A modern, empirical approach brings personality psychology into focus Rather than covering all approaches to personality equally, Personality Psychology focuses on modern theories of personality psychology and their applications to the lives of students . The authors let the research of today dictate what receives the most coverage, conveying these findings in the real-world contexts that will shape students'' lives long after they finish the course. Classic theories are touched upon if they (1) inform modern research, (2) continue to echo through the culture and our lives, and/or (3) attempt to explain phenomena difficult to capture with empirical methods. The authors walk students through the modern science of personality via a three-part approach : Part I introduces the basic concepts of personality psychology and the methods for studying it. Part II presents the foundational approaches to personality. Finally, Part III explores personality in applied contexts, such as choosing a career, developing personal relationships, and physical health. Interactive features allow students to learn actively by exploring their own personalities and sharing their opinions Employing a student-focused approach , the authors utilize a concise, conversational style and offer vivid, relatable examples to help students learn about themselves. More than 25 personality questionnaires - all valid and reliable measures from research literature - provide a welcome opportunity for students to begin to better understand themselves, as well as to better understand how they relate to others.

These questionnaires also help students understand how personality scientists measure constructs in the field and how researchers compare an individual''s responses to those of others. Two types of writing prompts in each chapter foster critical thinking through writing. Journal Writing Prompts allow students to take concepts from the text and apply them to their own lives, fostering deep understanding of the material. Shared Writing Prompts facilitate meaningful dialogue among classmates, helping students to gain a greater appreciation for others'' lived experiences as well as to apply the concepts from the chapter to real-world situations. Self-assessments enable students to gauge how well they''re learning the material as they go. Engaging content illuminates classic and contemporary personality psychology Personality''s Past features spotlight critical moments in the history of personality psychology. Examples of topics covered in these features include: The genesis of personality questionnaires (in Chapter 2). The development of the lexical method of discovering personality traits (in Chapter 3).

The classic study of tracing achievement motivation in children''s books (in Chapter 7). The groundbreaking work of Maccoby and Jacklin in The Psychology of Sex Differences (in Chapter 10). The Science of Personality features detail how research is conducted, data are analyzed, and conclusions are reached in the scientific community. These mini-simulations walk students through the research process one step at a time to help them better understand and relate to the scientific process. Timelines highlight the history of certain areas of research, providing concise overviews of classic theories and theorists. Personality Psychology: Understanding Yourself and Others is also available via REVEL (tm), an interactive learning environment that enables students to read, practice, and study in one continuous experience. Learn more.