How would you describe your personality, or can you? Whatever your answer, this text will help you understand personality -- the qualities and traits that form every individual's distinctive character. You'll learn about theoretical explanations of personality, and about the research that illuminates how those theories are relevant in the world around you. Biographical sketches of theorists and accounts of the stories behind influential research programs help you see how classic and contemporary findings relate to each other, and illustrate the connection between theory and research. As you read, personality tests encourage you to interact with the material -- and learn more about your own personality.

1. What Is Personality? 2. Personality Research Methods. 3. The Psychoanalytic Approach: Freudian Theory, Application, and Assessment. 4. The Freudian Approach: Relevant Research. 5. The Psychoanalytic Approach: Neo-Freudian Theory, Application, and Assessment. 6. The Neo-Freudian Theories: Relevant Research. 7. The Trait Approach: Theory, Application, and Assessment. 8. The Trait Approach: Relevant Research. 9. The Biological Approach: Theory, Application, and Assessment. 10. The Biological Approach: Relevant Research. 11. The Humanistic Approach: Theory, Application, and Assessment. 12. The Humanistic Approach: Relevant Research. 13. The Behavioral/Social Learning Approach: Theory, Application, and Assessment. 14. The Behavioral/Social Learning Approach: Relevant Research. 15. The Cognitive Approach: Theory, Application, and Assessment. 16. The Cognitive Approach: Relevant Research. Appendix: Your Personality. Glossary.