[Ebook PDF] Theories of Personality: Understanding Persons, 6th Edition

Theories of Personality provides an overview of major classic and current theories of personality, brings theories to life through the interpretation of illustrative biographies, and integrates a clear explanation of theory with the latest research.

In the sixth edition, the organization has changed to reflect the current changes in the field of personality, focusing more on new theories and leaving behind topics that have faded into the historical past.

Learning Goals

Upon completing this book, readers should be able to:

• Have a clear understanding of the theories of personality.
• Identify the major and current theories of personality.
• Illustrate a real-life example of major concepts of personality theory.
• Apply theoretical ideas to understanding particular individuals they may encounter in their professional work and personal lives.

Brief Contents
Preface xvii
Chapter 1 Introduction to Personality Theory 1
Part 1 The Psychoanalytic Perspective 17
Chapter 2 Freud: Classical Psychoanalysis 19
Chapter 3 Jung: Analytical Psychology 44
Part 2 The Psychoanalytic-Social Perspective 65
Chapter 4 Adler: Individual Psychology 67
Chapter 5 Erikson: Psychosocial Development 84
Chapter 6 Horney and Relational Theory: Interpersonal Psychoanalytic Theory 102
Part 3 The Trait Perspective 125
Chapter 7 Allport: Personological Trait Theory 126
Chapter 8 Two Factor Analytic Trait Theories: Cattell’s 16 Factors and the Big Five 145
Chapter 9 Biological Theories: Evolution, Genetics, and Biological Factor Theories 164
Part 4 The Behavioral Perspective 185
Chapter 10 The Challenge of Behaviorism: Dollard and Miller, Skinner, and Staats 186
Chapter 11 Kelly: Personal Construct Theory 210
Chapter 12 Mischel: Traits in Cognitive Social Learning Theory 228
Chapter 13 Bandura: Performance in Cognitive Social Learning Theory 245
Part 5 The Humanistic Perspective 265
Chapter 14 Rogers: Person-Centered Theory 267
Chapter 15 Maslow and His Legacy: Need Hierarchy Theory and Positive Psychology 282
Chapter 16 Buddhist Psychology: Lessons from Eastern Culture 305
Chapter 17 Conclusion 328

PREFACE
Writing this book, with its various editions, has been roughly a two-decade process (so far), and I’ve come to a realization that it will always be a work in process. What used to feel like “completion” now feels simply like a “milestone” as each edition is sent to production. That is fitting, as the field, too, is very much in process. Over the years, some of the hot topics (like the debate over traits versus situationism,
and the controversy over repressed memory of abuse) have faded into the historical past as theories have matured and research has guided reconceptualization; and some topics have been dropped altogether, in order to make room for the new. The organization of this book has changed a bit to reflect these historical developments.
Previously a full chapter, the Dollard and Miller contributions to a behavioral analysis of psychoanalytic theory are now part of a consolidated behavioral chapter, with Skinner and Staats. Behaviorism itself has been combined with cognitive behaviorism into one part (Part IV). Positive psychology is growing, and I have expanded its scope within the Maslow chapter, imagining that Abe Maslow would applaud psychology for finally heeding his vision, at least in part.
And while not reflected in the words I have crafted for this edition, I have frequently reminisced about the first term paper I wrote in my first personality course, where I explored all that, I could find written by Gordon Allport. If there is a unitary statement, however vague and incomplete, for the field of personality, it seems—at least at this moment, to me—to be his person ology. But the details are lacking in.
his statements, and for that, we need many other theories, ranging from the exciting findings of neuroscience to the very practical and socially important recognition of cultural contexts (e.g., challenges to the Protestant bias of Allport-inspired work on religious orientations). Researchers and theorists in personality have more contributions that deserve reporting than I can possibly report, or even (alas) read! So many things to say, it would take a whole series of books! I invite students to do as I have done and make understanding personality a life’s work.
One of the major challenges of this edition has been to reduce the total length of the manuscript. Students, both in my classes and in those taught by others who use this book, will undoubtedly be glad for the pruning, but many of those cuts nicked this writer’s Muse as well. How can students of personality not be given more details of this, or of that, I ask myself—but then remember that there is only so much that can be absorbed on a first introduction to the field. All in all, the wisdom of my editors who requested this cutting is hopefully apparent in places that are easier to read. The choice of what to cut was only mine, though, and I apologize if I have made choices with which returning readers disagree. New editions, like nature herself, demand some clearing in order to make room for new growth.