The 8th edition of Theories of Personality follows in the tradition of the previous versions, by centering on the premise that personality theories are a reflection of the unique cultural background, family experiences, personalities, and professional training of their originators.

The book begins by acquainting students with the meaning of personality and providing them with a solid foundation for understanding the nature of theory, as well as its crucial contributions to science. The chapters that follow present twenty-three major theories: coverage of each theory also encompasses a biographical sketch of each theorist, related research, and applications to real life.

Changes in the 8th edition included a new chapter 8 on evolutionary personality theory, focusing on the work of David Buss. The Related Research sections in each chapter have also been updated.