Theories of Personality

This trusted text centers on the premise that personality theories are a reflection of the unique cultural background, family experiences, personalities, and professional training of their originators. The book begins by acquainting students with the meaning of personality and providing them with a solid foundation for understanding the nature of theory, as well as its crucial contributions to science. The chapters that follow present twenty-three major theories: coverage of each theory also encompasses a biographical sketch of each theorist, related research, and applications to real life. The new edition includes greater coverage of the Big Five theory, a new organization, and updated research throughout.The text has been reorganized to provide a better view of the chronology and development of personality theories. The humanistic/existential theories now appear in Part III (following psychodynamic ones), and the learning theories are addressed in Part V (following dispositional ones). A half chapter of new material on McCrae and Costa expands on the coverage of the "Big Five" trait theory. Improved chapter openings, with more personal information and intriguing stories about the theorists' lives, give students a clearer and more engaging view of each theory.Additional coverage of cultural diversity helps students distinguish the different theories of personality across the globe. Biographical sketches illustrate how the life experience of the various theorists shaped their theories. The background information on each theorist makes the content more compelling to students, without turning the text into a history book. The personality theories addressed in this text relate to content from other fields such as sociology, education, advertising, management, mythology, counseling, art, literature, and religion. A clear, concise, and informal writing style makes this book suitable for undergraduate students. An extended array of resources and information for both instructors and students is offered through the textĹźs companion website at http://www.mhhe.com/feist6. Teaser questions in the text direct students to interesting information on the website that sheds light on the theoristĹźs perspectives.