Psychology of Personality Viewpoints, Research, and Applications

This engaging, comprehensive introduction to the field of personality psychology integrates discussion of personality theories, research, assessment techniques, and applications of specific theories. The Psychology of Personality: Viewpoints, Research and Applications introduces students to many important figures in the field, including Freud, Jung, Adler, Erikson, Catell, Allport, Horney, Maslow, Bandura, Michel, and others. The book not only covers classic issues and research in personality, but also looks at genetics and personality, neurological considerations in personality, the evolutionary perspective, the “Big Five” model of personality, and other contemporary issues.

Bernardo J. Carducci is professor of psychology and Director of the Shyness Research Institute at Indiana University Southeast. He is a fellow of the American Psychological Association, a member of Who's Who in Frontier Science and Technology, a member of Division APA's Division 2 (Teaching of Psychology); past president of the Council of Teachers of Undergraduate Psychology; and author of Shyness: A Bold New Approach (2000), a trade book offering strategies for controlling shyness in adults and children, which is highly recommend by the best-selling "Mars-Venus" series author John Gray. He is also the author of The Pocket Guide to Making Successful Small Talk: How to Talk to Anyone Anytime Anywhere About Anything (1999), and editorial consultant on various academic journals. In addition to his multiple appearances on ABC's "Good Morning America" and other national and international media services, Dr. Carducci's writings and advice on shyness have been featured in such diverse sources as Psychology Today, U.S. News and World Report, USA Weekend Magazine, Vogue, Parenting Magazine, Self, Child Magazine, Reader's Digest, Patents, Fitness, Entrepreneur, The London Times, The Los Angeles Times, and The New York Times, to name just a few. Dr. Carducci continues to teach courses in social psychology personality, service learning, shyness, and principles of mental health. His research interests include shyness, romantic expectations, interpersonal attraction, career development for psychology majors, and the teaching of psychology.

A Message to Students (and Instructors, Too): A Personalized Preface xxiii

Acknowledgments: Some Words of Thanks xxix

Part I The Scope and Methods of Personality: An Introduction to the Psychology of Personality 1

1 The Psychology of Personality: An Overview 3

2 Personality Assessment: An Introduction to the Measurement of Personality 35

Part II The Intrapsychic Viewpoints: The Expression

of Personality as Dynamic Processes 71

3 The Psychodynamic Viewpoint: Forging Personality Out of Conflict Resolution 73

4 The Direct Reactions to the Psychodynamic Viewpoint: Classic Responses and Contemporary Considerations 123

5 Extending the Reactions to the Psychodynamic Viewpoint: Contemporary Responses and Considerations 169

Part III The Trait Viewpoints: The Psychological Units

and Underlying Structure of Personality 219

6 The Classic Trait Viewpoint: Psychological Dispositions of Personality 221

7 The Elaboration of the Trait Viewpoint: Contemporary Considerations 255

Part IV The Biological Viewpoints: The Biological Processes of Personality 285

8 The Behavioral Genetics Viewpoint: The Basic Biological Unit of Personality 287

9 The Psychophysiological Viewpoint: Neurological and Cortical Considerations in the Study of Personality 309

10 The Evolutionary Viewpoint: Personality as an Adaptive Process 331

Part V The Cognitive/Intrapersonal Viewpoints: Selective Expressions of Personality Processes 367

11 The Social-Cognitive Viewpoint: Cognitive Processes and Personality 369

12 Self-Concept:The Core of Personality 417

13 Gender and Personality: A Special Topic in the Study of the Self-Concept 451

14 Anxiety: An All-Encompassing Intrapersonal Process of Personality 495

References 529

Index 605