The Psychology of Personality: Viewpoints, Research, and Applications
"Bernie Carducci’sThe Psychology of Personalityis a rare treat for both instructors and students. It is comprehensive and scholarly, but is written in an engaging and conversational style — one that makes the subject come alive."Ronald E. Riggio, Director, Kravis Leadership Institute, Claremont McKenna College"Lucid, engaging, and pedagogically sound--The Psychology of Personalityby Bernie Carducci has all the essential elements of a first-class textbook. The whole of personality is covered, with theories, assessment, research, and application each receiving its due. The applications of personality psychology theory and research to a variety of everyday experiences help students to see the relevance of what they are studying and connect the textbook material more directly to their daily lives. Extra pluses include subheadings that point the student to the core issues of subsequent material; ancillaries written by the author with the same high standards as the text; thorough, well-written test questions than even cover tables and figures; and inventive and usable classroom enhancement ideas that make teaching easier and more fun."Lisa Gray-Shellberg, California State University, Dominguez Hills""Bernardo J. Carducci’sThe Psychology of Personalityclearly describes many of the key concepts in the field of personality psychology. The author’s enthusiasm is evident throughout the book. The organization of the book allows the reader to easily follow the various theoretical viewpoints in a straightforward manner. I give this book my highest recommendation."Karen Boyd White, Psy.D."Carducci offers a comprehensive and up-to-date review of theory and research in the field of personality, but importantly goes beyond traditional texts by emphasizing the applications of personality theory and research in contemporary life. The text also expands upon traditional approaches to include contributions of research in neuroscience and behavioral genetics to the study of personality. Carducci's use of biographical sketches of leading theorists pulls back the curtains on the lives of important figures in the field, helping students to see how their life experiences shaped their work. The "Cutting Edge" feature puts a contemporary face on the face on personality psychology, such as by examining how Karen Horney's personality constructs shed light on our understanding of the tragic events at Columbine and by examining the relationship between Freudian theory and the therapeutic impact of expressive writing ("power of the pen"). All in all, this is a highly readable, student accessible, and thorough treatment of personality theory and research that contemporarizes the field in a way that makes the material interesting, relevant, and timely."Jeffrey Nevid, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology and Clinical Director, St. John's University