude, or outcome. The noun is derived from the verb neigen (to incline).

Usage: It is common in psychology, sociology, linguistics, and everyday speech to describe a person's habitual direction of behavior or thought. In data analysis, neiging can refer to a general direction observed in data or sample populations, sometimes translated as tendency or trend in English.

Common expressions include een neiging hebben tot iets (to have a tendency toward something) and neiging tot agressie (a tendency toward aggression).

Nuance: Neiging implies a predisposition that remains relatively stable over time, rather than a sudden impulse; it is more about direction than an isolated act.

Synonyms and related terms include inclination, predisposition, and propensity, and, in some contexts, bias. It is distinct from drang (urge) or behoefte (need), which refer to more immediate motivations.

See also: inclination, propensity, bias, trend.