Individual Differences and Personality

Individual Differences and Personality, Fourth Edition provides a comprehensive overview of research regarding what personality is and how and why it differs between people. The book begins with a description of the study of personality, basic principles of personality measurement, the concept of personality traits, and the major dimensions of personality variation. Further chapters review personality change and stability, biological causal mechanisms, genetic and environmental influences, and evolutionary adaptive function. Personality disorders are examined as well as "life outcomes" (e.g., relationships, work, health, etc.) that are predicted by personality characteristics. The book additionally examines important individual differences such as mental abilities, religious beliefs, political attitudes, and sexuality. Changes to the fourth edition include updates to all chapters and new content in the measurement chapter on understanding correlations and reliability, results from large sample size studies in the developmental change and stability of personality chapter, and the effect of drugs mimicking dopamine activity on impulse control in the biological basis of personality chapter. The genetics chapter is heavily revised to cover recent meta analyses and large scale studies, with clarifications re assortative mating and social homogamy. The discussion of sex differences in personality is expanded on cross-cultural variation in personality sex differences. Personality and Life Outcomes has new coverage of rating the personality of one’s hypothetical ideal partner. The chapter on Mental Ability has updates on brain volume and IQ, and Conscientiousness and IQ. Contains both theory and research Examines the impact of personality on life outcomes Includes new content from meta-analyses and large sample size studies Retains chapters and organization with fully updated material Explores environmental, genetic, & evolutionary perspectives Accessible style suitable for courses on Individual Differences