Description
Each edition of a textbook must be as vital, dynamic, and responsive to change as thefield it covers. To remain an effective teaching instrument, it must reflect the development of the field and continue to challenge its readers. We have seen the focus of personality study shift from global theories, beginning with Sigmund Freud’s 19th-century psychoanalytic theory of neuroses, to 21st-century explorations of more limited personality facets or dimensions. And we have seen the basis of personality exploration change from case studies of emotionally disturbed persons to more scientifically based research with diverse populations. Contemporary work in the field reflects differences in gender, age, and sexual orientation as well as ethnic, racial, religious, and cultural heritage.
New and Expanded Coverage
Major changes for this edition include new biographical material for the theorists, to suggest, where warranted, how the development of their theories may have been influenced by events in their personal and professional lives. This approach shows students that the development of science through theory and research is not always totally objective. It may also derive from intuition and personal experience later refined and extended by more rational, analytic processes. Social and cultural influences on the theorists’ beliefs about human nature are also described.
The sections on personality research have been updated with more than 350 new references to maintain the emphasis on current issues. Research findings have been summarized throughout the text in Highlights boxes; this new feature presents bullet point lists to help the student organize and compare the results of research studies.
Considerable material has been added on the effects of child-rearing practices, gender, ethnicity, and culture on the issues of personality development, test performance, and the broader conceptions of human nature. We present the results of cross-cultural research and a diversity of samples of research participants from nearly 50 nations worldwide, not only English-speaking countries but also countries in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and South America. We have expanded coverage of ethnic issues in personality assessment among African-American, Asian American, Hispanic-American, and Native- American populations.
A new section has been added to Chapter 1 to consider how social networking sites such as Facebook shape and reflect our personalities. Internet use (or abuse) has been related to several topics including aggressive behavior, disinhibition, locus of control, sensation seeking, subjective well-being, dream content and cyber-bullying and trolling.
There is new material on personality assessment including online test-taking behavior and the use of personal electronic devices as diaries for recording thought and behavior samples. We have updated the material on the use of the Internet as a psychology laboratory to sample a greater number and variety of subjects online, and we discuss the controversy over Wikipedia’s publication and description of Rorschach inkblots.
For Freudian theory, we have added material on the influence of the unconscious, ego control, ego resiliency, displaced aggression, and catharsis as a way to vent anger. Cultural differences in dreams are discussed, including the dream reports of people in Islamic cultures. The growing impact of psychoanalysis in China is noted as psychotherapists seek to make Freudian concepts compatible with the values of Chinese society.
For Jung, we discuss research on the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and on behavioral differences as a function of psychological type. We have added research on the midlife crisis in women, and we include more description of Jung’s psychotherapy sessions with his patients. For Adler, there are new findings on early memories, birth order and social interest. For Horney, we have expanded coverage of neurotic competitiveness. For Erikson there is additional biographical material and increased coverage of psychosocial stages of identity, ethnic identity, gender preference identity, cultural differences in the search for identity, and the role of the Internet in creating a virtual identity. As the general population ages, we have more research available on the stage of generativity in middle age and ego integrity in old age.
For Allport, we discuss more research on expressive behavior, cultural differences in the expression of emotions, computer recognition of facial expressions and emotions, and the computer transmission of facial expressions through the use of “emoticons.” To reinforce findings on the genetic basis of personality, we present updated research growing out of Eysenck’s work and the five-factor model. And we describe a six-factor model of personality, called HEXACO, which has generated considerable interest. The Maslow chapter contains additional work on self-esteem, and the Skinner chapter includes research on superstitious behavior and on self-control. The Bandura chapter contains more material on parental self-efficacy, cultural differences in self-esteem, the relationship between video games and aggressive behavior, and the effect of rap music on aggressive behavior. The Rotter chapter has updated research on locus of control.
The chapter on mini-theories explores specific facets of personality, such as locus of control, sensation seeking, learned helplessness, optimism/pessimism, positive psychology, happiness, and success. New forms of sensation seeking, such as tattooing, body piercing, and Internet addiction, are noted. Cultural differences in optimism/pessimism are reported as well as cross-cultural research on positive psychology and different types of happiness and their relationship to success.