Personality Theories: An Introduction

Designed to both explain the major personality theories and stimulate critical thinking about them, this text focuses on one theory or group of theories in every chapter. Brief biographies accompany each discussion to provide background and further illuminate the inception of individual schools of thought. In addition, criteria is provided for evaluating each theory as well citations from current research pertaining to it.

Chapter revisions include new information on Henry Stack Sullivan's interpersonal theory of psychiatry and coverage of family systems in Chapter 4, Interpsychic Theory; an updated Chapter 5, Psychoanalytic Social Psychology with coverage of attachment styles and parenting styles; new discussion of stem cell research and cloning in Chapter 7, Spatial Processing; and coverage of positive and transpersonal psychology in Chapter 13, Plasticity Across the Lifespan. A final chapter, Zen Buddhism, considers a significant cross-cultural understanding of personality theory.

• Philosophical Assumption boxes give students more structure and guidance for analyzing the views they study and enable them to place each theory along several philosophical continuums.
• Thinking Critically boxes provide a clearer context for critical-thinking activities that encourage students to analyze key issues related to the theories discussed.
• A table at the end of the text summarizes theorists' primary research methods, theoretical orientations, and strengths.