For undergraduate courses in Personality or Theories of Personality.

This engaging text provides an overview of major classic and current theories of personality, brings theories to life through the interpretation of illustrative biographies, and integrates a clear explanation of theory with the latest research.

Understanding persons is both Susan Cloninger's academic passion as well as her personal lifestyle. With so many years of research and instruction under her belt, she has come to several important conclusions, many of which have helped guide her text through six editions. For one, while theories of personality can never explain all the particulars of individual lives, the theories explored within this text can help open eyes towards the important nuances and themes that might otherwise go unnoticed. With this in mind, this engaging text provides an overview of major classic and current theories of personality, brings theories to life through the interpretation of illustrative biographies, and integrates a clear explanation of theory with the latest research. As well, it conveys thepositive value of various theories in a balanced and respectful way, preparing students to apply theoretical ideas to understanding particular individuals they may encounter in their professional work and personal lives.