The Science of Personality

The Science of Personality, 2e, focuses on the field of personality psychology as it is studied by researchers today. Offering students an up-to-date picture of the field and of the challenges faced by personality psychologists, it also explores how current research is put to use in the real world. The book examines the structure of personality - including traits, motives, and cognition - and the determinants of the unfolding of personality over time. In addition, it provides in-depth consideration of contemporary areas of such research as the self, unconscious processes, mind-body connections, and reasons why people do and do not change.

The Science of Personality, 2e, addresses questions and issues relating to the field of personality psychology today, including:

Which trait, motive, and cognitive units are fundamental to the study of personality?

How do genes and environments interact to produce an individual’s personality?

To what extent is personality stable over time and across situations?

What is the nature of the self and to what extent does the concept of the self differ across cultures?

What is the relationship of thoughts and feelings to physical health?

Paying particular attention to recent developments in cross-cultural research, positive psychology, and biological foundations of personality, The Science of Personality, 2e, is an ideal text or supplement for undergraduate courses in personality psychology and advanced personality.