 An example would help. Consider temperance. A person with this trait is expected to exhibit it over time in the same kind of situation, say when eating at restaurants. But she is also expected to exhibit it across situations which are relevant to the trait, such as drinking, sexual activity, and so forth, as well as eating at home, eating at airports, eating with friends, eating alone, and the like. The same is true for other examples of what we might call “traditional” virtues, such as courage, honesty, and kindness. Vices like cruelty and dishonesty count as global character traits as well.