An Introduction To Theories Of Personality

This introduction to the theories of personality introduces readers not only to the rich history of psychology but to practical information that helps them understand their own lives and their relationships with other people. Using a theorist-by-theorist approach, the book summarizes the major theories of personality and emphasizes that the best understanding of personality derives from a variety of viewpoints. Thus, theories representing the psychoanalytic, sociocultural, trait, learning, sociological, and existential-humanistic paradigms are offered as differentyet equally validways of approaching the study of personality. Includes a series of experiential exercises. What Is Personality? Sigmund Freud. Carl Jung. Alfred Adler. Karen Horney. Erik H. Erikson. Gordon Allport. Raymond B. Cattell and Hans J. Eysenck. B. F. Skinner. John Dollard and Neal Miller. Albert Bandura and Walter Mischel. Edward O. Wilson. George Kelly. Carl Rogers. Abraham Maslow. Rollo Reese May. For anyone wanting a comprehensive understanding of personality and individual differences.

B.R. Hergenhahn appeared as first named author on the previous ed.

A comprehensive, clearly written text designed for undergradauate courses in introductory personality. Describes and interprets the major theories of personality. Emphasizes each theory's significance and application. Includes figures, tables, summaries, and boxed inserts featuring biographies and applications of theory to research.

First published in 2009. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.

This 7th Edition helps students unravel the mysteries of human behavior through its highly readable introduction to the ideas of the most significant personality theorists. Engaging biographical sketches begin each chapter, and unique capsule summaries help students review key concepts. Theories come alive through the inclusion of quotations from the theorists’ writings and numerous applications such as dream interpretation, psychopathology, and psychotherapy. Significant changes in the 7th edition include an extended discussion of the practical applications of personality theory, with an emphasis on guidelines that can help people increase their self-knowledge, make better decisions, and live more fulfilling lives. Fictionalized but true-to-life examples illustrating the perils of inadequate self-knowledge include college students, parents, terrorists, business executives, and politicians, while other examples show the positive outcomes that can result from a better understanding of one’s unconscious. This 7th edition also includes a more extensive discussion of how a lack of self-understanding caused difficulties for such noted theorists as Freud and Erikson, and a new section that explains how behavior can be strongly influenced by the situation as well as by one’s personality. Finally, a new interactive web site provides practice test questions and other topics of interest.

The new Eighth Edition of PERSONALITY THEORIES, International Edition continues to provide sound and thorough coverage enhanced with solid pedagogy, a critical-thinking focus, and integration of multicultural and gender-related issues throughout the text. Each chapter focuses on one theory or group of theories and includes brief biographies that shed light on how the theories were formed. Engler also provides criteria for evaluating each theory and cites current relevant research. A final chapter on Zen Buddhism covers a major non-Western theory of personality and serves to distinguish this program in the field.

[The book] is designed both to explain the major personality theories and to stimulate critical thinking about them. [The author] has pursued four main objectives. To present a clear and concise picture of the major features of each important personality theory ... To focus on significant ideas and themes that structure the content of the different personality theories ... To provide criteria to guide the evaluation of each theory ... To present activities, informed by the tenets of each theory, that will provide growth in critical thinking skills. -Pref.

Covers personality theories of Sigmund Freud (psychoanalytic theory), C.G. Jung (analytic theory), Henry A. Murray (personology), Kurt Lewin (field theory), Gordon Allport, William H. Sheldon (constitutional theory), Raymond B. Cattell (factor theory), B.F. Skinner (operant reinforcement theory), Carl Rogers (self theory); also, social psychological theories, organismic theory, stimulus-response theory, existential psychology.