Perspectives on Personality

Informative, yet engaging ? viewpoints of personality psychologists today

Written in an informal, conversational style, Carver and Scheier engage students by helping them understand how various perspectives of the field of personality can apply to their own lives.

This book describes a range of viewpoints that are used by personality psychologists today. Each perspective on personality is presented in a pair of chapters, introduced by a prologue that provides an overview of that perspective's orienting assumptions and core themes. By starting with these orienting assumptions, you'll be placed right inside the thought processes of the theorists, as you go on to read the chapters themselves. Each chapter concludes with a discussion of current problems within that theoretical viewpoint and the authors' analysis about its future prospects. The result is a book that is engaging and enjoyable as well as informative.

Learning Goals
Upon completing this book, readers should be able to:

• Identify the ideas that form each theoretical viewpoint
• Understand the importance of research and why the role of research stresses the fact that personality psychology is a living, dynamic process of ongoing scientific exploration
• See how each perspective reflects fundamental assumptions about human nature and how behavior problems can arise and be treated from each perspective
• Understand how the different viewpoints relate to each other and the usefulness of blending theoretical viewpoints, treating theories as complementary, rather than competing

List of contents

IN THIS SECTION:
1.) BRIEF
2.) COMPREHENSIVE



 
BRIEF TABLE OF CONTENTS:
 
Chapter 1: What Is Personality Psychology?
Chapter 2: Methods in the Study of Personality
Chapter 3: Issues in Personality Assessment
Chapter 4: The Trait Perspective
Chapter 5: The Motive Perspective
Chapter 6: Genetics, Evolution, and Personality
Chapter 7: Biological Processes and Personality
Chapter 8: The Psychoanalytic Perspective
Chapter 9: Psychosocial Theories
Chapter 10: The Learning Perspective
Chapter 11: Self-Actualization and Self-Determination
Chapter 12: The Cognitive Perspective
Chapter 13: The Self-Regulation Perspective
Chapter 14: Personality in Perspective: Overlap and Integration



 
COMPREHENSIVE TABLE OF CONTENTS:
 
Chapter 1: What Is Personality Psychology?
Defining Personality
Theory in Personality Psychology
Perspectives on Personality
Organization within Chapters
  
Chapter 2: The Trait Perspective
Types and Traits
What Traits Matter?
The Five-Factor Model: The Basic Dimensions of Personality?
Reflections of the Five Factors in Behavior
Relations to Earlier Trait Models
Other Variations
Traits, Situations, and Interactionism
Interactionism becomes a New Trait View: Context-Dependent Expression of Personality
Assessment
Problems in Behavior, and Behavior Change
Trait Psychology: Problems and Prospects
 
Chapter 3: The Motive Perspective
Basic Theoretical Elements
Needs, Motives, and Personality
Studies of Specific Dispositional Motives
Implicit and Self-Attributed Motives
Approach and Avoidance Motives
Motives and the Five Factor Trait Model
Personology and the Study of Narratives
Assessment
Problems in Behavior, and Behavior Change
Motive Theories: Problems and Prospects
 
Chapter 4: Genetics, Evolution, and Personality
Determining Genetic Influence on Personality
What Personality Qualities are Genetically Influenced?
New Approaches to Genetics and Personality
Environmental Effects
Evolution and Human Behavior
Assessment
Problems in Behavior, and Behavior Change
Genetics and Evolution: Problems and Prospects
 
Chapter 5: Biological Processes and Personality
Early Ideas: Eysenck’s Views on Brain Functions
Incentive Approach System
Behavioral Avoidance, or Withdrawal System
Relating Approach and Avoidance Systems to Traits or Temperaments
A Third Dimension: Sensation Seeking, Constraint, and Effortful Control
Hormones and Personality
Assessment
Problems in Behavior, and Behavior Change
Biological Processes and Personality: Problems and Prospects
 
Chapter 6: The Psychoanalytic Perspective
Basic Themes
The Topographical Model of Mind
Aspects of Personality: The Structural Model
Motivation: The Drives of Personality
Anxiety and Mechanisms of Defense
Psychosexual Development
Exposing the Unconscious
Assessment: Projective Techniques
Problems in Behavior, and Behavior Change
The Psychoanalytic Perspective: Problems and Prospects
 
Chapter 7: Psychosocial Theories
Object Relations Theories
Attachment Theory and Personality
Erikson’s Theory of Psychosocial Development
Assessment
Problems in Behavior, and Behavior Change
Psychosocial Theories: Problems and Prospects
&nb

About the author

Charles S. Carver and Michael F. Scheier met in graduate school at the University of Texas at Austin, where they both earned Ph.D. degrees in personality psychology.

Summary

Written in an informal, conversational style, Carver and Scheier engage students by helping them understand how various perspectives of the field of personality can apply to their own lives.
This book describes a range of viewpoints that are used by personality psychologists today. Each perspective on personality is presented in a pair of chapters, introduced by a prologue that provides an overview of that perspective’s orienting assumptions and core themes. By starting with these orienting assumptions, you’ll be placed right inside the thought processes of the theorists, as you go on to read the chapters themselves. Each chapter concludes with a discussion of current problems within that theoretical viewpoint and the authors’ analysis about its future prospects. The result is a book that is engaging and enjoyable as well as informative.
Learning Goals
Upon completing this book, readers should be able to:

• Identify the ideas that form each theoretical viewpoint
• Understand the importance of research and why the role of research stresses the fact that personality psychology is a living, dynamic process of ongoing scientific exploration
• See how each perspective reflects fundamental assumptions about human nature and how behaviour problems can arise and be treated from each perspective
• Understand how the different viewpoints relate to each other and the usefulness of blending theoretical viewpoints, treating theories as complementary, rather than competing

Product details

• Authors: Charles Carver, Charles S. Carver, Michael Scheier, Michael F. Scheier
• Publisher: Pearson Academic
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 30.04.2014
• EAN: 9781292021713
• ISBN: 978-1-292-02171-3
• No. of pages: 440
• Dimensions: 216 mm x 279 mm x 20 mm
• Weight: 954 g
• Series: Pearson; Pearson
• Subject: Non-fiction book > Psychology, esoterics, spirituality, anthroposophy > Psychology: general, reference works