The book reflects the author's beliefs that clearly presented concepts and solid research are the foundations of the study of personality. The various perspectives are the organizing framework of the book: each perspective on personality is presented in two chapters and is introduced by a prologue that describes the assumptions and themes of the perspective. Clearly written and highly successful, Carver/Scheier build a solid foundation in the three introductory chapters, introduce the seven perspectives (in seven parts) before neatly and creatively wrapping things up with Chapter 18: Personality in Perspective.

Table of Contents

Most chapters include "Assessment," "Problems in Behavior," and "Summary." I.AN INTRODUCTION. 1.What Is Personality Psychology? Defining Personality. Theory in Personality Psychology. Perspectives on Personality. Organization within Chapters. 2.Methods in the Study of Personality. Gathering Information. Establishing Relationships among Variables. 3.Issues in Personality Assessment. Sources of Information. Reliability of Measurement. Validity of Measurement. Two Rationales behind the Development of Assessment Devices. Better Assessment: A Never-Ending Search. II.THE DISPOSITIONAL PERSPECTIVE. The Dispositional Perspective: Major Themes and Underlying Assumptions. 4.Types, Traits, and Interactionism. Types and Traits. What Traits Matter? The Five-Factor Model: The Basic Dimensions of Personality? Traits, Situations, and Interactionism. Interactionism Extended: Context-Dependent Expression of Personality. Trait Psychology: Problems and Prospects. 5.Needs and Motives. Basic Theoretical Elements. Needs, Motives, and Personality. Individual Differences in Specific Needs. Further Determinants of Behavior. The Methods of Personology. Need and Motive Theories: Problems and Prospects. III.THE BIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE. The Biological Perspective: Major Themes and Underlying Assumptions. 6.Inheritance, Evolution, and Personality. Physique and Personality. Determining the Role of Inheritance in Personality. What Personality Qualities Are Inherited? Two Further Issues. Evolution and Human Behavior. Inheritance and Evolution: Problems and Prospects. 7.Biological Processes and Personality. Eysenck: Extraversion, Neuroticism, and Brain Functions. A Different View of Brain Functions: Approach and Inhibition. Sensation Seeking: A Third Biological System? Hormones and Personality. Biological Processes and Personality: Problems and Prospects. IV.THE PSYCHOANALYTIC PERSPECTIVE. The Psychoanalytic Perspective: Major Themes and Underlying Assumptions. 8.Psychoanalytic Structure and Process. The Topographical Model of Mind. Aspects of Personality: The Structural Model. Motivation: The Drives of Personality. Psychosexual Development. Psychoanalytic Structure and Process: Problems and Prospects. 9.Anxiety, Defense, and Self-Protection. Anxiety. Mechanisms of Defense. The Psychopathology of Everyday Life. Projective Techniques of Assessment. Psychoanalytic Defense: Problems and Prospects. V.THE NEOANALYTIC PERSPECTIVE. The Neoanalytic Perspective: Major Themes and Underlying Assumptions. 10.Ego Psychology. Principles of Ego Psychology. Ego Development. Ego Psychology: Problems and Prospects. 11.Psychosocial Theories. Object Relations Theories. Attachment Theory and Personality. Erikson's Theory of Psychosocial Development. Problems in Behavior, and Behavior Change. Psychosocial Theories: Problems and Prospects. VI.THE LEARNING PERSPECTIVE. The Learning Perspective: Major Themes and Underlying Assumptions. 12.Conditioning Theories. Classical Conditioning. Instrumental Conditioning. Conditioning Theories: Problems and Prospects. 13.Social-Cognitive Learning Theories. Elaborations on Conditioning Processes. Observational Learning. Manifestations of Cognitive and Social Learning. Social-Cognitive Learning Theories: Problems and Prospects. VII.THE PHENOMENOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE. The Phenomenological Perspective: Major Themes and Underlying Assumptions. 14.Humanistic Psychology: Self-Actualization and Self-Determination. Self-Actualization. Self-Determination. The Self and Processes of Defense. Self-Actualization and Maslow's Hierarchy of Motives. Existential Psychology. Humanistic Theories: Problems and Prospects. 15.Personal Constructs. Personal Constructs and Personality. Personal Construct Theory: Problems and Prospects. VIII. THE COGNITIVE SELF- REGULATION PERSPECTIVE. The Cognitive Self-Regulation Perspective: Major Themes and Underlying Assumptions. 16.Contemporary Cognitive Views. Representing Your Experience of the World. Broader Statements on Cognition and Personality. Contemporary Cognitive Theories: Problems and Prospects. 17.Self-Regulation. From Cognition to Behavior. Self-Regulation and Feedback Control. Self-Regulation Theories: Problems and Prospects. IX.PERSONALITY IN PERSPECTIVE. 18.Overlap and Integration. Similarities among Perspectives. Recurrent Themes, Viewed from Different Angles. Combining Perspectives. References. Name Index. Subject Index.